17/09/2025
Interior and Design
It’s the holiday season, and what’s the foundation of that most wonderful time of year? Where does the Thanksgiving feast begin? Where does the yuletide hearth burn bright? And where does that New Year’s party always end?
The kitchen, of course: It’s the heart and heartbeat of the contemporary home.
So, the not-so-humble kitchen takes center stage in this holiday-themed collection of homes. These are kitchens for discerning chefs and consummate entertainers, all tastefully designed, lavishly appointed, and, most importantly, fully equipped with the latest culinary gadgetry for the grandest of holiday feasts and effortless entertaining throughout the year.
Those in search of peace, privacy, and luxury can look no further than this 14,000-square-foot manor in the affluent, sought-after community of Franklin Lakes in Bergen County, New Jersey. Set on 2.5 landscaped acres, the property backs onto preserved woodlands. The multi-level residence was reimagined over the past several years, blending Old World architecture with a sophisticated contemporary aesthetic. Its interiors offer artisan millwork, custom cabinetry, designer lighting, imported finishes and furnishings, and several fireplaces. The foyer is in white and gray marble. Farther along, a formal dining room seats up to 20 in grand style. The kitchen is centrally located and outfitted with a range of pro-grade appliances and two oversized islands with bar seating for 14. An adjoining breakfast nook and a white marble family room face the gardens. Also on this floor is an elegant wood-paneled office. Seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms include the deluxe owner’s suite, with its own fireside sitting room, dressing room, and a spa-inspired bathroom with a soaking tub. The recreational options continue downstairs with a movie theater, wine cellar, and gym, all with access to several patios, a pool and spa surrounded by lush landscaping.
This stunning new home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, is a showcase of design with outstanding living spaces and stunning views of Piestewa Peak and the Praying Monk (a unique red sandstone rock formation on Camelback Mountain’s northern slope). Phoenix interior design and hospitality studio Folklore created the beautiful interior and exterior spaces with exceptional attention to detail. The paved front courtyard makes a dazzling first impression with its tiered fountains and mountain views. Guests are then greeted by the great room, with a cocktail bar, custom gas fireplace and wall of sliding glass doors. There are two kitchens, each with top-of-the-line appliances: a chef’s kitchen with a beautiful marble island and a back-of-house prep kitchen, hidden from view. The focal point of the grand formal dining room is a temperature-controlled wine wall. Further highlights include an office and a wellness suite with a gym, sauna, and cold plunge. The primary suite has a gas fireplace, dual custom closets, and access to a patio with another view of the mountain peaks. The gardens are landscaped with cacti and native plantings. Adding to the luxury resort experience is a heated pool and spa, an outdoor shower, a pickleball court, a built-in barbecue, fireplace, and a fire pit.
This brand-new, custom-built, gated estate home, with its own lakefront beach and dock, is one of the newest and sleekest offerings on the shores of North Carolina’s Lake Norman. Custom-built oak doors, 10 feet high, pivot open to stylish interior spaces with wide-plank white oak floors, gallery-scale walls, tall ceilings, and walls of glass to maximize the light - and those Lake Norman views. The kitchen is a showpiece of contemporary design with chef-grade appliances and an oversized quartzite island that flows into a beautiful great room with a huge fireplace and more lake views. The primary suite and a flexible office space, also on the main floor, access the lakefront grounds, where a private beach and boat dock lie beyond the vanishing-edge pool, private bar, and a spectacular, 100-foot outdoor projection screen perfect for movie night under the stars. Three large en suite bedrooms share the upper level with a movie theater, gym, and guest powder room.
This stylish six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home offers privacy, luxury, and the timeless architecture of Cape Cod - not in Massachusetts, but in Encino, in sunny Southern California’s San Fernando Valley. Surrounded by an enchanting English garden, the residence lies behind gates at the end of a long, secluded driveway. Beyond the grand and inviting entrance are fluid, bright white interiors flooded with natural light. Gleaming wood floors lead to a light-filled dining room with oversized French doors out to a serene interior courtyard. The gourmet kitchen is outfitted with pro-grade appliances, a double island with ample seating for informal dining, and a spacious butler’s pantry. A sleek custom-designed bar adjoins the family room, where oversized pocket doors seamlessly transition to the infinity-edge pool and spa, and a stylish pool house. A covered dining terrace with a fire pit and a built-in barbecue complete the outdoor entertaining spaces.
Home and hearth for the holidays? More kitchens this way here.
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