Local interior design maven Jennifer Glickman scored a guest spot in HGTV’s new White Room Challenge series, and the episode airs tonight. The challenge? Glickman and her fellow contestants must transform stark white rooms using collectables and other décor, while incorporating unorthodox items like dog food. The owner of Glickman Designs, Glickman is known for her keen eye and design portfolio, which includes revamps of restaurants and venues such as Chez Henri, Alden Castle, and the State Room, as well elegant residential spaces. We caught up with the designer to talk about the challenge and her best summer décor tips.  

What did you take away from the show experience?
JENNIFER GLICKMAN: I have such a respect for the work involved in creating these shows. The networks make design more accessible and interesting to everyone.

In the last few years there has been an emerging eco-friendly trend in popular culture. How can people recycle or refurbish their furniture to add a trendy vibe to their home? 
JG: There are so many ways to reinvent your space with what you have. You can mix up your furniture plan and create a new layout with your existing furniture, or repurpose your pieces by applying new finishes to them. New finishes such as paint or fabric give tired pieces a whole new life. To keep it trendy, add patterns, colors, and textures that are new and current.

What are your tips for organizing random objects without making a space look cluttered or outdated? 
JG: I cannot stand random dust-collecting tchotchkes scattered around a room without a purpose. Grouping related items together will make your space seem less random and more intentionally designed. Repetition always makes a big impact in a space!

How can homeowners easily change-up their décor for summer?
JG: One of my new favorite trends is temporary wallpaper. You peel and stick. I mean, how much easier can that get? If you don't want to completely renovate your space, go for accessories. If you really want to make an impact, though, try to carry it across your entire space, not just one corner of a room.

Are you currently working on any local projects?
JG: Yes, I'm in the beginning stages of a great modern loft in the South End, just started a loft on Congress St, wrapped up Alden Castle, ongoing with a few houses in Nantucket, and Restaurant Dante’s outdoor bar.

Accessories designer Kara Ross is known for her transformative approach to jewelry, which often incorporates unconventional elements. Her hand-carved wood pieces, sold exclusively by private appointment, are perhaps the best example of her groundbreaking work. Now admirers who want to take a peek at this extraordinary jewelry can simply head to the Museum of Fine Arts, which recently acquired one of her showstoppers as part of its exhibition "Jewels, Gems, and Treasures: Ancient to Modern." "I use a lot of hand-carved wood in my fine jewelry line. It's an unexpected material, but when done in the right way, these pieces can sit beside any fine jewelry piece anywhere," says Ross.

Guy Bedarida

Stylishly dressed and sporting colorful bracelets from the John Hardy Naga collection, it’s impossible to miss Guy Bedarida when he enters a room. Formerly a designer for Van Cleef & Arpels—where he created custom pieces for celebrities—Bedarida paid John Hardy’s Bali-based studio a visit in 1999 and fell deeply in love with the island and the brand. Today, Bedarida serves as creative and head designer for John Hardy jewelry. We caught up with the worldly designer while he was in Boston previewing the Balinese brand’s unique Cinta collection at Saks Fifth Avenue.  

	Cinta Gold and Silver Naga cuff with yellow South Sea pearl set in pavé of yellow sapphire, tsavorite, and light brown diamond ($13,000)

Tell us about the Cinta collection. Where do you source those gorgeous stones?
GUY BEDARIDA: The Cinta collection starts with the stones I find all over the world from Brazil, Thailand, and Africa. I bring them back to Bali and sometimes they stay in the safe for five years. I only buy the stones for the beauty and color. Some of the stones don’t even have names.

Describe the type of woman you design for.
GA: She could be 35 or 65, and she is usually a mother. The John Hardy client is authentic and independent and buys the pieces for herself. She is also a woman who cares that the jewelry is made ethically.

How are your surroundings in Bali reflected in your work?
GA: The John Hardy collection is inspired by nature and ancient culture. Nature is all around us in Bali, but I travel the world regularly to beautiful places such as India, China, and Africa. Next fall we will reveal a collection that is heavily inspired by my travels to Morocco.

Preserving the environment is an integral part of the John Hardy brand. How important has that been to you?
GA: It is very important. We have a special collection called Bamboo, and for every piece that is purchased we are replanting real bamboo. The space that the 800,000 bamboo plants cover is four-and-a-half times the size of Central Park in New York.

Spa-loving Bostonians can now experience a one-hour Unlimited Age Control Facial inside the Natura Bisse Bubble. Popping up at Space NK April 27 and 28, the Pure Air 02 Bubble is a 99.9 percent oxygen environment that helps enhance the efficiency of Natura Bisse’s products and facial techniques.

The customized Unlimited Age Control Facial utilizes the NB.CEUTICAL collection and is popular among red-carpet celebrities for its skin rejuvenating and repairing effects. That’s a combination we can’t turn down.

Appointments for a facial in the bubble during its two-day stint are filling up fast. (We called today and only four spots were left.) A reservation fee of $100 is required and fully redeemable toward Space NK purchases on the day of the appointment. April 27–28; 10 AM – 6:30 PM. Bloomingdale’s Chestnut Hill, 225 Boylston St., Newton, 617.630.6768
 

Blazer, Ermenegildo Zegna ($2,095). Copley Place, 617-424-9300. Poplin shirt, Prada ($390). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500. Pocket square, Alexander Olch ($55). Barneys New York, Copley Place, 617-385-3300

Pastels have long been inspirations for spring fashion, but when thinking of pale pinks and soft shades of yellow, womenswear is what usually comes to mind. For Spring 2012, all that changes as pale shades such as powder blue and light turquoise make their mark on men’s suiting. Designers including Canali and Moschino are showing baby pink in sophisticated silhouettes, such as a classic slim two-button suit and tuxedo jacket, respectively. Lanvin shows pastel yellow in a simple one-button suit appropriate for both daytime and dinner. Perhaps no designer embraces the trend this season as wholeheartedly as Tom Brady’s frequent choice, Ermenegildo Zegna. “The Spring/Summer 2012 Collection plays with sun-bleached colors, soft silhouettes, and high-performance finishing in fabrics, resulting in impeccable contemporary elegance with an extremely natural and relaxed attitude,” says Anna Zegna, image director for the brand. Adding a piece of Zegna’s pale pink suiting (not so different from the pages of the Financial Times) to your wardrobe is a savvy spring fashion investment.

Led by patriarch David Yurman—with his wife and partner, Sybil, by his side, and their son Evan as heir apparent—America’s first family of jewelry has built an empire on a foundation of love, style, and loyalty. Even today, family remains at the heart of their burgeoning worldwide business and has incited a heroic charitable endeavor.

The loss of Yurman’s sister to breast cancer 15 years ago first prompted the family’s commitment to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). “My wife and I felt a responsibility to act, as everyone should,” Yurman says. “The statistics on breast cancer are impossible to ignore; it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States. The fact that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime means that virtually everyone will, at some point, be affected by the disease.” Accordingly, the Yurmans have committed to a long-term partnership with BCRF. They design jewelry to promote awareness and raise funds, and sponsor title events such as the Hot Pink Party in Boston on May 17, and a kick-off event on April 4 at their Copley Place boutique, featuring shopping and cocktails and hosted by Yurman himself.

Five years ago Yurman designed a pink opal variation on the Spiritual Bead Bracelet, his first piece of jewelry to benefit BCRF. “We saw that the Foundation is leading the research efforts to increase breast cancer survival rates, which was—and continues to be—very important to us.”

Last year David Yurman released a limited-edition Spiritual Bead bracelet in pink pearl, with proceeds benefiting BCRF. The pink color promotes the cause, and “it is meant to serve as a reminder of strength and courage,” says Yurman.

Copley Place, 617-236-8777.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SETH OLENICK (BRACELET)

Steve Simon runs his hands over the silky material of a python-patterned blouse as he shows it to an interested customer holding an armful of printed tops. The owner of National Jean Company Boston, Simon has built a loyal clientele with his customer-service-based approach to selling essential pieces of men’s and women’s wardrobes: denim, tops, blazers, and accessories. Simon works closely with his daughters, Jill and Stacy (head of customer service and head buyer, respectively), who handpick pieces from both well-known and smaller lines, such as House of Harlow 1960, Elizabeth and James, and J Brand, along with their own private labels. “Day-night dressing is what we do,” emphasizes Simon, who closely follows the trends in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe. “Knowing our customer helps define and refine what we carry in the stores.” With locations already in Newton and Wellesley, the company has recently expanded with a third location on Newbury Street. The 2,200-square-foot boutique has a cozy European feel, with two vintage chandeliers, a fireplace, and a coffee bar. 218 Newbury St., 857-233-4809

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The A4 breakfast sandwich

 

Frosted pecan cinnamon buns

 

Fresh-baked muffins

 

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Seasonally conscious Cambridge eatery Area Four will begin serving a comforting, sustainable weekend brunch this Saturday.

Chef Michael Leviton and pastry chef Katie Kimble will deliver a delectable bill of fare with offerings such as wood oven-baked pancakes with apple-maple compote and brown sugar sour cream, Florentine pizza and the loaded A4 breakfast sandwich made with herbed egg frittata, maple-black pepper-sage sausage and aged cheddar. Other standouts include a basket of fresh-baked turnovers, donut muffins, scones, craquelin and pecan cinnamon buns; a made-from-scratch everything bagel packed with house-smoked fish, cream cheese, red onion and capers; and soul-satisfying biscuits and gravy.

An equally welcome addition is Area Four’s new roster of brunch cocktails, which includes a gianduja and espresso martini, a new take on the classic Corpse Reviver and a winning Bloody Caesar made with Wellfleet cherrystone clam juice. The mouth-watering weekend brunch will be available Saturdays and Sundays (10:30 AM–2:30 PM) 500 Technology Sq., 617-758-4444

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A historic home on Fisher Hill in Brookline

 

55 Livingston Road in Wellesley

 

A gorgeous estate in Cotuit

 

51 Westgate Road in Wellesley

 

W Residences in midtown

 

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New technology meets old-world charm in a flawless renovation of this historic home on Fisher Hill in Brookline. Relax in the great room while enjoying the views of the city. Offered by Scott Beane of William Raveis for $5.2 million

Get smart with the advanced technology in this new 10,000-square-feet Colonial at 55 Livingston Road in Wellesley. Interior custom millwork and beautifully manicured lawns make this six bedroom, 7.5 bath home a vacation in itself. Offered by Debi Benoit of Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. for $5.695 million

Start thinking summer home with this gorgeous estate on 7.6 seaside acres in Cotuit. Enjoy a patio, infinity pool and smart house technology. Guests can have their own privacy in the guest house at 122 Pinquickset Cove Circle. Offered by Scott Beane of William Raveis for $10.9 million

Find your own privacy on 20,624-square-feet of land at this home at 51 Westgate Road. This new house in Wellesley offers a lavish kitchen and master suite, as well as a finished third floor with full bath. Offered my Melissa Dailey of Coldwell Banker-Wellesley for $2.598 million

Find luxury high above Boston at the W Residences in midtown with newly combined three and four bedroom units. Enjoy views of the skyline and the Public Garden as well as amenities such as Bliss Spa and the W Hotels’ signature Whenever/Wherever service. Offered by Otis & Ahearn and starting at $2.4 million

Hot toddies are a classic wintertime drink that dates back to the 17th century, when they were commonly used as a remedy for illness. Even today, many still swear by a swig of toddy to subdue aches and chills. The hot toddy is traditionally made with either a hot water or tea base with honey or sugar, fresh lemon juice and whiskey or brandy. 88 Wharf in Milton uses Canadian Club whisky in its hearty toddy while Zocalo in Boston went South of the border for a Mexican Hot Toddy using tequila, agave nectar and Mexican cinnamon.

88 Wharf’s Hot Toddy
SERVES ONE

1 ounce Canadian Club whisky
1 tbsp. honey
1 cup hot water

Mix ingredients together in a mug. Garnish with two lemon peels and a whole cinnamon stick.

88 Wharf St., Milton, 857-598-4826

Zocalo’s Mexican Hot Toddy
SERVES ONE

1 1/2 ounces Riazul Anejo Tequila
1/4 ounce agave nectar
1 lemon wedge
1 piece Mexican cinnamon
2 cloves
3-4 ounces hot water

Combine all ingredients in an Irish coffee glass. Stir and let steep for one minute. Remove spices and enjoy.

35 Stanhope St., Boston, 617-456-7849