New Hampshire Home September-October 2024 - 24

FROM THE EDITOR
Something for Everyone
WHO DOESN'T LOVE a nice kitchen?
I enjoy cooking, but even if I didn't, the
kitchen would be the first room I'd want to
check out every time I was in a new house.
Kitchens these days are about much more
than whipping up a meal - they're places to
hang out, entertain and work from home. To
accommodate all these activities and more,
the kitchen has grown exponentially over
recent years, in both size and sophistication.
The same can be said of bathrooms, which,
at the high end of the spectrum, resemble
luxurious spas.
Perhaps more than any other rooms in
the house, kitchens and bathrooms require
lots of decisions when it comes to making
them both appealing to look at and functional. Selecting a variety of materials
and finishes can quickly become overwhelming. For the Kitchen & Bath Showcase
(page 63), we tried to select kitchens and bathrooms that are different enough from
each other so that you, our readers, have a variety of palettes, finishes and materials
to admire and contemplate. This is just a start - the best suggestion I can make
if you're easily flummoxed is to consult a professional designer.
That's what Debbie Croatti did when she and husband Mike were ready to tackle
the interiors in their new house in Windham (page 80). Even though she has
impeccable taste and had a very good idea of how she wanted her house to look,
Debbie reached out to James Hall, a designer she had collaborated with successfully
before. I met the Croattis and Hall during our photo shoot of their lovely home.
After a few hours conversing with them, it was easy to see how each one's contribution
to the project resulted in a beautifully designed home they are all proud of.
Whereas the Croatti's home in Windham was inspired by a French chateau,
our second feature home, in Bethlehem, is a timber-frame mountain retreat for a
family that loves to run, hike and ski (page 90). Architect Chris Salomon, who won
this magazine's 2024 Up and Coming Talent award, designed the home, keeping in
mind that " they envisioned it feeling comfortable and welcoming when you come
in from the outdoors, " he says.
I'd like to end with a tribute to architect Chris Williams, who sadly passed away
much too soon in June. I never had the pleasure of meeting Williams, but I've
spoken to people who knew him and they are unanimous in praising his talent,
creativity and genial nature. In an upcoming issue, we will feature a retrospective
of some of his houses that have appeared in New Hampshire Home over the years.
John W. Hession
Janice Randall Rohlf
Editor
22 New Hampshire Home
is an accomplished photographer and
filmmaker specializing in architecture,
design and food, and is New Hampshire
Home's photo editor. His photos were used
extensively throughout this issue.
Crytal Ward Kent
is a journalist who covers everything from
restaurants to historical subjects. For this
issue, she interviewed the designers and
builders for the Kitchen & Bath Showcase.
She also wrote " Shop Talk. "
Rob Karosis
is an award-winning architectural,
interior design and landscape
photographer. He shot the images for
" The Great Outdoors. "
Jennifer Sperry
is an editor and a writer who focuses on
architecturally significant homes in her
work. She wrote the mountain retreat story,
" The Great Outdoors. "
Joe Valentine
is a photographer whose work focuses
on gardens and landscaping. He
provided the photos for " Green Space. "
JANICE'S PHOTO BY ERIC BRUST-AKDEMIR
New Hampshire Home September-October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of New Hampshire Home September-October 2024
