Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life

Book Preface

No book is ever a solo endeavor, so I have plenty of people to thank in helping me achieve this incredible dream. To my agent, Kathryn Beaumont Murphy, for believing in this idea and making it come to life, and Trish Todd and everyone at Simon & Schuster for trusting me and helping me to craft something worthy.

Thanks to my dedicated and incredible assistants—Lindsey Retelle, for keeping the ship afloat and being my right hand through it all, and Allison Whittemore, who kept all the details straight with her ninjalike organizational skills (of which I have none).

To Michael Lee, Michael Partenio, Sarah Winchester, Danielle Moss, and Eric Roth for their incredible images and ability to help me enjoy the process of shooting the images for this book.

To Stacy Kunstel for her wonderful eye and magical personality, and Jen Garran for her awesome, confidence-boosting pep talks and advice.

A big thank-you to my AMAZING clients whose homes they trusted me to decorate and shoot for this book: Natalie and Jeff Schwartz, Debra Brodsky and Erich Shigley, Dina Ciarimboli, Kirstan Barnett, Kelly O’Donnell, Lucas and Caitlin Turton, Jaimee Healy, Eileen Roscoe, Elizabeth Sheehan, Catherine Choquette and Lauren Zirilli. A big high five to Manny Makkas for whipping together pillows, drapes, and pelmets with twenty-four hours’ notice without complaint.

A special thanks to my brothers for giving me some of my funniest material, my parents for being the best source of confidence, advice, and love a child could ever have, and, of course, my husband, Andrew. Without him I never would have been able to do any of this. He is the best cheerleader anyone could have in this life and his unwavering support makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Oh, and he’s funny, smart, and devastatingly handsome too (I told him I’d put that in print).

But most of all, the most heartfelt thank-you goes to my blog readers, old and new. Your dedication and support have allowed me to live my dreams and create a life I could never have imagined for myself. I consider you all my friends and I am eternally grateful for you every single day.