Journalists are snoops by nature. We just love poking around in other people’s business, and, for Westchester Home, that means quite literally poking around in their houses, checking out living spaces, kitchens, baths, bedrooms—even closets. And while it’s one thing to dispassionately evaluate the taste and style of strangers, it’s altogether another when you happen to know the owner.
Last June, as I waited to meet the interior designers at one of the homes we feature in this issue, I was surprised to see a familiar face pulling into the driveway. The homeowner, Cathy Sontag Nish, was the editor of our first shopping column for Westchester Magazine a decade ago and we hadn’t seen each other in years. “Other people downsize when their kids go off to school,” Cathy told me, regarding the decision to move from a perfectly lovely Chappaqua home to her current palatial manse. “We decided to upscale instead.” And how. Her innate sense of style, along with the expertise of Westchester-based designers Stephen and Gail Huberman, resulted in the fabulous home featured in our cover story starting on page 47.
It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes the whole county (and beyond) to produce each issue of the magazine. We are lucky to have such a talented group of freelancers whose specific expertise on a variety of topics adds immensely to our pages. Garden expert Tovah Martin, who so beautifully captures the spirit of the stunning landscapes we feature, has a new book, just out: The Unexpected Houseplant. We can’t wait to read it.
If you’ve not yet signed up for WestNest, our free weekly e-newsletter, what are you waiting for? Visit westchestermagazine.com and sign up for the latest in real estate and home décor news. And next time you’re on Facebook, please stop by our new page for more great interior design ideas.
Nancy L. Claus
Executive Editor
