HomeStyleRochesteR Magazine presents

spring 2009

dream kitchens

PLUS:Secrets to a Great Garden

Bath as Spa: Ultimate LuxuryTantalizing Tableware

22 Ideas for the Perfect Renovation

RochesteR homestyle50

1Hugs. Hug a significant other, your kid, pet your

dog or at least talk to a plant. Hugging is very grounding and gets the day off to a good start.

2Fair trade—organically grown coffee. I am a

coffee snob! My favorite roasts are Guatemalan and Sumatra. I purchase my coffee at the Coffee Con-nection on South Avenue; it not only helps farmers grow coffee beans instead of coca but it also provides training for women in recov-ery.

3Yoga. I have been studying at Open Sky

Yoga since the mid-1980s. Spending 30 to 45 minutes practicing before work com-pletely transforms how I feel the rest of the day. For me, a day without yoga is like a day without sunshine!

4Growing orchids. This is a part of my Winter

Survival Strategy. Every Jan-uary, buds begin to appear, and orchids begin bloom-ing in February. My current favorite is the Neofinetia Falcata, which radiates a heavenly vanilla fragrance in the evening.

5The Mohonk Mountain House (below). A week-

end at this Hudson Valley Resort is the perfect blend of simple relaxation with a touch of pampering. There are fabu-lous hiking trails, great food, incredible views of the Catskill Mountains and an indoor spa.

6Nobu 57. This is a spectacular Japanese

Restaurant in New York City, and I love the design, which was done by David Rockwell. I like to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs. Every morsel of food they create is a work of art.

7Jewelry by Ted Muehling and Ten Thousand

Things. I love the elegant organic designs from these New York City jewelers. The pieces are comfortable and they add personality and interest to my otherwise simple work wardrobe.

8Soaking in a tub. My best ideas come to

me while soaking in my bathtub. But my ultimate tub experience was at Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have a series of Japanese tubs that scale up the mountainside. We had the tub at the very top; there was a full moon, a star-filled sky and the smell of cedar in the air. Bliss.

9The World of Interiors. Published in London,

it’s quintessentially English and therefore a bit eccentric. It informs about what is new in the design world while bringing relevance to design

throughout centuries and cultures.

10Sleep. I love slipping into a well-made bed. White goose down comforters and pillows are a must. Sheets with thread counts

over 600 are so silky soft. A thick firm mattress. That’s it. It’s all I need. H

10 things i can’t live without

Robin MutoBrooklyn native Robin Muto developed a passion for art

at a young age, and her attraction to the crafts movement eventually drew her upstate. At one time, Muto had a thriving pottery studio but her interest moved from designing pieces to designing interior spaces. She now owns Positive Environ-ments in Rochester, designing both residential and commercial interiors. She is currently working on the lighting design for Cornell’s Jewelers, among other projects. She and her husband, Rick, have a daughter, 29, and son, 27.

HomeStyle Magazine asked Muto to share her list of essentials:

MY FAVES