Home + Design

Smart Design, Beautiful Spaces

Michael Bruno traded spreadsheets for showrooms—transforming the kitchen remodeling experience through innovation, collaboration, and style. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Cabinet IQ, Danielle Stio Photography Michael Bruno had reached a professional crossroads. After 25 years in corporate finance, he had built a successful career analyzing numbers and advising large organizations. Still, he felt drawn toward something more tangible—an entrepreneurial path that would allow him to...

Arts + Culture

The Art of Intentional Design

Creating a Calming Home Sanctuary Article and Photography by Cara Zamorski, HN, HWC In a fast-paced world, the home can be more than a place to sleep or store belongings. It can serve as a sanctuary—one that supports the nervous system, restores energy and reflects intentional living. For many North Jersey residents balancing busy careers, family life and full schedules, the home environment plays a critical role in overall well-being. As a holistic health coach, I often remind clients that...

Home + Design

Spring Starts With Prevention

Inside Halo Home’s proactive approach to protecting what matters most Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Liz Polo - Havana Photography For Andy Barresse, home maintenance is not about fixing what’s already broken. It’s about preventing the damage homeowners never see coming. Barresse, owner of Halo Home Maintenance & Painting, has spent decades inside homes across New Jersey, first through a family legacy in painting and wallpapering and later through a full-service maintenance...

Home + Design

Built on the Ground Up

Hicks Paving Blends Generations of Craftsmanship With Modern Innovation Article by Mikaela Lewis | Photography by Jillian Spencer Studios As the third generation to lead Hicks Paving, Sam Hicks carries forward a family legacy rooted in craftsmanship, integrity and hard work. Founded more than 65 years ago by his grandfather, the business has grown from a small local operation into a trusted paving company serving communities across north-central New Jersey. Today, as Hicks teaches his son the...

Professional Services

Readers’ Choice

HOME EDITION — MARCH 2026 Article and Photography by Bridgewater City Lifestyle There’s something powerful about a community that knows who to trust when it comes to home. From renovations and repairs to design and outdoor living, Bridgewater residents once again showed up to recognize the professionals who help turn houses into homes. Our Readers’ Choice: Home Edition is based entirely on reader votes—real recommendations from locals with firsthand experience. This year’s categories...

Home + Design

Life, Uncluttered

A Basking Ridge Coach Helping People Clear Clutter and Find Clarity Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Patricia Diesel For Patricia Diesel, simplicity is not just an aesthetic choice—it is a pathway to emotional peace. From her home base in Basking Ridge, Diesel has built a career helping people release both the physical clutter in their homes and the internal weight that often comes with it. An internationally recognized speaker, bestselling author and specialist in chronic...

Food + Beverage

A Spoonful of Comfort

Rethinking chowder—and turning chili into a creamy crowd-pleaser Article by Chef David Burke | Photography by Chef David Burke, Shelley Clark Most people think of chowder in terms of clam, fish or corn. That gives short shrift to a broader category of soup defined by its hearty, chunky character—often thick and creamy, though not always. Consider tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder, which is relatively light compared with the robust creaminess of the New England version. What truly defines...

Life + Culture

Date Night With a Twist

Active and Healthy Local Ideas Article by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN | Photography by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN, The Salty Moon Spa Valentine’s Day often brings to mind candlelit dinners, roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate—but celebrating love doesn’t have to follow the usual script. For many couples, the most memorable moments come from shared experiences, laughter and trying something new together. This year, consider swapping the traditional dinner-and-a-movie for wellness-inspired, active...

Fitness

Hometown Game Day

Garden State City Lifestyle Brings Community Spirit to Rutgers–Penn State Season Finale Tailgate Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Tom Solymosi There’s nothing quite like Big Ten football—the roar of the crowd, the river of school colors, the crackle of energy that builds long before kickoff. On a freezing November afternoon, Garden State City Lifestyle turns the Rutgers vs. Penn State tailgate into one of the warmest, loudest and most memorable spots in the Scarlet Lot. Call it...

Food + Beverage

Friendship Bread, Reimagined

A Beloved Girl Scout Recipe to Share This Valentine’s Season Article by Carly Mac Manus There are some recipes that stay with you—handwritten on index cards, tucked inside family cookbooks, or passed between friends at school or troop meetings. For me, one of those treasured heirlooms is Friendship Bread , a sweet, comforting loaf I first made in Girl Scouts and somehow still have the original recipe for today. This month, as we celebrate love in all its forms—romantic, neighborly, and the...