Home + Design

Home Design Styles

A look at trends in lighting and flooring in 2026 Article by Vintage Kovel | Photography by FV Lifestyle Our homes are art that we live in. As with all forms of art, trends and patterns of popularity follow shifting design sensibilities, developments in technology, and more.  Flooring options evolve with the times to create the best living experience, from styles and materials for carpet to new hard floor varieties. Similarly, the way a home is lit is critical. Light determines how we...

Home + Design

Style Means Business

Sylistic choices build brands for local businesses Article by Erica Drzewiecki | Photography by FV Lifestyle Introducing a local business to the world is intentional. From the website to a seven-piece Italian leather sectional to powder blue taffeta drapes or an accent wall the color of macaroni and cheese. All that matters, but style is about much more than a website or wall color. It marks identity.  “Style helps communicate our values before we ever meet a client,” says Realtor and Broker ...

Style + Beauty

Handle With Flair

Fashion, form and function are a winning combo for modern handbags Article by Ed Main | Photography by FV Lifestyle Even men can appreciate a quality accessory that is well crafted, fashionable and functional. In pursuing a story on handbags (or purses or pocketbooks), I visited  Brighton in the Shops in Farmington Valley  to gain some insight. Lucia Barstow , the store's assistant manager, welcomed me and heard about my quest to find a local retailer who could be counted on to help fill the...

Beauty

On the Cover

A look at the cover models who helped us merge style with business Article by Ed Main | Photography by PK Photography Two locals turned a dentist office into a catwalk as the merging of style and business was forged. (See Style Means Business story) West Simsbury native Maggie Peterson has turned heads as the reigning Miss Connecticut Teen USA, but her success didnt start there. As a rising senior at The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Maggie has a 4.0 GPA and serves as Student Body...

Life + Culture

Women of the Farmington Valley

A quarterly review of some of the Valley's amazing female leaders Photography by Patrick Kiniry There are many reasons to celebrate the extraordinary women of the Farmington Valley but the overwhelming commonality is their ability to build COMMUNITY. We are proud to begin a series of features showcasing some of these women who make our beloved valley a better place.   Jennifer Berry Owner, SubHERbanLivin Jennifer Berry is a lifelong Simsbury resident, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate...

Life + Culture

I love farmington valley

Connecting through Community Article by Ed Main Bringing Connection and Community to the Farmington Valley For some, a luxury magazine is a collection of glossy pages. For others, it’s an invitation to pause, pour a cup of coffee, and connect with the world around them. For me, it represents the culmination of a lifelong career dedicated to the art of storytelling and community unity. A Career Shaped by Media and Connection The journey to launching this publication seemed serendipitous...

Entertainment

Live Music Under The Stars

Article by Vintage Kovel | Photography by Photos provided by HSO The Hartford Symphony Orchestra presents the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, a concert series spanning musical decades and genres at the gorgeous Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center’s (SMPAC) outdoor venue in the heart of downtown Simsbury. The concerts are certainly a hometown favorite, but the orchestra’s incredible music is also a nationwide draw. The atmosphere at SMPAC is unmatched; audiences are encouraged to picnic...