All articles by Patty Lee

Patty is a native Brooklynite who got her start as a features reporter at NYC's hometown paper, the New York Daily News. She then followed her sweet tooth to Time Out New York, where she covered restaurant openings and dining trends for the food and drink section. When she's not contributing to 6sqft, she's writing — and eating — for Zagat and Cooking Channel. Follow her on Twitter @leepatty.
Take a Tour of the Only House in the United States Designed by Ai Weiwei
May 26, 2014

Take a Tour of the Only House in the United States Designed by Ai Weiwei

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China's most provocative artist can add architect to his already extensive resume. Known around the world for his contemporary artwork and political activism, Ai Weiwei has also had a hand in designing this sprawling compound in upstate New York. Located in bucolic Ancram — just a two-hour drive from New York City — the Tsai Residence was originally commissioned by a pair of Upper East Side art collectors. The 2,800-square-foot structure was completed in 2006 and put back on the market a few years later in 2013 for a whopping $4.25 million. But the hefty price tag comes with a unique distinction — it's the only house in the United States that Ai has ever designed.
Take a tour of the pricey, one-of-a-kind property here
Make Muzz’s Beautiful Spin Cast Bowls Your Dinnertime Centerpiece
May 23, 2014

Make Muzz’s Beautiful Spin Cast Bowls Your Dinnertime Centerpiece

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You don't always need fancy machines and high-tech systems to create a jaw-dropping product. Just look at these beautiful, cobalt-streaked bowls from Muzz Design. By using the simple act of spinning, co-founders Erin Turkoglu and Melodi Bozkurt were able to turn otherwise boring dishes into exquisite works of art brimming with history.
Details on the unique timepiece here
Chadhaus’s Sustainable, Handcrafted Furniture Will Last for Generations
May 21, 2014

Chadhaus’s Sustainable, Handcrafted Furniture Will Last for Generations

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There comes a moment in our lives when it's time to trade in our beat-up college furniture for more grown-up goods — a bean bag should only double as the couch for so long. When that point comes, consider the exquisite pieces from Chadhaus, a Seattle-based company creating sustainable furniture that will truly stand the test of time.
More pieces from Chadhaus straight ahead
Ingenious Cricket Table by Folditure Flattens to an Inch Thick in Seconds
May 21, 2014

Ingenious Cricket Table by Folditure Flattens to an Inch Thick in Seconds

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City dwellers are no strangers to folding furniture — they're true lifesavers when living in tiny, cramped apartments. But while most are functional, few are as beautiful as the fold-up tables and chairs designed by architect Alexander Gendell. His Folditure line (get it?) is not only ingeniously-designed, but each piece — like the Cricket Folding Table — resembles a work of origami art.
See Folditure's Cricket Folding Table in action
Clever Kangaroo Light Bends and Flexes to Brighten Up Any Type of Space
May 19, 2014

Clever Kangaroo Light Bends and Flexes to Brighten Up Any Type of Space

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The inventors of the viral Ostrich Pillow are at it again, promoting another cool new product on Kickstarter. Only this time, instead of an item that's meant to block out light, the team at kawamura-ganjavian are making it easier to see. Dubbed the Kangaroo Light, this flexible, glowing pad is meant to be a playful and practical solution to flashlights, which all too often get lost in the deep abyss of purses, bookbags and cabinets.
See the light in action
UM Project Gives the Maypole a Modern-Day Makeover for Reclaim NYC
May 15, 2014

UM Project Gives the Maypole a Modern-Day Makeover for Reclaim NYC

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After an impossibly long and cold winter, it's fitting that one of the pieces on display at the upcoming Reclaim 3 exhibit is an ode to spring and renewal. But the Maypole created by whimsical furniture designer UM Project is no ordinary ribbon around a stick. Inspired by the charitable spirit that drives Reclaim NYC — which started out in 2012 as a way for the design community to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims — UM Project founder Francois Chambard teamed up with the High School of Art & Design to create an interactive installation that combines folk custom with modern-day technology.
Details on the high-tech Maypole ahead
This Breathtaking Nolita Penthouse Takes Going Green to Another Level
May 15, 2014

This Breathtaking Nolita Penthouse Takes Going Green to Another Level

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Not all rooftop gardens are created equal, especially when it's an award-winning green space perched high above Little Italy. A collaboration between Andrew Berman Architect and the sustainable roof designers of Goode Green, the blooming penthouse abode is a serious urban oasis complete with chickens and a bee colony.
More photos of the beautiful garden home ahead
Take a Peek at Three Cool, New Products from Italian Designer Giorgio Bonaguro
May 11, 2014

Take a Peek at Three Cool, New Products from Italian Designer Giorgio Bonaguro

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Architects, get ready to swoon — an Italian designer has created a desk that'll make working through the night feel downright fashionable. Designed by Giorgio Bonaguro, the Oscar desk was first shown off during Milan Design Week 2014. It features a solid ash wood tabletop and soft leather pockets that hold drawings and notes, creating a sophisticated, yet functional look.
Details on how you can try it out in person
Uhuru Design Turned Coney Island Boardwalk Planks Into a Rollercoaster Chair
May 8, 2014

Uhuru Design Turned Coney Island Boardwalk Planks Into a Rollercoaster Chair

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When Coney Island was torn up in 2010 to make way for the glitzy new Luna Park, a part of its history was ripped out: the weathered, decades-old planks of the beach's iconic boardwalk. Luckily, two Red Hook-based designers — Jason Horvath and Bill Hilgendorf of Uhuru Design — took in the landfill-destined wood and used them to build functional pieces for the home.
Check out more of the cool pieces
Brooklyn Expo Center to Open in Greenpoint This Fall
April 21, 2014

Brooklyn Expo Center to Open in Greenpoint This Fall

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If convention-goers thought the Javits Center was hard to get to, wait until events start taking place at a Greenpoint exhibition complex set to open later this year. Backed by controversial real estate developer Joshua Guttman, the sprawling Brooklyn Expo Center will be housed in the former Greenpoint Terminal Market (pictured here), which is accessible by only one subway line — the oft-complained about G train.
More on the new expo here
Owners of One-Time Damon Dash Art Gallery Want to Supersize the Tribeca Building
April 15, 2014

Owners of One-Time Damon Dash Art Gallery Want to Supersize the Tribeca Building

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One of Tribeca’s few remaining cast-iron buildings may be getting taller. According to a recent request filed with the Department of Buildings, the owners of 172 Duane Street wants to add four more floors to the historic downtown structure. But it’s not the first time the owner, listed on the application as Anthony Coll, has attempted to super-size the building.
More details on the plan here
Photographers James and Karla Murray Capture New York City’s Rapidly Gentrifying Storefronts
April 9, 2014

Photographers James and Karla Murray Capture New York City’s Rapidly Gentrifying Storefronts

By
If it seems like Starbucks and Duane Reade are colonizing the streets of New York City, there’s now photographic proof. A new series from shutterbugs James and Karla Murray looks at the rapidly changing face of Gotham’s storefronts and — no surprise — they’re getting more corporate. Gone are the colorful mom-and-pop signage the Murrays shot just a decade ago for their book Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York. In their place? Fast food franchises, banks, and high-end boutiques.
A peek inside the book
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