CULTIVATE: Since establishing foley&cox in 2002, you've had projects in London, Austria, the Bahamas, France, and Monaco in addition to your work throughout the States. How does the American kitchen stand up to kitchens around the globe? Any ideas you’ve brought back with you?

MARY FOLEY: It’s quite clear—lifestyles around the world are collectively becoming more casual. In Europe, for example, it’s common for people renovating their homes to combine their kitchens and eating areas for simplicity’s sake. When it comes to appliances, brands may differ but we all tend to use the same sorts of high-tech appliances, though every once in a while we’ll find something new. In England, for example, we installed a cork floor for a client. It was so comfortable and easy to clean that we’ve incorporated it into stateside projects.