The newest issue of Stuff Magazine came out today, with “A Sleek City Deck Makes for Cool Summer Entertaining.” – the profile I did about an amazing roof deck (and view) in Dorchester. Although I had to drive out of the city, the interview was lots of fun. The place , a classic triple decker – they’re on the top floor – is owned by Michelle Gubitosa (left), co-owner of Phi Design (a creative consulting firm that uses innovative ideas to transform events, interiors, and people) and her wife, Rebecca Wilson (right), owner of The Urban Hound. Michelle made me a yummy lunch (so nice!) and we chatted about pretty much everything, from how they met (at a party on a roof deck), their recent wedding at Mistral (it was a surprise – none of the guests knew!) and Michelle’s impending 50th birthday party (she’s already booked the D.J.), to their favorite booze (St. Germain, Champagne, and Limona Coronas), Michelle’s hidden cooking talents (pizza from scratch, learned from her dad), and Rebecca’s favorite cookbook (The Moosewood).
Here are some photos of their roof deck and rooms:
Michelle and Becky used to live in the South End, where they also had a roof deck that was all “Mac Daddy’d out.” Friends dubbed it the Starlight Lounge and the name stuck. This deck too, is party central. Check out the grill . . .
They might do fish tacos and Limona Coronas (Corona with white rum), burgers and Champagne (Michelle adores Champagne. She used to be a “Veuve queen” but at “forty bucks a pop”, has taken a liking to Prosecco), or tuna steaks and fillets with cocktails. If the ladies who own Brix Wine Shop visit, Manhattans are the drink of choice. Their friend Xyomie, whose brother used to spin at Studio 54, mixes CDs for the fiestas, though Xyomie is actually a chef and sommelier by trade.
You can see the city, the harbor, and the beloved Boston landmark, the Dorchester gas tank. Fun! 
Now step inside . . .
This is the living room. Michelle did the interiors throughout. The place was gutted when they bought it three years ago. These days she’s deriving inspiration from Furniture and Interior Design for the 21st Century. There’s a million yellow stickies in her copy marking ideas she wants to incorporate into the events she designs. (By the way, fashion fans, her partner in Phi Design is Nilda Martin, co-owner of Parlor in the South End. Michelle says, “We’re a hybrid; we handle anything creative.”)
You can see all the yummy food Michelle put out for me. (Thank you again for feeding me lunch Michelle.) The island counter top is Silestone and the glossy white cabinets are IKEA. (Amazing how great IKEA cabinetry looks these days; I’m seeing it everywhere.) There’s a Jenn Air double oven and two wine cellars. One for, you guessed it, Champagne, and the other for red wine. In winter Becky, who’s the cook of the pair, prepares lots of soups – lentil, stews, Asian noodle that takes all day, beef bourguignon. Michelle, who comes from “a family of builders,” just put up bookshelves for all of Becky’s cookbooks. She even made her a cookbook with all their favorite recipes. So sweet!
The dining room. Table, chairs, and mirrors from Crate & Barrel. Alessi bowl on the table, but you knew that already. The black glass chandelier is from one of Michelle’s prop resources, Gallery 484. Notice the photos; they’re Michelle’s. She was a student at the SMFA before going into business as a party planner way back when. These are close up images of crosses on graveyard headstones. Other works of hers are scattered around the house, including super closeups of the backs of lichen-covered headstones, and the floor of Barneys in NYC on which interesting shadows were cast from the racks of clothing. Michelle’s first show opens tonight, May 6th at Enoteca of Via Matta in Park Plaza, Boston.
The bedroom. Artwork by Michelle.
On the color scheme she says, “We’re such earth tone people.”
The dressing room/bathroom opens right off the bedroom, no door. It’s a fab space. This is where the idea for Phi Design was born. Michelle had hired Nilda to prune her closets, and over a glass (or two) of wine, they realized they’d make the perfect creative team.
And, finally, the tub.
The End.
Woof.
