Dana Pollack at home by the fire. Photo: Yumi Matsuo Studio.

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This is the second in a series of conversations with special guests on hardware, homes and the holidays. We had the special honor of speaking with Dana Pollack, founder of Dana’s Bakery and author of the Dana’s Bakery Cookbook. 

When the pandemic broke out in 2020, Dana Pollack and her family relocated from New York City to a more spacious home in Roslyn, Long Island, hiring high-profile interior designer Cara Woodhouse Interiors for their redesign. The result is light, airy and perfect for Dana's family with one small, very deliberate, exception - the stunning barroom. 

Among the signature details in the intimate, elegant barroom are its inky black walls, black and white marble countertops, floating shelves, forest green carpeting, and wood grain-pattern wallpaper on the ceiling. Nest Studio's Glaze pulls in soft white are the perfect highlight when showcased against the bar's darker palette. Glaze is Nest Studio's signature collaboration with ceramic artist Jonathan Castro. 

“I wanted the barroom to be this very moody, dark and kind of eccentric place where we could entertain and hang out,” Pollack said. “It just felt like this space was really meant to be what it is.”

We asked Pollack to tell us more about the project and the use of Nest Studio hardware.

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Nest Studio’s stunning Glaze-02 in soft white. Photo: Brain Wetzel.

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How did your relationship with Nest Studio begin?

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I hired Cara Woodhouse to help us do our big renovation and we discovered Nest Studio through her. We started with the ceramic Glaze hardware in our barroom. She told us it was going to make the room, and I’m so glad we did it, because it really is such a statement piece in the room. That put Nest Studio on my radar, and when it came time to design our primary bathroom, I knew I wanted to do something with the hardware there as well.

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Tell us about how it was to work with Cara Woodhouse?

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Cara is now one of my best friends. She’s like a sister to me and people think we’ve known each other forever, even though we only met when I hired her for the project. I really love Cara, her attention to detail, and her way of mixing colors, shapes and patterns. I don’t think I ever would have had the confidence to do some of the bold things that we did in the house if it weren’t for her very well-thought-out process.

My house has a lot of very bold patterns and accents, yet they’ll be timeless – they’re not the kinds of things you’re going to get tired of or that will go out of style. It strikes the perfect balance, just enough without being too much.

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Why is Glaze a stylistic fit for the barroom? What do you love most about the hardware you chose?

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Cara gave us a lot of options, and Glaze was just so unique. I’d never seen anything like it before. It’s like a nice highlight and contrast because everything else in the room is so dark. It’s so light and I love the handmade details of it.

I would say the balance of light and dark both represent my personal style. I feel like I’m a mix of many different things and the house reflects that. The barroom is definitely fun and playful and, in a way, whimsical, and the bathroom is very tranquil, light and airy. I have both of these kinds of qualities. 

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Which Nest Studio collection did you choose for your bathroom and what was its impact?

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We were one of the first to use the latest collection: Tubular. It’s light but it’s very much present and adds a quiet, sophisticated statement to the space. The Glaze hardware is a moment; Tubular is a moment without being overpowering.

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 Nest Studio’s Tubular collection adds some flair to an otherwise serene bathroom. Photo by Brian Wetzel.

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The holidays are upon us. How will you be celebrating? 

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Even though we celebrate Hanukkah, I love Christmas and we’ll get a Christmas tree. We’ll have different families and friends over on different nights – it’s a great excuse to have people over.

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Have a favorite holiday tradition?

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I have daughters who are 3 and 6 years old and I enjoy getting them in the kitchen with me. They love to help and sit at the counter. I get them cooking, I let them help me chop things with special kid knives – it’s a lot of fun. They also help me in the barroom and make mocktails for themselves.

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If you could only choose one recipe from your cookbook to bake for the holidays, which would it be?

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Ooh, that’s hard! I’m going to go ahead and say the sugar cookie is so good for the holidays because it’s so easy to make and you can transform it for any occasion. You can use them for Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, birthdays and you can decorate them and make them your own. 

We also have a recipe for apple popovers, which are like individual apple pies. It’s great because apple pies can sometimes get really messy. This is almost like an empanada, but apple pie, and it’s delish. So I would say one of those two for the holidays.

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Delectable apple popovers are a family favorite for Dana and her kids. Photo: Yumi Matsuo Studio.

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When you entertain, do your guests gather in the kitchen or family room? Or perhaps in your new barroom?

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We are very much an entertaining household and I’m constantly having people over, cooking dinners and hosting holidays. It’s really all about the kitchen and the barroom. The kitchen is the perfect entertaining space with a lot of seating and the barroom is where everybody goes to get their drinks and lounge. When my husband has people over, they’re always in that room hanging out, watching the games.

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Name a cocktail you’ll be serving or enjoying over the holidays?

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I love a good Dirty Martini and Aperol Spritz. 

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Dana’s pick, an Aperol Spritz, a delicious and easy cocktail for holiday entertaining. Recipe available on our Instagram.

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Egg nog, yay or nay?

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I feel like egg nog falls into the same category as candy corn – either you love it or you hate it. And I’m down, but if you drink too much, you’re definitely getting a stomach ache. Everything in moderation, right? That’s the key. 

Wherever you're gathering in your home, Nest Studio wishes you a holiday season full of happy times with loved ones, delectable dishes and delicious drinks.