Candace Jackson just wrote an interesting piece for the Wall Street Journal about luxury, over-the-top spaces for kids. It's tempting to focus on the money being spent on these elaborate bedrooms and "teen lounges," but what I find much more interesting is the reason many parents cite for creating these teen havens at home and how it may affect kids and the family dynamic. 

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Name:

Amal

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Square Feet:

419

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

The openness of the space with the tall ceilings, as well as all the natural light that comes in through my main windows. I also love the old Victorian details with the original molding around the archways and windows. Every once in a while I have to pinch myself to remind me that, yes, this is actually my wonderful home!

The weather's getting warmer, and we want to know how our readers decorate and use their outdoor spaces. Whether you have a Juliet balcony or a rolling lawn, a shared roof deck or a wraparound porch, we want to find out about your outdoor living style. 

We teamed up with Furniture Today, the weekly trade newspaper for the furniture industry, to bring you this Outdoor Decorating Survey 2013. After submitting your answers, you'll have the opportunity to enter to win a $100 American Express gift card.* Thanks for your input and good luck in the drawing!

Take the Outdoor Living Survey and Enter to Win $100!

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Name:

Erica

Location:

Brooklyn, NY

Square Feet:

261

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

It feels like a home!

This is the smallest apartment I've ever lived in. To fit great location into my budget, I downgraded to this apartment, which is just a bit more than 1/3 the size of my previous apartment.

It is an oddly shaped teeny-tiny 2 bedroom (yes, you can call it a 2-bedroom) with the world's smallest bathroom (no tub, no sink, called the "shoilet" because you can shower and pee at the same time). Yet, I turned it into my own. I feel fun, inspired, relaxed, and happy whenever I am at home.

We're plenty familiar with Derek Chen and his work. In addition to being profiled on Apartment Therapy, he was also one of our Fall Color Judges back in 2007. While he's making the rounds to promote his newest project in collaboration with Newton Vineyard, he sat down to answer our Meet the Maker survey.

Product: Libratone Lounge
Price: $1,299.95
Rating: Recommend*

While the market is already crowded with a glut of small wireless speaker solutions, both Airplay and an even greater selection using Bluetooth to connect the audio dots, the options for larger, full-bodied sound speakers is slim. Danish audio manufacturer Libratone has waged war against small sound with a sizable flagship speaker armed with Airplay connectivity and a wooly warm exterior to match.

Of course, we've seen lots of uses for twinkle lights during the holidays, and even some great ideas for using them year round in your house. But we also love twinkle lights for kids' rooms, where you can use them to make the room a little more special, created a themed room, or even create a custom night light.

Sheex Bedding

• from $199
• Bed Bath & Beyond

Ok, I had my doubts. I am a natural fiber guy. For the past few weeks, I've been sleeping on Sheex, a "performance fabric" turned into sheets AND.... they're sorta great. Soft, cool, snuggly and cozy, I recommend giving them a spin.

Advances in technology are making excessive wires and cables slowly go the way of the buffalo but, the remote? It looks like we may be stuck with that one for a while. So if you can’t beat it, hide it! (Along with those goofy 3D glasses that seem to come along with every new TV.)