Tropical hardwoods are often used for outdoor decks because they are naturally resistant to rot and insects. Lasting up to 50 years, they're often seen as a smarter choice over less durable woods or chemically-treated lumber. Unfortunately, the ways in which these hardwoods are obtained is not always the most sustainable. That's why I was excited to learn about Black Locust, a similar wood that can be harvested more responsibly. More

Color Inspiration: Henry's room color was inspired from the vintage poster that I found at a local antique mall. The rest of our house paint is very light and neutral and I knew I wanted to go bold in Henry's small space. I have accent pops of golden yellows throughout our home which was a sure sign that I am drawn to the color.

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Color Inspiration: The first piece to go into the room was the hand-made felt dala horse mobile, which was inspired by an artist on Etsy. After three generations of women in my family helped me to make our version of it, I loved all of the colors together, so rather than shopping for items that matched, I picked up anything that I liked in those saturated gem tones. In the end, the soft gray on the wall balanced out the variety of colors going on in the room.

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Color Inspiration: The color of June Apple's room was originally painted this way when it was our bedroom and I love it even more as a nursery. I love how saturated the blue is and how every other color seems to compliment it. While the paint color might be an unlikely choice for many people, everyone who sees it, loves it!

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Color Inspiration: I've always loved pink and green together. The elephant sheets were one of the first things I bought and they were the jumping off point.

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Color Inspiration: This room was originally our guest room, and sometimes still is, so I wanted to make it bright and fun for my two year old, but not overwhelming to our guests. The floor was already blue, so I wanted something neutral but cheerful for the accent wall. I chose a pale, buttery yellow which adds warmth to the room, but doesn't compete with the floor.

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Name: Julia (4)
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ

Color Inspiration: At the tender age of 18-months, a few months before Julia's baby sister made her arrival, I moved Julia, now 4-years-old, into this room. The nursery Julia moved from was a serene, calm and muted space. I wanted to create a "big girl room" that would be colorful, fun and rooted in some history. Julia is the first American-born in our Russian immigrant family and we strive to keep her heritage alive. Many of the toys and books in her room are from my own childhood.

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Call me a hater, but the idea of sitting on a cold sidewalk outside any store in the wee hours of the morning, no matter what the deal of the minute is, sounds miserable. Plus, I'm not a fan of the big box experience, despite the fact that I do my share of business with them. The expected headlines of crowds and trampled shoppers got me to stock up on groceries and essentials early in the week so, basically, I don't have to leave my house unless I really want to. So what am I going to do while playing hermit? Lots! More

Whether your day-after-Thanksgiving is snowy, rainy, or blazing-bright, it seems like the perfect day to gaze at the calm, rich, and full-of-personality illustrations of the great Ezra Jack Keats. And if you can make it to the exhibit at San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum to gaze in person, so much the better.. More

Name: Conversation Pillows
Store: Felt & Wire Shop
Value: $215

Description: These pillows designed by Heather Lins Home are an ode to the art of conversation. Each pillow is silkscreened by hand on 100% cotton fabric with a down/feather insert. Sewn and printed in the U.S.A. Go below the fold to enter! More