As the economy continues to putter along, city dwellers are finding cheaper ways to live. While some have decided to move out of the city, others have decided to move below it. Once considered dark and undesirable, English basement apartments are now appealing to those who want to stay conveniently located in the city with a smaller budget. English basements may now be attracting thrifty professionals, but that doesn't change the fact that they're still dark. Here are a few tips on how to make an underground apartment livable and bright. More

Q: I am looking for some nice cafe curtains to hang in my kitchen (as cupboard doors, not windows). I'd like a really pretty fabric, or else an eyelet cotton, but I'm having a hard time finding something handmade. Does anyone know of an Etsy store offhand that offers this? And I have zero sewing ability, so making them myself is out of the question. Any recommendations would be great!

Sent by Alicia More

Insta-wallpaper for renters? I've loved Shaker peg rails for a long time, especially because they are so multi-purpose. BUT I'd never known that the Shakers also used them during the winter to help cut down on drafts. This is a really cool design feature — hanging "wall-curtains" were hung from the peg rails in bedrooms during the colder seasons. More

I confess — I'm head over heels for all things linen! Be it lampshades, curtains, or slipcovers, I'll take it in any form. Simply put, there is no comparison to the nubby texture, yet soft and supple feel of linen. More

We're continually impressed with the useful reader-to-reader feedback in our Good Questions. Today we can share the outcome of a recent Good Question from Ashleigh looking for ways to decorate canvas drop cloth curtains for her classroom. She received some wonderful suggestions and you can see the beautiful outcome above!

More

We love checking out the home section at shops with good online availability such as Urban Outfitters and West Elm because the stock is constantly rotating. Check out some of the newest selections available online:

More

Cathy Pack actually used to be a neighbor of mine in Echo Park (who, unfortunately, I never officially met). I only happened upon her website because another friend of mine forwarded it along with a note that I might be interested — and I definitely am! More

Drapes and shades are some of our favorite things to design, but truth be told, they aren't necessary in every space. Here are some rooms that benefit from a conspicuous lack of treated window. More

We recently moved into a new place where the previous tenant had contact-papered the bathroom windows, and a stubborn layer of glue just doesn't want to come off. We've been looking into more easily removable window films, and we've found a bunch of options — from inexpensive to pricey, basic to baroque. More

We recently came across a peek into Architect Rebecca Rudolph and Designer Colin Thompson's home. They've recently remodeled their self described "tear down" and morphed it into a much larger and inviting space. With the renovation came more space and more windows &mdash which is great, but also a challenge. More