Open suitcase with a striped shirt, sun hat, sandals, blue bag, and tennis balls on a pink background.
Why You Should Always Travel with a Tennis Ball
When packing for a trip, you probably include a change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on — in case your luggage gets lost — along with a travel pillow, moisturizer, good reading material, and a layer if it’s cold on the plane. But there’s one other item that doesn’t take up much space, and can get you to your destination feeling fresh and nimble. A long-haul flight spent cramped in an airplane seat is a recipe for sore muscles and stiff joints.
Apr 18, 2018
IKEA’s Latest Collaboration Is Designed To Display — Not Hide — Your Stuff
When we think of storage, it’s usually about hiding our belongings from view. But not everything is meant to be stashed away and out of sight. IKEA’s latest limited edition collection is about showing off your stuff and putting your unique style on display. IKEA teamed up with Los Angeles based fashion designer Chris Stamp of Stampd to create SPÄNST. The collection embodies what it means to organize and display our favorite and most prized possessions.
Apr 18, 2018
Before and After: This $7K IKEA Kitchen is a Serious Stunner
She knew what she wanted, and she got it for a great price.
Apr 18, 2018
6 Celebrities Living in Enviable Mid-Century Modern Homes
We’ve all heard that everything old is new again. That’s why it’s no wonder that some of Hollywood’s biggest names avidly embrace the unique world of Mid-Century Modern architecture. Whether they’re frequent house flippers or just design obsessed, here’s a roundup of stars with excellent taste who have snagged some of the country’s most exquisite Mid-Century designs.
Apr 18, 2018
This Hand-Painted, Patterned Farmhouse Is Drenched in Color
Name: Kristin Nicholas. I live here with my husband Mark and teenage daughter Julia Location: Western Massachusetts Size: 3500 square feet Years lived in: 20 years, owned Our home was built in 1751 in western Massachusetts on a south facing knoll. It sits alongside an abandoned apple orchard that backs up to a small mountain populated with all kinds of wildlife. In the orchard during the growing season, our flock of sheep and lambs graze and rest, graze and sleep.
Apr 17, 2018
This Writer-Inspired Tiny House Is Perfect For Book Lovers
The latest tiny dwelling from New Frontier Tiny Homes just might inspire you to downsize – and write a few best-selling books in the process. Named the Cornelia after internationally renowned children’s author Cornelia Funke, the tiny house serves a three-in-one purpose as a writing studio, guest house and library. In addition to being comfortable and cozy, the Cornelia also features luxe design elements and amenities, a staple of New Frontier’s tiny homes.
Apr 17, 2018
This Home May Be the Tropical Boho Bungalow of Your Dreams
Name: Kelli Collins, husband Tony, two daughters Lindy and Mallory and dog Sage Location: Viera, Florida Size: 1740 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Kelli and her husband Tony bought this 20-year-old Ranch-style house on Florida’s “Space Coast” sight unseen. “In fact, when I asked our realtor if she’d buy it, she told me that it has good bones but really white walls. That wasn’t a problem for me!” writes Kelli.
Apr 17, 2018
5 Minutes on This (Free) Site Will Shrink Your Airbnb Regret
Airbnb is awesome – until it’s not. Ten years in, face it, it’s still a leap of faith as a traveler to go stay in a stranger’s home. You roll the dice and could land in a place that makes all your dreams come true — I’ve found some absolute treasures like that. Or maybe it’s not horrible but it’s a boring corporate rental.
Apr 17, 2018
You’ll Never Believe this Paris Apartment is only 194 Square Feet
When I saw the pictures of this apartment I immediately knew who the designer was, because only one person could make an apartment this small look this good. Parisian designer Marianne Evennou specializes in turning tiny apartments into tiny, perfect jewel boxes, and this little space, measuring a mere 18 square meters (or 194 square feet) is no exception. When you walk in the apartment’s front door, the first space you enter is the hallway.
Apr 17, 2018
Why Can’t You Recycle Glass Anymore?
Back in the day (maybe sometime in the ’90s, depending on where you lived) you used to have to separate all your recycling. Paper in one bin, glass and plastic in another. Then single-stream recycling, as it’s called, came along and helped even reluctant residents jump on the recycling bandwagon. So today, without a thought, we can toss all our recyclables into a single bin.
Apr 17, 2018
The Genius Reason To Put Nail Polish on Your Window Screens
Is it nice enough where you live to open the windows yet? There’s nothing like warm, fresh spring air flowing through your previously closed-up house. Of course, then the bugs come. Because, no matter how much you enjoy those cross-breezes, insects will eventually, inevitably make their way through any teeny tiny holes in your screens, and there goes all your enjoyment out the window. Here’s some good news!
Apr 16, 2018
The Wallpaper-Covered Brooklyn Home of Studio Four NYC’s Founder Kate Reynolds
Name: Kate Reynolds with her husband Rem and their two sons Bobby and Oscar Location: Windsor Terrace — Brooklyn, NYC Size: 3,150 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Kate Reynolds really loves textiles. As one of the founding partners of Studio Four NYC, she—along with the rest of the company—”shine a light on the stories behind textile, wallpaper and rug design.
Apr 16, 2018
Every ’90s Kid Will Remember These Totally Rad Home Decor Items
Whether you’re watching the latest television reboot or liking the latest retro #TBT on your timeline, nostalgia for the ’90s is at an all time high. While the pop culture love fest for the decade rages on, let’s take a look back at some of the craziest decorating trends that will give any 90s kid a truly rad blast from the past. Maybe the ’90s should have been known as the see-through decade. Transparency was totally in when it came to home decor.
Apr 16, 2018
A Thrift Store Junkie’s Wild, One-of-a-Kind 1920s House Reno
Name: Virginia Chamlee, my boyfriend, Tom, and our 13-year-old dog, Chloe Location: Jacksonville, Florida Size: 1767 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, first-time homebuyer Tom (my boyfriend), Chloe (our lab-shepherd mix) and I purchased our home and moved in roughly seven months ago. In the time since, we’ve gutted the kitchen, painted just about every surface in the home, hung dozens of pieces of art, and even ridden out a hurricane.
Apr 16, 2018
This Tiny Home is Only 238 Square Feet But Packed to the Brim With Interior Design
The whole point of a tiny home is to cut down on size, but still have an optimal living space, right? Many tiny home designers have to get creative when making the layout of their home. But they don’t always manage to include interior designs that everyone would enjoy. Not this little coastal tiny home, though. The Coastal Craftsman has got you covered on the interior design vibes.
Apr 15, 2018
Before and After: This $700 Kitchen Redo is the Stuff Rental Dreams Are Made Of
This builder-standard kitchen’s strength lies in its plainness: there might not be a ton here to flip over, but there’s not really anything to be put off by either. Fortunately, this kitchen’s new renter found a way to play up its strength and minimize its flaws—and all for only $700!
Apr 15, 2018
Move Aside Mudcloth: This is The New “It” Home Textile
Perhaps you’ve currently got a piece of mudcloth casually draped over the foot of your bed or the edge of your sofa. It’s probably been happily living there, undisturbed, for a couple of years without so much as a second thought. You might be surprised to learn, however, that a new fabric is taking the design world by storm. If you haven’t heard of cactus silk, allow us to introduce you.
Apr 15, 2018
A Jewelry Designer’s Pretty Nest in Vermont
Name: Tamar Frenkel-Schechner of Nest Pretty Things, husband, two of my adult sons (temporarily), and our cat Location: Shelburne, Vermont Size: 1200 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned I’m a New Yorker originally but lived in Israel for most of my life, and in NYC for years when I attended Parsons School of Design in the early ’80s; my husband and I moved to Vermont from Tel Aviv in 2005.
Apr 15, 2018
These Chic Cat Beds Will Give Your Kitty a Fancier Room Than You
If your cat lives a fancier life than you do, then they deserve a bed from Meyou Paris to match their style. These beds aren’t for basic little kitties. You’re going to be so jealous of these chic beds, you are going to want one for yourself. Have you ever wanted to take a nap in your cat’s bed? These furry little felines always have the cutest beds! If you’re looking for a chic cat bed that will fit in with your open concept home and modern space, look no further.
Apr 14, 2018
This Etsy Store Is The Ultimate IKEA Hack
No nails, hammers or paint required.
Apr 14, 2018
Before and After: A Whirlwind Weekend Bathroom Renovation
This windowless bathroom was a bit drab and dated, and over the course of just one weekend, it was transformed into a light and bright space. Oh, the power of a coat of paint and some new fixtures! That horizontal picture didn’t show much, so here’s a full-length shot, with a description of the pre-refresh situation from Genevieve Claire of Vieve Claire: The walls and ceiling were painted with a caramel colour making the bathroom look and feel outdated.
Apr 14, 2018
The Wing’s New D.C. Location Is Stunning, Historical, and More Important Than Ever
Popular women’s co-working space, The Wing, has officially begun its (highly anticipated) seven-city expansion. The first stop? The historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. As a former place of residence for the co-founders, D.C. made a natural fit as the first new location outside New York City limits. “I’ve lived here in D.C.
Apr 13, 2018
10 Ways to Fake a Window Seat Even as a Renter
Nothing speaks to my bookworm heart as much as window seat, but, as a renter, I thought my dreams of a window seat would have to wait. Apparently other renters felt the same. These clever folks DIY-ed their cozy nooks and now we can all have a reading haven! Note that most of the window seat DIYs out there aren’t “from scratch” but start with IKEA products as a base.
Apr 13, 2018
Check Out This Missile Silo Turned Condo Building
If the last year has made you think the end of days might actually be nigh, you aren’t alone — and it’s no longer just the tinfoil-hat-wearing crowd, either. Luxury doomsday condos are now a thing. If you have a few million to invest and a fear of the apocalypse, either caused by mankind’s folly or natural phenomena, luxury property developers like Larry Hall have just the condos of your preparedness dreams.
Apr 13, 2018
A Succulent Seller’s Studio Is 300 Square Feet of Simple, Sweet & Pink
Name: Lauren Williams and cat Levi Location: Fort Greene — Brooklyn, NY Size: 300 square feet Years lived in: 7 months, renting My little studio is inhabited by Levi (the cat) and me. I’m a fashion designer with a pottery/cactus side hustle and Levi is a professional cutie pie. Levi’s been with me since college (RISD) and has traveled around with me between Providence, Long Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn. She is key to making every place I move to feel like home.
Apr 13, 2018
The One Thing Your Small Space Needs From IKEA’s New Releases
If you’re dealing with organizing a small space, it’s highly likely that at some point, you’ll be hitting up your nearest IKEA. And thankfully, the Swedish retailer recently released a real workhorse of a system for diminutive dwellings. We’re expecting to see this one thing in many a cramped kitchen very soon. The sage advice when you’re short on floor space is to maximize your walls. And the new KUNGSFORS series is definitely here to help with that.
Apr 12, 2018
7 IKEA Staples I Still Have (and Love!) 10 Years Later
Some are long retired, but some are still there on the shelves for you to take them home right now. Make sure you're ready for the commitment!
Apr 12, 2018
Life Lessons from 8 Homes 400 Square Feet & Under
The incredible thing about super small homes is their genius isn’t limited to their square feet. A space might be tiny, but it can teach you a lot. Constraint sparks creativity, after all. All of these homes are 400 square feet and under…and the folks who live in them have advice to share.
Apr 12, 2018
Only Have One Minute to Spring Clean the Bathroom? One Hour? Try These Tricks
This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Nobody really likes cleaning, do they? I’m a home editor and I don’t even like cleaning. I enjoy having a clean home, of course.
Apr 12, 2018
This Modular Furniture Is Made From Giant LEGO-Like Blocks
The brightly hued building blocks from our childhood famously known as LEGOs have inspired many a design, from bridges to storage options and even accessories for real-life homes. So it’s not at all shocking to see that this collection of modular plastic blocks from Everblock is perfectly suitable for a grownup’s decorative aesthetic. Now, whether you choose to transform these blocks into a stunning bookshelf, a table or even a customized room divider is totally up to you.
Apr 11, 2018
This Loft in a Restored Firehouse Is Fearlessly Decorated
Name: Bailey Li of Bailey Li Interiors Location: The Valley Arts District — Orange, New Jersey Size: 670 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting I love the idea of residing in a restored firehouse that is now used as a live/work art gallery that houses a group of creatives from different mediums! It’s like living in a piece of history that is birthing a new story.
Apr 11, 2018
A Pro’s Take on How to Avoid Buying Fake Antiques
It’s finally springtime, and if you’re an antiques lover like me, that means it’s antique market season. What a glorious feeling to be weeding your way through Brimfield Market or Les Puces de Saint-Ouen and coming across an alluring oil painting of someone 300 years older than you, or pair of Marcel Breuer Wassily Chairs that are just worn-in enough? It’s love at first sight and you have already begun mentally refinancing your mortgage to bring those babies home.
Apr 11, 2018
Clever Small-Space Ideas From a Super Functional 269-Square-Foot Apartment
Any way you slice it, 269 square feet is just not a lot of space. But thanks to a clever design, and lots of smart storage solutions, this small Japanese apartment manages to fit in everything that’s needed for living comfortably—and look good doing it. Here’s how. Open shelving can be a nice way to display your stuff, or keep things you need within easy reach, but it’s not always the best choice for small spaces.
Apr 11, 2018
Tavi Gevinson’s Brooklyn Apartment Is Just As Cool As You’d Guess
Name: Tavi Gevinson Location: 300 Ashland — Fort Greene, Brooklyn Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Almost everything in Tavi Gevinson’s one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment has a story. “That’s really special,” the 21-year-old repeats often as I point something out or pick it up. I ask, for instance, about the fleece blanket splayed across her bed. Here’s how its story goes: she printed a customizable blanket from Walmart.
Apr 11, 2018
Before and After: A Bold $230 Rental Bathroom Redo
This rental powder room has bright white walls, interesting art, enviable jewelry displays, and very nice fixtures, but there’s just something missing. What could it be? STRIPES! The answer is stripes. This bathroom is now so bold and glamorous. I love the way the wallpaper highlights the interesting ceiling, and the way the lampshade echoes the shape of the skirt in the illustration.
Apr 11, 2018
Partner
This Free Tool Will Replace Every Notebook You’ve Ever Bought
I first started using Trello a couple years ago. It’s a project management app (for desktop and mobile), but it’s way more visual and fun to use than any others I’ve seen. Once it got all my work projects together, I quickly realized it could be useful for way more: all my home project planning, to-do lists…really anything I find myself writing down or pinning or bookmarking or emailing to myself or group-texting about. Which is to say, everything. And it’s free!
Apr 11, 2018
Green Beauty Product Makers Share a Bohemian-Inspired Holistic Family Home
Name: Dominique and Syeed Harris and their four kids Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee Size: 2958 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Our home is a 1960 Georgian Colonial that we have enjoyed since closing in December on our anniversary in 2016. We love taking our time purchasing furniture for all rooms in the home, we love to get a sense, a feeling and we are striving to only include pieces that speak to us, that we love. Our family is a lively bunch.
Apr 11, 2018
The Space Second-Time Homebuyers Want More Than a Living Room
Nearly 3 of 4 house hunters call it "essential."
Apr 10, 2018
The $1 Kitchen Storage Trick That Might Save Your Plates
If you’re a practical person and invested in high quality tableware in classic white, good for you! Your dinner guests will have to look long and hard to spy those tiny chips your plates may have accumulated over the years. For the rest of us who opted for brightly colored vintage dishes that we have to constantly protect with our lives — we need all the help we can get to keep our priceless pieces looking pristine. So what help do we offer? What ingenious tip have we? Ready for it?
Apr 10, 2018
Before and After: A 10-Day, $2300 IKEA Kitchen Makeover
This kitchen, submitted by reader Claire-Anne, underwent a huge transformation without a huge renovation budget. As you’ll see, the new space has so much more personality and flair than before, but it still has something in common with the old: IKEA. If you’ve ever wondered how to update old AKURUM cabinets with new SEKTION doors, here’s your answer.
Apr 10, 2018
Partner
Win: A Customized Comfort Sleeper Sofa
Prize: A customized Sleeper Sofa from American Leather (your choice of finishes!) From: American Leather Value: $4,999 Even if you only read fashion magazines in airport gift shops, you’ve seen those “Day to Night” photo spreads that show you how to turn what you wore to the office this morning into an elegant ensemble for after-dark.
Apr 10, 2018
A Brooklyn-Based Artist’s Home Is Awesomely Honest and Humorous
Name: Adam J. Kurtz and Mitchell Kuga Location: South Williamsburg — Brooklyn, NY Size: Literally not sure I think around 650 square feet ????
Apr 9, 2018
Why You Should Always Steal the Shower Cap From the Hotel
Who among us hasn’t snatched a tiny hotel toiletry (or 10) in our time? Let she without blame cast the first miniature moisturizer bottle. For the record, though, why would they leave them out if they didn’t want you to take them? We say keep growing your collection. And while you’re at it, make you don’t forget the most underrated of items: the humble hotel shower cap. You may be wondering, “But, why? Like, why?
Apr 9, 2018
Before and After: This Makeover Comes With a Multi-Purpose IKEA Storage Bed Hack
What a nice bedroom! What will it have that’s new? Fresh bedding and/or wall paint? Or perhaps something a bit more dramatic . . . and even dog-friendly? This is so fun! And incredibly practical: additional storage, a nest-like reading/sleeping spot, a large mirror for outfit-evaluating and space embiggening, and a lovely new home for Deacon the dog. This makeover was created by Erica Massey—be sure to check out her Instagram for lots of puppy pics.
Apr 9, 2018
Live Like an Architect in this Modern Country House in Connecticut
Fleeing the city for views of trees instead of skyscrapers doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a love of streamlined, forward-thinking design. This Connecticut escape offers a respite from the city and the chance to live like an architect.
Apr 9, 2018
A Mid-Century “Modern Moroccan Mountain” Catskills Cabin
Name: Meagan Mullens Location: Wurtsboro, New York Size: 1100 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned I’ve lived in NYC for the past 17 years. And as soon as I discovered that you can drive just an hour and half north of the city and be in the mountains, I was hooked. I started off renting places all around the Catskills/Hudson Valley and Berkshires. And I always thought to myself… “I should just buy a place.” But of course that seemed like just a pipe dream.
Apr 9, 2018
This Plain Off-The-Grid Bunker Has a Gorgeous Vacation Home Hiding Inside
How many times did your mom tell you to “never judge a book by its cover” when you were growing up? Well, as silly as that might have sounded when you were a kid, it is 100% true and this vacation home in Arizona is proof of that. This bunker might seem plain on the outside, but it is gorgeous on the inside. In Arizona’s San Rafael Valley sits Casa Caldera, an off-the-grid, self-sustaining home.
Apr 8, 2018
The Story of How the Magical ‘Museum of Ice Cream’ Came to Life
Anyone who’s scrolled through Instagram in the past year or so might have spotted someone knees-deep in a pool full of sprinkles. If you’ve thought “what on earth is this magical land where you can swim in millions of rainbow Jimmies?,” here’s the answer: the Museum of Ice Cream. It’s part-playground, part-“museum,” and 100% FOMO inducing.
Apr 7, 2018