Allie M. Harper

Consider this a window of opportunity to get it right.

Warning: Dangerously stunning curves ahead.

"Finding the perfect menorah for your home and family is so, so personal."

There’s an episode of Sex and the City called “A Woman’s Right to Shoes.” In it, Carrie Bradshaw announces her marriage to herself and registers for a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes (I know it sounds quite ridiculous, but it makes sense in the context of the story, I promise). I wasn’t married when it first aired—but I remember thinking what a genius idea it was.

I’m not a person who has had my wedding mapped out since I was a little girl. So when it came time to plan my recent nuptials, I didn’t really know where to begin. Sure, there were lots of virtual visits to Etsy and Pinterest for table numbers, bridesmaid gifts, décor ideas, hair and makeup. But what about the gift registry? Where do we register and what do we register for?

Here’s why I propose everyone have at least one cocktail ottoman in their lifetime (and why I should take my own advice): Every night, I sit down on my sofa and I put my feet up on my wood coffee table. It’s hard as a rock, and it certainly does not offer a comfy spot to cushion my heels which leads me to clear the table top to make room for a pillow so I can finally be comfortable.

It doesn’t take much to turn around a bedroom that you feel you don’t have the energy or funds to fully tackle. Simple bedding (white is always a winner) goes a long way to freshen things up, and a nicely styled nightstand picks up where linens leave off. Here are some fresh ideas for sprucing up your nightstand, pulled from our House Tours. As noted in this past post about the benefits of fresh cuts, “living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm.

To someone like me—a person who has an appreciation for design but lacks the vision—the task seemed impossible. We asked three designers to take four items given to them in a “secret basket” that they might never have chosen on their own and turn them into a cohesive design that spoke to their signature style.

And if your grandma has a bed like this, then she's pretty okay in our book.

Yellow. It’s sunny, cheerful, full of life, and just all around happy. So when you use it on your interiors, chances are you’ll be bringing some of these attributes into your home. Wrap your walls with it, upholster your chairs, or use it sparingly in your artwork. Whether you’re looking to make a bold, vibrant statement or evoke an understated warmth, yellow is a sure-fire stop on the color wheel.

Want to see the world through rose-colored glasses? Take a peek at these beautiful blushing interiors.

Having the blues isn’t always a bad thing. Just look at these awesome interiors. From Picasso’s Blue Period and Yves Klein’s invention of International Klein Blue to the modern-day fascination with indigo-dyed shibori fabrics and a revived appreciation for Chinese ginger jars, blue has proven to be a classic color that will never go out of style.

Showering, shaving, putting on makeup, removing makeup, brushing teeth, trimming beards—we spend a lot of our days in the bathroom. With all that time spent there, it should be a place where you feel comfortable and happy. It’s a room that should reflect your personality and aesthetic, but when two people share the same bathroom, it might be hard to keep them both happy if they have opposing styles.

Project by: Jessica Preston of colour+ shape Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom Jessica Preston’s design firm is called colour + shape. And she’s not kidding. She turned a 1960s Cambridge, England bungalow into a vibrant, contemporary showpiece exploding with color and personality.

When I first met my husband and would visit him at his apartment, it felt like I was hanging out in a college dorm room. He was very neat and tidy and everything had its place (thank goodness), but we were surrounded by “Kill Bill” movie posters and the bedspread reminded me of Zack Morris’ from “Saved By The Bell” circa 1992. When we decided to move in together, I wondered how this worked.

I once bought a painting that seemed to be everything I had been looking for in a long search for art to hang above my sofa. I specifically wanted a blue-and-purple watercolor and was overjoyed when I found just the piece. But when I brought it home, in the different light of my living room, against the color of my walls, suddenly the blue and purple weren’t the right shade of blue and purple, and the large painting wasn’t as oversized as it should have been for the space.

Everyone wants to know the secret to happiness. There are countless books about its pursuit—films, TED talks, Harvard studies. People spend their whole lives in search of it. And all along the people of Denmark have had the answer. We’ve all heard and said that it’s “the little things in life,” but the Danish way of living subscribes to this notion so whole-heartedly that there’s even a word for it: hygge.

Sure, there’s the requisite nativity scene, the ornaments that have been passed down from your great-grandparents, and the Griswold family inspired display of twinkling lights outside. But sometimes all you need is a trip to the grocery store to deck out your house for the holidays (especially if you’ve been procrastinating putting anything up!).

Project by: Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design Location: London, United Kingdom When a bachelor musician approached Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design to transform his East London home into a warm, inviting retreat, it was music to the designer’s ears. Playing off the bones of the house, she incorporated industrial nods throughout, seen in brick walls and Edison bulb light fixtures.

It’s indisputably the best time of the year—the season for spending time with loved ones, giving to those who are in need, and, of course, festive decorating and fêting. The latter part, well, it can sometimes creep up on you and throw some unwanted stress your way, particularly if you want everything to be just right.

In case you missed it, Benjamin Moore announced its Color of the Year for 2017. Shadow 2117-30, a deep purple that can lean more toward a smokey charcoal or a lighter violet depending on the light, came out on top for the paint brand. In honor of the celebrated hue, we’ve put together four different palettes that work with a deep, rich purple so that, no matter your taste, you’ll be tempted to incorporate the in-style shade somewhere in your home.

Project by: Carrie McCall of CKM Home Design Location: New York, New York Springtime in Central Park year-round? Yes, please! Good thing Carrie McCall of CKM Home Design figured out how to give one homeowner just that with a large-scale cherry blossom mural right next to a floor-to-ceiling window.