A few years ago I brought some friends over to the house I grew up in. “Oh, wow!” one of them said as soon as we walked in the door. “I love these gorgeous hardwood floors!” My immediate response was, “Huh? Wow, we really do have hardwood floors!” Because, honestly, I had never noticed them […]
Coffee tables only first appeared in their current form during the mid-nineteenth century. But nowadays a coffee table is nearly as indispensable to a sitting room as a sofa. Whether or not you actually plan to use yours to hold coffee isn’t important. They are trendy, all-purpose surfaces to build a room around. Style and […]
Do you look forward to showers? I know I do. A hot shower (or a cold one, in weather like this) is a luxury I try not to take for granted. In our busy lives, though, carving out a moment to make the most of small pleasures can be difficult. That’s why it is definitely […]
With most of your decorating endeavors, chances are you will begin building your style around a large piece of furniture–a couch, a table, a bed, etc. It all depends on what the room is meant for. If you’re anything like me, smaller details can slip your mind. But the pieces in between are really no less […]
This summer is a sizzler, and if you live anywhere in the continental United States you’ll be aware that spending any serious time outside during daylight hours has basically become unbearable. Bad news for fitness buffs. The heat and humidity can turn any workout from bracing to torturous, even dangerous. And summer isn’t even half over […]
Let’s get really basic for a second here. Color is one of the first things most of us consider when picking out, well, anything. We might find the perfect pair of shoes or style of jeans, but if they are in an ugly or unpleasant color, we pass them over. And even if they are a […]
Some things just go together, you know? Milk and cookies, peanut butter and chocolate, tea and scones. Also, the harmonious balance of midcentury modern decor: a trendy blend of traditional and contemporary aesthetics. In the lean economic conditions of the last few years, many people are seeing the appeal of the simplicity and practicality of design […]
What do you think of when you hear the phrase ‘dining room?’ An unexplored, shadowy place you only air out for Thanksgiving? The good china you only dust off for company? There is just something about dark wood and stylized, throne-like chairs that can make a dining room awkward to use. Luckily, the times they are […]
Consider how involved a remodel can be, decorating a bathroom can be an arduous process. You will be asking questions like shower or bath? Mosaic tile or checkered? Should the curtains match the soap dispenser? What kind of sink? The last one is easy enough to answer: if you want to maximize your space and amp up your […]
Cushions have existed for millennia; the ancients were well-equipped when it came to lounging. But it wasn’t until the Renaissance that someone had the groundbreaking idea of outfitting a bench with a permanent cushion. And thus the comfy and fantastic creation the sofa came into being. Couches are now the centerpiece of almost every modern living […]