The Beautiful, Functional Garden Shed of My Dreams

Like most people during the pandemic, I desperately wanted to carve out a quiet space for myself. After a long day of slinging snacks and sandwiches between my children’s virtual school lessons, I needed, even if briefly, somewhere to go. The rub was t…

Like most people during the pandemic, I desperately wanted to carve out a quiet space for myself. After a long day of slinging snacks and sandwiches between my children’s virtual school lessons, I needed, even if briefly, somewhere to go. The rub was that our two-bedroom bungalow was already maxed out with my husband working from a small office off our primary bedroom and two children taking Zoom calls from desks spread between the dining room and kitchen.

Then, a dilapidated metal shed jammed in the corner of our backyard suddenly inspired hope.

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How to Bring the French Countryside to Your Kitchen

Skirted sinks, patinated pots, chippy cabinetry—classic French kitchens are somehow both effortlessly beautiful and perfectly practical at the same time. But getting the right mix of high and low, new and old, and traditional patterns and colors takes …

Skirted sinks, patinated pots, chippy cabinetry—classic French kitchens are somehow both effortlessly beautiful and perfectly practical at the same time. But getting the right mix of high and low, new and old, and traditional patterns and colors takes more effort than meets the eye.

Laurie Furber, the co-founder of the Bay Area French antique shop Elsie Green says, “When I think of a traditional French kitchen, I think of function. My French friends have their Le Creuset, copper, and cast iron passed down through generations, and [they] keep wood, enamel and silver spoons within easy reach for cooking and tasting.”

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16 Fresh Wallpapers To Breathe New Life Into Any Space

If you’re on the hunt for a home improvement project to freshen up your space, wallpaper is the perfect project to dive into right now. Sure, it can feel like a huge commitment, but it can also be a game changer.

“There’s nothing like being immersed i…

If you’re on the hunt for a home improvement project to freshen up your space, wallpaper is the perfect project to dive into right now. Sure, it can feel like a huge commitment, but it can also be a game changer.

“There’s nothing like being immersed in a room full of wallpaper,” says Christiana Coop, co-founder of Hygge & West. One of the trends she’s seeing? Wallpapering entire spaces versus the safer accent wall. Surprisingly, people are also gravitating toward color and doubling down by painting the trim in bold, expected ways, Coop says. “It’s always interesting to see what colors they choose.”

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Why You Should Switch to Bar Soap for… Everything

Have you ever considered using a bar of soap to wash your hair? Treat laundry stains? Scrub your dishes or give your dog a bath? No? You should.

With the rise in concern over plastic consumption, bar soaps are becoming an excellent—and accessible—alte…

Have you ever considered using a bar of soap to wash your hair? Treat laundry stains? Scrub your dishes or give your dog a bath? No? You should.

With the rise in concern over plastic consumption, bar soaps are becoming an excellent—and accessible—alternative to liquid bath and body products. But substituting your daily face wash or hand soap is just the beginning. A simple concentrated bar soap can replace everything from shaving cream to an exfoliator and even—if you dare—toothpaste

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14 Essentials for a Mudroom That’s Functional & Beautiful

Mudrooms are experiencing a renaissance lately as apartment dwellers continue to move into their first houses during the pandemic. Along with laundry rooms and garden sheds, these small-but-mighty spaces are coveted for both their pure utilitarian trai…

Mudrooms are experiencing a renaissance lately as apartment dwellers continue to move into their first houses during the pandemic. Along with laundry rooms and garden sheds, these small-but-mighty spaces are coveted for both their pure utilitarian traits and all the decorating possibilities from paint and wallpaper to built-ins and banquette-style benches.

The purpose of a mudroom is to keep mud (obviously) and dirt from being tracked into the house as well as creating a catch-all station for things you grab on your way out the door—shoes, jackets, backpacks, masks, hand sanitizers, and keys. Even if you don’t have a dedicated mudroom, you can fake one with something as simple as a few wall hooks and a bench. And the best news? There's no need for essentials that are 100 percent functional but don't complement your aesthetic. In fact, we think the most utilitarian pieces should be easy on the eyes because you're using them so often.

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