So many new trends coming our way for 2020. It’s been exciting to watch design ideas evolve. See what’s coming in new designs from colors and furniture to flooring and surfaces. Every year, we gather our panel of design experts to discuss what are some of the hottest design trends. In 2020, expect to see […]
décor
The Family Room — Home Theater and More
Those wireless devices and the flat-screen TV you own are pretty cool, but your grandparents and great-grandparents were pretty cool in their day too. In the early 1900s, they listened to the top pop tunes of the day on the technological marvel of the time, the phonograph. (Shoppers checking out the Edison Phonograph in 1906 […]
Canisters With a Twist
It might seem that the subject of kitchen canisters would be a piece of cake — big, cute containers everyone has. But like usual, the story became complicated as I was drawn into the world of complacency, as far as everyday kitchen items. Like the catch-all utensil drawer or the coffee maker used every day […]
From the Ashes
The smoke alarm never sounded. One minute Cynthia Allen was working on her laptop; the next, smoke was rising into the room. A faulty light fixture in the basement below turned Allen’s quiet day of work into panic, loss and more than a year of displacement and decision-making. That day in November 2016, when Allen […]
Best Bet for Visiting Italy? The Off-Season
Ah, Italy! Ancient ruins, century-old churches and basilicas, wonderful restaurants and markets, picture-book scenery, canals, rolling hills, vineyards as far as the eye can see, boutique wineries and friendly people. What’s not to like? Well, it all depends on when you go. If you choose the high season — roughly April through October — you’re […]
3 Best Home Improvement Projects for Winter
During the winter months, the best home improvement projects are those that involve indoor upgrades and focus on small details, which can make a big difference in how a room looks and feels. Winter is a particularly good time for kitchen, bathroom and laundry room remodeling because of the greater seasonal availability of both materials […]
Deck the Halls at a Winter Greens Party
Winter brings long, dark days, and historically humans have found ways to chase away the darkness. The tradition of festooning homes with evergreen boughs, berries and cones dates back to pagan times. In Europe, pre-Germanic people gathered evergreens because they are sturdy, last long and stay green until spring. Using natural winter berries for color […]
How to Win the Holidays with a Sentimental Touch
Need a few ideas for your holiday décor? Here are four ideas for adding a sentimental touch to your festivities using your favorite photos — or use these ideas for inspiration when you’re planning your next celebration. Set the “menu.” We all look forward to gathering around the dinner table with our friends and loved […]
Bearadise — An Enchanting Garden in the Forest
A passion for gardening is often passed down from generation to generation, and for Dorene Fretwell, that is certainly true. Fretwell has been a certified Master Gardener since 2007 and has used her horticulture knowledge, creativity and intuition to create a beautiful woodland garden at her home in Seabeck. “My love of gardening started with […]
