When most people envision their dream home, they describe large kitchens, beautiful hardwood floors and clawfoot tubs. But not John Hay. In the mid-1980s, Hay – founder of the Celestial Seasonings Tea Company and great-great grandson of U.S. Secretary of
Whale Watch From Any of This Home’s 3 Rooftop Decks
The Olympic Mountains. The Strait of Georgia. The shoreline of Victoria, Canada. And maybe a pod of orcas, if you’re lucky. You can see all of that (and much more) from one of this home’s three rooftop decks. Located on
Personalize Your Space With a DIY Gallery Wall
Blending interior design styles with a roommate or partner is all about including personal touches and pinpointing a shared interest or aesthetic. The floor-to-ceiling gallery wall we created for a special couple on the West Coast is a perfect example.
This Home Looks Like a Barn (But Has Enough Room to Be a Small Castle)
Like many married couples, the Clarks have a lot in common: a last name, a first name (they’re both Kelly) and an affinity for wide-open spaces – which inspired them to build a 10,000-square-foot barn-style home on 30 acres of
5 Tips to Declutter Your Closet in a Day
I recently had a closet collapse. I came home from a day at the office to find heaps of what had been neatly hung, color-coordinated clothes in one giant, messy mound on the floor. Worse than picking up the pieces
5 New Year’s Resolutions That Can Help You Buy a Home
Thinking of buying a home this year? We compiled five New Year’s resolutions that can help you keep your financial resume in tiptop shape. 1. Avoid job hopping Employment history and income are two of the biggest factors lenders look
9 Tips for Achieving Maximum Coziness
As winter plods along, you may wish you could just hibernate until spring. But there is, indeed, joy to be found in the quieter months of the year. While the trend may have come and gone in the U.S., the
Home Organization: Embracing Order in the New Year
For many people, the new year represents a clean slate and brings a renewed sense of possibility and enthusiasm. It’s a wonderful time to get your home organized in anticipation of the busy months ahead. Effective storage solutions and organization
Chic Holiday DIY: Fragrant Herb Chandelier and Custom Treat Bags
Holiday entertaining is all about one-of-a-kind decor, and we’ve got some show-stopping looks that you can make yourself. You don’t have to be an expert crafter to accomplish these easy DIY projects. Creating a custom hanging herb chandelier and dessert
The Secret to No-Fuss Holiday Decor? Use What You Already Have
Hold your holiday decor horses! Before you purchase gobs of tinsel and piles of twinkle lights, take another look at items you already have – they may be the holiday embellishment you’ve been looking for. By hunting through your cabinets
5 Easy Improvements to Get Your Home Guest-Ready for the Holidays
Hosting a holiday gathering can be a lot of fun, but perhaps a bit intimidating, too. You want your house to look its best, but now isn’t the time to undertake any major updates. Chances are, you’re busy enough get
How to Decorate Simply for the Holidays (With Big Impact)
You may have dreams of decorating your home like it’s a display window at a fancy department store, but then reality strikes: You’ve still got gift shopping and wrapping to do, holiday parties to attend and host … not to
This Isn’t Your Average Woodland Cottage
“We spend so much of our lives in boxes,” says Alexis Borsboom, owner of this cottage nestled among the trees on Mayne Island, BC. The unique shape is just one reason she and her husband moved in. The rest of
How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America
Home buyers today face tough challenges – housing prices have soared, a dollar doesn’t go as far as it once did and rent is more expensive than the past. How are people today making such a large purchase despite these
4 Ways to Cozy Up Your Kitchen for Fall
The season has changed, and so follows your home decor. Decorating for the chillier fall months means incorporating warm and inviting colors and textures into your home’s interior design, specifically in the kitchen. Try these four tips to create a cozier
Step Inside the Castle a Dad Promised to His Son
Many kids dream of owning their own castle, but John Lavender – owner, designer and builder of the Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing, New York – made his son Jason’s childhood fantasy a reality. After telling his (then) 3-year-old son
7 Perfect Kitchen Upgrades for a New Look Without Remodeling
Kitchen renovations require time and money, often taking several months to complete and costing tens of thousands of dollars. If you don’t have the financial resources for a full-on renovation, there are a variety of ways you can give your
Enter If You Dare: Inside a Real-Life Haunted House
With no city lights for miles, The Pillars Estate stands alone in the darkest of nights. Inside, guests are greeted by dim candlelight, a windy staircase and a gentleman from Scotland. Tony McMurtrie purchased the Civil War-era estate in Albion, NY when it
How to Throw the Perfect Pumpkin-Carving Party
Nothing says Halloween like carved pumpkins, festive treats and fun costumes. Try these tips for throwing the perfect pumpkin-carving party with all your friends. 1. Create a casual atmosphere Head out to the backyard, set up a few long folding
This Studio Came From a Feed Store
A California couple decided to move east and preserve this Tyringham, Massachusetts, studio. Decades before that, it was a studio of a different kind. In the 1920s, a local sculptor converted his backyard silo – originally purchased as a kit
Is Your Home Trying to Kill You?
Home is where you feel comfortable and safe. It’s where you tuck your kids into bed and lazily watch hours of Netflix on the couch. Without your care and vigilance, however, your home may develop conditions that can make you
What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?
Pests are everywhere, and having a few in your home is pretty much inevitable. But knowledge is power when it comes to critters, says Dr. Nancy Troyano, director of technical education and training at Rentokil Pest Control. When you know
Getting Your Home Ready for Trick-or-Treaters
As we settle into fall, many of us start looking forward to Halloween. It’s a holiday adults can enjoy as much as kids. But, homeowners do have one serious obligation on this fun night: If you expect trick-or-treaters, you must
12 Tasks to Tackle This Fall
The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. The kids are trudging off to school again with their backpacks, and leaves are falling from the trees. Yep, it’s official: Fall is here. Now’s the time to finish