Designer Mary Maney has updated countless kitchens for clients over the years. That gave her plenty of time and experience to dream up the right features and materials to improve her own aging kitchen. Maney wanted to bring a traditional look to her suburban Tudor-style home, as well as brighten things...

As the season shifts from summer to fall, high-impact planting pairings can effectively add fall color to garden beds. Check nurseries for fall-blooming perennials that are just beginning to bud (rather than those in full bloom) and for colors that really pop when planted in containers and garden...

Few things can cure the post-summer-vacation blues like a relaxing soak in a bathtub. For the ultimate spa-like experience, you’ll want more than just hot water. Your choice of tub and its location within the bathroom, as well as selections for tile, color, fixtures and other details, can enhance bath...

In the leafy Northern California town of Los Gatos, an empty-nest couple were seeking an en suite primary bathroom that could serve two seemingly antithetical purposes. First, the former lawyers wanted it to be a sun-filled private sanctuary where they could unwind. At the same time, they wanted...

There was an element of escapism at the recent Maison & Objet design fair, the twice-annual Paris show for interior decoration, design and lifestyle (Sept. 5-9). Key themes looked at how interiors can take us away from our stressful everyday lives by leaping into the future, returning to the...

Today’s kitchen is more than just a place to cook. It’s the heart and soul of your home — where stories are told, memories are made and moments are shared with those you love. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, throwing a football watch party or simply welcoming a neighbor in for coffee, you’ll...

A screen of mature, leafy trees can enclose outdoor space and provide a sense of seclusion in an effective and appealing way — especially helpful if your yard is overlooked by close neighbors or on a busy street. But there are other quicker solutions for boosting outdoor privacy with plants. From adding...

“I think a lot of interior design seems inaccessible to people, as they associate it with extensive, expensive renovations and bespoke luxury items,” interior designer Becky Wetzler says. “We can do that. But we also love to show clients how we can put their personal stamp on their homes with elements...

Kitchen islands are hot items among homeowners who are remodeling or building their kitchens from scratch. If you’re among them, why stop at the standard features? With some creativity — and the help of a talented designer and cabinetmaker — you can equip your island with all kinds of handy bells and...

A family of four spends every summer gardening, cooking, exploring and entertaining at their beach house on Rhode Island’s southern coast. After renovating and redesigning portions of the 100-plus-year-old Dutch Colonial and picturesque property over the years, they were ready to enhance...

When we think of inclusive design, it’s often in the context of public or commercial buildings. However, residential designers increasingly now have inclusivity in mind too. But what exactly is inclusive design and why is it important?
While you’ll have heard of...

When updating a laundry room, many homeowners ask designers to make doing laundry more enjoyable. To do that, designers bring in pattern and color to spark joy, or lean on a breezy and efficient layout with abundant natural light to create a peaceful atmosphere. Here, designers share details they used...

Finding a dining room rug that is both practical and stylish is no easy feat. Fluffy pile can permanently trap every crumb from the table. Too-small rugs can trip up chairs. But a good rug can bring color, texture, warmth and style to the dining room — making the...

When it came to redoing this 1978 kitchen outside Minneapolis, interior designer Colleen Slack’s careful approach helped her find the exact style her clients wanted. She says the goal was warm modern but not specifically midcentury modern. The details would make it refined but not...

Fall days are still long and bright enough to make being outside pleasant but cooler than the summer heat, so the idea of taking on a landscape project is inviting. If you’re looking for ways to take advantage of fall days and also get a jump on gearing up for winter or spring projects, think about what...

Although hardwood flooring is an investment, it’s one worth considering, and maintaining, according to the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Their survey data show that new and refinished hardwood flooring more than pays for itself at selling time....

After traveling the world and having three kids, these homeowners were ready to settle down in their forever home. They asked designer Taylor Harrison to create a second-floor addition that includes an elevated yet kid-friendly hallway bathroom for their young son and occasional overnight guests.
Harrison...

Fall is a time when the garden to-do list becomes shorter and you have time to enjoy the growing season’s final days. For some, that might mean adding final touches to their yard’s fall show or starting to think about next year’s plans. For others, it’s about slowing down and taking the time to appreciate...

Maison & Objet, the twice-annual international meeting of decoration, design and lifestyle professionals, returned to the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center on Sept. 5-9, 2024. The design fair showcased the main colors that will illuminate tomorrow’s furniture, coverings and...

It’s easy to love weekend mornings (who doesn’t love a leisurely start to the day?), but weekday mornings don’t need to be rushed through. In fact, by reclaiming a bit of time for yourself in the morning, your workdays can begin on a note of inspiration, creativity and pleasure. The sun is up, the birds...

You don’t need much to turn an entry porch into a place that allows and even encourages connection; even a simple chair will do. But if you’re planning to stay awhile, perhaps waving at neighbors over the morning paper or communing with trees over coffee, a thoughtful front porch design is a boon. See...

Using white in an open-plan kitchen doubles the dose of spaciousness, as these three kitchens show. But both elements come with their challenges. How do you create a pleasing view from a living space with kitchen appliances in sight? How do you keep a white cooking space from looking sterile or bland?...

If you want to know where home design is headed, just follow the enthusiasm. We asked dozens of design and remodeling pros what gets them excited lately, and their responses reveal a snapshot of popular colors, materials and features on the rise. Here are five design trends you can expect...

When a family of three took over this 18th-century former keeper’s cottage in a conservation area, the landscape lacked flow and was low on plantings. The homeowners were eager to add a swimming pool to the sloping 1-acre property, so they hired landscape designer John Davies to introduce one to the...

Creating a stylish living room requires a balancing act of color, texture, fabric, pattern and scale. Designers know how to turn the knobs on each to get the best result. Here, pros share how they mixed special features to produce fashionable and functional living rooms.

It’s fun to focus on the cosmetic aspects of a bathroom remodel, but I would also encourage you to prioritize your storage and organization needs. Since the bathroom is typically such a high-functioning part of your home, designing one with maximum efficiency will support your life and daily routines....

There are many things to consider when planning a new bathroom, but how to keep it clean might not be top of mind when you’re looking at faucet finishes and tile colors. With a little forward thinking, though, you can get a bathroom that stays fresh and tidy with minimal effort.

This empty-nest couple disliked a lot about their kitchen. A peninsula divided it from the family room. An eat-in area with a desk wasted square footage. And boring finishes in similar tones ran together — honey maple cabinets, mottled, hand-scraped wood flooring and brown granite for the countertops...

As the air turns crisp and the leaves change from green to amber, red and gold, you may find yourself wanting to linger a little longer on the porch and savor that glowing autumn light. From clusters of candles to cozy wool blankets, here are eight ways to help create a comfortable, welcoming porch that...

It’s estimated that about 1 person in 7 is neurodivergent — where the brain functions differently from the majority neurotypical population. The term covers autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others. Neurodiversity also includes neurodegenerative...