Posts

They bought the house (sight unseen for Whit) knowing it would be a massive slow-and-steady project. Over three years, they scraped wallpaper, wired light fixtures, tiled backsplashes and floors, spruced up kitchen cabinets, scraped more wallpaper, and pulled out yards and yards of pink and blue carpet. Elizabeth hunted through secondhand shops for most of their furniture, and Whit built the rest, including their dining room table and kitchen island....

“The most important thing to look for in a Christmas tree stand is stability,” said Tara Spaulding, interior design coordinator for Patio Productions. “A stable base will ensure that the tree stays upright, and it will also prevent tipping over or falling over.” With that in mind, to find the best Christmas tree stands, we researched a variety of picks and considered factors like dimensions, material, tree type, maximum tree height, water capacity, and diameter....

Buy It: Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips ($7, Target) Buy It: King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour ($5, Target) Buy It: Cuisinart Elemental Collection 8-Cup Food Processor ($110, Kohl’s) Buy It: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer ($16, Target)

“Any organizer should have a place for different types of jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Huge bonus if they look good, and function well, where you can find something quickly when you need it,” says Beth Spiroff of Beth Spiroff Professional Organizing. To find the best jewelry organizers for your home we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind the type, material, and dimensions. We also consulted Spiroff for additional insight....

With so many options out there, it’s not easy to decide which is the best garden bench for your outdoor space. To help, we researched a variety of picks, considering each option’s material, style, weight capacity, and size. Overall, we recommend the Birch Lane Amherst Outdoor Bench. In addition to a durable teak construction, the garden bench can seat two people and has a unique design that’ll be the centerpiece of your outdoor space....

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Top Picks: ‘Album’ offers white flowers; ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ offers clear pink flowers; ‘Variegatum’ has purple-pink flowers and white-variegated leaves Buy It: Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ ($12, Bluestone Perennials) Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Top Picks: ‘White Towers’ bears white flowers; ‘Tojen’ offers especially large lavender flowers Buy It: Toad Lily ($29, Breck’s) Growing Conditions: Full shade to full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-9 Top Picks: ‘Golden Glow’ has creamy-yellow edges; ‘Burgundy Glow’ offers silvery-green leaves splashed with pink and burgundy; ‘Chocolate Chip’ offers smaller, purple-infused leaves Buy It: Ajuga Live Plant ($3, Walmart) Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 3-9 Top Picks: ‘Pantaloons’ has pure white flowers....

Maybe you don’t know the hostess as well as you thought to know how to narrow down the options on the market. Perhaps you want something other than a gift card or the same old bottle of wine. Or at worse, maybe you forget all about the event altogether. If you didn’t have time to create adorable DIY hostess gifts, couldn’t think of something while on the run, or need some inspiration, we’re here to help....

The best microwaves should not only be simple to use and clean, but they’ll have the right assortment of features to make heating quick and easy. Some models come with helpful features like smart sensors, automatic cook presets, or possibly even air frying and baking capabilities. However, if you just want that automatic popcorn setting for movie night, there are plenty of effective models without all the bells and whistles, too....

An electric chainsaw is usually quieter than a gas-powered option. It also doesn’t require mixing oil and gas, so it’s a lower-maintenance pick overall. To help you find the best electric chainsaw for your property, we researched considerations like corded versus cordless, battery power and voltage, size, maintenance requirements, and safety features. We also talked with Robert Akins from Theyardable.com. The Greenworks cordless chainsaw is our overall pick for best electric chainsaw, because it’s powerful, low maintenance, and comfortable to use thanks to its reduced vibrations....

“Pain is a big concern for many side sleepers,” says Dr. Lulu Guo, sleep medicine specialist with Valley Sleep Center. “You are placing increased pressure on [your] hips and shoulders overnight.” The best pillows for side sleepers will relieve pressure on these common pain points, allowing you to fall asleep comfortably without tossing and turning or waking up feeling achy. You’re also going to want a pillow with the right thickness (otherwise known as the pillow’s loft) to keep your head, neck, and spine in a neutral position....

Unlike regular bed bases, adjustable beds allow you to raise the head and foot of your bed in order to put you in a different sleeping position. They’re typically operated by a remote control motor, and they’re perfect for individuals who may prefer an angled or elevated sleeping position. “Elevating the head of the bed can also help make sure your spine is properly aligned to lessen aches and pains, while raising the bottom part of the bed can help regulate circulation and allow your blood to flow from your feet back up to your heart," says Kelly Murray, a certified adult sleep coach....

While all wheelbarrows have a similar design, we looked at the following characteristics when choosing the best wheelbarrows for our list: tray material, wheel type, weight, volume capacity, storage features, and more. “Ease of use is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a wheelbarrow,” said Beverly Shaw, a Colorado-based Master Gardener. “It needs to feel comfortable to you. Just like Goldilocks, you need to find one that’s just right....

No matter which candles you choose, take the time to reflect on the meaning of Hanukkah as you light them with your family this season.

I’ve since painted countless rooms in apartments, movie sets, and even the homes of friends who are too scared to take the DIY plunge themselves. I’ve also interviewed professional painters for DIY and home design articles throughout my career, and they all have one common piece of advice: Always use Frogtape painters tape. A good painter (professional or not) knows the importance of adequately prepping a room before beginning a project....

Best Prime Day Pillow Deals Beckham Hotel Collection Queen Bed Pillows Set, $32 with coupon (originally $40) Snuggle-Pedic Original Bamboo Case Memory Foam Queen Pillow, $32 with coupon (originally $60) Casper Sleep Standard Microfiber Pillow, $42 at checkout (originally $65) Snuggle-Pedic Full Body Memory Foam Pillow, $40 (originally $70) Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow, $36 with coupon (originally $50) EnerPlex Luxury Queen Pillow, $24 with coupon (originally $35) Snuggle-Pedic Luxury Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow, $56 with coupon (originally $80) Bath Haven Luxurious Bath Pillow, $20 (originally $27)

The SteamShot is a chemical-free handheld device that uses 100 watts of power to pressurize high-heat steam that breaks down grime and gunk with targeting nozzles and eliminates 99.9% of germs—no harsh cleansers necessary, just water. The trigger gives you control over the amount of steam released to cut through stuck-on messes. The best-selling handheld steam cleaner includes three bristle brushes, a jet nozzle, a grout tool, a flat scraper for hard surfaces, and an angle concentrator to direct steam in tight spaces....

Average Price of Real Stone Countertops: $50-$150 per square foot Durable and long-lastingClassic material that does not go out of styleHeat-resistant Cons of Natural Stone: Naturally porous and therefore needs to be sealed when installedRequires regular maintenance and resealing for food safety and aesthetic upkeepSofter stones, such as marble or limestone, might be chipped or cracked (but can be buffed)Susceptible to stainsMost expensive countertop material Average Price of Quartz Countertops: $50-$100 per square foot...

You may have heard the holiday referred to as the Chinese New Year, and the Lunar New Year is the same thing—but the term is more inclusive. The Chinese New Year specifically applies to Chinese people and celebrations held in China. But because the same holiday is celebrated in many different countries, it’s more inclusive to use the term Lunar New Year, so you don’t exclude any populations who participate....

Northeast Connecticut: The Charter Oak, white oak (Quercus albus) Delaware: American holly (Ilex opaca) Maine: White pine (Pinus strobus, linnaeus) Maryland: White oak (Quercus alba) Massachusetts: American elm (Ulmus americana) New Hampshire: Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) New Jersey: Red oak (Quercus borealis maxima) New York: Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) Pennsylvania: Eastern hemlock (Tsunga canadensis) Rhode Island: Red maple (Acer rubrum) Vermont: Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) Washington, D.C.: Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)...

Looking back to my years living in London for inspiration, I made a mood board to capture the collected-over-time style of old country houses there. This process helped me visualize which elements looked best together. I landed on Serena & Lily’s Priano wallpaper to set the bucolic tone I was after. An aged look unites the elements. I quadrupled my storage with Paces custom cabinetry in a soothing, faded Cool Grey from The Home Depot’s Cabinet Makeover program....