The kitchen is the one room in the house that begs for some retro style. Polka dots, chrome and bright colors are easy ways to give your kitchen that retro vibe. Pair with another style to keep from feeling too thematic, or go all out for kitschy fun.... more »

Despite its modern patterned floor and bright orange backsplash, this kitchen has some surprisingly traditional roots. Built in 1917, this Seattle home previously had only one owner, who had done minimal updates over the years. Although the clients didn't... more »

One of the most common questions people have about their own home is, What style is it? This is not always an easy question to answer. "Style" is an elusive term, because it can be applied to many different things, and style is frequently... more »

Transitioning from a blank canvas to highly personalized style often takes time, collaboration and a little elbow grease. That was the case for New Yorker Amanda Barlow, a marketing director for the United States Council for International Business, who... more »

The sunny flowers of angelita daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) will brighten any landscape, but if you look beyond the pretty flowers of this Southwestern native, you will find that it packs a few surprises. Angelita daisies thrive in the hot... more »

Most woodworking projects can be streamlined down to simply making a box. That's essentially what they are. A good way to enter into the world of hand crafting your own decor and bits of furniture is to start with a basic project that features the elements... more »

With the rising costs of energy, the depletion of finite resources, and the projected long-term effects of emitting carbon into the atmosphere, using less energy for heating, cooling, ventilating and lighting a house is becoming extremely important. Passive... more »

From SIPs to straw bales, there are several alternative approaches to traditional wood-frame... more »

Peta Kaplan and Ben Sandzer-Bell first traveled from Chicago to Nicaragua in 2005 for a family vacation, but volcanoes, wildlife, markets, colonial architecture and beaches made them want to call the area home. "On the last day of our trip, having... more »

Many of us dream of living in a centuries-old farmhouse far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But just because you might not be able to turn that dream into a reality, it doesn't mean you can't bring a little bit of farmhouse... more »

It's a quietly impressive compound: simple forms of a garage, a house and two guest cottages on 4 acres in Three Rivers, California. Architect Polly Osborne remodeled the buildings... more »

Landscapes sustain us by giving us food to eat, air to breathe and space to live in — let's repay the favor. When choosing what we plant, it's important to respect our natural landscapes and the wildlife they support. Sustainable garden practices teach... more »

This Minneapolis couple needed more living room: a space where they could hang out together, where they could entertain, something that could double as a guest suite. But their lot size and city restrictions would have made an addition difficult, if not... more »

More sleep and more sex? Yes, please! A new survey involving 2,000 Brits shows a strong correlation between the color of your bedroom walls and decor with how much sleep and sex you're having. The takeaway: People with blue rooms appear to be getting... more »