In their new shared weekend retreat, they rolled up their sleeves and brought the outdoors in, incorporating rocks from the property into kitchen cabinet hardware and recreating natural motifs with the finishes. "We went very literal with the design of a 'house in the woods.' It's almost a caricature of what a city person's view of the country is," Van Dusen says. Cheeky faux finishes played a big part in realizing that vision, as did cheerful color washing.
With an exterior coated in Pepto Bismol and an interior tailored to the tastes of a wealthy matron, she was stately but a little tired. A sweet bed and breakfast, to be sure, but one that never quite reached its potential. A stay in a ryokan in Hakone, Japan, in a region famed for its natural onsen, set the mansion on a new path.
Igniting fireworks from the same spot repeatedly can seriously singe your lawn, which might end up needing replacing after just one night of fun. Although lawn itself might be relatively inexpensive, when you factor in the turf, labour and installation costs, this could end up costing you 15 per square metre. So for a UK average garden size of 50 square metres, you can expect to be set back by 750 in total.
Hard-wearing inventions of the 19th century, Lincrusta and Anaglypta could be made to resemble leather, plaster, and other materials. Home decoration was all the rage in the late 19th century. With the Industrial Revolution in England and America in full swing, a growing middle class on both sides of the Atlantic had spending money and wanted to have the look of the expensive decor of the rich, as seen in shops and described in newspapers and magazines.
I renovated my primary bathroom about seven years ago, but I've been battling one problem ever since: the space under my sink. During the remodel, my contractor tossed the shelf that was supposed to be installed inside the vanity (he didn't want to bother cutting around the plumbing), which left me with an oddly shaped, shelf-less cave to figure out on my own.
Once cold weather hits outside, blinds and curtains prevent heat loss inside by forming a layer of air between the room and the window. This insulating pocket helps to stop warm air escaping from the room as well as blocking draughts from getting in. The thicker the material you choose for your window coverings and the more snugly it is fitted around the window, the better.
Home renovation projects usually start with ideas about what would work well for the space. A kitchen extension with lots of glass to bring in light. A loft conversion with skylights to make the new room bright. An extra floor that maximizes the footprint of the existing building. These plans make sense from a design perspective, but they don't always account for the regulations that determine what's actually allowed.
Electrical systems are an essential part of every modern home, powering everything from lighting and heating to appliances and entertainment devices. However, over time, electrical issues can develop, especially in older properties that are common throughout London. These problems can range from minor inconveniences to serious safety hazards. Understanding the most common electrical issues found in London homes can help homeowners identify problems early and take the right steps to fix them before they become dangerous.
When a hairline crack appears in your sink, you don't want to leave it untreated. Fine cracks in porcelain or ceramic will soon allow water to seep through, causing damage to cabinets and flooring. If left unaddressed, the problem will only worsen, leading to costly repairs and ultimately necessitating the replacement of the sink. Even the best kitchen sinks can become damaged, so addressing cracks and chips promptly is essential to restoring the sink to its optimal condition.
This 18th-century vernacular farmhouse in Naxxar's historic core had been abandoned for over 50 years. Once a working farm and family dwelling, it had fallen into serious disrepair. Organised around a central courtyard and divided into three wings, the property retained significant heritage features, stone slab ceilings, timber beams, xulliel walls, arches, and a large mill room, but its fragmentation and poor condition made it unsuitable for modern family life.
Upgrading your home doesn't have to require expensive renovations or time-consuming installations. In fact, some of the best upgrades are budget friendly, easy to DIY, and look expensive AF. From peel-and-stick solutions to storage hacks you'll wish you tried years ago, elevating your home - and your life - can be as easy as clicking "add to cart." Here are some of our favorite products that start at just $8, but are seriously impressive.
However, these natural colours aren't always what you want, so a coat of masonry paint can transform the interior or exterior of a home and add weather protection. Alternatively, a fresh coat of paint on previously painted masonry surfaces will bring them back to life. Or maybe you're just thinking of painting exterior window sills as a smart designer statement.
It's true that laundry rooms aren't necessarily known for being massive, but the one in Melissa Meares' (@melissaashleymeares) house had an especially tricky narrow setup; it's 8×5 feet. "The layout of the laundry room is very awkward with the water heater in the middle," Melissa adds. She and her husband, Kyle, hid the water heater in the back corner and gave the wire shelves in the room a glow-up by adding cabinetry.
Homes with blocked or poorly maintained gutters are at higher risk of leaks, damp, and water damage, and new data shows that where you live can make a big difference in how vulnerable your property is this season. The latest "Gutter Risk Index" from Eurocell has ranked towns and cities across the UK by combining factors such as rainfall, housing age, and tree cover to find out where properties face the greatest threat from overflowing or damaged gutters.
Houses that are believed to be haunted often attract curiosity, caution, or debate among potential buyers. But do sellers have to disclose a property's haunted reputation when selling? The answer affects how buyers view the home, how easily it can be sold, and its potential market value. Understanding what the law says and how reputations influence the property market is essential for anyone selling or buying a home in England and Wales.
Falling for the charms of an old property is a common tale, but perhaps less so when your own personal history is intertwined with it. But this was the case for Amanda and Warren East, who had regularly visited the beautiful Grade II*-listed building over the decades. "We were living in the house opposite for 27 years," explains Amanda. "Ours was a 1970s 'box' and although we'd changed it a lot, it was not the most characterful of houses." Then their neighbours, who were both in their nineties, left the house to a college in Cambridge, who in turn decided to sell.
And in the case of this beautiful 1900s Victorian-style home in Boston, the redone bathroom was giving turn-of-the century time capsule - just not the right century. "The bathroom had last been renovated in the early 2000s (think: lots of beige, white, and travertine tile)," says Elana Gaines, founder and designer at Afternoon Creative. "Overall, the space felt dingy and uninspired, out of step with the charm and craftsmanship of the rest of this early 1900s Victorian home."
Transforming the duplex nature of the 1936 home originally designed by elite Melbourne architect Marcus Martin, M Residence by Paul Conrad Architects proposes a considerate new design exploring the relationship between old and new. Honoring the original characteristics seen in many 1930s Toorak and South Yarra interwar homes, the recent contemporary addition presents a sympathetic yet collaborative design, where the respective architectural languages of
Theaters serve as cultural and social institutions, shaping society by providing spaces where stories of identity, race, and justice are brought to life. These venues foster community through shared, live experiences, sparking conversations that resonate beyond the stage. Architecturally, theaters are more than performance spaces-they are landmarks that embody both the history and future of the arts. Their design often reflects the cultural importance of storytelling, while their refurbishments ensure they remain relevant in a modern context.
They picked up an adjustable workbench, which allowed them to customize its height, and then they placed a 30-inch by 72-inch butcher block slab on top. Next, the couple wrapped the island with matte charcoal contact paper. They decided to continue this project onto the cabinets so there was a consistent flow in the room. They also added a white subway tile peel-and-stick backsplash to the wall.
For architects and specifiers, selecting the right cladding system is both a technical and creative act, connecting material science with architectural intent. More than simple visual envelopes, façades today are high-performance systems that balance protection, insulation, and expression. As the first barrier between exterior and interior, the right cladding system can define how a building behaves and ages over time, affecting its thermal comfort, acoustic performance, fire safety, and overall durability.
Have you been putting off that home office (or in the city corner office) renovation for years? Let us help you start for real with a Herman Miller chair. We swear by themI sit in this one every dayand for the next few weeks each and every one is getting the same discount. There's literally never been a better time to buy one.
Thousands of UK homeowners with solar panels could be hit with unexpected £100 fines this week as the HMRC paper tax return deadline approaches. Many are unaware that income earned from selling unused solar energy back to the grid could push them over the £1,000 tax-free trading allowance. With the deadline falling on Friday, homeowners are being urged to check their earnings now to avoid costly penalties.
Desiccant dehumidifiers are best for cold rooms, according to Chris Michael, Founder of Meaco. So, for rooms that rarely exceed 10°C, like a cold conservatory, utility room, garage, boat, or caravan, this is the model for you. If you take a look at how dehumidifiers work, desiccant models use a moisture-absorbing material to capture water vapor. Since they don't rely on a cooling process (as compressor models do), they won't freeze up or cause related problems if they're in the cold.
