CATEGORIES

The Empire Strikes Back - A 19th-century gem in Cambridge, Massachusetts, gets a tour-de-force restoration thanks to Frances Merrill of Reath Design.

Is it possible to simultaneously go back in time and leap forward? This was the challenge a couple set for themselves upon purchasing a salmon-pink 1869 house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not far from Longfellow House, the National Historic Site that served as George Washington's headquarters during the revolution. We loved all the beautiful old details of this house, the homeowner says.

Just Like That, But Cheaper. -One writer tried to replicate a classic ELLE DECOR interior in his apartment. Could he do it for $500?

It was all about the green curtains. In 2008, to my great surprise, I was offered a ninemonth fellowship based in New York City. I had lived there twice before, both times unsuccessfully, meaning I had failed to create any kind of significant social life, and so this was a chance not only to do research for my new novel, but also an opportunity to get things right. I swore I wouldn't let the city break me a third time.

GREAT ESCAPE

Scenic lakeside views and a layout made for entertaining become the focus in this family getaway.

Making History

A little creative thinking helps transform this period-perfect Tudor.

French Dressing

Can you really turn a big Texas home into a charming Francophile retreat? Oui, oui.

Now You See It

A modernist beach house's discreet profile hides killer views and knockout interiors by Rafael de Cárdenas.

One Foot in the Sand

A whimsical space blends island style with classic details and references to the past.

Tailor Made

In a competitive real estate market, a couple decides against house hunting and goes all in on a custom build in the heart of Dallas.

CIRCLE D'AMOUR

For an object lesson on how to design a Paris love nest, look to Pierre Yovanovitch.

The Bold & The Beautiful

A Georgian-style estate swaps fussy formality for rich colors, plentiful patterns, and functionality reflective of family life.

WHAT'S IN THE MIX?

Rayman Boozer brings his mastery of color and pattern to the renovation of a Harlem duplex for a young family.

You Stay Here

At a Martha's Vineyard compound, Steven Gambrel and Tom Kligerman have made a guest retreat so good, visitors may never want to leave.

THE BEST HOME STORES IN AMERICA

From pop-ups to industry standbys, these expert-recommended shops are filled with equal parts essentials and eye candy.

PARK AND RECREATIONS

With the rise of electric vehicles and a fresh focus on design, the once overlooked garage is becoming a future-forward source of joy and energy at home.

Go With Your Gut - Each of us has a little voice inside that knows more than the conscious mind. It's called intuition, and it deserves your attention.

Cognitive scientists, who study how human beings think and reason, generally define intuition as knowledge gained without rational thought, and they believe it's a natural part of how our brains work. Humans have two main ways of absorbing information. One is a slow, deliberate process, in which we methodically analyze details for instance, comparing two laptop models before buying. The second happens almost instantly, and the insight feels like it came out of the blue. In fact, though, it's based on data we've gathered subconsciously over time and, in a flash, connected with our past experiences.

Goodbye to All That - Burdened by the weight of wouldas, shouldas, and couldas, a former compulsive goal setter discovers the freedom of giving up.

Don't know about you, but this time of year, with the back-to-school sales and newpencil smell in the air, always makes me want to reinvent myself. When I was a kid, every fall was another chance to cast aside the embarrassments of the previous grade and turn into the totally cool individual I was born to be. (I'm still waiting.) Now it's another chance to launch my own version of New Year's resolutions. Let's call it my Fall Agenda of Improvements and Laudable Successes (a.k.a. FAILS). I look at running gear and consider signing up for a marathon. I invest in a new skin care regimen. I stock up on accordion files so I can finally get my papers in order.

Navigating the Lumberyard - Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard.

Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard. Almost everyone fixing an old house will end up at a lumberyard-whether it's a local supplier or the organized aisles of a big-box home-improvement store.

Do Men Really Not See The Mess? - The answer might surprise you. Journalist and author Gemma Hartley pulls back the curtain to reveal the invisible forces that drive this all-too-common cause of marital strife.

There was a time, earlier in my marriage, when every morning as I walked into the kitchen I braced myself for the rage and resentment that would well up in me.Cupboards left open. Dirty dishes in the sink. Coffee cups strewn around the house. And usually a pair of slippers or shoes, with inside-out socks, on the floor somewhere nearby. Even when I had left the house spotless the night before, I’d wake to a scene of disarray — the mess my husband had left behind on his way out the door for work.I didn’t know which scenario seemed worse, my husband’s consciously expecting me to clean up these messes or his truly not noticing them at all. I found myself silently tallying these small resentments, furious and flummoxed in turn that he seemed oblivious to things that needed to be tidied up around the house. It seemed as if he was always waiting for me to tell him what had to be done, as if he was incapable of noticing the mess himself even when he was creating it.

CONQUERING YOUR INNER CRITIC

You're able to give everyone else grace when they mess up. But when it comes to yourself? Not so much.

how we live

ADVICE, INSPIRATION & A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND

BOOST YOUR SUPERMARKET SMARTS

Whether you love grocery shopping or hate it, you can probably stand to be better at it. So we asked insiders to chime in with their top tips.

What to Wear for the In-Between Weather

Will it be hot outside, or brisk and chilly? Yes! And these on-trend pieces will help you get it just right.

buh-bye, beige!

Magnolia Network star and interior designer Natalie Papier colorized a classic 1920s Oak Park, Illinois, home using lots of paint, some wallpaper, and a bunch of brilliant tricks.

TEXAS COOL

In the Venn diagram of their lives— one that includes Hollywood A-list projects, rescued farm animals, music, and visual arts—Harper Smith and Cameron Duddy find their farmhouse smack dab in the center of it all.

BLOOM WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED

Flowers, flowers everywhere. Learn from one gardener's landscape to create your own backyard cutting garden.

What the Pros KNOW

In her new book, creative director and decor expert Dara Caponigro peeks into the playbooks of some of the best interior designers working today, analyzing their moves and showing you how to make them your own. Here she teaches you seven winning decor plays to try at your house.

Lessons from Three Kitchen Legends

JULIA MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE HER BELOVED FRENCH CUISINE TO AMERICAN HOME COOKS AND WHAT A TRAIL SHE BLAZED! WE CELEBRATE THREE PIONEERS WHO SHARED THEIR OWN CULINARY TRADITIONS, MAKING A LASTING IMPACT ON HOW WE COOK AND BAKE AT HOME. HERE'S TO MADHUR, ROSE, AND MARCELLA.

YOUR CLEANING TOOLS

Spread suds, not grime! The stuff in your utility closet needs to be washed too. Here's how to get each job done.

how to do things

IDEAS, DIYS & REALLY GOOD TIPS

SAME YEAR, NEW YOU!

25 little ways to reset yourself for fall