CATEGORIES

Bless This Mess

Raised as a hoarder, one writer finds beauty—and family connection in the knickknack chaos in her home.

The Kids Are All Right

Designer Christine Gachot delights in an image of a room by André Arbus that, with its sophisticated lines and Jack-in-the-Beanstalk design, is in regular rotation on her mood boards.

Social Study

In the Harlem townhouse they lovingly restored, an intellectual couple has created a dramatic environment for entertaining their friends and neighbors.

His Next Act

In both his Manhattan apartment and his newly refreshed design studio, Apparatus's Gabriel Hendifar shows the audacity and theatricality of his vision.

Mid-century Modern PLANT STAND

Prop up your houseplants in style

COOPERED Café Table

An intimate outdoor setting loaded with lessons

DIY CROSSCUT SLED

SAFE, REPEATABLE CUTS MADE EASY

CORDLESS CHAIN SAWS

AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR HOMEOWNERS BY BRAD HOLDEN

ONE OF A GRIND

RELIEF CARVING WITH POWER!

PLANING LARGE BOARDS

FLATTEN BIG LUMBER WITHOUT BIG MACHINERY

HANDS ON

TOOLS, GADGETS + GEAR WE RECOMMEND

HANDY HINTS

CLEVER SOLUTIONS FROM OUR READERS

In or Out?

After a year spent searching for reclaimed lumber and glass, this couple turned their backyard into a relaxing outdoor oasis.

Fresh Idea

Transform an old birdbath into a cute container garden using miniature plants and decorations.

Wide Awake

He may not be able to sleep without a blanket and a lullaby, but this kid could argue circles around a lot of adults.

Spring Forward

On the menu: an Easter feast featuring a leg of lamb, risotto, asparagus and more!

WARMING UP BLACK AND WHITE

We love that the classic color combo is still cool-and how today's organic materials and burnished finishes can keep it from looking cold and clinical. Ahead: three ways to get it right

“While we're at it...

Homeowners' plans for an exterior fix-up lead to a full-scale renovation at the West Roxbury project house. The goal: Upgrade the 19th-century house to suit their modern family

Upgrades big and small

Want to get a jump on the remodel of your worn-out kitchen or dated bath? Check out our picks for the best of what's new, all designed to enhance how we want to live now

Tough to beat

With their ornamental beauty and adaptable natures, many perennial garden favorites are worth a second look for their resiliency in an era of weather extremes

Giving old windows new life

In an expansive workshop on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Alison Hardy-a.k.a. the Window Woman of New England—and her small team of skilled workers are meticulously restoring dozens of weathered, century-old sashes. This Old House stops by for a visit

Renewed and improved

A welcoming kitchen was at the top of the wish list for the owners of this 1920s Colonial Revival. The resulting renovation delivered everything they hoped for, while respecting the house’s heritage

BEYOND THE COOK SPACE

With the kitchen devoted solely to cooking having gone the way of the butter churn, it's no wonder that today's kitchen remodels are multifunctional, too. More and more they include adjacent spaces-mudrooms, laundry areas, storage-packed seating nooks-that workjust as hard. "With people spending more time than everat home, they're rethinking how their homes function and seeing new possibilities," says Airy Kitchens designer Sean Lewis. The resulting "kitchen-plus" renovations yield spaces that boost efficiency, sure, but are also more enjoyable to live with. Witness the projects on the following pages.

Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, cabinets take a big chunk of the budget. An alternative to traditional factory-built boxes, RTA cabinets promise big savings in exchange for some sweat equity

Op-art cutting board

Using hardwoods of strikingly different colors, TOH contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor team up to create a cutting board with an eye-catching 3D effect

A Better Tile Job Starts Here

A veteran tile setter shares his best practices for achieving top-notch tiled surfaces

Getaway at Home

Designer Sarah Hayes shares her porch refresh project and offers tips for you to craft your own.

Floating Picnic

Take cottage charm outside to create this simple and beautiful picnic scene.

Secretly Seeking Springtime

Spring is just around the corner; we can almost taste it. Gather your loved ones and take a trip to a colorful wonderland.

Once Upon a Storybook Cottage

This cottage is one of 16 custom builds that comprise a magical storybook community in downtown Harbor Springs, Michigan.