Simple Ideas for Better Homes, Gardens & Outdoor Spaces
Look, I’ve spent fifteen years trying to convince people that they don’t need a 4,000-square-foot library to feel like a sophisticated bookworm. I once tried to build a “reading retreat” in a literal closet, forgot to check the ventilation, and fell asleep only to wake up three hours later smelling like mothballs and old winter … Read more
Look, I get it. You’re probably tired of your front porch looking like a generic suburban wasteland once December hits. We’ve all been there—usually standing in the middle of a craft store at 9:00 PM, holding a glue gun like a weapon and wondering why we didn’t just buy the pre-made plastic reindeer and call … Read more
I’ve spent the last fifteen years battling a patch of dirt I call a yard, and let me tell you, I’ve committed every horticultural sin known to man. I once got so aggressive with a vertical mower that my backyard looked like a crime scene for earthworms. Then there was the “Summer of the Great … Read more
Look, we’ve all been there. It’s January 2nd, the tinsel is looking a bit sad, and your poinsettia is starting to drop leaves like it’s getting paid for it. Most people treat these plants like festive paper plates—use once and toss. But I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to anything with roots. … Read more
Let’s be honest: living in a studio apartment today feels a lot different than it did even five years ago. With urban rents climbing and the “work-from-anywhere” lifestyle becoming the standard, our square footage is working harder than ever. I’ve spent the last year obsessing over how to turn a 400-square-foot box into a “sanctuary” … Read more
Look, if your lawn feels like you’re walking on a giant, waterlogged sponge, or if you can literally roll up your turf like a cheap rug, you’ve got grubs. I learned this the hard way back in ’12 when I thought my grass was just “tired.” I spent three months whispering sweet nothings to a … Read more
I remember the summer I decided my backyard needed to look like a villa in Tuscany. I bought three overpriced olive trees, a truckload of gravel, and enough terracotta to bankrupt a small nation. Two weeks later, my “Mediterranean paradise” looked more like a dusty construction site, and my olive trees were shedding leaves faster … Read more
If your backyard looks like the set of a low-budget horror movie—all dark shadows, damp moss, and a vibe that says “nothing lives here but spiders”—don’t throw in the towel just yet. I spent my first three years as a gardener trying to force sun-loving marigolds and zinnias to grow under a massive, stubborn red … Read more
I still remember the first raised bed I ever built back in 2011. I was young, broke, and had just read a magazine article about “intensive gardening.” I marched myself down to the big-box hardware store, loaded up a rickety cart with those heavy, greenish-tinted 4x4s, and spent a whole weekend sweating and cursing while … Read more
If you walk into a high-end home decor store in January, you’re greeted by a sea of velvet hearts, gold-trimmed vases, and rustic wooden signs—all with price tags that make your wallet cringe. I love a beautiful home, but I refuse to spend $40 on a wreath that I’m only going to hang for three … Read more