Home Improvement

The popularity of custom, built-in pieces may be partly a backlash against the cookie-cutter conformity of furniture at many major retailers. Small spare rooms or awkward spaces can take on new life when a built-in is added.

By Susan Zevon On the leafy street where I grew up, spring brought blazing forsythia and a canopy of fresh green blooms. But for me,...

Clutter, distractions, poor workflow — sometimes a kitchen’s layout can hinder the cooking process more than it helps. Decorating can create similar pitfalls. “We get too caught up in color palettes and soft fabrics, and we over-think it,” said Genevieve Gorder, co-host and judge of HGTV’s Design Star.

Call it Modern Country or Farmhouse Chic — it’s sparer and less cluttered than the old Country, but no less welcoming. It honors Country’s homespun roots without sending us too literally back to the past.

Besides walls, there are stencils with intricate medallions for ceilings and other designs perfect for floors: Think of a curling vine pattern on an outdoor concrete porch.

Second homes, designed for relaxation, are often decorated with hand-me-down furniture and other cast-offs from the owner’s main living space.

Often the need to get more use out of a space arises when an elderly parent joins the household or a grown child returns home.

Other “faux” features to consider include ceiling decals that look like parts of elaborate chandeliers, cabinetry embellishments and painted wainscoting.

Can you keep your home warm and inviting all winter while still conserving energy?

There are stores full of exquisite bedding. But fancy sheets, duvets and mattresses can sometimes fall short of our wish lists, in style, price, comfort or all three.