Stencils, mainly in the form of adhesive wall stencils (really more like stickers), have become all the rage in the past few years. I think we are nearing the end of this trend, but I would love to see a return to real stenciling…the definition being “a thin sheet of material, such as paper, plastic, […]
Living
Want to set the mood in your yard? Try adding architectural elements in the garden. Whether your idea of a great garden area is traditional, folksy, modern, edgy or whimsical surprise, elements of reused, reclaimed, recycled and salvaged pieces among your plantings and surroundings can complete the look and feel of an area, transforming the […]
How To
Organize the Bedroom Closet
A bedroom can be an oasis of calm-your last stronghold of serenity in a busy life. You’ll certainly want to set up your bedroom to meet your needs and comfort, but that doesn’t mean style has to go. These shortcuts will help you organize your bedroom closet to control clutter without spending a bundle. Doors […]
Redecorating a room doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take months to accomplish. For example, changing the fabric on padded dining room chairs can instantly liven up a tired-looking room, and it doesn’t take a professional upholsterer to do it. All you need is a screwdriver, some new (or old) fabric, some newspaper, and […]
When we moved into our charming, century-old, Providence home, there were several changes that I wanted to make. I made my list in order of urgency, and right after “change the awful paint colors,” came “get rid of the scary brown stair protectors.” When I pulled up the stair protectors, I found, to my horror, […]
What induces a man to retrieve old cat litter from the garbage and then wander outside under a darkening sky in his bare feet to stuff the mix in a hole in the ground? Garden rage, my friends. Plain and simple. Allow me to back up. When my wife and I returned to New Hampshire […]
Harry Harper grew perennials from the 1940s until 1965 in a windy spot in Eden, New York, where the climate can be tough on new transplants. His rules for transplanting perennials—shared by his granddaughter, garden writer Sally Cunningham, of East Aurora, New York—These three rules for transplanting perennials can help you grow a beautiful garden […]
Gardens
Tantalizing Tomato Tips
There’s something very satisfying about picking a perfectly ripe home-grown tomato from the vine to slice and eat while it’s still warm from the sun. When properly cared for, fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes may be enjoyed far into the fall—extending one of summertime’s simple delights for a few more precious weeks. Tomato Tips What kind and […]
After spending time with my little brother, Tommy, I am always inspired to tap into the childlike creativity that he uses when crafting. I recently watched him make little cork boats, with elaborate sails, for bobbing in the lake. With a few changes, these little boats would make the perfect place cards for a summer […]
Over the years, Brian Vanden Brink has stolen time from photographing the highly designed works of architects to focus on deserted homes, architectural ruins and their relationships to the surrounding landscape. In RUIN, Vanden Brink captures and illuminates in stunning color and black & white images churches, mills, bridges, grain elevators, storefronts, the 300-foot-tall chimney […]
Gardens
Farmers’ Markets
There’s something special about purchasing the food that nourishes and sustains our bodies and souls directly from the growers who have carefully coaxed it from the earth. Every person who works closely with the earth invests not only their own time and energy but also a bit of themselves into what they grow—somehow making the […]
How To
Budget Bedroom Makeovers
Is your bedroom starting to look old and tired? Revive it in a weekend with these inexpensive and easy DIY ideas. Update Your Headboard Transform that old wooden headboard with this inexpensive trick. All you need is a staple gun, scissors, quilt batting, and a designer bed sheet or thin bedspread. Start by covering the […]