Ideas Worth Bringing Home
From furniture hacks and DIY projects to room layouts, interior styles and seasonal decor, find practical advice for creating a home that looks better and works better.
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I studied art history before moving into design, and that background shapes how I approach interiors. A room is not only a collection of colors and furniture choices; it reflects the history, climate, materials, and cultural values that influenced its development. Scandinavian design, for example, did not begin as a neutral-toned aesthetic trend. It developed from long winters, limited daylight, practical living needs, and an emphasis on creating functional homes. Similar ideas can be found across other traditions, where design choices often began as responses to real environments and everyday routines. The right interior design style provides a framework rather
Most refinishing disasters I’ve seen didn’t happen at the sanding stage. They happened because someone got impatient at the drying stage. Scratches, a faded finish, water rings, decades of general wear, none of that means a solid piece belongs at the curb. Refinishing brings it back while keeping the wood, the joinery, and whatever made you want it in the first place. One thing worth saying up front: this whole process is for solid wood or real wood veneer, not laminate or melamine surfaces like the ones on a lot of flat-pack furniture. Try to strip and stain a laminate
A fresh coat of paint can turn a basic IKEA bookcase, dresser or cabinet into a piece that better matches the room. After two years building custom furniture in a Portland studio, I learned this the hard way that a design that looks flawless in a rendering can start failing within months once it meets a real household. Flat-pack pieces are no different, and painting them well means respecting how they’re actually built, not how solid wood behaves. This blog explains why IKEA furniture requires different preparation, which tools and supplies to gather and how to prime, paint, cure and
Fresh details that shift beautifully with the seasons.
Distinct looks and ideas that shape a roomâs character.
Practical projects made easier to plan and build.
Better ways to plan, arrange and use each space.
