Rooms7 min read
Where People Actually Walk in a Living Room
Trace the path from door to door before moving a sofa. The resulting plan can make room for both conversation and everyday traffic.
FIELD NOTES FOR EVERYDAY LIVING
Make room
for real life.
Thoughtful ideas for lived in rooms, useful projects and a little more time outdoors.
THE LEAD STORY
A Reading Lamp That Leaves the Rest of the Room Quiet
Use the position of your chair, the angle of a page, and a short evening test to choose a lamp that works in an actual living room.
Read the storyRooms
Furniture, light and the way a room feels in use.
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Rooms8 min read
Curtains Measured for the Window You Use
Work out where the fabric will sit when the curtains are open, what it must do when closed, and how far a hand can comfortably reach.
Rooms8 min read
The Living Room Rug on a Busy Tuesday
Choose a rug by testing the floor around it, the furniture that rests on it, and the cleanup it will need during an ordinary week.
Kitchen & Bath
Practical decisions for rooms that get wet, hot and busy.
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Kitchen & Bath8 min read
Give the Kitchen Sink a Clear Landing Zone
Follow a real load of dishes from the table to the cupboard and make room for the awkward parts of washing up.
Kitchen & Bath8 min read
Choosing a Backsplash From More Than One Tile
Compare a group of samples with your counter, cookware, and evening light before deciding what should go on the kitchen wall.
Kitchen & Bath8 min read
Wood Cabinet Fronts You Can Live With
Compare grain, finish, handles, and repair options at the places kitchen cabinets see the most use.
Small Spaces
Make a modest footprint feel easier to live in.
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Small Spaces8 min read
The Desk That Fits Between Work and Home
Use the shape of a small room, the direction of daylight and a few ordinary objects to plan a compact workstation you can actually use.
Small Spaces8 min read
A Dining Nook for the Space You Have
Plan a compact dining corner around everyday meals, easy seating and the route past the table.
Small Spaces8 min read
Making a Studio Apartment Feel Like Two Rooms
Arrange a studio so sleep and daytime life can share one address without competing for every sightline and surface.
Storage
Systems that hold up through an ordinary week.
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Storage7 min read
An Entryway That Can Take a Wet Tuesday
Design a place for the keys, bags, shoes and damp layers that actually cross your threshold.
Storage7 min read
A Linen Shelf That Works on Laundry Day
Work out which sheets, towels and spare covers your household actually reaches for, then make the right bundle easy to pull out.
Storage8 min read
A Pantry Shelf You Can Shop From
Arrange dry goods around ordinary meals, keep the information from each package, and make low stock easy to see before shopping.
Workshop
Small projects and a closer look at the things we live with.
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Workshop7 min read
Read the Finish Before You Refinish a Table
A close look at the surface can tell you which marks need attention and which are part of a table worth keeping.
Workshop7 min read
Put a Cloth Napkin Back in the Drawer
Mend a split seam or a worn corner by deciding what the cloth still has enough strength to do.
Workshop7 min read
Buy a Used Hand Plane With a Piece of Wood in Mind
Judge an old plane by the work you want it to do, the parts you can inspect and the cost of getting it ready.
Garden
Places to grow, sit and spend time outside.
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Garden8 min read
Planting a Container That Still Looks Good in August
Design a pot around the place it will actually live, then make watering, trimming, and end of season changes easier.
Garden7 min read
A Garden Path That Makes Room for Rain
Observe where water goes before setting stones, and build a path that stays comfortable on a wet morning.
Garden8 min read
A Patio Made for Tuesday Dinner
Use the route from the kitchen, the timing of shade, and the way chairs move to lay out a patio you will actually eat on.