If you are considering California, visit Santa Barbara. Having moved here after living in San Francisco, I have found that it's not more expensive (although it is expensive compared to most other ...

I'll be generous and say any more than 5 pillows is too many. 2 for sleeping, two other ones, and if you REALLY need one foofy pillow, then fine. Just one. My mom once went to a bed and breakfas...

Amy Sedaris recommends giving postage stamps. I think it's great! Often when you move, everything is packed up and you need those little things right away...

I agree with mxjohnson - the price is ridiculous. That's hovering around $8-10 a square foot. You can buy marble tile for that much, and this is PLASTIC! That said, I love the idea...

Part of me wants to tell you to get one dish in every color: it would look so beautiful in your cabinet and on the table! But, if you do want matching dishes, go with a light color, not necessaril...

If you dab a spot of hot glue on the inside lip of the test tube and then attach a micromagnet, you can stick them to the fridge (or other magnetic surface) and use them as bud vases. I second the...

It's always so special (and rare) when the planets align and I have enough money saved to get a designer piece! My first was an Eames Storage Unit, which I was able to afford because my Herman Mil...

When having a dinner party, I do a once-over of my friends general food allergies/ avoidances. But I would not cater to someone who has such a long list of them! If someone is so picky, have THEM...

I wouldn't buy one! But I recently sold mine to a student. In the ad, I made clear that it was in excellent condition, from a pet-free and smoke-free home.

Oh, wow, thanks for all the responses! I love the painting in the Roundhouse. I did some research and the bears represent conservative financial investors celebrating a good day on the market. Th...

I'm wary of being told "Buy more stuff so that you can organize your stuff!"

Gosh, I could feed 12 for well under $100 with my Chicken Marbella recipe over rice, a salad of radicchio and arugula with mandarin wedges and goat cheese, some roasted pumpkin or eggplant, and app...

"The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs...I feel like it should be read every 2 years. Such a good one on so many levels!

I just bought a mattress from H3 Environmental and went through the same sort of transition: it's very different from a springy coil mattress (and SUPER heavy!). But I must say, the fact that it's...

Hm, I don't know. Those chairs in the first photo...bringing a bit of the Cracker Barrel into the modern home.

Check out http://www.garnethill.com and their Eileen Fisher home collection. Nothing quite as sculptural, but beautiful fabrics and excellent th...

Wash your cashmere with gentle shampoo. Two things that will shrink wool and cashmere are warm water and agitation. Even if you wash with cold water, and there is enough agitation in the cycle, it...

Oak that beautiful doesn't even exist anymore. You have wood that is so precious! Look at the figuring on it! Those logs must have been huge. (A little sad to think about, but that's reality). ...

One reason that neighborhoods don't retain their character through a gentrification process is because it's cheaper to tear down and build new than to preserve the old. This is the fabric of the n...

Seeing all my plants that have grown over the years makes me happy.