Blog Posts by House Beautiful Magazine

Six years ago, Diana and Michael Lorence built and took up full-time residence in a 12-foot cube with a sleeping loft, porch, and beautiful Shaker-like detailing-but no electricity-in the mountains of northern California. What were they thinking?

Little House in the Big Woods

The Lorence's dwelling in the northern California woods embodies simplicity at its finest. Drawing from their surroundings, the color palette was kept neutral.

See More: Chic Outdoor Spaces








The Kitchen

While lack of elbow room in the kitchen may frustrate some cooks, the Lorence's thoroughly enjoy the simplicity of it. "While we've always lived in small houses, this one is the smallest and the best," says Diana.

See More: Best Designer Kitchens







The Study

"A very small domestic space is conceived for the purpose of what Wordsworth called 'plain living and high thinking' is like a hand held up to the ear or a lens to the eye: It enlarges and amplifies and intensifies everything," says Diana.

See More: Kitchen of

Read More »from Inside a Couple's 144-Square-Foot Home

As the mercury rises, it's all too easy to settle for a basic, boring fan. These inventive designs - from vintage-inspired to something straight out of the future - will blow you away.



1. Fitzgerald

This retro fan gives off a completely vintage vibe from the design to the bronze finish. It would look great in a room that also hosts your favorite worn-in leather chair. Even the name suggests that it once belonged in a Gatsby-esque era. Buy it here.

See more: 20 Decorating Secrets

2. Flowerpower

There's nothing girly, frilly, or even traditional about this import from Germany. The Flowerpower fan comes in a variety of bright colors, and now even a sleek solid silver finish. Any color you choose will instantly add funk to a room. Buy it here.


See more: Quick and Easy Makeover Ideas













3. Air Multiplier

The latest in fan technology from Dyson provides un-buffeted air quality. It's intriguing design is nothing to be scared about-it's completely bladeless and safe around kids, pets, Read More »from 7 Unusual Fans to Keep Your Home Cool

The biggest (and most expensive) threats to items in storage are thefts, fires, and water damage. Follow these tips from Bob Crozier of Crozier Fine Arts and Crozier Decorative Arts Storage and Transport, and your mind and wallet can rest easy.

1. Crate and Stack Your Belongings
While crates might seem like an unnecessary expense, their initial purchase will save you money in the long run. Crates ensure that your items ship damage-free. The real money-saver? They pack neatly inside your storage unit, so you can stack them to the ceiling, without any wasted space, which means you can spring for a much smaller storage unit. Try wooden crates with solid or open-slat sides.

Related: Checklist for House Essentials

2. Store in a Tenant-Free Building
Always look for a storage building that doesn't have any other tenants. If the building has a restaurant or garage, you're at greater risk for a fire, which could mean damage and replacement fees for your items. And always make sure to choose

Read More »from 5 Tips for Saving Money on Storage

Grown-ups longing for playhouses of their own have started transforming utilitarian garden sheds into delightful hideaways that serve as offices, craft rooms, dining spaces, guesthouses, and even reading retreats. Here are a few of our favorites from the recent designer exhibition at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.



Inside this whimsical shed by designer Michael Devine is a luxurious miniature office. Decorated with pink accents, an upholstered side chair, and a candelabra on the desk - for working late into the night - elegance has been brought to the outdoors.

See More: 20 Fun Finds from the Hardware Store




With exterior stripes elongating the shed's frame, and ample windows that let in lots of light, this bedroom design by Pine Cone Hill's Annie Selke is a cozy escape.

Related: The Best Outdoor Room Designs



You'd never know a salon-style room is behind the closed doors of this bold, red-painted shed by designer Sarah Thorne and furniture maker Peter

Read More »from Unbelievable Garden Sheds You Won't Believe

From slipcovers to stripes, these fast and easy makeover ideas refresh any room in a flash.


1. Try Reversible Pillows

Double-sided pillows are a quick and easy change. "You have your summer pattern, then flip them to the other side, to velvet - something richer - for winter," says designer Jesse Carrier. He and his wife, designer Mara Miller, chose them for the sofas in the living room of this 19th-century farmhouse in upstate New York. You can also try doing a combination of both, as they did here.

See more: 6 Living Rooms We Love





2. Sew Handkerchief-Style Curtains

For a relaxed, breezy look, try making curtains similar to the ones that Carrier and Miller created for this dining room. Hang pre-hemmed shawls, tablecloths, or even pillowcases on hooks from one corner of the window. Or recycle old curtains: Simply measure and cut them into squares, adding buttonholes in the corners. "Just take one of the corners off, and it drops," Miller explains.

See More: 101 Pretty Plates











3. Paint

Read More »from 6 Quick Decorating Changes

Tired of the same old kitchen, but don't want the hassle (or price tag) of an entire renovation? These fast and easy updates take the room from make-do to magnificent.



1. Add Table Lamps

Put table lamps on your island or dining table to make your kitchen feel like a room, not a laboratory, like designer Robert Stillin did with Visual Comfort's Column lamp in Sheffield silver for House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year with Ina Garten.

See More: At Home with Chef Tyler Florence

















2. Try a New Gadget

You don't have to invest in brand-new appliances like an industrial stove. Instead, become inspired to cook a new dish, or just have more fun cooking a family favorite, with a fun, functional gadget, like a citrus juicer. We like this one from Cuisipro.com.


Related: 101 Pretty Plates








3. Suspend Pots and Pans

Instead of investing in brand-new cabinetry, try working with what you have. You can free up space by suspending your pots and pans from the ceiling. A pot rack adds style, makes

Read More »from 10 Ways to Make Your Old Kitchen New Again

From a bright and bold ceiling to a fabric-covered lampshade, these little changes bring a lot of cheer to your kitchen.


1. Paint the Floor

To add a little energy in this Dallas kitchen, designer Shannon Bower had the floor hand-painted on the diagonal. A vintage tole chandelier from Mexico hangs over the chunky breakfast table.


See More: Bethenny Frankel's Grown-Up Baby Shower














2. Curtain Just One Cabinet

To shake things up, try adding a curtain to just one cabinet. "Cabinet after cabinet, door after door gets boring," says Shannon Bower, who added Carleton V's Wallace ticking in Green and Natural to this pair.


See More: Beautiful Designer Kitchens














3. Cover a Lampshade with Fabric

For a quick update, cover a lampshade with fabric, like Jonathan Adler did in fashion designer Liz Lange's Westchester home. He chose Alan Campbell's Potalla in Jungle Green for the Trans.Luxe pendant light, and also created cushions for the Norman Cherner counter stools.

4.

Read More »from 9 Colorful Ways to Cheer Up Your Kitchen

Not since Rosie, the Jetsons' maid, have robots been so helpful around the house - or so cute!

1. Roomba 780

The gold standard in automated vacuums. Has both optical and acoustic sensors to seek out and concentrate cleaning power on the dirtiest areas. Includes a built-in HEPA filter. $600. irobot.com.

Related: Home Tech Products We Can't Live Without








2. Hom-Bot

Two cameras, plus ultrasound and infrared technology, help it navigate and thoroughly vacuum without bumping into furniture. The low profile (just over 3/12") can go under cabinets for great edge-to-edge cleaning. It auto-docks and recharges, too. Available late 2011. lg.com.

Related: Editors' Favorite Home Decor Buys






3. Scooba 230

This floor scrubber employs a three-stage process to clean and kill germs. It's compact, too (6 1/2" wide), so it can get into hard-to-reach spaces (like behind the toilet). You do have to sweep first, though. $300. irobot.com.

Related: Checklist: What Every House Needs












4. Mint

Uses its own

Read More »from 8 Cool Robot Vacuums (That Do the Cleaning for You!)