You can do a lot better than this when it comes to underbed storage.Long ago, I interviewed an interior designer for a story, who gave me one of the best space-saving storage tips ever for utilizing the dead zone underneath my bed. Buy bed risers, which are essentially really sturdy plastic cones with indentations up top that cup the casters or feet of your bed frame, and literally give your bed a lift. The result of all this is you now have far more room to work with underneath.

I've filled the area with stackable plastic drawers to accommodate overflow from my closet-or really, in lieu of a dresser, which I was reticent to spring for both because my bedroom is pretty tiny and because a well-made dresser is a big investment. All my underthings, gym clothes, sleepwear, sweats, socks, and then some fit underneath, and the space is large enough to accommodate eight generously sized drawer bins to help me organize it all. This could also be a great place to stow things like sports equipment, out of season clothes, toys, excess office

We're loving these cool finds for right now, each of which will only set you back about $20.

By Rachael Ray | Photography by Gorman + Gorman

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Having moved a few days ago, I'm still wading through a sea of cardboard boxes, the contents of which I feel strangely detached to. There's nothing like moving to make you realize you've been harboring way, way too much stuff. In any case, inside one of the many boxes I opened and wished would simply go away was basically every cell phone my husband and I have ever owned and long since stopped using. But as it turns out, disposing of such electronics isn't that easy.

I'd of course heard of cell phone recycling and donation programs, but what I hadn't realized is how important it is to do even beyond just wanting to give back. Chucking your old tech gear in the trash actually has environmental repercussions. The batteries these things come equipped with are pretty toxic-and are made of the stuff that lingers in landfills, seeping into our soil and drinking water and into the air when burned in incinerators. Yikes.

I also didn't realize how easy it is to recycle your cell

Have you finally had it with that dark and dingy, I'm-not-sure-what's-there storage space under the kitchen sink? Well, these two types of roll-out trays will get everything out in the open and let you find exactly what you need at a glance.

This project isn't difficult. In fact, there aren't even any miter joints. All the parts are glued together and then nailed or screwed. You can make all the trays in an afternoon using building products from your local home center or hardware store for as little as $75. You can build everything with simple carpentry tools and some careful measuring.

You can do it! Get DIY photos and step-by-step instructions »

PRO TIPS:
You'll probably have to adapt the project dimensions to fit your space. For example, you may have a bulky garbage disposer that won't allow you to install both upper slide-out trays. In that case, just make one tray instead. If you have plumbing that comes up through the floor of your sink cabinet, you may need to shorten the

A dollar-stretching mother and daughter design duo show how to create rooms that are as stylish as they are cost-savvy. Clutter-free but never cold, these rooms have longevity and livability. Plus, see these great decorating ideas under $125!

For proof that the decorating gene can be inherited, just step into the front hall of this colonial in Rye, NY. Like all the effortlessly elegant rooms in the 1920s home, the robin's-egg blue entryway is a cross-generational collaboration between Suzanne Grua McGrath, an interior designer, and her 25-year-old daughter, Lauren, a blogger for the pair's style site, goodbonesgreatpieces.com.

Related: Decorate Your Rooms with Color




Foyer
To mimic pricey original trim, the McGraths added squares of pre-mitered molding to the wood paneling, painting it to match. See more foyer ideas.

Related: DIY Decorating Ideas







Dining Room
Use greenery as inexpensive decoration: This space-filling fern invigorates a quiet corner.
On the $300 set of dining

Diane von Furstenberg is legendary for creating the infamous wrap-dress, and is still one of the most influential fashion designers in the world. When this fashion icon needs to get away from it all she dashes off to her country estate in Connecticut. Check out below the unique inside look at Diane's home as seen in the September issue of InStyle magazine.



For more on Diane von Furstenberg's country home, pick up this month's fall fashion issue of InStyle magazine.

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As the AP reports, a new study done in Los Angeles County shows that one in seven home kitchens would flunk the health inspections that restaurants are subjected to, which begs the question: should we be more worried about food safety at home?

Though 61% of kitchens would score an A or B grade, at least 14% would fail-not even getting a C. And if you think about it, wouldn't you be skeeved out eating in a restaurant that didn't pass a standard sanitation test? So, to mitigate the risk of you or anyone in your family getting sick with food poisoning, follow these guidelines:

First and foremost, make sure that your fridge is set at less than 40 degrees to prevent bacteria from growing. Since temperatures fluctuate, the best way to ensure your fridge is as cool as you want it to be is to place a refrigerator thermometer on the middle shelf of your fridge and check it regularly.

Scrub down the interior of your refrigerator (shelves, drawers, walls, and all) with warm soapy

I discovered pro stylist Erica Domesek's DIY fashion website P.S. I Made This a few months ago and spent literally hours reading her archives. Living by the motto "I see it, I like it, I make it," Erica collages mood boards showcasing what she's loving lately (be it trends, palettes, or motifs), and then hand-crafts one-of-a-kind fashion and home accessories inspired by her boards. I caught a glimpse of her apartment in one of her posts, and I knew her talent for interior styling was as strong as her fashion sense. So I reached out to Erica and she happily obliged to share her loft in Gramercy Park, NYC with us, as well as answer some questions about her apartment and resources. Her home is seriously stylish; I can't wait for you to see it!

Photos by Michael Fine

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