Not just a vacuum or a mop, both are a little more fun now that I have the right single tool for the job. Of all the household chores I do on a weekly-ish basis, mopping falls just below vacuuming on the list, which is ordered by the amount of time it takes and my personal levels of irritation. I was taught that the only way to really clean a kitchen floor is with rags, on your hands and knees, like Cinderella—a method that produces results, but is deeply unpleasant. Vacuuming is slightly less arduous, but still not very enjoyable; I’ll do it when the rug looks like it’s more cat hair than ..read more

A set of gabled volumes nest one inside the other to form an X, giving the all-black residence a variety of riverside vistas. Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here. Project Details: Location: Theodore, Alabama Architect: Tall Architects / @tall.arch Footprint: 2,100 square feet Builder: C. Roberds General Contractors Structural Engineer: Simpkins & Costelli Interior Design: Jill Dupre Design Photographer: Andrew Welch / @andrewwelchphoto From the Arc ..read more

Designed by Charles M. Goodman in 1958, the renovated five-bedroom is one of 24 Care-free Homes built by the Aluminum Company of America. Location: 8000 Westwood Hills Drive, Saint Louis Park, Minnesota Price: $925,000 Architect: Charles M. Goodman Year Built: 1958 Footprint: 3,690 square feet (five bedrooms, three baths) Lot Size: 0.51 acres From the Agent: "Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own one of just 24 Alcoa Care-free Homes ever constructed, and one of few that have been restored. This meticulously updated midcentury-modern residence seamlessly blends vibrant design elements with ..read more

The hugely popular franchise has long been a gateway into the field, but for some professionals, it’s more than a hobby—it’s a helpful tool. Welcome to The Trend Times, a column that explores design fads in the age of doomscrolling. When Kayla Sims, 24, embarked on renovating her first home she was, of course, going to use the life simulation game The Sims to do it—and not just because of her last name. The content creator known as lilsimsie has almost 2 million subscribers on YouTube and streams herself playing the game on Twitch daily. Sims’ most popular videos are builds, where viewers w ..read more

Designer Fauzia Khanani of Studio For revises a ’70s ranch house to provide independence for the homeowners’ daughter, who uses a wheelchair. A little more than 20 years ago, Fauzia Khanani was seated next to Julie Kim in their first graduate school architecture class at Berkeley. "Our last names have the same first letter, and it was assigned seating," Khanani recalls. After graduating, they both stayed on the West Coast for a while and then, for different reasons, moved east. "I went back to New York a couple of years later, and she and her family moved here during the pandemic, to be clo ..read more

The Eagle Rock property comes with a 1920s main dwelling, a separate casita, and a detached studio/gym. Location: 5074 Glen Iris Avenue, Los Angeles, California Price: $2,350,000 Year Built: 1922 Renovation Architect: Barbara Bestor Footprint: 2,175 square feet (four bedrooms, three baths) Lot Size: 0.16 acres From the Agent: "Presenting an architectural compound that includes a California bungalow main home reimagined by architect Barbara Bestor in 2011, a separate casita with full bath, and a freestanding studio/office/gym. Enter to a dramatic open-plan great room, with a welcoming living ..read more

From bespoke to builder-grade, the options are endless—and often expensive. Whether the thought of opening a can of paint sounds daunting or your contractor is on speed dial for every fix, choosing when to go custom can be overwhelming. The pressure of this decision heats up in the kitchen—one of the more expensive rooms in a home to renovate. After you’ve settled on the installing new floor tiles, light fixtures, and decorative trim, making yet another decision about cabinetry is the last thing you want to do. Cabinetry can be pretty pricey and if you go custom, the process is time-co ..read more

From David Lynch’s puzzling installation to the all-aluminum kitchen you didn't know you needed, the trade show experience was a dizzying array of what’s new in design. Sometimes we joke that it’s the "Superbowl of furniture design" or "South by Southwest for chairs," but more people attend Milan’s annual design week, anchored by the venerable trade show Salone del Mobile, than attend either of those events. Last year, "Salone" alone drew 307,000 visitors, increasing the population of the city of 1.3 million inhabitants by nearly 25 percent. For one week, Milan becomes the best place t ..read more

The tiny concrete retreat packs in the storage, giving its owner a launchpad for skiing, running, and getting away from it all. Catherine Humblet started making regular drives from Seattle to Mazama along North Cascades Highway 10 years ago. Located in Washington’s Methow Valley, the small town is home to snow-crested mountain peaks, wildflower-dusted trails, and rivers teeming with fish. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and endurance athletes, it was the kind of place Catherine—who counts herself as both—could delight in cross-country skiing (the area has the largest trail system in North A ..read more

Designed by Harry Merritt, the Weil-Cassisi House is tucked away on a lush lot in Gainesville, Florida. Location: 3105 SW 5th Ct., Gainesville, Florida Price: $1,000,000 Architect: Harry Merritt Year Built: 1965 Footprint: 2,844 square feet (four bedrooms, three baths) Lot Size: 1.44 acres From the Agent: "Architect Harry Merritt’s masterpiece, the Weil-Cassisi House, is for sale for the first time since 1973. Located in Colclough Hill, this 1965 home sits on .69 of an acre and the property includes a second .75-acre lot. The midcentury features generous eaves, clerestory windows, and ..read more