An Urban Hut in London by Jonathan Tuckey for an Under-the-Radar Design Doyenne
If you happen to be in London, strolling through Belgravia, and find yourself on narrow and winding Kinnerton Street, you might spot a group of frock-wearing women racing bikes, taking afternoon tea, and lunching in the shade of a potted bamboo plant. They’re the women of Egg, a 25-year-run shop by Maureen Doherty that sells simple and functional clothing. Located...
Expert Advice: 10 Tips for Transforming a Rental Bath
The challenges of the bathroom in my family’s rented house in Northern California ran the gamut from fusty glass lampshades and a heavy wrought-iron curtain rail to limp, musty curtains and a bold green-and-white striped shower curtain. The solution was pretty straightforward: Strip the place down to its bare elements, make everything white, and add layers of texture to prevent...
Remodeling 101: Romance in the Bath: Built-In vs. Freestanding Bathtubs
Freestanding baths have long been prized as the ultimate romantic statement: The big claw-foot tubs of yore can hold two people at once (cue the scented candles and bath oil). But we’ve heard some complaints: They’re harder to clean around, and they don’t keep the bathwater hot for very long. Then again, the other option—built-in baths—gets a bad rap for...
Atelier Vime in Brittany: An 18th-Century Childhood Home Lovingly Updated
Our story begins in the early 1960s with a hot tip in a doctor’s office: “My father was a dentist in Paris and a patient told him to have a look at this little hamlet lost in the valley—he had heard from his Breton family that the farmer wanted to sell,” Benoît Rauzy tells us. The hamlet in question is...
Wet Room Bathroom Guide: Design Ideas & Renovation Tips
Sleek and stylish open-concept bathrooms—with entire walls and floors clad in gorgeous tile—are all the rage these days. But are these artfully designed, modern spaces suitable for everyone? To get the lowdown on so-called “wet rooms,” we consulted designer Hanna Wiegers, who’s worked with the likes of Berman Horn Studio and Jocelyn O. Dickson Architecture. Here’s what you need to...
Casa Modesta: A Family House Turned Rural Retreat in Portugal’s Algarve
When friends of mine returned from a trip to southern Portugal a while back, they told me all about their secret find: Casa Modesta, a rural guest house on the Ria Formosa Nature Park in the Algarve. Before owner Carlos Fernandes and his sister, Vânia Brito Fernandes, inherited the house from their grandparents, it was a small 1940s house typical...
1970s California Style Resort: Sun Ranch in Byron Bay
Located in the hinterlands of Byron Bay, the Australian seaside hangout and surfing hub, Sun Ranch channels the area’s hang loose vibe. But it does so in surprising, inventive ways: the resort is set on a 55-acre former cattle farm and takes inspiration from 1970s California ranches houses—sunken living room, crushed velvet upholstery, fringed lampshades, and all.It’s the brainchild of...
Sunken Bath Design Ideas: Luxury Bathroom Trend 2025
Noted and admired of late: sunken baths. Below, seven alluring examples of bathtubs that skim the floor for a look that is at once modern and classic (think Roman baths). Some are deep cuts from our archives, others newly spotted.Won’t you step right down? Above: At a guesthouse in Algarve, Portugal, a combination shower-tub is clad in handmade matte white...
Best Modern Cabinet Knobs: Top 10 Stylish Hardware Ideas
The easiest (and cheapest) way to spiff up a kitchen: replace the cabinet knobs. Cabinet knobs may be small in size, but their impact is large: The right choice can make all the difference in a space. It’s also a great trick for upgrading a rental space. Here’s a roundup of our favorite modern knobs. Above: The Schoolhouse Riverwood Knob,...
RECIPES Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
This weekend coming up is a slow weekend. It’s full of football and reading books and planning out my Christmas lists and going yard saling and making extra phone calls to my mom. And I’m here for all of it. Truth? I was so excited I made soup. I know, right? Doesn’t soup sound like the perfect meal for a...