This multipurpose room was my very favorite spot in the house (for work, reading, or getting ready for my day). See how I styled it.

Gails' kitchen and family room renovation is a project of mine that's currently in the early stages of construction. I first posted abou...

Part three of an occasional series about what I'm enjoying in my "new" house one year after we started our big renovation project. The dining room isn't the only space that will feel different for the holidays this year -- the family room got a total overhaul as well. Last year we were able to get a tree in there about a week before Christmas, but the room was otherwise mostly empty given that most of our belongings were boxed up in the guest room or stashed in a pod in our driveway. Now we have a brand new room to enjoy (although it's still the same old furniture) -- we took out a load-bearing column that chopped up the space, installed a steel beam in the ceiling to support the second floor, added recessed lighting, replaced the floor and completely changed the focal wall of the room (as a reminder, I don't recommend tackling a project like this without consulting a good architect first). Within all those changes, here are the details that I like best about the space... 1. Bookcases: The biggest feature we added to the room is the built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. As lifelong book nerd and former English teacher, I love having books out and available. There are still more books in boxes upstairs, but at least I've got lots out where I can see them. Plus, what you don't see are all the toys tucked away inside those cabinets. 2. Dictionary shelf: In case having lots of books isn't nerdy enough for you, I also love being able to have a big, fat dictionary open and ready. Yes, I know you can look up anything on the internet. But it's just not the same. 3. Fireplace with mantel: Our old fireplace had a crumbling brick facade and no mantel -- nothing for hanging stockings or displaying treasures. Now we have sparkly mica tile (complete with a keystone) and a gorgeous mantel that ties into the book cases on either side. IT's so pretty that we didn't want to cover it up with a big fireplace screen (and it's just gas logs anyway), so we found this funky metal design with leaves and birds -- a great bit of quirky on an otherwise traditional design. 4. Media cabinet: No, this photo doesn't look pretty. But that's exactly the point. All those cables and boxes and electronics stay hidden inside that cabinet below the TV. And thanks to some kind of magical sensor that my husband installed, the remote works through the wood cabinet doors to run the TiVo box inside. 5. Trim work: The beautiful molding around the bookcases isn't the only trim detail in the room. Our talented architect and carpenter (who also created the bookcases and mantel) added a column effect at the corners of the room, which is open to the kitchen on one end and the foyer/hall on the other end. It's a great touch that helps separate the room (and the wall colors) without taking up any real space in the floor plan. What little details make your family room great? Or what projects are you plotting to turn the space into the room you're imagining? Check out the rest of this series... - Part 1: Powder Room - Part 2: Dining Room .

Celebrity power couple Jay- Z and Beyonce were the lucky buyers of the sprawling Hamptons estate that had been on the market for eight years. They got it for $26m compared to $39.5m

There's no better way to make a space feel bigger and brighter than vaulted ceilings. We rounded up a few of our favorite vaulted looks, what's yours?

Time for another renovation progress post! Lots happened last week, and lots more has been happening on the week 2. The builders have been busy clearing out the rubbish from last week and removing …

An unlacquered brass pepper mill to flavour your food and a beautiful piece of decor to your kitchen! Handcrafted in Europe, these pepper mills are designed to grind your pepper instead of smashing it, bringing out the best flavour. Adjustable to have coarse or fine pepper, there is plenty of room in the mill for your favourite seasoning.  The open bottom and long brass arm makes for easy grinding that can be done directly over your food. These grinders are crafted from natural brass. They will come to you bright and shiny but quickly age and patina beautifully with use.  Pair with the Brass Salt Mill also on the Maison Blonde Shop. Specs Dimensions: 9" H x 1.6" Dia Materials: Natural Brass, Unlacquered (They will come to you bright and shiny but quickly age and patina beautifully with use.)  Care The mill handle is stored inside the body. Unscrew the nut at the top of the mill, remove the cap, take out the handle, fill and then replace the cap. Put the handle on top of the mill and screw the nut down tight. Prior to first use, we recommend cleaning the mechanism by grinding a small quantity through the mill and discarding. Never wash or submerge the mill in water, as water will corrode the mechanism.  The outside of the mill will naturally oxidize and develop a patina over time through use and exposure to salt, moisture, and other environmental factors. However, if users wish to retain a bright, as-new polished look, ordinary metal cleaners can be used with a soft cloth to polish the outside of the mill. When refilling salt mills, use a dry cloth to wipe away any salt residue around the grinder cap and the body. The salt residue may cause oxidation if left on the body.  All mills listed as Pepper Mills, are made for pepper, but can also grind dry spices. Generally, it is not recommended to grind spices with a soft core or large peppercorns in these mills. Don’t use salt in the pepper mill or pepper in the salt mill. They are manufactured specifically for their type of spice. It is also not recommended to use “wet” or “grey” sea salt, or salt flakes in the salt mill because it will clog the mechanism.

I’m not a matchbook collector, per se, but if I were a phillumenist, I’d definitely collect Feature Matches. When it comes to little scraps of advertising ephemera, these clever and colorful matchbooks with pictures on the actual matches are matchless! … Continue reading →

Inspired by the digits in a family’s favourite painting, No Architects formulates an apartment reno filled with soft corners.

“My work is a collaboration between figurative and abstract botanical foliage and the use of shapes, lines and colours. I…

Family memories past, present, and future are at the core of this California abode

This contemporary family home in Poland will give you many ideas on how to create a stylish modern house you'd never want to leave.

Image 10 of 19 from gallery of Clerestory House / Lai Cheong Brown. Photograph by Jaime Diaz-Berrio