Guess what? Gas prices are rising. Okay, I know you know this already, but did you also know that the skyrocketing prices of everything else are being traced back to the price of gas? An editor I know says that the prices are being blamed even for things that have nothing to do with petroleum [...]

Great response from a reader, Carmen, who points out the possibility of distracting the eye from the unsightly air conditioner—a technique that’s useful for taking attention away from all kinds of design flaws in ones home.
As we move further into summer weather, it’s time to start thinking about keeping the heat out. The more you [...]

So, Marie writes that she is no stranger to the seasonal make-over, even in a Manhattan apartment. And in fact, even in Manhattan (especially in Manhattan, this week of 90-plus temps) the demands of weather force us to make changes in the decor. Any tips on this? How to hide that ugly A/C, for example?

I just got back from a visit to my cousin Pam (I still think of her as “Pammy,” but really, a grown woman should have a more distinguished name; hence, “Pam”). She lives in a gorgeous cottagy house outside Washington, D.C. surrounded by peonies and lilacs and wisteria.
When I arrived, the living room was a [...]