With the lyrics of a Replacements song running through his head ("Look me in the eye, then tell me that I'm satisfied"), David Giffels--with his wife and infant son in tow--combs the environs of Akron, Ohio, in search of the perfect house for his burgeoning family. The quest ends at the front door of a beautiful but decaying Gilded Age mansion, the once-grand former residence of a rubber-industry executive. It lacks functional plumbing and electricity, leaks rain like a cartoon shack, and is infested with all manner of wildlife. But for a young father at a coming-of-age crossroads, the challenge is precisely the allure.

All the Way Home is Giffels's funny, poignant, and confounding journey through the great adventure of restoring a crumbling house on the way to discovering what the words "grown up" and "home" really mean.

Terrain's plant experts travel the world in search of the most unusual and interesting houseplants. In this inspiring and practical guide, they share their favorite specimens: exotic and eclectic ferns, like the skeleton fork, a primitive (and unfussy) predecessor to the family; new aroids to feed that monstera obsession; and adventurous trailing plants like dischidia, which is found cascading from tree branches in its native Thailand; plus succulents and cacti, indoor trees, the best low-care plants, and "rule breakers" like bamboo muhly grass that can make an unexpected move indoors. Along the way, Terrain introduces their favorite independent growers - passionate plant lovers who are creating new hybrids and bringing back old-school specimens to the market. And readers learn Terrain's way of styling and overarching philosophy on care: the most important thing we can give our plants is our presence

Peter Walsh has won over millions of people, including Oprah, with his good humour and reassuring advice as he's coached viewers through the process of de-cluttering their homes and reclaiming their space and their lives. Now, in It's All Too Much, he challenges you to answer a very simple but scary question: Does the stuff you own contribute to the life you want to live or does it get in the way of your vision of a happy life? Peter shows you how to assess the state of your home and then with simple techniques and a very clear plan he shows you how to go room by room to identify priorities and part with the things that are weighing you down. From the 'holding onto the past' clutter - your grandmother's china or your first report card to the 'living in the future' clutter - that GBP100 dress you may fit into again or the untouched fondue set you got as a wedding gift. Filled with real-life examples and hands-on advice for homes and lives of all sizes, Peter helps you understand the purpose and place for everything in your home and gives you the freedom to let go and move on. The result is freed-up space and more energy for living a happier, richer life.

You don't have to live overwhelmed by stuff-you can get rid of clutter for good! While the world seems to be in love with the idea of tiny houses and minimalism, real women with real families who are constantly growing and changing simply can't purge it all and start from nothing. Yet a home with too much stuff is a home that is difficult to maintain, so where do we begin? Add in paralyzing emotional attachments and constant life challenges, and it can feel almost impossible to make real decluttering progress. In Decluttering at the Speed of Life, decluttering expert and author Dana White identifies the mind-sets and emotional challenges that make it difficult to declutter. Then, in her signature humorous approach, she provides workable solutions to break through these struggles and get clutter out-for good! But more than simply offering strategies, Dana dives deep into how to implement them, no matter the reader's clutter level or emotional resistance to decluttering. She helps identify procrasticlutter-the stuff that will get done eventually so it doesn't seem urgent-as well as how to make progress when there's no time to declutter. Sections of the book include Why You Need This Book (You Know Why) Your Unique Home Decluttering in the Midst of Real Life Change Your Mind, Change Your Home Breaking Through Your Decluttering Delusions Working It Out Room by Room Helping Others Declutter Real Life Goes On (and On) As long as we're living and breathing, new clutter will appear. The good news is that decluttering can get easier, become more natural, and require significantly fewer hours, less emotional bandwidth, and little to no sweat to keep going.

Choosing colours for your home can become an overwhelming and confusing process-there is just so much on offer. Love Colour will help you to bring your favourite colours to life by successfully making all those challenging decisions. Renowned international colour expert Anna Starmer takes you by the hand and guides you through this lavishly illustrated rainbow world of colour combinations, teaching you everything you need to know about hues, tones, accents and foundation colours along the way. Start by simply choosing a colour you love, then take your inspiration from our accessible and practical palettes to create your own colour combinations. This book also includes removable colour chart booklet so you can note and match your perfect colours anytime you are out and about.

Presents guidelines and step-by-step projects for decorating ordinary household items and features. The text introduces the materials and equipment needed and covers the basic techniques, from preparing surfaces and cutting a stencil to protecting the finished work with varnish. The main part of the book takes elements of the home in turn: walls and floors; furniture; accessories and fabrics; and outdoor spaces. Also included are ideas for borders and alternative applications for each motif, together with a section on materials and techniques.

If you are planning a new kitchen, remodelling an old one, or just trying to decide what type of cabinets and countertop you want to build and install, this text offers professional advice from designer and builders on how to: design a functional and accessible kitchen; remodel your kitchen to your family's needs, choose, build and install quality cabinets; find the best materials to use for a lasting countertop. This is one of a series of books written by professional builders who actually do the work, then offer the best design and construction advice along with building site-proven tips and techniques.

A practical guide to improving your life--and your impact on the world--in thirty simple days by radically reducing waste without losing your lifestyle. Overwhelmed by clutter, anxious about your environmental footprint, and looking to make a change? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to reconfigure your consumption--still, it doesn't hurt that Anita Vandyke is. A qualified engineer and the eco-luxe lifestyle champion behind the popular zero-waste Instagram @Rocket-Science, Anita Vandyke has made the change to a zero-waste life, and through hands-on advice and charming illustrations, she shows us that with ease and style, we can too. By incorporating thirty simple rules one day at a time, A Zero Waste Life is a manageable guide to forming a more conscientious, intentional life in just one month. Offered inside is guidance for tackling waste and making ethical choices when it comes to shopping, eating, travel, beauty, and more. With her signature elegance and encouraging voice, Vandyke proves that we can stop depending on plastics, tidy our homes, and clear the way for a cleaner future--and that when we stop wasting, we start living.

Discover the stories of some of the most breathaking and historic great houses of London, along with their secrets, in this lavishly illustrated compedium. London has a wealth of truly stunning great houses, seen by many as one of the marvels of English architecture, and yet to many their histories, their interiors and their occupants remain unknown. This book, illustrated throughout with sumptuous photography of these breathaking residences, reveals to us this secret world of riches and splendour. From the baroque and imposing magnificence of 10 Downing Street, perhaps London's most famous address, to the extraordinary Pre-Raphaelite mosaics of Debenham House to the confident, futuristic steel and glass of the Richard Rogers House in Chelsea, this book showcases these properties and details their origin as well as the many transformations they have undergone from their construction to the present day. There are many architectural wonders, among them Robert Adam's 20 St James's Square and William Burges's Tower House. Several - including Bridgewater House with its Raphaels and Titians - have held great art collections. These are houses that hold extraordinary stories: half the Cabinet resigned after breakfast at Stratford House; and on 4 August 1914, at 9 Carlton House Terrace - then the German Embassy - young duty clerk Harold Nicholson deftly substituted one declaration of war for another. With photography by the world-famous and multi-award winning Fritz von der Schulenburg, this title brings these houses to life in all their grandeur, and text from historian and author James Stourton delves into the many fascinating stories hidden behind the walls of these homes. Great Houses of London opens the door to some of the greatest and grandest houses in the world to tell the stories of their owners and occupants, artists and architects, their restoration, adaptation and change. Now available in a more compact format.

A stunning visual journey through the homes of people from around the world who have taken steps to simplify their lives and embrace the principles of slow living. Still is an interiors book that invites readers to take on the philosophy of the SLOW movement. Living Sustainably; Local; Organic; and Whole. It talks not just to the question of the physical structures we choose, but also the surrounding environment, and what effect that can have on general happiness and wellbeing. Still includes about a dozen case studies featuring escape homes and owners who live according to these aforementioned principles, enlightening readers as to why they chose this path and how it has benefitted their lives. It is the follow-up to Natalie Walton's successful first title This is Home, and once again features location photography by Chris Warnes.

Designing Your Life meets The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in this guide to creating a space that promotes calm, clarity, and positivity. In Designing for Calm, designer and Stanford instructor Olga Trusova offers easy-to-follow tips for cultivating a calming environment at home or at work. Discover how simple changes can make any room-and its inhabitants-feel more inspired, clear, and energetic. Using the principles of design thinking, Trusova distills essential design wisdom, revealing how to use light, color, sound, furniture, and more to make simple, intentional changes for a profound impact on your mind, body, and spirit. Illuminating examples, accessible tips, and short exercises reveal how easy it is to transform a space, whether you're targeting a small corner or multiple rooms. Brimming with smart, digestible design tips and life-changing techniques, this stylish handbook makes a lovely self-purchase or gift for creatives, design enthusiasts, at-home workers, and anyone looking for simple, proven ways to design a soothing space.

These origami decorations may look complex and expensive, but they are actually easy to create and will never wilt or shed, making them highly economical! Each wreath is assembled from a number of paper sheets that are folded and then cleverly slotted together. No glue or tape required! The ring itself is held together by the tension of the individual paper pieces using the techniques of modular origami. Full-color, step-by-step instructions help you fold and assemble these beautiful pieces. Different designs are provided for each month of the year--34 in all--and you can endlessly vary the colors and materials, which are readily available in any craft store. Here are just a few of the seasonal and festive themes found in this book: Valentine Hearts Spring Cherry Blossoms Tulips and Roses Shooting Stars Goldfish and Bunnies Fall Harvest Christmas And many more! This is a simple and creative way to add touches of beauty to your home or to create low-cost decorations for weddings, parties, holidays, and other special occasions. These versatile designs can be used in many creative ways: Wall and door hangings Table centerpieces Tree ornaments and toppers Doorknob hangers Picture frames

Forget the aesthetics of mainstream minimalism and discover a life of authenticity and intention with this "warm, engaging guide" (Laura Fenton, author of The Little Book of Small Living) to living with less...your way. When Christine Platt set out on her journey to live with less, she never intended to become The Afrominimalist. She just wanted to tame the chaos in her closet! But after struggling with the austerity and whiteness of mainstream minimalism, Christine realized why minimalism often seems unattainable for so many: the emphasis on all-white, barren aesthetics distracts from the practice of living with intention. And so, she decided to do things her way by curating a life of less influenced by the African diaspora. In The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less, Christine gets right to the heart of how childhood experiences and expectations manifest in adulthood, the delicate dance between needs and wants, and the complicated weight of familial and societal pressures. A far cry from Konmaried closets, capsule wardrobes, and conspicuous consumption, Christine's brand of "living with less" is more than a decluttering regimen. "By detailing her own maximalist-to-minimalist transformation, Platt puts readers at ease" (The Washington Post) and presents a radical revisioning of minimalism, one that celebrates the importance of history and heritage, and gives you permission to make space for what really matters...your way. Beautifully illustrated with original black-and-white prints and line drawings, The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less is a testament to the idea that anyone can be a minimalist and a warm invitation to a life curated with intention, perfect for readers of Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (The Minimalists), Marie Kondo, Joshua Becker, and Courtney Carver.

When the German-Vietnamese interior designer Thai Cong Quach gets down to business, he creates sumptuously furnished interior landscapes for everyone who loves the extraordinary. He cleverly combines elements of Western (pop) culture with the traditions of the Far East. For him, luxury is not merely an end in itself - people are always at the centre of everything he does. The interiors he has been designing for over 20 years bear his distinctive signature and an unmistakable style. Thai Cong - A Passion for Aesthetics is the first coffee table book dedicated to Thai Cong Quach's unique form of expression. With incisive writing and captivating images, the book showcases finished interiors along with their sources of inspiration, and, most importantly, the master of staging discusses what aesthetics mean to him.

Design expert Katy Campbell and acclaimed photographer Mark Nicholson offer an insider's look at the Cotswolds' most charming and inspirational private homes At Home in the Cotswolds is a celebration of beautiful Cotswold houses and their interiors. Author Katy Campbell and photographer Mark Nicholson take us on a tour of the villages and rolling hills of the Cotswolds as they uncover some of the most charming and inspirational homes in the region: a chocolate box cottage, an exquisite old rectory, a Georgian farmhouse, a quintessential manor house, an historic stately home, and more. The featured homes, along with their adjacent gardens, were chosen not only for their architectural beauty but for their stunning interiors, which range in style from classical English country retreat to chic contemporary dwelling. Each house, and the interior design of its rooms, reflects the charm and character of its owners-and comes with its own unique and intriguing story. With the homes' idyllic settings-and a foreword by the Duchess of Marlborough-this collection presents inspirational ideals of English country style certain to fascinate and delight.

This work includes 35 fully costed barn conversions. It also contains projects to suit all budgets - all fully costed with detailed project descriptions. Clussic, rustic and contemporary styles are complete with details of suppliers and craftsmen for each project.

The classic bestselling resource for every American home. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the dining room table, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, watering plants, removing stains -- "Home Comforts" addresses the meanings as well as the methods of hands -- on housekeeping to help you manage everyday chores, find creative solutions to modern domestic dilemmas, and enhance the experience of life at home.
Further topics include: Making up a bed with hospital corners, Expert recommendations for safe food storage, Reading care labels (and sometimes carefully disregarding them), Keeping your home free of dust mites and other allergens, Home safety and security, A summary of laws applicable to the home, including privacy, accident liability, contracts, and domestic employees and more in this practical, good-humored, historic, philosophical, even romantic, guidebook to the art of household management.

'Somerville knows more about wooden barn construction than almost anyone alive.'-The Telegraph 'A joyful reminder of why nature, being outside, being together and creating beauty is so good for the soul.'-Kate Humble, broadcaster and author of A Year of Living Simply 'For all our advances, it's hard to deny the modern world brings with it new ills of disconnection and disenfranchisement, but here in Barn Club they've found their cure.'-Barn the Spoon, master craftsman and author of Spon Nature meets traditional craft in this celebration of the elm tree, beautiful buildings and community spirit. Barn Club calls on us to discover our landscapes more intimately and to explore the joys of making beautiful things by hand, together. When renowned craftsman Robert Somerville moved to Hertfordshire, he discovered an unexpected landscape rich with wildlife and elm trees. Nestled within London's commuter belt, this wooded farmland inspired Somerville, a lifelong woodworker, to revive the ancient tradition of hand-raising barns. Barn Club follows the building of Carley Barn over the course of one year. Volunteers from all walks of life joined Barn Club, inspired to learn this ancient skill of building elm barns by hand, at its own quiet pace and in the company of others, while using timber from the local woods. The tale of the elm tree in its landscape is central to Barn Club. Its natural history, historic importance and remarkable survival make for a fascinating story. This is a tale of forgotten trees, a local landscape and an ancient craft. This book includes sixteen pages of colour photographs, and black and white line drawings of techniques and traditional timber frame barns feature throughout.

The router is the most versatile of power tools and can be adapted to achieve the same results as a workshop full of tools. This selection of projects, taken from "The Router" magazine, is aimed at all those who wish to enjoy creating well-designed projects in wood - from the beginner with a thirst for knowledge, to the experienced woodworker looking for inspiration. The projects are explained by craftsmen who take pleasure in their work and enjoy sharing their skills. Weekend projects include a bathroom cabinet, a picture/mirror frame, candle sconce, fire surround, folding screen, bedside cabinet, and radiator covers. More challenging projects include a linenfold chest, extending dining table, a Shaker table and a router workstation.

An inspiring, aspirational and practical guide to building fires both indoors and out. 'A cracking book' Sainsbury's Magazine 'Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud' Sunday Times 'A brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations' Yorkshire Post 'Celebrates the heart-warming properties of the hearth' Simple Things Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood - what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out. But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.

How to Run Your Home without Help, as its title implies, is a book first published in 1949 about housework. It is a fascinating historical document, and, from the vantage point of sixty years on, it is a funny and at times extraordinary bulletin from a vanished world. The wartime overalls were off, the pinny was put back on or, in many cases, worn for the first time, as the market in uniformed domestic help died away.

Mindful Thoughts at Home is a lovingly gathered collection of reflections appreciating the often un-noticed details of what makes a house a home. Mindfulness is about being truly present and fully engaged with whatever we're doing at that moment, anchoring ourselves in the present. We aim to be aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them, letting go of distraction and judgement. We usually focus on the past or the future, but with mindfulness, we pay attention to what is around us, things that we would normally take for granted. So why not put some focus on your home environment? The layout, ambiance and decor in your home can offer a perfect complement to the sense of wellness that mindfulness creates. It is our home, after all. By reading this book and embracing the mindfulness within it, you will be able to create a delightful and comfortable environment that will enrich your life and soul.