If you're an art deco architecture geek, you'll no doubt know all about Ibex House. The shimmering pale office building, which you'll find on the east side of the Minories in the City, is renowned for its long streamline moderne curves and mesmerising black-framed windows. The vast H-shaped structure is Grade II-listed and one of London's most remarkable surviving art deco buildings.
Great curb appeal starts with a clear vision. Rather than focusing on one standout feature, aim for a cohesive, balanced look. According to Kevin Lenhart, Design Director and Landscape Architect at , curb appeal works best when every element plays its part. "It's about the sum of the parts, not one expensive feature. Instead of splurging on a statement front door that doesn't match your home's style, choose a cohesive aesthetic and execute it thoughtfully throughout your front yard."
I was that person who only changed their HVAC filter when it looked like it had grown its own ecosystem. Richie Drew, Vice President of Operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, puts it bluntly: "Dirty filters can reduce airflow, increase dust in your home and strain your heating system." Think about it this way: your HVAC filter is like the bouncer at an exclusive club, except instead of keeping out people without the right shoes, it's blocking dust particles from circulating through your home.
The collection comprises , , and sculptural elements developed through repetition, modularity, and consistency. By working with standardized components, the project examines how structural logic can inform form, allowing typically concealed systems to become spatial and perceptible. Designed by Claudio Larcher and Sofia D'Andrea, the collection is based on metal drywall guides, technical profiles usually embedded within partition walls and left unseen. These industrial elements are extracted from their conventional context and reconfigured into objects with a linear and uniform architectural language.
At first glance, all kitchen layouts may appear the same. But once you peel back the layers of this onion, you'll find that different layouts are designed to subtly support different kinds of cooking behaviors. Do you prefer minimal distractions and interruptions during prep work, or would you rather be a part of the conversation? Are you looking for expansive work surfaces to put together multi-course meals,
You may not realize it since you use it every day, but the kitchen is one of the most unique parts of your home. Think about it: What other room in your house comes with appliances, counters, and cabinets already in it? That definitely saves you a lot of time and money compared with creating an entire kitchen from scratch, but it does also mean that sometimes you'll find yourself with oddly shaped cabinets or cupboards that angle around a corner,
Nothing worked. The room felt cluttered no matter what we did, and we were both exhausted from hauling that massive sectional around. "Maybe I need a smaller couch," she sighed, collapsing onto it dramatically. But as I looked around her place, something clicked. The problem wasn't just the size of her furniture-it was how high everything sat. Her couch, bed frame, coffee table, even her bookshelf, all towered at standard Western heights, making the space feel boxed in.
The gloss and color-pop of lacquer is a refreshing alternative - it achieves a playful vibrancy with modern sophistication. There are plenty of perks that come with lacquer finishes, too. For one thing, lacquer can be applied almost anywhere, from an accent kitchen island to your dining table to the material for all of your counters and cabinets. It introduces and strengthens the room's color scheme, also contributes some fresh texture with its sleek, shiny finish.
Thermal modification is not a new invention, but its relevance has increased as expectations around performance, sustainability, and predictability have tightened. Developers, architects, and contractors are no longer just asking whether timber looks good or performs well initially. They want to know how it behaves after ten, twenty, or thirty years, and how much risk it introduces into a project once the scaffolding is gone.
I just got back from a weekend getaway, and the hotel bed was supremely comfortable. The comfy mattress made me realize I should think about replacing my own, and even though the pillows felt fluffier than a marshmallow, they provided just the right amount of support. But truthfully, I prefer my Cozy Earth bamboo sheets over the hotel's cotton linens. They're crisp, smooth, and incredibly soft, and I've been sleeping on them for three years.
The kitchen is the heart of most homes, a warm space where families gather and guests inevitably gravitate during a party. That's why keeping a comfortable and beautiful kitchen is often at the forefront when folks decide to update or remodel their homes. Among the many things to consider when taking on a kitchen remodel is what colors and style to choose.
Diverse zones allow employees to shift from heads-down work to group sessions with ease. An area for guests, which contains a plant-filled bookshelf, is reminiscent of a living room. The social sector at the heart of the workplace includes a casual dining section and bar. Glass blocks let sunlight filter in and complement the tile backsplash. There's even a room dedicated to deep relaxation, complete with cosmic motifs and a recliner.
Called the Shaw House, this Lake Oswego home was designed by Yeon and built in 1951 for Lawrence Shaw, owner of the Modoc Lumber Company. In 1953, it made the cover of House Beautiful magazine, which declared it "the architecture of the next America." Sixty years later, it was in poor shape, with signs of dry rot and water damage. Sitting on a generous 0.61-acre lot, it was also under threat of being torn down in favor of splitting the property in two.
When Desmond Courtney bought The Schoolmaster's House in Ireland's horse heartland in 2002, he turned it into a "bachelor pad". The civil engineer did most of the restoration of the property himself, with some help from friends. After nearly two decades of living there alone, a random reunification with his long-lost love Monica (née Barron) transformed his life and his Kildare home.
Some retro trends, like carpeted bathrooms, truly belong in the past: been there, done that, never again. Others never really disappear. They stick around for generations, coming in and going out of fashion. Terrazzo falls into the second category. They're the bootcut jeans of the interior design universe, the polka dots of tile patterns - they look like they belong in another era, but are always on the brink of a comeback.
I am using one round basket as a picture hanging basket! I love to be efficient with small frequent tasks so this is where I'm keeping all the little supplies I need to hang a plate or frame: it'll hold things like sticky tack, measuring tape, hooks and nails, and soon I'll add a new stack of the plate hangers i love and a small leveler and a new small hammer to replace ones I lost :).
It's likely that you've encountered recycled glass countertops without realizing it. They're far from the hippie-style broken-glass mosaic art of yesteryear, instead presenting as sleek, highly polished, professional slabs with intriguing bits of confetti-style color trapped inside. That's the recovered glass bits set into a binding material such as resin, cement, or concrete, and then smoothly polished so that the composite surface feels like stone.
My immediate plan when moving into my home was to knock down the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. I was bummed to learn that structurally it couldn't be done. Five years later, though, I'm grateful I never took that leap. Closed kitchens are having a comeback moment, as more people crave separation between cooking, entertaining, and even working from home.
Two years later, their love of thrifting, antiquing, bargaining and restoring has turned their Westwood rental into a showcase of "secondhand treasures," says Van Hulsen, 28, who works as a commercial contract specialist. "I have always liked things that have history and character and a story behind them," she says. "Each piece represents a store we love, a lucky find or a successful haggle that ended with us carrying home something with history."
My spouse and I have lived in our house for five years, and in that time, we've basically played Jenga in nearly every room. It's almost like a design challenge to see how many spaces can serve dual functions: Can we make this room into a gym? What about a gym/office? What about a guest room/office? Right now, we are transforming our office/gym into an office/guest room (the Peloton now lives in the makeshift sunroom downstairs).
Mixing wood tones can be a bold and rewarding design choice, but the potential for unseemly clashing is real. With a room as important as your kitchen, you want the space to feel inviting, stylish, and functional all at once. Before diving head-first into mixed wood tones, research the different ways to avoid a potentially ugly contrast. Kitchen flooring, backsplashes, cabinets, countertops, and even light fixtures all have the potential to be transformed with a wooden facelift.
My mom started using it to quickly mop up the few drops of water that get on the floor after you wash your hands or load dishes into the dishwasher. Instead of using a new one every time, she just keeps one there, then uses her foot to mop up the excess water. She doesn't even need to bend down!
Built-in desks, like the one in Hudson's kitchen, were kind of the hub back in the day. It wasn't just a spot that housed the desktop computer; it was a catchall place where mail was dropped, calendars were hung, and where one could typically find address books and landline phones. Because most of these things have now gone digital, these desks may be seen as outdated - but they can still be so useful!
Fortunately, there's nothing super eclectic going on with 2026's hottest kitchen trends, making them easy to incorporate and suitable for pretty much any aesthetic. We caught up with HomeGoods Interior Expert Jenny Reimold to get the inside scoop on what's in and what's out this year, and we were delighted by what she told us. 2026 is the year of warm tones, gentle visual interest, and kitchens that embody your own personality. Here's how to capitalize on the hottest kitchen trends of 2026.
For many UK SMEs, business growth often outpaces the space available within existing premises. Warehouses become congested, stock increases and teams expand, placing pressure on daily operations. At the same time, relocating to larger premises is expensive and disruptive, making it a risky step for growing businesses. As a result, more owners are reassessing how well their current buildings are being used. In many industrial and commercial premises, vertical space remains underused.
"Working with Start JudgeGill on retail stores concepts and communications guidelines has already delivered great results for MTS, such as the launch of the new MTS flagship store in Moscow. The key focus of our retail development is to provide best-in-class customer experience through personalized service and better tailored products, including exclusive devices bundled with applications developed by MTS," said Mikhail Gerchuk, vice president and chief commercial officer at MTS.
If you're not prepared, you aren't doomed to sit in darkness until the power is restored. You can easily make an emergency candle to use temporarily during a power outage, either until your lights are turned back on or just to help you find your flashlights and batteries. All you need is two pantry staples: rice and olive oil. One of olive oil's many uses throughout history was for ancient oil lamps.
Furniture is now understood as a core architectural component rather than a purely functional addition to a space. In 2026, instead of sharp, rigid forms, current design directions favor softer, organic silhouettes that promote comfort and visual calm. These shapes help create interiors that feel more balanced and human-centred, supporting everyday use while enhancing the emotional quality of the environment.
Among my many skills is that of carpentry - master level, frame to finish including cabinet-making. Today, I rode along with someone to install a window in (shiver!) a trailer house. I think they're called "mobile homes" now, but they're 'trailers' to me. Anyway, like most "trailer homes", this one had substantial rot around the window. We had no way to fix it short of inserting pieces of wood to fill the space, caulk heck out of it, then hand-nail the new window trim