Noticed recently, with increasing frequency: kitchens where color-stained wood does more with less. Tinted linseed oils and pigment-rich Polyx-oils offer a tactile alternative to lacquered gloss or flat paint—allowing tone, grain, and texture to coexist. It’s a resourceful move: cost-conscious, low-VOC, and richly expressive. The result is a custom look without the custom price tag. […]

Cutting out the agent might seem like a smart way to save when you sell your house. But here’s the hard truth.

Hope this missive finds you in front of a fan, reading a book, eating an ice cream, in the front seat on the way to a lake, or otherwise soaking up summer. Ahead, 19 things we’re noting this weekend: Limited-edition linens to admire—”two embroidery worlds together on a single piece: my line-based backstitch embroidery, and […]

The number of these programs, which come from a range of sources, is rising in the United States, but there are barriers to entry.

On the Dorset seafront, the Ballard Estate is a rare enclave of single-story timber-frame houses, their origins in a tented military encampment established during the First World War. Architecture for London—celebrated for its thoughtful and sustainable architecture and interiors—was tasked with the refurbishment of one such modest dwelling. The brief: to bring warmth and light […]

For Kusum and Dave, their charming 1920s house in Pelham was almost perfect, but a single, crucial problem loomed over their family of four: they were all sharing one bathroom. The quirky, converted attic that housed their three bedrooms was a beloved space, but the lack of a second bathroom had turned into a daily […] The post An Attic Remodel Turned This 1920s House’s Top Floor Into a Family Favorite appeared first on Sweeten.

When we visited designer Victoria Birch’s beach house in Falmouth, on Cape Cod, a few summers ago, we were charmed by the backstory—Victoria worked with her college roommate, architect Tei Carpenter, on the project—and by the creative approach the friends took to create a “cheap, cheerful, and durable” summer cottage, as Victoria puts it. The […]

Remember when we all thought working from home would be a temporary thing? Well…years later, the pandemic-era reality of living and working in the same space permanently sent a Los Angeles couple on a mission. They were producers, sure, but they were also first-time renovators with a vision: a 1950s house that would not just […] The post The Work-From-Home House Is Here, and It’s Glorious appeared first on Sweeten.

Now that there are more homes for sale, buyers have more options. And sellers need to be more flexible to close the deal.

The owners of this circa-1790 Cape in Freeport, Maine, envisioned a “not too kitchen-y” kitchen: no upper cabinets, Shaker-inspired but super-functional storage, and absolutely, definitely no recessed lighting. How to create such a space, you ask? You enlist Block Brothers, a family-owned small-batch kitchen company that hand-builds each cabinet like a piece of fine furniture […]

If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions.

In the world of home design, bathrooms are often relegated to a palette of predictable neutrals. But as more homeowners embrace personal style, a new trend is emerging: using the bathroom as a canvas for color. Whether it’s a bold accent or a full-blown theme, adding color can make a big impact. From calming blues […] The post How to Make a Colorful Splash in Your Bathroom appeared first on Sweeten.

Tired of the commute to the gym, waiting for machines, and that lingering, questionable smell? It’s time to bring the workout to you. Transforming a spare room, a corner of your basement, or even a section of your garage into a dedicated home gym is more achievable than you think. And with the right design, […] The post Your Ultimate Guide to a Killer Home Gym: Ditch the Dues, Upgrade Your Gains appeared first on Sweeten.

Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason.

A designer transforms her dank downstairs into a gleaming creative zone with renovation help from Sweeten Homeowners: Interior designer Danielle Fennoy posted her modern basement remodel on Sweeten Where: Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn, New York Primary renovation: A basement turns into a designer’s home office (including laundry and storage) with gallery looks Sweeten general contractor Homeowner’s […] The post A Brooklyn Basement Remodel Becomes a Sleek Home Office and More appeared first on Sweeten.

So maybe you can’t move to the South of France. But perhaps you can channel it at home. Take, for example, this bedroom at Hotel Lilou in Hyères, on the Mediterranean: Here are some sources to replicate the look. Paints and Materials Furnishings and Lighting Soft Goods More ideas to steal from design hotels: Steal […]

In today’s tough housing market, some first-time home buyers are looking to their parents for help. Here’s what to know if you plan to do the same.

A designer transforms her dank downstairs into a gleaming creative zone with renovation help from Sweeten Homeowners: Interior designer Danielle Fennoy posted her modern basement remodel on Sweeten Where: Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn, New York Primary renovation: A basement turns into a designer’s home office (including laundry and storage) with gallery looks Sweeten general contractor Homeowner’s […] The post A Brooklyn Basement Remodel Becomes a Sleek Home Office and More appeared first on Sweeten.

When you sell a house, the last thing you want is for the deal to fall apart right before closing.

Brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani are fourth generation California farmers who, after spending time as vineyard hands in Europe, returned to their hometown and bought an old vineyard in the foothills of Sonoma, California, to start their own winery, Scribe. The early 1900s hacienda was in need of a complete overhaul (it had partially burned down in a […]

The other day, after admiring Margot’s feature on the excellent Tuba Club in Marseille (see Tuba Club: Marseille’s On-the-Rocks Hideout), we were looking at some outtake photos together. Of the many guest room details to admire, one jumped out: fold-up, fold-down nightstands that reminded us of a ship’s cabin—perfect for any small room, and not […]

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block.

When you hear “modern classic,” your mind probably goes straight to a sterile, all-white bathroom with a few tasteful chrome fixtures. It’s the safe bet, the default setting for a certain kind of grown-up design. But what if we told you that the concept has evolved? Today, the best modern classic bathrooms are less about […] The post The New Rules of “Modern Classic” Bathroom Design appeared first on Sweeten.

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy.

First-time home buyers are commemorating their purchases by sharing images of a new home staple, takeout pizza, online.