Real People, Real Kitchens: 15 Small Cool Kitchens You Won’t Want to Miss
The Kitchn
Check out The Kitchn’s roundup of little kitchens with big style.

Boulder Tiny House: Colo. Couple Build Simple, Sustainable 125 Square Foot Home
Huffington Post
“Could you live in only 125 square feet? That’s exactly what a Boulder, Colo. couple are doing now that they have completed building their brand new, tiny home from scratch.”

Death to the McMansion
Slate
“Add it all up, and the National Association of Realtors estimates that—today—56 percent of Americans want the attributes of this new American dream in their next housing purchase. Yet only 2 percent of new units being built today fit these attributes. That’s a massive pool of pent-up demand, locked away by federal policy still supporting suburban growth at the expense of all other types of communities. Change the policy—without having to spend a dime—and we’re off to the races with new jobs in construction and infrastructure, plus homes and communities that reflect the way we want to live today. And they happen to be good for the planet, reducing energy, water, and waste by at least one-third.”

How To Live Well in 1oo Square Feet
Apartment Therapy
“Recently, at SXSW 2012, we had the pleasure of hearing Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company extol the virtues of living in a small space. While he admits that living in 100 square feet might not be for everyone, his talk contained plenty of tips that apply to anyone looking to live efficiently.”

11 Tips for Adding Personality and Style to Your Kitchen
CasaSugar
Make your kitchen quintessentially you without swinging a single sledgehammer. CasaSugar shows how you can revitalize the kitchen through deliberate use of artwork, accessories and personal artifacts. Besides, what can a stainless steel refrigerator really say about you?

Home Offices That Earn Their Keep
Houzz
Whether you run a business out of your home or you’re in the business of bring work home, a home office should be just that — equal parts home and office. Here’s a look at functional home offices that also reflect the personality and style of their owners. Bottom line: There’s no harm in adding some creature comforts to your workspace.

Space Planning 101
Home Renovation Guide
For most homeowners, spacing is a matter of feel. But feel doesn’t work so well for architects and interior designers. Here, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and Design Works, Inc. have formalize the art of spacing with a very helpful tipsheet.

5 kitchen design trends for 2012
Housing Zone
“Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) surveys its members to identify the latest design and specification trends in kitchen and bath design. This year, 350 NKBA members took part in the survey. Here are five emerging kitchen trends they identified.”

The Psychology of Colour in the Home
Home Renovation Guide
“Given the bold hues chosen by the likes of Pantone (Tangerine Tango) and the Color Marketing Group (Boyz-N-Berry) as the 2012 Colours of the Year, some people will naturally question the impact of colour within their home and how it effects mood. Though there are differences of opinion based on things like culture and geography, there are general rules of thumb regarding colour’s psychological impact. Let’s begin with the Colours of the Year, and their more muted counterparts.”

Kitchen Workbook: 15 Elements of a Traditional Kitchen
Houzz.com
“Traditional kitchens are defined by their details, and creating eye-catching detail is not just as simple as putting legs on an island. But whether they’re Old World or Mediterranean flavor, traditional kitchens all share the same basic elements. Here are 15 details that help you create traditional kitchen style.”

Hardwood Floors for Every Mood
Home Design Find
An article full of eye-candy photos, this piece from HDF should give any hardwood-floor hunter what she’s looking for.

Jim & Theresa’s House on the Venice Canal
Apartment Therapy
“The moment I spotted Jim and Theresa’s home on CA Home + Design online I knew it was unique. To my happy surprise their interior designer Erinn Valencich of Erinn V. Design Group happened to be a recent acquaintance of mine. Welcome to a lovely family home that sits right on the water of the Venice canals.”

Homes with Incredible Backyards
Forbes
Check out this roundup beautiful luxurious yards that Forbes put together.

Designers’ Homes on the Market
Architectural Digest
“To coincide with the April designers’ own homes issue, AD presents a portfolio of seven extraordinary estates for sale, all of which were conceived–and inhabited by–prominent architects and decorators.”

Builders’ Special
Dwell
“A resourceful sound mixer sources some local design talent, rolls up his sleeves, and builds small, green, and affordable in Bozeman, Montana.”

25 Heart-Melting Decorating DIYs for a Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Bash
Casa Sugar
“If you’re still toying with the idea of inviting your girlfriends over for a last-minute celebration this weekend, see if this roundup of super-stylish Valentine’s Day DIY decorations is the deciding factor.”

Valentine’s Day Menu Inspiration
Martha Stewart
Some great ideas for a romantic meal for two!

Lolilla Chair by Ahsayane Design Studio
Design Milk
Looking for the perfect chair for your Valentine’s party? This might be it.

How to Make Cake Pops
The Kitchn
The cake pop: the cutest dessert for the cutest of holidays.

5 Brilliant Small Bathroom Layouts That Work in Any Home
CalFinder Blog
“It goes without saying: a bathroom is an important place in the house. The bathroom provides a huge percentage of your home’s functionality—and has to look great for when guests are over. But remodeling a small bathroom can be especially tough. You want a shower-with-vanity set-up, but limited space doesn’t seem to allow for that without feeling cramped. Well. Here are some bathroom ideas that make everything work, and with great style.”

Top Before and Afters of 2011
Hooked on Houses
Yes, we know — we’re 5 weeks past the New Year. But still, these are some great-looking projects. Too good to not share.

Imperfections Make It Perfect
Remodeling Guy
“But the thing that really made me stare for awhile was the authenticity of this look. It’s not easy for most people to pull-off. I’ll give you the secret… Mess Up On Purpose! I’ve built rooms like this and one of the biggest challenges, yet most important requirements, is to get the carpenters to go against their training.”

8 Colors for South-Facing Rooms
Houzz.com
“In many homes, the south-facing room is the sunniest spot in the house because windows that face south receive the most direct sunlight throughout the year. These sun-drenched spaces are warm and well-lit during the day which can be a blessing in the winter, but it can also be too much of good thing. South-facing rooms sometimes benefit from a drop in visual temperature. The best way to accomplish this is by using cool colors.”

5 Ways to Make a Better Entrance
Houzz.com
“The entryway is the first visible part of a home’s interior, so it’s important to keep it neat and stylish. But it also has the inevitable tendency to become a catch-all for everyone’s junk collected throughout the day. The key is to keep both functions in mind when setting up your entry. This is one space guaranteed to be used every day, so treat it as a room and not just an awkward transitional area. These 5 tips should help you create a functional and tidy and welcome to your home.”

Plugwise Eliminates Excess Energy Use
Jetson Green
“California-based kWh Power is tackling phantom energy loss by introducing the Plugwise system in the United States. Developed by Dutch company Plugwise in 2006, this system allows you to monitor, track, and control unnecessary energy use throughout your home or office. The system consists of ‘Circles’ which are plugged into standard wall outlets to measure load on that outlet, and a ‘Stick’ that wirelessly relays data from the circles to your computer, where Plugwise Source, the monitoring and management software, allows you see and control usage. Data can also be uploaded to the web for remote access via laptops and smartphones.”

Small Kitchen Layouts to Inspire Your Remodel
CalFinder Blog
“The kitchen seems a straightforward thing. It’s a place to cook. Entertain. You have a refrigerator, a stove. Often a dishwasher. Food comes in, food gets served. But it’s not as simple as that, of course. Especially if you’re looking at your existing kitchen that your home may have come with, and reconsidering how you can create the exact kitchen you want. Perhaps you’re doing a full kitchen remodel, and have no idea what kind of kitchen will benefit you the most. Well. We are here to serve and help you.”

Thinking about redesigning or just sprucing up an existing space?
Home Renovation Guide
“Unlike the homes in the magazines, most of us will never own a Schonbek crystal chandelier to tower over a twelve-seater dining table. In fact, these days we’re lucky if there’s enough floor space in our homes for a dining room at all! Multi-functional, small scale and affordable is the way many of us live. And as more people move into and vie for premium spaces in the cities, large spaces will continue to be an expensive option. We all want our homes to look good. But money, time and resources often limit what we can accomplish in our homes.”

Design-Savvy Kitchen Remodeling On the Rise
CalFinder Blog
“We’ve noticed a huge trend among homeowners lately—that design-savvy kitchen remodeling is on the rise. Whether they’re taking to the web for self-taught strategy, or consulting with budget-smart designers and kitchen contractors before construction begins, homeowners are increasingly involved in the design process. … Some of the trends that we have seen—and loved—include these three design styles.”

15 Posts on Decluttering and Organizing Your Home
Re-Nest
“What’s a better way to start off a new year than to to organize, declutter and simplify your home? Whether you’re looking to live with less or are simply rethinking your space, check out these tips to kick off an organized and clutter-free new year!”

Best of 2011: Before & After
Centsational Girl
Whether it’s decorating or painting or organizing or anything else related to making a house look like an elegant, comfortable home, this woman knows what she’s doing. Get some ideas from her round-up of some favorite projects from the past year.

20 Green Building Innovations of 2011
Jetson Green
“Our team had the great opportunity to report on hundreds of green building innovations in the form of new technologies and advanced materials. We see these innovations as contributors to a world where it’s important to reduce waste and resource consumption. I hope you enjoy this unordered review gathered from our archives of the last year.”

Why Window Replacement is Cheaper Than You Think
CalFinder Blog
“If your home’s heating isn’t running as efficiently as you’d like it to this winter, then you might consider window replacement. Inefficient windows can leak a huge percentage of heat from your home—as much as 30%—and cost you a lot of money every month. … But the idea of window replacement may seem daunting, complicated and expensive. The good news is that you can avoid all of those words by going through the window replacement process intelligently.”

Holiday Guide: 8 Table Setting and Tablescape Ideas
Casa Sugar
“After spending hours cooking the perfect Christmas dinner, you’ll want your table to look the best it possibly can. Luckily a few simple tricks, like lining the table with candles or making festive paper Christmas trees, will bring that extra touch. In this holiday guide, we’ve gathered 10 inspiring table settings that will get you thinking about your own designs. Whether you like bold metallics or understated displays, we made sure there’s something for everyone.”

Surprise Surprise Light
Design Sponge
“This “Surprise Surprise” light at Gretel Home is a fun little spin on a present-topping tradition. Made of Mylar with a white textile cord, it would be a fun piece to mount in a child’s room — or an adult’s room — next to the bed as a more playful nightlight. That corner of your room will always feel festive.”

5 Tips for Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree
Charles & Hudson
Safety first! Charles & Hudson shows you how to safely and effectively cut your own Christmas tree.

How To: Impress Everyone with Perfect Gift Wrapping
Curbly
“Because I became an expert sheet-tucker, I inadvertently became pretty darn good at wrapping presents too- the technique is one in the same.”

Holiday Ornaments: Classic
Apartment Therapy
“The holidays are the perfect time to show off your love of tradition. Even staunch modernists have been known to throw away their minimalist rules for something that reflect fond childhood memories or traditional, cultural designs.”

Can green updates increase the value of my home?
New York Times Home & Garden
“If you do just one thing, it’s probably not going to add value,” said Jeffrey Schleider, managing director of Miron Properties, a real estate company specializing in green properties, in New York. But when a number of environmentally friendly updates are implemented all together, they can help your home stand out from the crowd. “If you do five or six things as a package,” he said, “it really makes your property more appealing.”

Choose Art With a Third Dimension
Houzz.com
“If you are looking for a fresh way to add art and interest to a big blank wall, think beyond the typical framed art and picture rails (not that there’s anything wrong with those!) and add some dimension, texture, and interest with a sculptural composition. Here’s a look at how savvy designers have done this.”

Design Blogger Wish List: Cambria Bold, Managing Editor of Apartment Therapy’s Re-Nest
Curbly.com
“This holiday season, Curbly asked our friends, peers, and favorite design bloggers to stop by, have some hot cocoa, and tell us what gifts they’d like to receive this year. Today, we’re excited to welcome Cambria Bold, the managing editor of our favorite green and sustainable design blog, Apartment Therapy’s Re-Nest.”

Decorating For Christmas In The Kitchen!
The Kitchen Designer
“I’ve been thinking quite a bit about decorating the kitchen for Christmas, and that does not mean that it has to be this big, ambitious, undertaking. Chances are you already have nearly all the “ornaments” that you need on hand to do the job.”

Decorative ceiling tiles — How can I do that?
Kathy’s Remodeling Blog
“When I walk into a house with decorative ceiling tiles — the kind that look like tin or leather or some painted effect — my first is response is: Wow! And I’m not sure why. There’s just something about that look that I resonate with. But here’s the issue: Whenever I resonate with something so strongly, I tend to put that thing on a pedestal, as if it’s out of reach for the average person, like me.”