No More Senseless Acts of Beauty!
I like that bumper sticker that says “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty,” but it’s definitely not my philosophy. Why can’t beauty be engineered into our lives? Japanese chyotansu. Office bureaus like this one, which is an antique, were used to hold writing materials and business papers. Often choytansu were made from expensive wood. I often tell peopl

1 Rump or 2 and Other Kitchen Conundrums
“Please take our guests to the living room. This is strictly a one-rump kitchen!”  I used to often hear that memorable phrase when my husband and I lived in a small apartment. Mason and I now have a two-cook kitchen, but the practice of asking “one rump or two” is one that’s very useful to anyone considering the redesign of a kitchen. This beautiful kitchen was designed by Jamie Goldberg of Tampa, Florida. Jamie holds an NKBA design ce

To Arms! Warm Your Fanny, Not the Climate!
Today is international Blog Action Day – a day when bazillions of bloggers team up to write about various social problems. In solidarity of spirit, I’m issuing a call to arms on climate change and asking my loyal readers to “pack some heat” – literally.

Spinning Straw into Gold: Straw Bale Houses
The Three Little Pigs got it all wrong! Turns out that it was the straw house – not the one of sticks or the one of bricks – that could stand up to all that huffing and puffing. Not only do straw bale houses provide excellent insulation from wind and extremes of temperature, they’re also proving to be surprisingly stable in earthquake country. An off-the-grid straw bale house.

Inspiration or Agitation: It’s a Matter of Taste
Last week, I was delighted to see that the Holiday Inn that I frequent in San Diego has been remodeled. That change got me to thinking about how design, personality, and hospitality intertwine to make an indoor environment welcoming and memorable – or not. Jane's living room features Kente cloths in hues that complement the blue shades of Jane's couch and the blue glassware she col