Lighting is one of the simplest ways to shift the mood of a space. Our new construction kitchen started as a white box with recessed lighting throughout. I knew the counter needed pendant lighting to create a visual break and bring dimension to the space. The solution: USB-powered lightbulbs that require no hardwiring. Here's how it works—and what to consider before you try it.

Transforming a basic desk with wallpaper looks far more complicated than it actually is. I used the Target Wavy Writing Desk and peel-and-stick grasscloth wallpaper to create a custom piece for my daughter's room. The key is wrapping components before assembly so seams stay hidden. Here's the full process.

Custom shelves don't require custom carpentry. I built these rose-stained fluted shelves for my daughter's desk area using select pine boards, mini fluted wood trim, and black iron brackets transformed with Rub 'n Buff. Here's the process.

A small project that adds just enough sparkle. I found these lucite gems at Target during the holidays and knew they would complement my daughter's blush pink desk area. I used twine to blend into the woodland mural, though ribbon, cord, or fishing line would work just as well. Here's how to make your own in under an hour.

When I decided to paint the gray powder bath cabinets to complement the woodland wallpaper, I knew I wanted more than a simple color shift. The flat cabinet fronts needed dimension—something to break up the surface and add visual interest. The solution: individual wooden dowels, lined up to create the look of a reeded panel. I sourced the right size, then cut and glued each one—140 in total—into the inset of the doors. Here's the process and the result.

When we moved into our Brooklyn condo, the foyer was an empty white box with a niche where a closet should have been. Here's how we built a custom-looking entry closet using Ikea Sektion cabinets and Semihandmade door fronts—and fit a microwave, pantry goods, coats, shoes, ski gear, suitcases, and a printer into one wall of storage.

Wallpaper can transform a room in a way that paint simply can’t — but installing wallpaper for the first time can feel daunting. These are the tips I wish I’d had before I started.

There's almost always more storage in a space than first appears. You just have to know where to look. Here's what I found hiding at the top of a shared kids' closet.

Custom bunk beds were out of the budget. So I repurposed the two beds we already had, added Ikea built-ins, and gave the kids’ room more space to add 2 individual desks. Here's how.

Full-length curtains were too heavy for a row of windows next to a glass balcony door. Here's how a modern café curtain solved the light, the privacy, and the ledge problem in one install.

Tinsel gets a bad reputation. Applied the wrong way, it deserves it. Applied the right way, it's one of the most quietly beautiful things you can do to a Christmas tree — and the technique makes all the difference.

The best discoveries are the accidental ones. A few years ago I bought green wired ribbon that happened to be the exact color of my faux tree. What I found when I put it up changed how I decorate every year.

Velvet ribbon is one of the simplest ways to elevate a Christmas tree — but the bow technique makes all the difference between elegant and homemade. Here's how I tie mine.

Metal wreath hangers are bulky, can damage your door frame, and often prevent the door from closing fully. Ribbon solves all three problems — and looks better doing it.