This week on Houzz

This week on Houzz

Show us: How are you decorating your tabletop for the holidays? Share your best photo. Also: Need last-minute help designing a space for holiday guests? Ask the Houzz community!

Houzz Tour: Splashy, Colorful Fun for a Family of 5

Interior designer Mindi Freng fell in love with this property at a time when she and her husband weren't even looking for a house. But although the home's size and its midcentury bones were big draws, "we knew that for us to be happy in the... more

20 of the Coziest Bedrooms on Houzz

When the short days and the chill of winter are upon us, it's time to cozy up the bedroom. Soft rugs, table and wall lamps, throws, throw pillows, rustic touches, quilts, puffy down duvets, antiques, sloped ceilings, dormer windows, custom moldings,... more

International Traditions: Christmas at Home in Australia

Australians are a multicultural lot, so our Christmas Day traditions are extremely diverse. As summer is at the forefront of all our Christmas celebrations, water, barbecuing and relaxation play a big part in the success of the day. We do have... more

Kitchen of the Week: Wood-Loving Luxuriousness in Vancouver

A large curving island that echoes the waves of the ocean outside shapes the style and functionality of this Vancouver Island kitchen. This couple wanted their second home to have a highly customized kitchen — one that would allow them to... more

My Houzz: Eclectic Elegance Distinguishes a Dallas Home

With keen intuition and a honed sense of interior design, Stephen and Lindsey Edison have created a cohesive yet wildly eclectic mix of decor in their Dallas ranch house. French antiques live side by side with Japanese art, African artifacts,... more

Modern and Traditional Converge on Coveted Chicago Blocks

The blocks of Orchard and Howe streets just south of Armitage Avenue in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood are two of the most desirable residential stretches in the city. Yet as this ideabook will show, the historical fabric of the area is being... more

7 Ways to 'Happy Chic' Your House and Life

Jonathan Adler's approach to life reflects his approach to home decorating: He always tries to be chic, bold and memorable. For Adler, a dwelling is a reflection of an emotional state, and making a home is as much about finding happiness as... more

4 Home Tour Dazzlers Offer Holiday Decor Inspiration

As part of its annual fundraiser to support local community organizations, The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, California, decked out four family homes in the San Francisco Bay Area in fresh seasonal displays to showcase the work... more

Make a Traditional Fresh Holiday Wreath the Easy Way

Whether on a front door or above a mantel, few things convey the holidays better than a fresh wreath. Tracy Goldman of Sabellico's Florist breaks down the process of making a wreath of mixed greenery into eight simple steps, perfect for beginners.... more

How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort

Whether it's once a year or every night, we want our family and friends to be happy in the dining room with more than just our excellent food and company. Catering equally to tall, small, robust or svelte loved ones is a good goal. If you follow... more

Houzz Tour: Modernism Emerges in a Dublin Victorian

Although its tight urban location dictated limited square footage and access to light, this Dublin, Ireland, home feels 1,200-square-foot... surprisingly more open and spacious. Once a completely dilapidated Victorian without a single bathroom, this

2 Beautifully Natural Tablesapes for Holiday Dining

The holidays are a time for gatherings with family and other loved ones. If you're like our family, you have one set of everything for the dinner table, which sometimes forces you to get creative when decorating. By simply swapping out small... more

Contractor Tips: 10 Ways to Get the Remodel You Want for Less

Everyone knows remodeling is expensive, but it usually ends up becoming even more expensive than you thought. So, how can you get the house you want while sticking to a strict budget? Take some advice from this contractor — the tips below... more

Build a Refreshingly Alternative Plywood Christmas Tree

Build a new holiday tradition with this fun two-dimensional tree. Made from plywood and a few metal braces, it defies gravity by cantilevering from the wall. You can wrap lights or ribbons around it to hang ornaments on, and its depth is shallow... more

Simple Container Plantings for Intriguing Garden Design

Whatever we call them, pots, tubs and containers have been a feature of gardens since people started gardening. Their versatility is perhaps their greatest asset, especially as gardens become smaller and there's more pressure about how to use... more

Houzz Call: Show Us Your Christmas Tablescape

I know you have probably just finished up the last of the dishes from Thanksgiving, but if you're hosting Christmas dinner, it's time to start planning your tablescape. Houzzers, we need your help! Please add photos of your Christmas tablescape... more

New 'Anna Karenina' Sets Inspire Aristocratic Design Twists

Yesterday I needed to push my creative refresh button, so I hopped over to the Tara movie theater for a matinee of the new Anna Karenina movie, starring Keira Knightly and Jude Law. Set in 1870s Russia, the film is a visual feast; the opulent... more

Color Guide: How to Work With Neon Brights

Call them what you will: neon, Day-Glo, fluorescent. Whatever they are, they should make you think of a highlighter. Neon colors are so called because they seem to cast their own light, to glow from within like their elemental namesake. They... more

Art Nouveau Style Creates Verve With Curves

Commonly recognized as having its origins in Belgium and France, the art nouveau period — about 1890 to 1914 — saw a rejection of Victorian styles, historical imitations and revivals. It demonstrated a close relationship with the fine... more

Guest Picks: 20 Gifts for Foodies Under $25

Let's face it, holiday shopping can be super stressful. And I don't know about you, but I don't have a pile of cash conveniently stowed away to go out and buy whatever I want for all my family and friends. But truthfully, I think it's the most... more

Banish Gizmo Blemishes on Your Walls

From electrical outlets to air vents, speakers to thermostats, all of the little items that we rely on for modern living are here to stay. And as we continue to develop new gizmos, like iPads, and building codes call for new safety requirements,... more

12 Decor Pieces That Kick It Up Southwest Style

From El Paso to Tucson, the American Southwest has a unique and colorful style that attracts homeowners and design buffs from all over the world. Its distinct decor — from Navajo rugs to cowboy boot lamps — can be found in homes from the... more

On Trend: 8 Furniture Pieces Ahead of the Curve

Sine waves, mathematical waves used to document cyclical events like sound waves and visible light, create a beautifully simple repeating S shape. These four Italian and Canadian designers took such simple curves and added holes to give them... more

How to Choose Kitchen Appliances for Universal Design

There are many things to consider when setting up your kitchen to accommodate individuals with different heights and mobility needs. The placement of appliances should be planned so they're easy to operate and safe for everyone. Almost every... more

Guest Picks: Relaxing Holiday Gift Wrapping

After the (let's call it what it is) stress of buying holiday gifts, I actually look forward to the time when I can sit down and wrap them. With beautiful paper in hand, I tape and bind with lovely ribbon or twine. Taking my time, I relax into... more