Interior designer Beata Heuman‘s London townhouse is a riot—in every sense of the word. It’s a riot of colors, a riot of textures, a riot of patterns. It scoffs at convention. And it’s just downright fun. “Every room should sing!” the Swedish-born designer tells us. “In the course of a lifetime one gathers a multitude of views, experiences, and objects. The home should make it possible to take in all of these things.” Such is the case with her own home, which she shares with her husband and two young daughters. “Growing up in Sweden, my childhood home was influenced…

I have learned, over the past 79 days or so, that the apartment I moved into in January is not a good summer apartment. No matter which way my boyfriend and I configure the four windows in our place—windows open in the front and the back of the apartment, to catch a cross-breeze; front windows open only; all windows open, with shades drawn to keep out the sun—there’s not hint of air flow to be had. It is totally, completely still, and stifling hot. Which means I—who, in my last apartment, had the luxury of being anti-AC and pro-breeze—have had…

Founded by Ronan O’Connor in 1953, General Paints Group is a family-run Irish paint company known for its reliably high-quality products. The company recently launched a new line of premium paints called Curator, a designer collection of 144 colors taking inspiration from the work of an eclectic group of Irish designers, painters, sculptors, potters, and artisans. Now available at Ring’s End stores in Darien and Fairfield and at McDermott Paint & Wallpaper in Greenwich, the Curator collection will be available in California and Oregon later this year. Here’s a look: Above: A sampling of water-based, low-VOC paints from General Paints Curator line. Above: A…