Question: The recessed lights in my house are accessible from the attic, but there’s no insulation around them because it says on the fixtures that they need to vent the heat generated by incandescent bulbs. If I replace those bulbs with LEDs, will that reduce the heat enough so I can insulate around the existing lighting cans?—T. J. Guinta, Patchogue, NY Answer: While LEDs run much cooler than incandescents, their electronic components and external heat sinks do get quite hot; you would still need to keep the insulation away from your fixtures. And that leaves you with some serious problems.…

When we’re considering whether or not to bring something into our respective houses (and apartments), we ask three questions. Does it serve a purpose? Is it well-made? And is it design-worthy? (Our ethos, after all, is after William Morris: everything must be both beautiful and useful.) As for the furniture from North Carolina-based Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, it’s yes to all of the above. Since their founding in 1989, the US-based company has not only made it their mission to create and source pieces of superior craftsmanship, but also to take a design-led approach to every sofa, table, and…

Our editors, on the whole, tend toward the OCD side of the cleanliness spectrum. We like our spaces and our things to be neat, fresh, and sparkling. And, for the most part, we prefer cleaning with natural products and/or ingredients we already have on hand. Between the germaphobes and the neatniks on our staff, we have myriad housekeeping secrets and hacks to share—all tried and tested by us. Here, our team’s best scrubbing, cleaning, washing, stain-removing, disinfecting, deodorizing secrets. Featured photograph by Matthew Williams, styling by Alexa Hotz, for Remodelista: The Organized Home. Kitchen Above: Michelle’s marble backsplash is back…

Question: The silicone caulking between the cultured-marble pan and the ceramic tile wall in my shower stall has to be replaced. Is there a special tool for this purpose?
–Gene Ackert, Ramona, CA Answer: I’m sure there is, although I’ve never had to use one. I’ve had pretty good luck with a utility knife and a glass scraper with a razor blade. First, slice through each side of the bead with the knife, and pull out what you can by hand. Then, hold the scraper at a shallow angle to avoid scratching the surface, and remove any remaining caulk. Next, scrub…