This year we’re doing our bit to support independent shops and makers; here’s our roundup of Mother’s Day gifts we’re coveting: Above: Margot has been eyeing a pot of paper flowers from artist Livia Cetti of the Green Vase; her work is available from John Derian in NYC; contact the shop directly to see what they have in stock. (And see Margot’s tour of Livia’s house at Bloomsbury in the Bronx: At Home with Livia Cetti and Family.) Above: Some of us have been thinking a lot about sleepwear; Julie covets a pair of  Navy Floral Pajamas by Scarlette Ateliers,…

Project details Skill 1 out of 5 Easy Estimated Time 2 hours Starting a vegetable garden is a great activity to share with your kids. It shows them the life cycle of a plant start to finish, it gives them something to care for and attend to every day, and, best of all, it yields produce that they can actually eat and enjoy! Any organic garden has to start with the garden itself. Stick to a raised garden bed with untreated cedar to ensure no chemicals can leech into the soil. For the soil, opt for an organic raised garden…

Project details Skill 3 out of 5 Moderate Estimated Time 2-3 hours Steps for Tightening a Newel Post: Start by identifying structural parts of the stair that could be used to attach additional fasteners from the railing to the stairs. The stringer is usually at least an inch thick on the edges of the stairs. Look for nail holes in the treads to help find it. Plumb up the newel post by holding a level up to the side. Once it’s in the correct position, use a 2x4 or other piece of scrap wood against the wall and the post…

The passive house approach to building has been on our radar at Remodelista for years. Until recently, we thought of it as something akin to feng shui: an exacting set of rules that promise intriguing payback. Passive houses—also known as passivhaus buildings—offer very tangible results: the ultimate in energy efficiency. And now, as the climate crisis weighs more heavily by the nanosecond, we’re wanting to take a closer look. We recently featured a passive house in the Catskills designed, built, and owned by Maria Ibañez de Sendadiano and Todd Rouhe of IdS/R Architecture: see Head for the Hills, Vipp Kitchen…

We’re longtime admirers of BDDW’s elegant tripod floor lamp, which has become a design icon in its own right. So when we recently spotted Ikea’s Lauters floor lamp, we couldn’t help but notice the similarities (and the price difference). Here’s a look: High Above: BDDW’s Tripod Lamp is a new American classic and is made of hand carved and turned wood; available in claro walnut, oxidized maple, maple, or cherry (all with a natural oil finish); the linen drum shade is offered in black or white. Prices range from $3,600 to $4,400. Low Above: The height-adjustable Lauters Floor Lamp from…