Call it warm minimalism: these 10 fireplaces from our archives blend seamlessly into their surroundings and don’t call attention to themselves—while crackling merrily and emitting the requisite rosy glow we crave this time of year. Above: A stone ledge creates a display shelf in the Ten Broek cottage by Messana O’Rorke Architects. Above: In stylist Tiina Laakonen’s Amagansett home, a fireplace blends seamlessly into the wall. See more of her home in Rhapsody in Blue: A Finnish Stylist at Home in the Hamptons. Photograph by Matthew Williams. Above: Architect Barbara Chambers’ fireplace echoes the architecture of the symmetrical doorways on either…

Most people wouldn’t call a centuries-old home that had been abandoned for 30 years and had no roof, no working electricity, and no reliable plumbing a “dream house.” But Pedro da Costa Felgueiras is not like most people. The Portuguese-born Londoner is a hot-shot expert on historical paints and pigments (see T Magazine‘s profile of him here), and where most of us would have seen a tear-down, he saw his next project, one that would unite his professional life with his personal. “When I first started restoring it I was like a kid in a sweet shop—it was so exciting,” he…

This week over on our sister site The Organized Home, the editors let us in on the secrets to efficient bathroom storage, made the case for minimalist entryways, and more. Here’s a look back at the highlights from the week. Above: “Next to the kitchen, the bathroom might be the most hard-working room of the house,” writes Fan. “Given the room’s multifunctionality, it’s critical that the room have proper storage.” Find out the secrets to efficient storage in 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Bathroom Storage. Photograph courtesy of Rory Gardiner. Above: Entryways are sometimes guilty of becoming drop zones for…

J.Crew is just the latest in a slew of fashion-focused retailers expanding into the home space (we’re looking at you, Zara and H&M). When we heard the news, we took a look at the offerings and were pleased to find that in addition to carrying products from some perennial Remodelista favorites like Coyuchi, Best Made Co., and Danish tech company Kreafunk (whose headphones I can personally endorse as the urbanite’s best friend), the new collection offers a small selection of  exclusive-to-J.Crew home accessories. Here, five things we wouldn’t mind adding to our own homes: Above: The Linen Pillow with Velvet…

Unless you’ve tried to secure funding under NYC’s post-Hurricane Sandy Build It Back program, it’s hard to fathom all that the team behind this Brooklyn remodel went through from start to (ongoing) finish. Back in 2012, Sandy sent 8.5-feet of water surging into the basement and ground floor of the century-old, three-story Red Hook townhouse, leaving it partially collapsed and in need of an extreme flood-proofed makeover. The couple who own it, a writer-artist and a garden designer with two kids, moved their belongings into storage and took temporary shelter in Upstate New York—for several years. But they were determined…

From Mar/Apr 2018QSome wood trim needs to be replaced on my shed. Should I prime and paint the new pieces on all four sides, or just the exposed side, to let the back side “breathe”?—Jean Heaton, Burlington, NJ AYou should definitely prime all six sides of wood trim used outside—including the ends. It’s an inexpensive way to add extra life to the wood. Even so, many people don’t bother priming the back side because of the time it takes to dry. With these homemade paint stands, however, there’s no waiting. Just prime one face, then set that face down on…