When it comes to relaxing, a hot tub is pretty hard to beat. The jets and cozy temperature soothe aching bodies and create a comforting atmosphere. But, if that hot tub starts leaking, it can be the beginning of a major headache—though not if you know how to fix it. Once you know what to look for, you can locate your leak, seal it, and get back to kicking back. It’s not always an easy job, but it can save your hot tub from a slow, leaky death. On the outside, a hot tub doesn’t seem all that complicated. But…

“In retrospect, I’d like our house to be like the Weasley’s” explains the British antique dealer, interior designer, and furniture maker Max Rollitt. “Do you know who I mean?” It takes a while for the penny to drop, but I soon realize that Max is talking about the make-believe home of Arthur and Molly Weasley—the parents of Ron Weasley, Harry Potter’s best friend. “It’s a real home, isn’t it?” he continues. “It’s there to welcome people in, to make them feel comfortable. That’s what home is about.” Above: Max Rollitt’s living room, featuring a Max Rollitt bespoke Knole sofa covered…

Here on the Remodelista team, we’ve spent the week readying our workspaces—and the rest of the house—for autumn. Ahead, a few goings-on and other items we’re noting: Above: A sculptural autumn arrangement of dried grasses and stems, via Florist in Residence: My Two Months at Villa Lena In Tuscany. Photograph by Sophia Moreno-Bunge. On view through September 19th: Roz Chast’s drawings and cartoons at Carol Corey Fine Art, 12 Old Barn Road, Kent, CT. At long last, The Chelsea Flower Show, postponed from last spring, is here: It runs September 21st to 26th; more info here. All eyes are on…

A bathroom renovation can be a costly project, but the flooring part of it doesn’t have to be. With many inexpensive bathroom flooring options that look high-end, it’s only a matter of choosing a style that suits your aesthetic. And with most bathrooms being relatively small spaces, you won’t have to worry about covering a significant area. The one thing to watch out for is that the material you choose should be suitable for a persistently moist environment. Inexpensive Bathroom Flooring Options Vinyl Peel-and-stick vinyl flooring may be the most popular option for budget-friendly bathroom flooring. Composed completely of synthetic…

This article appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Peter and Maria Hoey For a growing number of Americans, home is where mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the kids (and sometimes their kids) are. A 2021 survey by Generations United, a national advocacy organization, found that 26 percent of us live in households that include three or more generations. The same survey in 2011 found that only 7 percent were residing in multigenerational housing. While the pandemic and resulting economic pressure may have driven some families together, many…

We first came upon the work of New York-based design studio White Arrow when we profiled the row house they renovated for Buzzfeed’s very first employee, Peggy Wang. At the time, Wang was decamping to Queens in search of more space; several years later, it’s much the same reason that led the husband and wife team behind White Arrow, Keren and Thomas Richter, to embark on a renovation for their own young family: an 1850s farmhouse in Pound Ridge, Westchester County. At first the farmhouse was only meant to be a second home, a place to escape from Brooklyn when…