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s In Renovator’s Notebook, homeowners open up about the nitty-gritty of their remodels: How long it really took; how much it actually cost; what went horribly wrong; and what went wonderfully, serendipitously, it’s-all-worth-it-in-the-end right. For more tips to nail your next project, follow @reno_notebook. Size: 600 square feet Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn Year built: 2007 Top priority: An apartment with lots of light—and outdoor space. New York City native Tara Gonzalez first fell in love with Greenpoint when she was working in the art department of a film production company just after college—the area is not only home to many studios,...

Soft Geometry Photography by Yanic Fridman; Styling by Rosy Fridman Utharaa Zacharias and Palaash Chaudhary’s decorating philosophy is apparent from the moment you step foot in their San Jose, California, rental: The oak console table in the entryway? It’s one half of a bookcase they designed turned on its side, with each shelf doubling as a shoe cubby.  The young couple owns the furniture studio Soft Geometry and their home is testing ground for their prototypes. Any object they didn’t make themselves is hyper-affordable or thrifted, not that you could tell: the yellow mirror with hooks for keys is IKEA...

It’s easy for the old adage “out of sight, out of mind” to justify certain types of clutter in your home. When you’re pressed for time and too frustrated to commit to an organizing session, it’s convenient to just close the closet and cabinet doors, tucking any mess out of your line of vision. And when it comes to one area of your bathroom, that’s especially true—which is why some good under-sink storage is a necessity. How often do you end up struggling to find a spare toothbrush or buying duplicates of the body lotion you really only need one...

Anthony Barcelo, Courtesy of Douglas Elliman Shortly after announcing they’re expecting their third child, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend listed their seven-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion with the aim of finding a bigger place for their growing family. The model–turned–celebrity chef and the Grammy-winning artist first purchased the home in 2016 from Rihanna for $14 million. Its value today? $23 million.  The couple’s combined star power likely has a lot to do with the $10 million price jump, but they also made some dramatic renovations to the space, with the help of designer Don Stewart of Desiderata Design. Based on old...

When designer Lauren Li first toured the home recently purchased by her clients—a couple with three children under the age of 8—the charming brick Edwardian seemed perfectly suited to a young family save for one inescapable detail: Every surface of the interior was brown.  Li, whose boutique design practice, Sisällä, specializes in “creating good vibes,” set to work on a six-month renovation focused on incorporating elements of the couple’s Finnish and Australian heritage, and infusing family-friendly functionality with playful sophistication. The home’s brown and beige finishes were quick to go, revived by a selection of paint (seven colors total) centered...