A single very rustic looking barn door of reused pale wood planks crossed diagonaly by another plant is suspended from black rail and rests on black metal wheels in a very industrial looking home. The floors are poured grey concrete; the walls appear to be concrete as well. There are two plans on the floor, but otherwise the only things in the room are three bare-bulb pendant lights, a black and grey artwork in an industrial style framed and hanging next to the barn door, a small table with some books, and more books and rocks on the floor in the room beyond the door. There is a multipaned industrial-looking window at the back of the room seen through the door.
Q&A Style, Decor & Design

Barn Doors—Yes or No?

by Laura Grey
A large wearhouse-like space, perhaps an antique store or an auction house, contains antique furniture
Collecting Q&A Style, Decor & Design

Local Online Auctions: A Bargain Wonderland

by Laura Grey No Comments Share this  

Q: I keep hearing that auctions can be a great source of bargain furniture and collectibles. The thing is, I don’t like the idea of going to an auction house and bidding against a bunch of other people in person. I’ve tried eBay for collectible items, but so many people around the country see those […]

A detail of a garden with boxwood trimmed in to precise, long, rectangular hedges. At rear are several fine brick houses with steep roofs, probably from the 18th century.
Outdoor Living Q&A

Great Alternatives to Boxwood in Your Garden

by Laura Grey No Comments Share this  

Q: I like the look of boxwood hedges, but mine have gotten pretty ratty. What’s worse, they have a powerful cat-pee like odor during the summer months. It’s gross, and it keeps me from wanting to have friends over in my back yard. I’m thinking of trying some other trimmable shrubs. Can you point me […]

A close-up of pale blue, lavender, and clear antique bottles clustered together shows cloudiness and some iridescence inside the bottles. Bottles are embossed with images and names of their former contents.
Care & Cleaning Q&A

Cleaning Cloudy Glass and “Sick Glass”

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Q: A few of my favorite vases are cloudy below the waterline, and some have white horizontal lines. I also have a collection of antique bottles—most have patches that look like they’re coated with a white film. I’ve tried soaking them in soapy water and using bottle brushes to clean them inside. Nothing works! Can […]

A young woman sits on the floor and leans against fuchsia wall looking pensively out her window
Feature

Getting Past the Fear of Change

by Laura Grey No Comments Share this  

Home renovation shows are all about “The Reveal”—that magical last act when home owners see the glorious completed renovation. They laugh, they cry relieved tears, their grinning kids jump for joy. Everybody loves the new furniture, wallpaper, flooring, and windows. They talk about all the fun they’ll have in this shiny new space, and laugh […]