The Journal

Furniture & Finishes

Choose drawer pulls that fit the existing furniture

Existing holes, drawer thickness and hand clearance matter as much as the shape of a pull.

Decorating

Stripes and Florals in the Same Room

The easiest companion for a floral is often a stripe with a different scale and a quieter job.

Room by Room

Layer Bedding for an Ordinary Weeknight

A well-made bed should be easy to get into and easy to remake. Build its layers around sleep, laundry, and the room’s temperature.

French Country

Gingham Without the Picnic-Room Effect

The familiar check can feel graphic, soft, or playful. Its scale and neighbors decide which quality comes forward.

Seasonal Living

A Coastal Summer Mood Without the Beach Signs

Borrow the openness and muted colors of a coastal mood without turning the room into a collection of beach symbols.

Organizing

Store mugs and glasses without a cabinet traffic jam

Arrange cups around the way hands reach, not just the way shapes line up.

Entertaining

Make room for coffee after dinner

Clear a little space for the next part of the evening instead of adding cups to a crowded table.

Furniture & Finishes

Let a glass-front cabinet hold ordinary things

A glazed cabinet can look settled while holding dishes and objects that are used regularly.

Decorating

The Appeal of Relaxed Linen

Decide whether you enjoy linen as it actually lives, including the creases, before making it a major part of the room.

Room by Room

Fit a Dresser Into a Small Bedroom

A dresser must fit with its drawers open and someone standing in front of it, not only as a closed rectangle against the wall.

French Country

A Grain-Sack Look Without Pretending It Is Antique

A plain woven ground and a few spaced bands can provide country character without a story about an object’s age.

Seasonal Living

A Summer Shelf with One Clear Color Story

Choose one color relationship for a summer shelf, then allow shape and empty space to keep it from looking like a matching display.