The Japanese-Inspired Bathtub Is Right in the Middle of This Flat on London's 'Silicone Roundabout' — With Windows Onto the...
A Grade‑II listed fifth‑floor flat on London’s Silicon Roundabout has been transformed by architect Micah Sarut, who placed a Japanese‑inspired communal bathtub at the centre of the living space. The 1 m × 2 m tub is surrounded by three windows that look into the lounge, dining area and bedroom, turning a soak into a social experience. An efficient water‑reheating and recycling system keeps the water at a constant temperature for days, while modular furniture creates 17 distinct spatial configurations. Playful touches such as a pill‑shaped “Anywhere Door” and exposed wartime plaster blend heritage with contemporary design.
The Best and Most Expensive-Looking New Homewares on the High Street This April That Will Help Your Home Welcome Spring
Livingetc’s Olivia Wolfe highlights 24 fresh home‑ware pieces launched across high‑street retailers this April, positioning them as spring‑ready décor upgrades. The collection spans ombre wool blankets, bold glassware, rattan lamps and colourful ceramics, with prices ranging from roughly $13 (Zara...
Milan Design Week 2026 — Your Guide to the Event Setting the Mood for Design the Year Ahead
Milan Design Week 2026 kicks off April 20‑26, featuring a packed program of installations, exhibitions, and pop‑up experiences across the city. Highlights include Artemest’s L'Appartamento at Palazzo Donizetti, Marimekko’s floral‑themed Osteria Fiori, Isola Design Festival’s tenth‑anniversary "TEN: The Evolving Now,"...
Is a House Stager Worth It If You're Selling Your House? Here's When You Should Really Consider One to Help...
A house stager prepares a property to appeal to the broadest buyer pool by decluttering, rearranging rooms and adding rented furniture. Experts say staging is most valuable for vacant homes, odd layouts, dated interiors, or listings that aren’t generating interest,...
Sorry Sofa Beds, but These 'Chair Beds' Are a Much Better Use of Space in a Small Home — They're...
Chair beds are experiencing a resurgence as a stylish, space‑saving alternative to traditional sofa beds, especially in compact apartments. Interior stylist Miaad Latoof highlights how modern designs now resemble statement chairs while offering a hidden sleeping surface. She advises shoppers...
5 Japanese Homes That Are Uniquely Expressive, Creative, and Effortlessly Grounded — They're "Rooted in Tradition Yet Designed for Modern...
Gestalten’s new coffee‑table book *A House in Japan: Lessons in Living* showcases five distinct Japanese residences that fuse traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. The featured homes range from a Tokyo apartment with araidashi plaster and shoji screens to a Nagano...
Forget Integrated Hobs and Ovens, Range Cookers Are Having a Renaissance in the Most Stylish Kitchens Right Now
Range cookers are experiencing a resurgence as homeowners seek the tactile control of gas alongside the convenience of integrated ovens. Dual‑fuel models pair a responsive gas hob with a steady electric oven, offering ample capacity for multi‑dish cooking. Modern designs...
5 Plants That Will Overpower Your Garden With Scent — You Might Find These Too Strong, Sickly, or Off-Putting
Gardening experts warn that five popular plants—valerian, lantana, sea holly, crown imperials and star jasmine—can overwhelm a backyard with off‑putting or overly strong scents. Valerian’s roots emit a dirty odor, while lantana smells like gasoline and is toxic to dogs....
Pamela Anderson Just Released a Furniture Collection, and It's Designed to Age Just As Gracefully As She Has
Pamela Anderson has teamed with Los Angeles lifestyle brand Olive Ateliers to launch her first furniture line, "The Sentimentalist," on April 8. The collection offers 40 indoor‑outdoor pieces—including loungers, loveseats, tables and accessories—crafted from natural rattan and teak with ivory‑blue striped...
Where to Buy Freestanding Kitchen Units for a More Versatile Layout — From the High Street to the Design Studios...
The Livingetc piece spotlights a growing niche of freestanding kitchen units that let homeowners—especially renters—reconfigure layouts without permanent alterations. It profiles ten options ranging from Neptune’s oak‑and‑marble Borough island to IKEA’s budget‑friendly Knoxhult cabinet and high‑design pieces from Vipp and...
I Never Guessed This Modular IKEA Sofa Was Hiding a Secret Storage Compartment Until I Saw It in Person —...
IKEA’s JÄTTEBO 1.5‑Seat Module blends a sleek, modern look with a hidden storage compartment that lifts easily thanks to a built‑in mechanism. The sofa feels surprisingly soft for a boxy design, though the low back may limit long‑term comfort for...
These Screens Are Such a Clever Way to Add Plants, Privacy, and a Touch of Pretty to Your Garden, All...
Garden privacy screens are evolving into stylish planters that blend aesthetics with function. Scottish Everlastings leads the trend with metal screens in beige and sage, ranging from 90 × 50 cm to 120 × 45 cm, each featuring built‑in planters for foliage. Other brands like Dunelm,...
This One Type of Furniture Will Help You Avoid Feng Shui 'Poison Arrows' In Your Home
The article highlights how furniture with rounded, fluid forms can mitigate Feng Shui “poison arrows” – sharp angles that disrupt energy flow. Designers Anjie Cho and Michelle Accetta explain that curvy pieces embody the water element, counterbalancing fire energy, especially in...
Curated Finds for Hilde | Livingroom Seating
Design Lab’s Livingetc service presented a curated seating plan for Hilde, aiming to balance the striking Little Petra sculpture with complementary furniture. The proposal recommends a small two‑seater Covent sofa or a second armchair to anchor the space, alongside a...
Curated Finds for Nadia | Refining the Seating Balance
Livingetc stylist Miaad Latoof curated three accent chairs for client Nadia, emphasizing warm orange and yellow velvets that echo the brown sofa, pink accent chair, and wood tones in the living room. The selections include Westwing’s Mikkel lounge chair (£359 ≈ $449),...
OMG, OMG, OMG — This Just In: West Elm X Emma Chamberlain Will Be Available in the UK From Tomorrow
West Elm has partnered with YouTube star Emma Chamberlain to launch a whimsical home‑wares collection in the United Kingdom. The line becomes available online on April 10, with physical stores opening on April 17. Pieces range from a two‑tone vanity desk to...
Linen vs Cotton Curtains — Which Material Is Best for Your Window Treatments?
Spring’s brighter days prompt homeowners to swap heavy drapes for lighter window treatments. Designers compare linen and cotton curtains, highlighting linen’s textured weight and dimensional drape versus cotton’s crisp surface and low‑maintenance durability. Both fabrics are breathable, making them suitable...
I Finally Found a Water Butt for My Garden That's Not a Total Eyesore — And Landscape Designers Say My...
Garden designers are championing rain‑water butts as a practical, eco‑friendly way to water gardens, especially now that hosepipe bans are common. Garden Trading’s new Kingscote 200 L rattan water butt blends a hand‑woven rattan exterior with a recycled‑plastic liner, offering a...
"I'm Looking for a Mirror for Over My Fireplace" — These Are the Best Options Right Now, According to a...
Interior stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou advises homeowners to start with a mirror when decorating above a fireplace. She outlines four leading styles—arched, sculptural, vintage, and minimal—each offering a distinct visual impact. Mirrors not only fill the void but also reflect light,...
Curated Finds for Gemma | Softly Sculptural Bedside Tables
A stylist curated five bedside tables that blend sculptural softness with practical storage, targeting a narrower width but maintaining visual grounding. The selections feature rounded forms, natural wood tones, and a mix of closed drawers to keep bedroom spaces uncluttered....
I Style Homes Around How They Feel — These Are the 24 'Sensory' Products I Always Come Back To
The interior‑design world is shifting from purely visual aesthetics to sensory‑focused interiors, a movement rooted in neuroaesthetics that ties colour, texture, scent and light to mood and stress levels. Stylists like Iokasti Sotirakopoulou of Design Lab by Livingetc curate product...
5 Overhyped Features You Can Probably Skip When Picking a Soundbar — They're Style Over Substance, Says Our Expert
The article warns consumers that many soundbar specifications are more marketing than merit, highlighting five features that can be safely ignored. It explains why virtual surround, up‑firing Atmos drivers, Hi‑Res audio claims, built‑in voice assistants, and excessive HDMI inputs often...
"We Completely Avoided White" — How This Designer Used a Palette of Soft, Soothing Pigments to Create a Calming Home
Brian Woulfe, founder of Designed by Woulfe, transformed a Notting Hill apartment by deliberately avoiding white and embracing a palette of soft, creamy pigments. He applied liquid‑metal finishes to joinery, allowing the surfaces to develop a subtle patina that catches...
These Solo Stove Torches Might Be the Most Dynamic, Exciting Way to Light Your Garden Paths
Solo Stove has expanded from smokeless fire pits to garden lighting with its Mesa Garden Torch, now sold at John Lewis. The torch uses the brand’s 360‑degree airflow system to produce a large, smoke‑free flame that burns up to five hours...
I Spent Weeks Searching for the Right Scandinavian-Inspired Sofa Bed — These 12 Styles Actually Get It Right
The article chronicles a personal quest to find a Scandinavian‑inspired sofa bed that balances style and practicality. After weeks of research, the author curates twelve models that deliver clean lines, comfort, and functional features such as storage and adaptable mattresses....
Small, but Important — Every Bathroom Needs a Bin, and I've Found the Most Design-Forward Ones That Elevate Rather Than...
Bathroom accessories often get ignored, but a well‑chosen bin can tie a space together. The article spotlights nine design‑forward bins ranging from natural resin to brushed brass, each offering a distinct aesthetic. Many options emphasize sustainability, such as hand‑woven rattan...
Nobody Wants "Uncool" Antiques in Their Home — These Are the 3 Kinds of Vintage Pieces That Designers Say Are...
Interior designers warn that certain antique styles are now considered uncool, urging shoppers to avoid bulky matching furniture sets, overly carved wood pieces, and excessive collectibles. They recommend selecting single, well‑chosen vintage items that complement modern furnishings rather than dominate...
Why Copying Beautiful Homes Straight From Instagram Is Creating an Era of 'Identikit Homes' — And Why That's a Really...
Instagram’s visual culture is turning interior design into a copy‑paste exercise, spawning what the author calls “identikit homes.” The platform’s trend‑driven aesthetics—moody blues, bouclé sofas and checkerboard floors—are being replicated without regard for light, scale or personal taste, eroding the...
5 Clever Ways to Make Your Washing Machine Quieter Through Design — Here's to Never Being Disrupted by a Spin...
Open‑plan homes amplify washing‑machine noise, disrupting daily life. Experts recommend simple, design‑focused fixes: securing the appliance on a level surface with adjustable feet, installing anti‑vibration mats or softer flooring, and positioning the machine behind custom cabinetry. Proper load balancing and...
The 'Marble Architrave' Trend Is the Idea That Makes Your Bathroom Look Incredibly Elevated and Expensive, and Gives It Main...
The latest bathroom design trend spotlights marble architraves—molded stone trims that frame showers, tubs, and doorways. Originating from ancient Greek and Roman architecture, the feature now serves both structural and decorative purposes, turning ordinary openings into luxe focal points. Designers...
Is Buying a Soundbar Actually Worth It in 2026? How Today's Tech Compares to TV Speakers, According to an Audio...
Flagship TVs are adding AI‑driven processing and technologies like Sony’s Acoustic Surface, but their built‑in speakers still struggle with bass depth and dialogue clarity. Modern soundbars compensate with dedicated center channels, up‑firing drivers, and AI‑based speech isolation, delivering a noticeably...
Want Your Garden to Look More Japanese? These 5 Plants and Trees Will Make It Feel Like Springtime in Tokyo
The article spotlights five quintessential Japanese‑style plants and trees—azaleas, hakonechloa grass, maples, mondo grass, and black pine—recommended by landscape designer Katherine Aul Cervoni for creating a tranquil, spring‑like garden. Each species is described with its visual appeal, growth habits, and...
How to Make an Olive Tree Look Expensive in a Garden — Advice From a Designer Who Nailed the Elevated...
Designer Gina Taylor shows how olive trees can give a London garden a luxurious Mediterranean feel by treating them as hero plants and surrounding them with a restrained, silvery planting scheme. She emphasizes selecting mature, UK‑acclimatized specimens with gnarled trunks...
Curated Finds for Kourosh — Rugs & Lamps
A stylist from Iokasti sent Kourosh a curated edit featuring a selection of rugs and lighting fixtures tailored to his office/dining space. The recommendations span hand‑woven jute and viscose rugs in various sizes, as well as pendant and wall lights...
What Are the Best Fabrics for Curtains? These Are the Ones Designers Rely on for the Most Design-Forward Drapes
Top interior designers emphasize natural fibers—linen, wool, cotton—as the go‑to curtain fabrics for both aesthetic depth and durability. Sheer wool and weighty velvets are highlighted for their ability to diffuse light while maintaining a structured drape, whereas silk offers luxury...
Curated Finds for Terrell | Vanity Hardware
Livingetc’s stylist Miaad Latoof curated a set of bathroom hardware for a client named Terrell, emphasizing a mix of walnut wood and brass to complement the space’s polished nickel fixtures and dark wood mirror. The recommendations include a high‑end Belwith Keeler...
Curated Finds for Suzi — Floor Lamps
Interior stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou delivered a curated selection of floor lamps for client Suzi, focusing on warm 2700 K lighting and a blend of Scandinavian, mid‑century and Japandi aesthetics. The list includes six options ranging from $244 to $1,245, each featuring...
Hear Me Out — I've Found the Floral Plates That Actually Prove Why a Flower Print Will Always Be Perfect...
Olivia Wolfe’s Livingetc piece spotlights 24 floral dinner plates that prove the pattern remains spring’s go‑to décor choice. The roundup spans budget‑friendly options like H&M’s $9 plate to luxury hand‑painted pieces costing around $505, illustrating a wide price spectrum. Wolfe...
21 of the Most Beautiful Gardens, Selected From Our Favorite Home Tours, to Inspire Your Outdoor Space This Season
Livingetc presents 21 striking garden designs—from Ibiza poolside villas to Manhattan rooftop terraces—showcasing outdoor spaces as true extensions of the home. Designers prioritize seamless indoor‑outdoor flow, climate‑responsive materials, and personalized aesthetics. The collection spans diverse climates, highlighting desert‑friendly California terraces,...
This Kelly Wearstler-Designed Restaurant Proves Brutalist Interiors Don't Need to Feel Hostile — Its Nature-Inspired, Textural Look Captures the Edgy...
Kelly Wearstler’s first European hospitality project, Beefbar at L'Apogée Courchevel, redefines alpine dining with a Brutalist‑inspired, nature‑driven interior. The restaurant spans five distinct zones—central bar, salon, east and west dining rooms, and a piano lounge—each layered with textured wood, near‑black...
IKEA's Iconic £19 FADO Globe Lamp Just Got a Colorful Update, and It Looks So Much More Expensive Than Its...
IKEA has refreshed its iconic FADO globe table lamp with a new pink, hand‑blown glass version priced at £19 (about $24). The lamp keeps the classic 24 cm height and 25 cm diameter silhouette, delivering a soft, diffused glow that looks far...
Is a 'Palette-First' Approach the Key to a Personal Home? Designer Simone Brewster on Using "Color as a Material in...
London‑based artist‑designer Simone Brewster argues that color should be treated as an architectural material, not merely a decorative accent. She begins every project with a curated palette that migrates from her paintings into furniture, jewelry, and installations. Brewster’s "color‑drenching" technique—applying...
This Foldable Outdoor Privacy Screen Brings Another Level of Flexibility to a Small Garden — Portable, and Affordable, the Stylish...
Outsunny’s foldable outdoor privacy screen, priced under £60 (about $76), offers a portable, weather‑resistant solution for small gardens and balconies. Made from solid fir wood, the 120 × 170 cm panel can double as a trellis, adding greenery while dampening noise. Its lightweight,...
'Nature-Drenching' Is Going to Be the Big Gardening Trend for 2026 — This Is How to Let Your Space Be...
The 2026 outdoor‑living trend dubbed “nature‑drenching” asks homeowners to let plants overtake furniture rather than merely placing décor among foliage. Designer Kris Manalo of Atkin & Thyme explains that climbing vines and hardy greens should wrap around pergolas, gazebos and modular pieces, turning...
How to Make Attracting Birds Feel Design-Y, and Not Ruin the Look of Your Garden
The article shows how modern garden design can attract birds without sacrificing style, emphasizing three core elements—trees, evergreen shrubs, and grasses—as natural habitats. It highlights specific plant choices such as crab apple, alder, and Stipa tenuissima, and stresses the importance...
How to Reset Your Home for Spring — 8 Things to Do Today to Properly Embrace the Bright New Season
The article outlines an eight‑step spring home reset, beginning with a concrete plan and moving through decluttering, completing any unfinished spring cleaning, and reorganizing storage zones. It then advises lightening the interior palette, maximizing natural light and fresh air, and...
Curated Finds for Emily | Paint Options
Livingetc’s stylist Miaad Latoof curated three warm‑brown paint options for a client named Emily, each chosen to harmonize with her existing wallpaper, rug, and dark‑painted living room. The selections—Benjamin Moore’s Reid Brown ($69), Farrow & Ball’s Deep Reddish Brown ($99), and...
Mid-Century Sofa Beds Are a Safe Bet to Always Look Good — I Spent Hours Whittling Hundreds of Options Down...
The piece positions mid‑century sofa beds as a stylish, space‑saving alternative that feels lightweight rather than bulky. It showcases a hand‑picked list of 20 models, with prices converted to roughly $380‑$6,600, illustrating a broad value range. The author stresses that...
"I Like an Element of Surprise" — How Sophie Ashby Uses Color, Texture, and Antiques for Her Instantly Recognizable Schemes
British interior designer Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby creates instantly recognizable spaces by anchoring each scheme to a strong artwork and then layering colour, texture, and antiques. She deliberately avoids “matchy‑matchy” aesthetics, instead injecting contrast through unexpected pairings of modern...
5 ‘Overambitious’ Things You Probably Shouldn’t Plan Into Your Garden If You’re a Bit of a Beginner
Beginner gardeners are urged to skip five ambitious projects that can quickly become overwhelming. Experts recommend focusing on perennials instead of annuals, small water features rather than large ponds, native or low‑maintenance plants over tender exotics, simple vines like clematis...