lemonwade

The dining room is the place where memories are made. It’s where you gather for special birthday dinners, holiday meals and impromptu dinner parties. It’s where you drink too many bottles of wine, share the events of the day, and laugh over embarrassing stories. And while you technically, don’t need a dining table to do any of those things, Thanksgiving dinner isn’t quite the same when you’re balancing plates on your lap. Creating a dedicated space for gathering for a meal is more that just finding a table and chairs. You want to create an atmosphere that feels open and inviting even when the table is empty. We asked the our designers (who just happen to be Wayfair’s Designer of the Month) for some tips how how to create a dining space that works it’s filled with food or just waiting for the next meal to begin.

First, there were actual caves. Then came man caves. So what’s the next hot thing in gender-specific sanctuaries? Meet the “she shed,” a backyard haven for busy women seeking a quiet reprieve from the world. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites, from the humble aluminum-sided storage shed to the tricked-out den retreat. Get inspired, then get away from everyone.

Rustic meets modern in designer Ellen Denisevich-Grickis’s Rhode Island home, which features a Murano glass chandelier hanging above a vibrant Shaker-style island. Other kitchens here.

Scented candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to mask unpleasant odors in your home. They’re a go-to when creating a relaxing ambiance to unwind after a long work day or while taking a warm bubble bath. But one of the main problems with scented candles is the scent itself. According to Anne Steinemann, an environmental pollutants expert who is a professor of civil engineering and the chair of sustainable cities at the University of Melbourne, certain candles may emit numerous types of potentially hazardous chemicals, such as benzene and toluene. They can cause damage to the brain, lung and central nervous system, as well as cause developmental difficulties.

A NYC designer says: ‘When our client asked us to redo the master bedroom in her new Upper East Side apartment, she had a couple of thoughts in mind. She wanted something fun and whimsical — she loves pattern and bright colors — but she also wanted a bedroom that was a serene escape from her busy life as a lawyer and mom of three. After a couple of schemes, we decided to go with a palette of sea foam, grey and ivory. We all loved sea foam because it’s one of those great colors thats a real color but still feels relaxing and calm.’

Whether you have a dedicated kids’ bathroom or share space with the pint-size set, keeping track of whose soggy towel is whose can be made easier — and more fun — with a few smart design moves and cheerful touches. From double (or triple!) sinks to tub-side seats and rainbow-inspired color palettes, see which of these ideas appeals to you and yours.

In a bedroom far, far away, one lucky kid gets to sleep in the coolest Star Wars-themed bed around.
The “Millennium Falcon Cockpit” bed was created by Peter McGowan of PlainJoe Studios, who built the amazing contraption for his son. McGowan told The Huffington Post that it was the bed he always wanted as a kid. Over the course of three months (and with the help of many friends, including a Disney artist and automotive engineer,) the bed slowly came to life. A few days ago, McGowan’s brother uploaded a finished shot of the bed on Imgur.