5 Mistakes to Avoid Before Buying a Home for the First Time

Lana Williams, owner of Oakland, California-based plant shop and design company The Tender Gardener, is known for her gorgeous step-by-step plant recipes for creating lush outdoor planters. In Lana’s latest book release, The Container Garden Recipe Book, she’s revealing fabulous floral and frond combos that will have you making plant and pot pairings like a pro. Here she shares a few seasonally appropriate tips on the types of statement plants and containers to use as we transition from late summer into fall.

“Impossibly unaffordable” are two words that Californians are probably less than thrilled to hear. In a recent report from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Frontier Centre of Public Policy (FCPP) in Canada, that’s exactly how four California metros are described. The 2024 edition of Demographia International Housing Affordability shows San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego listed among the top 10 least affordable housing markets—not just in the United States, but worldwide. 

A couple of the Sunset editors were talking about the Barbie Dreamhouse the other day. And we had a hot take: Although it’s an iconic home (with a slide, pool, and a color palette that childhood dreams were made of), it’s not the most attractive-looking space from an interior design or architecture standpoint. Sure, it has some touches of mid-century modern style and an extremely cohesive color palette, but we think not very many people would want to live there IRL. On top of that, it doesn’t really look homey or comfy. And all of that’s okay, because the house is for a doll and make-believe moments. What’s a human who wants to live out their Barbie fantasies to do?

Amy Pigliacampo / Interior Designer: Amy Pigliacampo

Creating the perfect area for outdoor entertainment in your home is an exciting project that can significantly enhance your lifestyle and increase your property’s value. 

15 of the Best Cover Crops for the Home Garden

John Bessler

When my husband and I were planning to move from New York to California, I spent most of my free time (and phone data) scouring Zillow. Messaging owners and agents directly and sharing our story ultimately led to us closing on a condo that was originally listed for rent. On a national scale, the current status of the housing market has forced a lot of people—buyers and real estate professionals alike—to get more creative.

Movies and TV shows have inspired interior design choices for a long time. Who doesn’t want their home to look like a Nancy Meyers film come to life? Wes Anderson’s playful and colorful film sets have inspired people to bring that iconic, quirky look home. And I’m sure purple living rooms have become more commonplace thanks to Friends.

Pool season is in session, so if you need a sign it’s time to gather all your summer-friendly essentials, this is it. Swimsuit? Check. SPF? Check. Pool accessories? Honestly, not quite. Since nobody wants to spend their entire time outside frantically treading water, pool floats and noodles are a summertime necessity. That said, finding one that matches your aesthetic can sometimes feel easier said than done.

Last week, a federal judge struck down a Trump Administration decision to take wolves off the endangered species list, restoring federal protection of some gray wolves in the country—meaning they can no longer be hunted.

Collaborative post