This Huntington Beach Cottage Got a Charming Makeover

There is nothing worse than finding an adorable home decor DIY, buying a ton of materials, and starting a project—only to find it's a hundred times more complicated than it appeared in the slick, edited video you saved on socials.

When you think about your summer to-do list, it’s likely that most of your favorite warm-weather activities revolve around a body of water. (Basking beachside with a juicy book in hand? Clocking in a few laps? Splashing your way to a swim-up bar? Check, check, and check.) In fact, the season can be so water-centric that it can sometimes be challenging to even consider how to have fun on land.

It’s peak tomato season and if you’re lucky, you aren’t getting through them fast enough. While preserving the bulk of your harvest to keep from waste and spoiling is the best move, there are definitely times when you just want to hold onto that handful of heirlooms for a few days longer and enjoy the fruits of your labor fresh. Thankfully, how you store your tomatoes can buy you that extra time and it’s as simple as storing them stem-side down. 

The front yard of this home designed by E. Cobb Architects in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood already had plenty of curb appeal, but the home’s new owner wanted to add a pool to splash around with his grandkids on a warm day. So he tapped Ian Butcher, AIA, founding partner of Best Practice Architecture to create the space.

Sure, your home’s primary bathroom should reign supreme when it comes to renovation and makeover priorities. If you have more than one bathroom, it’s the one you’ll use the most, so, of course you want it to be comfortable, serene, stylish, functional… all those things. 

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?

Courtesy of P.F. Candle Co.

Marty Baldwin

A new TikTok trend is making the rounds, and you aren't going to want to miss out on this one! TikTok users are now obsessed with minimalism—especially when it comes to home decor and cleaning. And for good reason!

Amy Pigliacampo / Interior Designer: Amy Pigliacampo

All Natives!

Summer isn't over yet, and there's still plenty of time to update your backyard space so you can enjoy it for the rest of the season—and beyond! Design experts are weighing in with their top project recommendations that you can easily tackle this weekend or in just an afternoon. They'll make all of the difference!