There’s nothing more relaxing than an old-fashioned backyard barbecue, with friends and family gathered around the patio on a warm summer evening. This handsome and convenient BBQ cart is a great way for do-it-yourselfers to get the good stuff from the kitchen to the great outdoors.On top, a removable serving tray is perfect for hauling […]

Imagine how lovely it would have been to stroll, umbrella opened wide in a light drizzle, near the Gare Saint-Lazare into Gustave Caillebotte’s “Paris Street; Rainy Day.” Everyone seems so civil.Imagine if you tried the same thing on a downtown street at rush hour, where small, collapsible umbrellas jockey for space with gigantic golf umbrellas, […]

Pick up a Farmers’ Almanac and check out its weather forecasts for April. Prognosticators expect the heavens to turn on the tap some 18 days out of the month.Only a certified Pollyanna would be unprepared.Sure, you could just remove your Manolo Blahniks and trot down the street in bare feet, which is what one Chicagoan […]

The American wedding gown is currently under construction. Think of it as a backlash against the ultra simple gown of the 1990s, best symbolized by the oh-so-fantastically-nothing sheath dress Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wore in 1996.“It was very, very minimal for a couple of years – strapless, plain fabric, maybe a little satin trim, a simple, […]

Ideal for do-it-yourselfers with limited amounts of space, this futon sofabed serves as a casual, comfortable sofa by day and a firm bed by night, without the springs and lumps (or frumpy looks) of most sofabeds. Modeled after classic California Mission-style furniture, the project looks great with any decor.The frame holds a full-size futon mattress […]

ST. LOUIS – Free-flowing, yet with an air of savoir-faire and confidence, scarves have become indispensable, must-have accessories that add just the right pop, color and accent to daily dressing.Their aura moves from whimsical to serene and defines personalities, known or not. And they’re priced to meet practically every woman’s budget.“People are recycling their wardrobe […]