Q: I just returned from my first-ever trip abroad, where I was really struck by how much attention the Old World paid to ceilings! My husband laughed at me because I practically came home with a crick in my neck from staring up so much. Not that I...

Q: I am worried about the floor plan in the house we are building. The kitchen opens to the dining room through a wide doorway. I like the openness, but I am looking for some way to set the kitchen apart from the next room. The builder suggests ...

Q: Our living “room” is just a wide spot in the entry hall of our small apartment. (We used the official living room for a family/dining room instead). Our sofa is a sleeper, that’s how cramped we are. My question is what to do about 1. a ...

Q: We are thinking about buying a grand old townhouse that dates to the mid-l9th century. It will need some restoration but the architecture (plaster moldings, ceiling medallions and floors) is in surprisingly good shape. We have a few antiques, ...

Q: Is it possible to paint floors so they look like stained concrete? I really like the smooth, seamless look, but I'm in a condo and there's no way I can have poured concrete. Is there another way to get the look?

A: Take a leaf from the book of...

Q: I suck at arranging furniture! Our living room is really big (27 feet by 25 feet), and I have no idea where to begin. We have an extra-long couch and a couple of end tables. Can you get me started, like, where do I begin putting down the ...