When Kelly Wearstler reaches out to you over email to show off the Easter eggs she made with her 18-month-old son, you reply immediately with follow-up questions to get all the details. “I’ve always seen Easter as such a vibrant, joyous holiday, so we really like to make it special for our kids,” she shares. “Now that my son Crosby is old enough to really get involved in the festivities, we’re excited to make Easter more of a production again in our home.” 

From how she strategically “hides” her eggs around her house to her secret to keeping them in place during dyeing, here’s what the designer shared with us about the ways she improvises with a regular box of dye from the grocery store. 

Play With the Palette

To go beyond a simple allover color effect, Wearstler partially submerges the eggs, then dips them multiple times (and at varying depths) to give them an ombré effect that’s still simple enough for Crosby to make, too. To achieve the pastel shades, she dipped for 10 seconds, and for more saturated tones, she kept them in between 5 and 10 minutes. Her secret to keeping the eggs in place? Espresso cups. “They allow for ultimate control over which part of the egg you color because the egg doesn’t roll around,” she says.

Get a Drippy Effect

To take your designs to the next level (without losing the attention of your little ones), Wearstler likes to create a painterly effect by letting the dye drip-dry. “Hold the tip of the egg in the dye for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then slowly pull the egg out, flip it over, and gently move the egg around while letting the dye run,” she says. “You’ll get the most amazing patterns and lines.”

“Hide” Them as Art

The reason Wearstler hides her eggs in plain sight is twofold. One, they’re pretty enough to be on display. But also: “Since my son is so young, I didn’t want to make them impossible to find. But I couldn’t make it too easy either, so some eggs are a little more hidden than others. I had fun positioning them among designs in our home, emphasizing existing shapes and colors.” For example, a green drippy egg almost blends into a marble sculpture’s veining, and a dipped yellow one looks right at home on a chessboard. To which we say, Crosby has his work cut out for him. 

The post Kelly Wearstler Emailed Us About Her Ultracool Drippy Easter Egg Technique appeared first on domino.

Recently, Compass sales agent Cassidy Iwersen felt a shift in her conversations with home buyers: Most of her clients want—no, need—a house with a swimming pool, and they aren’t afraid to delay their hunt until they get one. “Once, it might have been a ‘nice to have’; now it’s becoming a ‘must have,’” says Iwersen. At least, it’s turned into a deal breaker for many living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that she works in, but she suspects others who experienced record-breaking temperatures this year feel the same. 

For the everyday homeowner, the draw of a pool is enjoyment: It’s an amenity a whole family can use. Some buyers with kids have admitted to Iwersen that having one even encourages their little ones to lessen their screen time. Adults feel the same way: “One of my clients with a high-powered job said, ‘There are only a few things that really help me decompress and where I feel really relaxed, and hanging out in the pool is one of them,’” she recalls. 

What does all that zen time translate to in dollar signs? If you’re shopping for a home with a saltwater pool, you might expect to pay more for it and see more competition from other buyers, according to Zillow’s latest research, which suggests homes with saltwater pools sell for 1.5 percent more than comparable homes without one. Fortunately, most people don’t appear to care all that much about what the pool looks like but rather what shape it’s in. Older ones that require significant repairs can drag down the overall value of a property. “I always recommend getting a separate pool inspection,” says Iwersen.  

And what if your budget doesn’t get you a place with a pool at all? Iwersen has witnessed many clients stall their searches as a result, but she is proposing an alternative solution: Commit to the house you love, and if it’s pool-less, build a 5-foot-deep plunge pool. While they aren’t necessarily that much cheaper to construct than your average inground pool (approximately $25,370), these tiny oases come with a ton of perks: You don’t have to have a huge yard to fit one (you can even put one on sloped terrain), it’s easier to maintain and clean, it requires fewer chemicals, and it won’t break the bank if you want to heat it in the cooler months. 

This time last year, Karen Larson, cofounder of Soake Pools, saw record-breaking sales, 15 percent of which consisted of pools smaller than 7-by-13 feet. According to customer feedback, plunge pools fit well into the ever-popular outdoor living concept because they leave more room for other features such as firepits, lawn games, and alfresco kitchens. Read on for some more perks to paring back. 

You Can Get One in a Matter of Months

Chapman Bullock, cofounder of Proper Plunge Pools, says half of its inquiries come from clients who want a pool within three months—a timeline that’s totally doable when the actual installation only takes a matter of days. “The traditional path is going to take [customers] 12 to 18 months,” he says. “People don’t want a construction site in their backyards for months at a time.”

You Can Order One on the Internet

Here’s a short list of a few designer-favorite sources for premade plunge pools:

• Plungie
• Little Dipper
• Proper Plunge Pool
• Soake Pools

You Can Now Turn the Temp Way Down

More of a cold plunge kind of person? Soake Pools recently announced the launch of its first plunge pool designed specifically for cold plunging. The basin is smaller, lighter, and more efficient than its counterparts. Measuring at just 4-by-4 feet, the compact unit is intended for sitting and comfortably fits one person to create a traditionally individual, energizing experience. In addition to selecting your choice of porcelain tile for the interior, there are three cover styles available: lockable wood roll, textured folding spa, or the power safety. 

It Might Boost Your Value, But It’ll Definitely Perk Up a Listing

During the pandemic, it was clear buyers were willing to pay more for a home with a pool—specifically, $27,199 more on average. Generally, though, adding a pool of any kind solely to boost the resale value of your home is a gamble because you might not recover the total cost of putting one in. “I’m cautious to ever say that you can expect to get that back because there are so many other factors when pricing a home to sell, but I do feel that it does add value in most cases,” notes Iwersen. With that said: The appeal is real. “[Pools] used to be buried in the listing photos, and now I see them as the first one more and more!” she adds. 

You Can Get Creative

The ultimate solution if you are on a tight budget and want a place to keep cool is to buy a stock tank and add a pump. The next best thing? An aboveground pool, which can range from $800 to $5,000. “I feel like people are getting creative with aboveground pools—connecting them to the house with a deck or building out a wood or tiled surround with steps so that they look more inviting,” shares Iwersen. 

And don’t sleep on other water features either. When interior designer Kate Fudim bought her North Carolina home in 2021, there was a tiered fountain in the courtyard—she started requesting quotes from contractors to convert it into a pool ASAP. After a number of contractors quoted her up to $80,000 to do the job, she learned they could simply dig trenches around the lower pool and drill through the bottom of it to add inlets for filtered water and a light. They installed traditional pool equipment, filled it with salt water, and—voilà!—the whole job took three workers three weekends to complete for a grand total of $6,900. “The upper pool is fun because we use our pool floats and lounge around,” she says. “The bottom pool is deeper, though, and it’s in the shade, so I find it the most comfortable.”

The post If Your Home Search Has Stalled Because There’s No Pool, Consider This Petite Alternative appeared first on domino.

For some, prepping for a flight is akin to prepping for a long-term move. You make an extensive list of what to pack, including outfits for both freezing cold and boiling hot temps (you never know). You bring all your favorite beauty products and emergency packets of Splenda, as though they don’t have lotion or artificial sweeteners in France. Your suitcase is perpetually overweight. Sound familiar? You’re not alone, but this is no way to live.  

There are few people in the world who know more about savvy travel than flight attendants. Frequent flights and size restrictions mean that they’ve got preflight prep down to a science. They aren’t falling prey to the usual packing-related anxiety. With this in mind, we thought we’d tap a few attendants from Delta Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to share their insight on how they prep for a long flight. Read this before your next trip.

Luggage Organizers

Baggu Packing Cube Set, Urban Outfitters ($36)

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Packing Cube Quad, Paravel ($65)

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Packing Cubes Set, Calpak ($68)

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Triforce Set of 3 Packing Cubes, QVC ($33 was $40)

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You’ve undoubtedly heard about the tried-and-true method of rolling your clothes like mini burritos to save space, but if that fails, turn to professional help. Vinnie De Jesus, a flight attendant with Delta, recommends clothing organizers to “compartmentalize and compress clothing.” 

Airtight Baggies

Rezip 5-Piece Stand-Up Reusable Bag Bundle, Amazon ($25)

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Greater Goods Reusable Food Storage Bags, Amazon ($7)

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While they’re not the most environmentally friendly product, Ziploc bags are an in-flight must-have for Hawaiian Airlines attendant Theona Kapoi. “Putting things in Ziploc bags and squeezing the air out helps give you lots of space, keeps you organized, and protects your belongings in case your luggage gets rained on,” she advises. Psst: If you aren’t using them for food, then you can reuse them over and over again (or simply invest in BPA-free reusable bag brands like (Re)zip or Stasher). Keep electronics, like chargers or USB cables, safe in these little bags to protect them and make them easy to find.

A Book

Above Ground by Clint Smith, Amazon ($9)

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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver , Amazon ($21)

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The Bee Sting by Paul Murray , Amazon ($21)

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The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking, Amazon ($15)

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De Jesus’s go-to tactic for helping anxious passengers relax? Distraction. “Try to watch a movie, read a book, or start a conversation with your seatmate,” he says.

Snacks on Snacks on Snacks

Yammy Dried Sweet Potato Sticks, Amazon ($15)

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Blueberry & Sunflower Butter 2-Pack, Sweet Deliverance ($29)

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Hawaiian Airlines attendant Mapuana Faulkner always brings steamed Okinawan sweet potatoes and taro for healthy snacks, which she says have high antioxidant levels and fiber.

Fellow Hawaiian Airlines attendant Heather Sanchez also stresses the importance of planning when meal prepping for a flight. “Always consider agricultural restrictions when traveling to certain destinations,” she says. A few of her favorites? Fresh fruit and veggies to stay hydrated, and dried fruit-and-nut bars in lieu of trail mix. “They’re much easier to consume without making a mess and are generally made up of the same components,” explains Sanchez.

An Oversize Scarf

Rag & Bone Astra Stripe Scarf, Nordstrom ($128)

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Color Block Scarf, Goodee ($155)

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“Hawaiian flight attendants never leave home without at least one pareo,” says Faulker of her carry-on necessity. “It’s a colorful, oversize scarf extraordinaire. It can be a soft, breathable fabric throw to toss over your head on the plane so no one sees you sleeping with your mouth open, a casual pool cover-up, or an impromptu picnic blanket.” Find one multifunctional item, be it a light sarong or a heavier cashmere scarf, and make it your in-flight essential.  

A Bullet Journal

Glad & Young Studio The Traveler’s Journal, Anthropologie ($55)

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Montblanc 163 Cross-Grain Leather Notebook, Mr. Porter ($110)

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Monogram Leather Notebook, Papier ($39)

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Pantone Chips Journal, MoMA Design Store ($10)

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Bringing things on board to calm you can be just as important as the functional necessities, especially if you have travel anxiety. “As one who travels a lot, staying ‘grounded’ in an emotional sense is often more important,” explains De Jesus. “Take something with you that helps ensure you are in the right headspace. For me, that would be my bullet journal and Bible. These items help keep me focused on the things that matter and are a comfort to me when traveling gets stressful.”

Hydration Supplies

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream Hydrating Moisturizer , Nordstrom ($21 was $25)

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LARQ Bottle PureVis 17 oz, Amazon ($99)

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It’s an old truism, but it exists for a reason. De Jesus maintains that drinking water is the single best thing to ensure you stay healthy while traveling, especially because cabin air can get quite dry. Bring a reusable water bottle from home to get past TSA. “Flight attendants can always fill up your flask,” shares Hawaiian Airlines attendant Joyce Foley. “This will help you stay hydrated, which also helps with jet lag and bloating.”

Think beyond water to stay hydrated, too. De Jesus keeps his sinuses in check by toting Zicam and Vaseline around with him on flights. And Sanchez has her own in-flight skin-care routine she swears by: “I’ve used a variety of moisturizers over the years, but right now, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream really works for me.” You don’t need to bring your entire medicine cabinet with you; just bring the one item you keep on steady rotation.

The post We Asked 5 Flight Attendants What They Never Board Without appeared first on domino.

Do you beeline to your gym’s sauna or get a little too excited about the sweat-cold plunge cycle at a spa? Better yet: Is a bathroom remodel on your horizon? It’s time to consider a steam shower. We’re seeing the feature incorporated more and more in homes beyond luxury new builds—but don’t call it trendy. Steam has been used as a wellness practice for thousands of years, and perhaps we’re all just catching on now. Designers across the U.S. are bringing this perk into their practice more regularly, whether for their own houses or client projects. 

“As more and more people have the flexibility to work from home and work out at home, I do anticipate a rise in popularity,” says Jennelle Butera of Hudson + Bloum Design. Read on for all the details on what it takes to put in a steam shower at home.

What Is a Steam Shower? 

Simply put, a steam shower starts with a briefcase-size generator, which heats H2O from a water line until it vaporizes. The steam is then released via a steam line and steamhead in your shower wall—and voilà! Enthusiasts name-check all kinds of health benefits that steam can provide: stress relief, muscle recovery, skin hydration, and more.

When it comes to steam showers, one label reigns supreme: Mr. Steam. The 100-year-old brand is beloved by designers for its heritage, range of packages, and features like music streaming and aromatherapy. “We have used only Mr. Steam for the past 10 years,” Butera divulges. “It is great quality and our clients have never complained.”

How Much Does a Steam Shower Cost? 

Martha Orellanas, vice president of marketing at Mr. Steam and a 30-year industry vet, puts the main price range of a steam shower between $2,000 and $7,000, and notes that it can go up to $10,000 with more bells and whistles (like the aforementioned aromatherapy and music). But looking in the other direction, she adds that a basic setup can come in under $2,000. It might sound like a lot, but it’s important to weigh the cost against your alternative routine. “How much money do we spend going to spas, or how much money do we spend going to a gym?” asks Orellanas. 

There are more budget-friendly options out there, too. In designer Nick Poe’s experience, an expensive unit isn’t necessary to achieve steam in a small space. When he redesigned his downtown New York City apartment, he had to build the bathroom from scratch, so he installed a more affordable 6-kilowatt generator from Amazon to make his tiny tiled bathroom a respite. 

How Do You Install a Steam Shower? 

Short answer: It’s not a DIY. “We always ask if [clients] want a steam shower because this changes the design of the shower,” Butera says. “It needs to be planned out properly.” Orellanas echoes this sentiment, explaining that while you might be able to swap in an upgraded toilet later, you can’t do that with steam; it’s best to include it in your initial remodel plans if you think you might want it. Marissa Corvino of Corvino Designs adds that it’s smart to also mention your plan to your general contractor and electrician. In addition to the power line and the steam line, you’ll need a drain line leading away from the shower.

The generator power you choose should align with your shower sizing—Mr. Steam has a handy calculator for this. Think about it like the BTUs of an air conditioner, says Orellanas. What size space do you want to fill with steam, and how quickly do you want the process to start? The bigger the space, the more BTUs, the larger the unit. That said, there is such a thing as going too big (or high). “The ceiling height really should be 7 to 8 feet, no more,” Orellanas advises. That’s because steam rises, and if you want to enjoy the benefits, you need to contain it.

Speaking of the generator, you’ll want to install yours in an accessible nook with an electrical outlet near the shower: in a crawl space; hidden in a built-in shower bench; or concealed in millwork like a side cabinet, vanity, or closet. “We used a base cabinet in our home office, which is located adjacent to our primary shower,” Corvino says.

Installation doesn’t end there. You need to consider the steam outlet, which Orellanas says you should place 6 inches to 1 foot from the floor (you want the steam coming out as low as possible).

Then it’s about where to put the controls. If you’ve built a shower bench into your design, you want the temperature and/or feature panel at shoulder length next to where you sit so it’s easy to reach. Mr. Steam has integrations for entertainment like Spotify and even Netflix. You can use its panels to preset a time for steam to heat up or to release essential oils for aromatherapy. Corvino adds that a wireless remote add-on allows you to toggle the steam on and off and control the temperature from your phone.

Finally, any ceiling lighting within the shower needs to be wet-rated, and, to that end, ventilation is key, too. That’s because the shower glass or watertight space has to seal in the steam, and you’ll need proper flow to remove moist warm air from the room to prevent mildew, says designer Tricia Portelli of Scribe Studio. 

What Should Your Steam Shower Look Like?  

One of the main design considerations for steam showers is materials. Naturally, nonporous stone is the ideal choice. “Porcelain tile is probably the best tile for a steam room, because it’s really sealed and you don’t have to take care of it,” Orellanas explains. “The grout line should be very thin as well.” Butera tends to opt for ceramic and porcelain, too, over natural stone, because they hold heat better. “Natural stone tends to dissipate the steam and cools the space faster,” she says. 

In its Deer Valley, Utah, project, for example, Hudson + Bloum used ceramic tile on the walls and shower lid, marble for the bench, and marble mosaic on the shower floor. “We like to use mosaics on shower floors for a nonslip surface, and more grout joints equals better grip when wet,” says Butera. Nobody recommends a fully wood interior; instead, consider teak for a bench or seat.

As for the doors, instead of one large glass partition, Corvino recommends two smaller doors that allow less steam to escape as you enter and exit. That’s the design she chose for her New Jersey brownstone bathroom. “Pivot hinges on double shower doors are a power move,” she states. They save on bathroom space, and when the doors are wet, she swings them inside the shower to dry off. Alternatively, designer Amber Lewis often favors multipane doors and glass, if that’s your thing, and she always fully encloses showers.

There are alternative ways to craft a steam shower if your preference is to not install a unit or you have space constraints. In one case, Portelli crafted a completely enclosed shower outfitted with a transom window to create the same effect.“ The choice to extend the enclosure all the way to the ceiling, coupled with the shower’s relatively compact size, facilitates the rapid generation of steam when taking a hot shower,” she explains. The operable window is key: It allows you to air out the shower as you move onto the rest of your self-care routine. 

The post This Zen Home Upgrade Is Picking Up Steam—We Asked Designers to Weigh In appeared first on domino.

Potatoes, hot springs, river rafting, and…soaring home values? Idaho is now known for all these things. Architecture Lab recently used data from Zillow to compare the average home value of 2013 and 2023 in every state to see where the most significant increases were. It turns out, the mountainous Northwestern state has come out on top. Idaho has experienced the biggest spike (171.03 percent to be exact), with 2013’s average value coming in at $159,567 and jumping to $432,476 in 2023. Here’s a look at the 10 states that have seen the largest leaps in home values, and what that average increase translates to in dollars. 

1. Idaho ($287,665)
2. Florida ($250,874)
3. Nevada ($294,686)
4. Georgia ($208,490)
5. Arizona ($285,003)
6. Utah ($344,212)
7. Washington ($396,512)
8. Colorado ($385,438)
9. Montana ($291,949)
10. Tennessee ($203,414)

When you think of homes in Idaho, you probably picture a cozy log cabin or traditional modern farmhouse, but looking back at some of our favorite projects in the state, we uncovered so much more than rustic charm. Here are four Idaho homes that have no shortage of clever ideas. 

The One With the Custom-Looking IKEA Pax Closet

Before Julia and Chris Marcum moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, they called this six-bedroom Tudor in Idaho Falls home. When the design blogger duo was quoted a cool $30,000 to have a walk-in closet built from scratch, they turned to IKEA’s beloved Pax system and pulled it off for a mere $3,000.

The One That Proves the Power of Paint

Kirsten Grove, Sam Salinas, and Bernadette Lindstrom, the trio behind We Three Design, brought this Nampa home’s 1902 character back to life, largely thanks to smart paint choices. The kitchen is swathed in Sherwin-Williams’s Rock Bottom, a moody green-gray that even makes the brick backsplash feel modern. In one of the bedrooms, they drenched the walls, ceiling, window trim, and medallion in Autumn Orchid.

The One With a Warm Welcome

Juniper Interiors opted for the ultimate first impression in this Idaho Falls home with white oak herringbone flooring and a steel arched door.

The One That’s All About the Vanities  

An important material for any mountain house is wood, but Yond Interiors didn’t go the expected pine route for this Sun Valley home. In the bathrooms, the firm introduced white oak vanities with elevated details like long integrated handles and prominent rails and stiles. The math is all making sense now. 

The post This State’s Average Home Value Has Increased by $287K in the Past Decade appeared first on domino.

Picture this: It’s a beautiful day. You know you should be outside, getting your daily dose of vitamin D, moving your body, reading a book, but you are also three episodes behind on your current favorite show. So you’re faced with a tough choice: Park yourself on the sofa inside or embrace the outdoors and tell yourself you’ll binge later that night. Not everyone has to make this compromise. 

If you happen to have an outdoor TV, you can enjoy the best of both worlds, and home buyers are acutely aware of this fact. New Zillow research finds homes featuring an outdoor TV command 3.1 percent more than expected, which translates to $10,749 on a typical U.S. home. That’s the highest sale price premium of all 359 features Zillow recently analyzed across nearly 1 million home sales in 2023. 

Properties with other desirable backyard amenities such as an alfresco shower, pizza oven, and bluestone patio also fetch higher than expected prices when those elements are mentioned in a listing description. But a TV that’s visible from your swimming pool or firepit? Now that’s the dream.

“When certain features or design styles are highlighted in a listing description, they serve as a signal to a buyer that a home is appealing and up-to-date,” says Zillow’s home trends expert, Amanda Pendleton. As a result, those callouts can help a home sell faster and for more money. 

Of course, securing an outdoor TV setup (whether it’s for yourself or in the hope of sparking a bidding war) is not as simple as plugging a screen into the side of your house. First off, your TV will need to be masked from the elements in the form of a covered patio or pavilion. If you don’t have the time or budget to build a protective structure, consider a lift cabinet that’s clad in weatherproof wood, like this walnut one on Etsy. For those who aren’t as picky about the screen quality, you can also invest in a TV that is specifically designed to go outdoors, such as Samsung’s Terrace series (the brand makes options that can withstand partial or full sun). Now you can click to the next episode with one hand and toss a football with the other.

The post Backyards With This Amenity Can Help Sell a House for $10K More appeared first on domino.

What if your wanderlust wasn’t limited to a 10-day vacation? In our series My Life Abroad, we ask expats from around the world what it takes to resettle thousands of miles away from home, plus how their new city has influenced their style. 

Who I am: Sophie Bell, founder of lifestyle brand Peppa Hart.

Where I used to live: Cabarita Beach, Australia. 

Where I moved: Seseh, Bali, Indonesia.

How long my family and I have lived in our current city: Coming up on two years.

Why we moved: We wanted to chase our dreams and needed something new and exciting for our family. We were working so hard and had a house on acreage that was a lot of maintenance, and we also felt like every weekend was the same. We wanted to explore and show our young children there is so much more to the world. 

So we put our home on the market and booked our one-way ticket to Bali. Our family and friends were shocked. We hadn’t been planning it for a long time, but once we had made the call, we knew it was exactly the right decision for our family. Bali has always been a special place for us. We were married here in 2013 and have holidayed here several times a year throughout our lives. 

We were craving adventure, freedom, and the ability to be on the ground in Bali working on projects we had been dreaming of for so long, like creating our own clothing and homewares, and building exciting businesses that we kept putting off because we were too busy. 

The logistics we needed to line up before we moved: Securing visas was the first step to make sure we would be able to stay long-term. We worked with Bali Solve to help us with our applications. We are on a Kitas visa, which allows us to be in Bali for an extended time. Once we arrived in Bali, we finalized all our paperwork in person and opened our local bank accounts as well. 

Schools were super-important to us—we looked at three and did a deep dive on them all to see which would be perfect for our children. We were so happy with the school we ended up going with; it’s an incredible international school with a beautiful community of families from all over the world, all sharing a similar experience. Our children have friends from Sweden, France, Spain, Brazil, the U.S., Singapore. They are learning so much about the world already.

How we got our stuff overseas: We took our personal items and anything that was super-special to us, but overall the bulk of things stayed with the home (we sold it fully furnished, including kitchenware and styling pieces). We booked the maximum baggage allowance, which was around 14 bags between the four of us. People were a little shocked when we turned up to the check-in with 14 suitcases and boxes, but that was our entire life packed up! 

We mainly brought clothes, our kids’ favorite toys and books, coffee-table books I had been collecting, and special homeware pieces like ceramics my mum had made for me. (She and my mother-in-law come over regularly to see us, so they have been lugging over anything extra we needed to get settled!)

Rent vs. own: Because we are not Indonesian, we can only do long-term leases or a Freehold. A Freehold is still a lease, but it’s a 99-year lease. We have a 25-year lease with two extensions, so we have the land for 70-plus years. During the term of the lease, the property is completely ours. We can build, renovate, or do whatever we want to that land. 

What our house search was like: Before we arrived, we booked a three-month, short-term villa in the area we thought we would most likely end up living. The plan was to look for land and build from scratch and rent during that process, but once we arrived we found that yearly rental prices were going crazy with people flooding back to Bali post-COVID. We couldn’t stomach spending an outrageous amount on rent for 18 months while we built, so we changed tactics and started to look for projects that were around 80 percent finished. That way, we could come in and add our finishing touches but move in ASAP. 

We contacted all the main real-estate agents in Bali and told them our requirements, and also signed up for Facebook groups that showcase real estate in each area. We were able to find a property in beautiful Seseh that had two villas, side by side. It has stunning rice-field views and is only 10 minutes from all the best restaurants. We put an offer on it and came to an agreement with the developer to be able to finish the project ourselves and move in within three months. Now we live in one villa and rent the other one out. 

My advice for anyone who wants to build in my town: It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of pros, but many hurdles, too. You need to tackle language barriers and completely different building materials, and the rules are very relaxed. But the beauty about building in Bali is you can get absolutely everything custom-made. 

My advice would be to definitely be here in person. Things move quickly, and if we hadn’t been coming to the site almost daily, the outcome would not have been as great. (If you can’t be here to oversee the build, then I would invest in a really amazing project manager.)

The biggest challenge with moving abroad: Missing our family and friends. We were so used to having my mum and my mother-in-law around a lot, so to not have them down the road is definitely the hardest thing. Now that we know we are here for the long-term, we’re working on getting them here permanently. Life would be complete! 

The biggest joy of moving abroad: The change in our kids has been beyond words. My son, especially, has just transformed being here. He is so happy and confident. And because you are away from your family, your friends here really do become like family. We travel together and help each other with kids and life.  

Monday through Friday we are in the school and work rhythm, but once Friday afternoon rolls around, it’s adventures galore. There are so many gorgeous islands nearby that you can duck to for the weekend. We are constantly doing little trips, which we would never usually do in Australia. 

The most surprising thing I’ve learned about living in my city since I moved here: How lovely an expat community is. Everyone really looks after each other and is so helpful in sharing information and contacts. We have made lifelong friends here.  

Where I found design inspiration for my space: I wanted the space to be pared back and easy to maintain because it was designed to be a holiday rental. (We also rent out our own villa when we travel for long periods of time.) I wanted everything to be sourced locally and custom-made to fit the space perfectly. Most items, from the marble tables to the dining chairs to the brass toilet roll holders, have been custom-made.  

If I were to move abroad again and could do anything differently, it would be: Not to rush into anything. Really get to know the area and properties you’re looking at. A lot of things look great online and then you see them in real life and they just aren’t. 

The best piece of decorating advice I’ve learned from living in my current city: Work to its strengths. The artisans here are so talented at working with wood, rattan, ceramics, and concrete, so utilize all the amazing skills they have in these methods. But always get a sample done to make sure they can achieve the finish you want, and only pay a deposit initially. Once you’ve seen the finished product and you’re happy with it, then pay the remaining amount.

The item I brought from home that brings me comfort: My mum is a super-talented ceramist, so I had to bring a bunch of her beautiful pieces with me. Each has its own story and meaning for me. 

The moment I felt like a local: Last year we did a two-month holiday in Europe, and when we flew back into Bali it really felt like home. It was a real moment where we looked at each other and were so happy, like, this is our life now.

We also flew back to Australia recently for a friend’s 40th birthday and we were wondering if we would miss Australia, but it was the opposite. It really confirmed for us that as much as we miss our family and friends, Bali is the place for us.

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From dreamy decor to top-notch amenities, Domino’s Wish You Were Here series is your first-class ticket to the most design-driven getaways around the world. Whether you’re looking to steal away for a few days or just steal a few ideas for back home (we encourage both, for the record), check out where we’re checking in.

Long before pandemic-fueled escapes to the countryside or the area’s resurgence of wanderlust induced by seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the Catskills region of upstate New York has been a centuries-old getaway for fresh-air-seeking city dwellers. And for good reason: Charming hamlets and valley vistas are a welcome respite from the concrete jungle. And then there’s the views of nature, the cast-iron bathtubs, and the thought that, maybe, one day, you could live there for real. Until then, the best hotels in the Catskills will only solidify that idea. 

Piaule, Catskill

What we love: A fourth wall made for leaf peeping. 

Every moment at this getaway was crafted to showcase one of the most universally renowned designers: nature. “Booking a room” here is a loose translation for checking into a sleek prefab wood cabin with a floor-to-ceiling view into the forest. (The spa, which is only open to guests, boasts a massive hot tub that also looks into the trees.) Even the man-made elements inside take their cues from what’s outside. In the bathrooms, blue tile nods to the hotel’s location on a bluestone quarry. The surrounding oak trees inspired the wood paneling. And the lobby’s terracotta Gianfranco Frattini sofas resemble autumn leaves.

The Boarding House at Seminary Hill, Callicoon

What we love: A new take on Shaker (and all-you-can-drink cider).

Local design firm Homestedt (a husband-and-wife team of former Brooklynites who made the Catskills their full-time home, nudge, nudge) meticulously restored this 1930s hospital with a focus on natural materials and the luxury that comes from well-made things. From beechwood utensils and enamel serveware to pots and induction stovetops, everything you need to make simple home-cooked meals is right there in your country-style kitchen. In the bedrooms, kilim rugs lead the way to luxury Wright mattresses dressed with crisp linen sheets. Dotted throughout, details like fauna-inspired canvas art and ostrich-feather dusters hung on peg rails add the right amount of lived-in warmth to the otherwise minimalist environment. And just down the road, you can visit the property’s family-owned cidery, where more than 60 varieties of apples and pears contribute to a seemingly endless supply of sparkling liquid gold. 

Callicoon Hills, Callicoon Center

What we love: Summer-camp utopia all year long. 

This century-old resort blends modern design and nostalgia in a way that embraces everything you’d want in a grown-up sleepaway experience: top-notch amenities, playful decor, and nothing but good vibes. Thanks to the Brooklyn-based creatives from Post Company (the firm that also worked with Scribner’s and Inness, below), the 65 guest rooms are filled with a variety of custom furniture (such as wavy settees and wood light fixtures), along with thrifted finds like cushy bench seating that might seduce you to stay inside. But a charming coffee shop, scattered firepits, and communal picnic tables make it too easy to find new friends. 

Camptown, Leeds

What we love: Country-cool cabins plus a standout restaurant. 

Camptown, a revamped motor lodge and property dotted with clusters of cabins, is true to its name: full-on adult-camp vibes. Gravel pathways snake around the site, illuminated at night with twinkling string lights, and pass by an ultra-inviting firepit that’s always roaring right at dusk (making it a central gathering spot). Reimagined by the folks who own Rivertown Lodge in Hudson, rooms are outfitted with heated bathroom floors, Frette linens, and Marshall Bluetooth speakers; it’s country cool with pops of cottagecore. If your cabin comes with a kitchenette, you’ll have a darling Masataka kettle to use with very good Tandem instant coffee, but there’s a 24-hour accessible pantry if you need more provisions. The on-site restaurant, Casa Susanna, makes Camptown the whole package—chef Efrén Hernández’s Mexican cuisine is worth a visit alone.

Inness, Accord

What we love: An all-inclusive compound that oozes luxury.

It makes sense that this place would be named after a 19th-century landscape artist from the Hudson River School—it looks just like a scene from a George Inness painting. Set on top of a misty rolling hillside in the middle of 220 pastoral acres, this retreat and members’ club, founded by Freemans Sporting Club owner Taavo Somer, redefines modern farmhouse through a marriage of Scandi-chic and rustic Americana. Clean lines complemented by antique seating, hand-thrown ceramics, and customized lighting from Roll & Hill feel indulgently cozy, while crowd favorites like Frette robes and Aesop amenities keep it modern. This year, a spa and fitness center will debut: In addition to five private treatment rooms, expect hot and cold plunges, a sauna deck featuring radiant-heat stone floors and cedar walls, and various movement classes.

Scribner’s, Hunter

What we love: Eleven new 12-sided huts for peak nature viewing.

Every since it opened in 2016, vacationing New Yorkers have posted photos of the property’s iconic lobby fireplace and stark-white guest rooms with dark maple floors, vintage rugs, and custom-built furniture (all thanks to Brooklyn’s Post Company). But now they’ll have new photographic fodder: eleven new circular-ish cabins called the Rounds, each with sunken sofas, Japanese cedar soaking tubs, and an oculus for stargazing. We can’t wait to double tap.

Hutton Brickyards, Kingston

What we love: Private patios made for conversation and cocktails. 

A stately hall, a historic cottage, and a handful of cabins make up the inventory of this industrial-chic hotel, which is set on a former brick-making factory’s grounds. From the inside of the pine interior, no two views are the same, and every room is a whole vibe with a mood-setting record player and an expansive private deck for coffee at sunrise or sundowners at dusk. It’s also the best place to stay during Field + Supply.

Hotel Lilien, Tannersville

What we love: A lounge you’ll never want to leave. 

This storied estate–turned–boutique hotel, dreamed up by Field Theory, is filled with a quirky mix of handpicked treasures and classic Victorian antiques. Once the 1890s residence was restored, the 18 rooms were transformed into airy yet earthy hideouts with rattan headboards against soft white walls, but the heart of the hotel is really in the lobby’s library and cocktail bar. In the “neighborhood’s living room,” guests can thumb through tomes while surrounded by original shiplap paneling, stained-glass windows, and seating that begs you to sink in and warm up by the wood-burning stove.

Wildflower Farms, Gardiner

What we love: Feeding the chickens (and gathering eggs!) every morning.

Situated on 140 acres that overlook the Shawangunk Mountains, Wildflower Farms lives up to it’s name: You’ll wander through a field of blooms to get to your room (there at 65 cabins, cottages, and suites on the property), and in the mornings, you’ll mosey over to the chicken coop to feed the birds and gather eggs for your morning breakfast. The rest of your day can be spent soaking in one of two outdoor hot tubs, or cozying up with a book around the communal firepit near the lobby. When you’re ready to nosh, it’ll be at Clay, the on-property restaurant. But if you don’t want to leave your steel-and-wood–beamed cabin (designed by Electric Bowery), we won’t judge you: The limewash walls, olive green velvet sofas, and deep-soaking tubs will make you feel like you traveled much father than just 90 minutes from New York City.

Where to Shop 

• Newt Boutique. Quaint and colorful, the newest addition to Kingston’s shopping scene is filled with everything from artsy office supplies and quirky stationery to striped ceramics and printed pillow covers. You won’t leave empty-handed. 
• Long Weekend. This interior design studio and home goods store in Livingston Manor sells the kind of vintage chairs and Turkish rugs that are worth renting an SUV for—trust us.

Where to Eat

• Catskill Provisions. Founded in 2010 from a passion for beekeeping, this woman-owned gastro-distillery offers craft cocktails, elevated bar bites (don’t skip the beer-battered cauliflower “wings”), local gifts, and, of course, bottles of bee-friendly booze to go.
• Millstream Tavern. This seasonally driven Woodstock gem recently reopened with executive chef Dan Silverman (an alum of Starr Restaurants) at the helm. In the colder months, duck inside to enjoy elevated comfort dishes like butternut squash risotto, but in warmer seasons, grab a seat on the riverside wood patios that were made for brunching. 
• Moonburger. For a quick grab-and-go lunch, this hip vegan burger spot in New Paltz hits the spot.

The post Breezy Summer Vibes (Firepits! Modern Cabins!) Await You at the Best Hotels in the Catskills appeared first on domino.

I’ve always loved old things. As a kid, I was enamored by antiques shops and salvage yards. I was so fascinated by the quality, craftsmanship, and story behind who owned the objects. So I knew I wanted a historic home in Connecticut. There’s so much rich history here, given that it’s one of the original colonies and the British marched through our area during the Revolutionary War. And pre–Revolutionary War homes are an endangered species—there’s so much new construction going up that’s ironically made to look like farmhouses. I’ve always felt called to conserve and protect an old jewel of a home. 

So when a historic 1700s one came on the market not far from the mid-century house where we currently lived, I dragged my husband kicking and screaming to go look at it. We have three kids and were not necessarily looking for a new place, but when we walked through the property together, we were both awestruck. It’s funny because the two of us couldn’t be more opposite: He’s a marine, and everything is very planned and methodical, and I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of girl. It’s rare that we agree on the same thing at the same time, but the house had so many little twists and turns and original charm that we both thought was so, so, so special. 

This was in 2021, when there was a mass exodus from New York City to the suburbs, so there were 15 showings for the house in one day. We never in a million years thought that we were going to actually get it, and our agent told us that ours was the lowest of five offers. But one 600-page inspection and mentions of the word asbestos later, the city couple who originally got it bailed and everyone else had moved on to other offers. Luckily, the homeowner was eager to not go back on the market, so she took care of all of those scary things for us. I firmly believe that this home picked us.

A few months after we moved in, I started exploring the yard. Someone had given me a metal detector—I don’t even remember when, for Christmas or something—and I thought, this property is 300 years old, maybe there are some old coins. Now just to be clear, you’d be way more likely to find me at Bloomingdale’s than you would me metal detecting, but I really got into it. I’d have my hat and fanny pack on, and I would wave this thing around my yard like a lunatic. One time, I did find a coin from 1787 that’s specific to New Jersey, which means it predates the U.S. Mint. That really got me excited. I even started an Instagram account, Peter Thorp House, to document my findings. 

Not long after, I discovered the midden. I was metal detecting around the corner of a stone wall, and I found a simple pewter spoon. As I was digging for it, I came up with something else: fistfuls of oyster shells. I remembered someone saying to me that when you find shells, keep digging, because it could be a trash heap (also known as a midden). There weren’t garbage cans in the 1800s—they just dug a pit in the back of the house and hucked things into a hole. So of course I got my shovel out. What I found was amazing. I’m talking platefuls of pottery and animal bones and glass. I couldn’t keep up. What started out as a little hole is now about a 6-by-6-foot trench because I just kept finding stuff, like the pieces of almost an entire teapot. 

I reached out to the town’s historical society and did a little research to track the lineage of the land ownership from 1739, when the house was built by Peter Thorp—though he never lived in it—all the way through to present day. There’s this family, the Browns, who lived here for more than 100 years, and they’re the ones who passed it down to their children and built this massive farm. I always felt like there must be a connection between the things I was finding and the Browns, given how long they lived here.

Soon enough, I became addicted to finding treasures elsewhere on our property. There’s a root cellar underneath the barn, and in the fall, I went in there to clean up. I brought my metal detector, a lamp, and a fan because it was September and it was really hot in that tiny room. Within two minutes, the metal detector died, the fan turned off, and the light drained of its battery. I yelled to my husband, “Why did you turn the fan off? It’s so hot!” But he wasn’t outside. Could it have randomly happened? Sure. But what are the chances that all three of those things would malfunction at the same time so quickly? 

It’s strange—ever since I started bringing objects out of the ground and into the house, little occurrences started to happen. But also, any logical person could explain them away. We live in an old house! It crunches! It makes noise!

But then, weirder things started to happen. I was talking with some friends, and the topic of ghost stories came up. My little guy looked up at us and said, “Yeah, that happens to me, too.” We all looked at him and said, “What happens?” And I’ll never forget what he said, so matter-of-factly: “There’s a shadow that walks into my closet.” 

I thought it was strange; kids say strange things, right? But then there was another instance when I was taking my daughter on the stairs in the main house to her room—at the time she was 2—and she looked right at me and said: “Can he come, too?” It was one of those parenting moments where you’re like, I feel like I shouldn’t freak out because then she’s going to freak out, so I’m just going to smile and we’re going to keep moving. It made me think: Gosh, is there something here that I’m not seeing?

I kept digging in the yard and collecting things. I know this sounds insane, but sometimes I’ll go in a new direction, almost like I’m being guided to a new part of the property, and I’ll find something cool. I can’t really explain it.

The kids were one thing, but one night, my husband and I were winding down for bed around midnight, and we heard a loud piano note, an E, clear as day. It was as if someone put their finger down right on the key of our piano, which is directly below our room. We both shot up in bed, like, What on earth was that? When multiple people witness something, you know you’re not losing it.

A few mediums reached out to me online after I shared everything on Instagram, and two of them had very consistent stories they told me over the phone: There is a woman, a nanny or a nursemaid, here. They both said there’s also a farmhand who didn’t own the property but took tremendous pride in it who is just here keeping tabs on it. The mediums mentioned water, but there’s no water on the property, so I don’t know where that comes in.

We’re noticing that a lot of incidents revolve around the original staircase. Most recently, I was away with my sons in Florida and my husband was home with our daughter when I got an alert on our Nest camera saying there was motion detected in my daughter’s room. You can see a shadow near the staircase that couldn’t be my husband because it’s too small—and because he was downstairs watching TV. He’s very pragmatic about all of this, but I think it’s a lot of coincidences. 

You know, I hope whatever spirits that may be around here know that we’re going to take care of this property and shine it back up. I choose to think that it’s someone just doing their rounds, trying to keep an eye on us and the house. Truly, I’ve never felt scared or intimidated. You know that creepy feeling when you’re turning off all the lights at night and you need to run up the stairs? I’ve never felt that here. I am totally comfortable being here alone walking around at night. Whatever does exist around here—I think it exists with love. 

I joke that this weekend is opening season for me, and I’m going to start searching the yard again. After a thaw is actually when metal detecting is at its best. The ground churns and purges, and new things come to the surface. 

To learn more about the Peter Thorp House, visit the Weston Historical Society starting on May 18 to see an exhibition of Maryclare Roos’s findings. Her home will be featured in the upcoming book The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell by Shana Novak, out April 30.

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For a long time, if you wanted to list your home, the best time of the year to jump on it was early spring (specifically the first week of April) or right around Labor Day (ideally the Thursday before the long holiday weekend). If sellers timed it just right, they would have the best chance at securing multiple offers on their home. But a lot has changed since the pandemic. In 2023, Zillow’s chief economist, Skylar Olsen, clocked a shift: Homes listed in the first two weeks of June last year sold for 2.3 percent more nationwide, translating to an average $7,700 boost. In other words, early June was super-rewarding for sellers and—on the flip side—fueled competition among buyers. 

The old logic was that sellers could get more bang for their buck by listing at a time when their home would be on the top of the pile of listings and search activity was at its peak.

“Now, with persistently low inventory, mortgage rate fluctuations make their own seasonality,” says Olsen. Last June, rates pulled back slightly from 6.79 percent to 6.67 percent, which probably inspired buyers who felt they could afford to transact, boosting competition and sale prices. Going into this season, Olsen suspects to see a similar pattern, especially if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates.

More competition equals more opportunities to get stuck in a bidding war. But as we’ve learned from home buyers in the past who have lived through it, the best thing you can do is be firm with yourself about your budget and make the process personal by writing a letter to the seller about why you love the house (or chat with neighbors—you never know who might put in a good word for you).

And if you really want to avoid the competition? Compass sales agent Cassidy Iwersen recommends looking at listings that have been around for at least a week. They might not be turnkey, but if you can look past sad wallpaper and dated carpeting, you could avoid a multiple-offer situation and have some negotiation power. 

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