Home & Hearth Notes

A bright first home living room with a solid wood coffee table, a console under a window and a solid wood bench, boxes still stacked in a corner
Furnishing a First Home: What to Buy First
A practical order for furnishing a first home with solid wood: what to buy first, what can wait, how to budget and how to choose pieces that grow with you. Read more...
A solid wood bench and a small console in a family hallway with framed family photos above and a folded quilt on the bench
Furniture Worth Passing Down: Choosing Heirloom Pieces
What makes a piece of furniture worth passing down — solid wood, simple design, sturdy joinery — and which pieces make meaningful family gifts. Read more...
A cozy living room on a winter evening lit by a glowing sculptural wood floor lamp beside a reading chair and a table lamp on a console, snow outside
Warm Light for Long Winters: Wood Floor Lamps and Layered Lighting
How to light a living room for long, dark winters with layered warm light: wood floor lamps, table lamps, bulb color and placement. Read more...
A rectangular solid wood coffee table with a board game, mugs and a candle on a wool rug in front of a sofa in a cozy family room
Choosing a Coffee Table: Shape, Size and Height
How to choose a solid wood coffee table: matching it to your sofa, round vs. rectangular, height, legroom, storage and family-friendly finishes. Read more...