Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

  When it comes to creating a new kitchen, an island is a must-have for many homeowners, but how can you ensure yours is both beautiful and functional? Here, four Australian kitchen design experts suggest 10 things to bear in mind to help you get this key element right. Tindall Architecture Workshop Do Choose a Tough, Easy-Care Countertop Material Kitchens are places of heavy traffic flow and productivity, so a good, durable natural or engineered stone for the countertop is crucial, says Katherine Wallis, interior designer and director at  Wallis Design . You’ll also want it to be scratch-resistant and easy to clean — and the same goes for your cabinetry and floorboard materials. Choosing good-quality fixtures such as sinks and faucets is always preferred as they get so much use and need to last, Wallis says. Pike Properties Do Get the Proportions Right Getting the proportions of your island correct lets you work efficiently in the space and ensures that traffic flow is mainta...

  If you have 5 minutes If you can spare just a few minutes, you can assess what kinds of pests are in your home. “Put sticky traps in every room to determine what kinds of pests you have,” says  Diana Ludwiczak , a certified bedbug specialist and CEO of Doctor Sniffs Bed Bug Dogs in New York City. “Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with will help you come up with a treatment plan.” Cost: $12-plus for sticky traps for insects and small rodents ————— One sneaky entry route for insects is through sink drains. “A sink and floor drain can accumulate a lot of debris,” says  Jordan Foster , a pest control expert and writer based in Southend-on-Sea, England. “This attracts pests and offers an ideal breeding site, especially for small flies. You should regularly clean all of your drains, including those in the laundry room and basement.” Cost: Free ————— If you have 30 minutes You know what bugs love? Moisture. Most insects need a certain amount of humidity to survive, and pipe...

  1.  Joshua Tree, CA Joshua trees are one of the big draws to Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua Tree, CA. (Getty Images) Median list price: $525,050 Annual change in revenue generated: 113% Average daily rate: $268 Days to break even: 9 Trips to national parks have skyrocketed over the past year, as Americans rushed to the great outdoors. Joshua Tree is no exception, with the number of visitors tripling in May compared with the year before, according to National Park Service data. So it’s no surprise that revenue for short-term rentals is way up in this California oasis known for its desert landscapes, rugged rock formations, and distinctive namesake trees. San Bernardino County allows short-term rentals only in single-family homes. Owners need to get a permit from the county before they can list their homes for rent. Those looking to buy some desert land and build a new property have to contend with strict environmental regulations surrounding the endangered Joshua trees—i...

Below, are some of the most common gardening misconceptions that may be holding you back from realizing your true calling. 1. I don’t have enough space for a garden The size of your yard should never discourage you from gardening. You can still get your hands dirty, no matter the space. “You don’t even need a garden plot at all. If you live in an apartment or condo and have just a tiny bit of space, you can grow many of your favorite herbs, veggies, and flowers in containers,” says  Angelo Randaci , a master gardener and horticulture expert at Earth’s Ally. Amy Enfield , horticulturist for Bonnie Plants Gardening, says gardening is what you choose to make of it. “Whether it’s a large vegetable garden in the backyard, a plot in a community garden, a well-manicured landscape, a raised bed, containers on the patio, a plant on the windowsill, or a hydroponic unit on the kitchen counter, there are plants that grow well in each situation,” she says. 2. Gardening always starts with seeds ...

Here are 10 tips that are seldom mentioned in listing houses that just might put your property over the edge. 1. Make sure your mailbox looks amazing First impressions matter, which is why you should check out your curb appeal. Is the driveway cracked? Is the mailbox old and leaning? The best sales rest on keeping these details in mind. 2. Make the right use of your rooms If you use the dining room for a kid’s playroom, or if the loft is empty because you don’t have a use for it, restage your rooms so they reflect their original purpose. Buyers want to see the space used in a traditional way—with a dining table in the dining room, a desk and chair in the office—to envision themselves living there. 3. Reglaze the bathroom “The best tip I use to get top dollar for some of our houses is to reglaze an old bathroom that has a terrible color of tile—like pink or green,” says  Michael Pinter , a house flipper in Long Island, NY, with  LMPK Properties . “We reglaze the bathroom white ...