Blake Bakkila

3 weeks ago | architecturaldigest.com | Blake Bakkila

The best outdoor coffee tables bring the comforts of your living room to your back yard. Primed for durability against the elements, these alfresco pieces are more casual and laid-back compared to their interior counterparts, but every bit as style-forward—blessed with textured accents and modern curves. Some are as small as end or side tables and can fit on a balcony, while others are designed to be paired with matching sectionals, loveseats, and other lounge furniture for a more sprawling setup.

3 weeks ago | architecturaldigest.com | Blake Bakkila

The best Murphy beds are among the most versatile, space-saving furniture items on the market, giving people the choice to have a discreet sleeping area in a guest bedroom, home office, or playroom. They’re kind of like the mullet of the interior design world: Business in the front, slumber party in the back. When it’s closed, a Murphy bed looks like a desk, cabinet, or chest, and frees up plenty of floor space.

4 weeks ago | sunset.com | Blake Bakkila

Psst… it could be time to update your countertops. There’s always a specific selling point when you’re house-hunting. For my husband and me, it was a remodeled airy A-frame loft; for our friends, it was the screened-in porch overlooking an outdoor pool. Changes, minor or major, can contribute to a significant resale value increase, and the latest Zillow trend report proves as much.

1 month ago | whattoexpect.com | Blake Bakkila |Lauren LaCross

As a pregnant mom, you might debate whether to pack an extra pair of pajamas or your own pillow for the delivery room, but there's one hospital bag item in particular that has parents-to-be divided: Is it okay to bring gaming consoles to the labor and delivery wing? "My [boyfriend] insists on bringing his PlayStation to the delivery room to play games when it's time for me to be admitted," wrote one What to Expect Community mom.

1 month ago | architecturaldigest.com | Blake Bakkila

In a noticeably robust category, the absolute best outdoor lounge chairs distinguish themselves by how they physically support you as you sprawl out, while also embracing the curated vibe of your backyard or patio furniture. Refreshing your outdoor living space or furnishing a new one, though, can lead you down a whole rabbit hole of options. There’s no singular type of lounge chair, so know your specifications and square footage in advance.