Erica Finamore

New York

Home Director at Real Simple

Articles

Chill Out

2 weeks ago | muckrack.com | Erica Finamore

Lofoten Islands, NorwayWHAT THE EXPERTS SAY “Norway has a mild summer climate and offers a plethora of outdoor activities, like hiking and fishing,” says Heather Magnussen, head of global travel at Audley Travel, based in Boston and England. “On the Lofoten Islands, you can stay in traditional fishing structures that have been converted into cozy cabins.” Check out the ones at Svinøya Rorbuer (from $152 a night; svinoya.no/en).
A Beige Kitchen Goes from Boring to Bright in Just 3 Months

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erica Finamore

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTERThis article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. HOME TYPE: HousePROJECT TYPE: KitchenSTYLE: Colorful, Organic ModernSKILL LEVEL: DIY, ProfessionalRENTAL FRIENDLY: No Credit: Anika Gandhi Credit: Anika GandhiA sea of brown. That’s what Anika Gandhi (@anikasdiylife) remembers seeing when she first laid eyes on her Cypress, California, home back in 2018.
A Beige Kitchen Goes from Boring to Bright in Just 3 Months

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erica Finamore

How They Transformed the Kitchen For a little bit of perspective, the couple turned to professional contractors and kitchen designers to figure out which layout would make the most sense. They weren't necessarily planning on hiring one, but they decided to get five to seven quotes anyway. "Each contractor came with their own ideas," she says. "And the quotes helped us figure out what things would and should cost." One of the bigger price surprises was the hefty cost of the cabinets.
A Beige Kitchen Goes from Boring to Bright in Just 3 Months

1 month ago | ca.style.yahoo.com | Erica Finamore

ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTERHOME TYPE: HousePROJECT TYPE: KitchenSTYLE: Colorful, Organic ModernSKILL LEVEL: DIY, ProfessionalRENTAL FRIENDLY: No Credit: Anika Gandhi Credit: Anika GandhiA sea of brown. That’s what Anika Gandhi (@anikasdiylife) remembers seeing when she first laid eyes on her Cypress, California, home back in 2018. “It was not my colors at all,” Anika says of the brown cabinets and dark counters with, yes, orange sparkles.
A Beige Kitchen Goes from Boring to Bright in Just 3 Months

1 month ago | apartmenttherapy.com | Erica Finamore

Home ProjectsBy RoomKitchensBefore & AftersSave Your FavoritesWhenever you see the heart icon, just tap it to save it to your account!commentsWe independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
13 Best Home Fragrances That Make Any Room Smell Wonderful

1 month ago | wsj.com | Erica Finamore

Everyone's had that moment: You walk into a shop, a hotel or someone's home, and you're immediately taken by the aroma of it. Your mind becomes singularly focused on finding out what that smell is — and maybe where you can buy it. Finding a stop-you-in-your-tracks kind of scent, whether a candle, room spray, air freshener or oil, can be a challenge.
13 Products to Make Your Life More Eco-Friendly With Barely Any Effort

1 month ago | wsj.com | Erica Finamore

These days it seems like every brand is making bold claims about using eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices. A quick shopping trip can quickly turn perplexing — which of the assertions are the real deal? We spoke with experts, including an environmental scientist and an environmental lawyer and policy expert, to help if you’re selecting worth-it, eco-friendly products. One tip we learned that may sound obvious but is good to consider before any purchase: Do you really need this item?
Why You Shouldn't Clean With Olive Oil (Despite What You May Have Heard)

2 months ago | realsimple.com | Erica Finamore

Photo: Getty There's no doubting that olive oil comes in handy for a whole lot of things. I mean, you use it in countless recipes, and even outside of the kitchen, it can hydrate your skin or help you get shiny hair. It's also been rumored to be an all-natural cleaning alternative to get your stuff shiny, and while that would be great (and we've even recommended it in the past), it's not really the ideal cleaning or polishing agent.
5 Cleaning Mistakes You're Making With Stainless Steel

2 months ago | realsimple.com | Erica Finamore

Getty Images. Stainless steel appliances are just plain classic. You can always find a good-looking appliance suite that comes with this finish, and they look right at home in a variety of kitchen styles (traditional, industrial, you name it!). Then there's stainless steel cookware, the household staple most of us have. You probably know how to clean stainless steel cookware, but did you know there's a wrong way?
7 Decorating Traps That Are Wasting Your Budget, According to Interior Designers

2 months ago | realsimple.com | Erica Finamore

Photo: Getty When decorating your home for the first time or undergoing a major reno or makeover, there are about a billion little decisions you have to make (and then equally as many to spend money on). Your budget can quickly feel teeny tiny, because suddenly everything seems like a must-purchase. It is easy to get caught up paying more for trendy pieces or statement features—but pause before you do that.