Erica Finamore

New York

Home Director at Real Simple

Articles

42 Best Father's Day Gifts on Amazon Dad Will Love

1 week ago | foodnetwork.com | Erica Finamore

Dads have the amazing ability to be there for us when we need them most, always have a corny joke at the ready, and, if they’re foodies, keep our bellies full and fridges stocked. In short, they’re miracle workers and totally worthy of celebrating every day but especially on Father’s Day. Dads are notoriously hard to shop for because they rarely tell you what they want, but there are plenty of gifts they’ll love that are both fun and functional that they’re sure to love.
35 Best Gift Ideas for Teachers

1 month ago | foodnetwork.com | Erica Finamore

Let's face it: Teachers deserve a gift every day of the year. They care for, teach and inspire our kids, and that is no easy task. So when the holidays or Teacher Appreciation Week rolls around, of course, you want to treat them to something nice.
A Beige Kitchen Goes from Boring to Bright in Just 3 Months

2 months 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

Mar 8, 2025 | 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)

Feb 1, 2025 | 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

Jan 31, 2025 | 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?