Design

Ranch style homes have a lot of appeal, but after more than 50 years of existence, they can also bring a lot of baggage. If you’re lucky, your ranch home may only need some pick-me-ups to make it perfect. If you’re not quite as lucky, you may have layers of renovations and home improvements concealing its beauty. So what are some quick fixes to opening up your ranch home? Whether you have a big budget or just want to start small, here are Nook’s tips to taking advantage of that indoor/outdoor, open layout we know and love about the Ranch style.

Ranch Renovation Tips

• When in doubt, remove a wall. If a Ranch home does not allow air and light to move freely throughout, it's not doing its job. Do you really need a separate dining area? We

Gardens often bring to mind lush landscapes of flowers bursting out of planters and urns. We often see row after row of one flower or vegetable planted in neat little patterns with gently manicured grass along the paths. Some love the carefully thought out geometric shapes and some love a more wild showing. Some go so far as to theme out their outdoor spaces, creating fairy homes and herbal tea gardens, or going all out enchanted into a Disney dreamscape. For someone who dreams of living in a hobbit hole, these garden designs feel right at home.

Yet, there’s such an appeal to the more modern design for gardens which serve a function, putting people first, then plants. If you’re a fan of the modern style of architecture’s clean lines and meticulous use

I first met Rhiannon Gillis when she initiated a Meetup for Eastside Los Angeles “Mom-treprenuers,” creating a community of support that exists to this day. She followed her dream of creating an interior design firm where everyone feels comfortable, no matter their knowledge of design or budget. It’s been lovely to watch her business grow, now with a physical location in North East Los Angeles. Don’t get down if you’re not in the area though; she also provides virtual décor services. I was thrilled that she agreed to answer some questions for our site.

Nook: What's your philosophy behind Amber and Honey Design Co.?

Rhiannon Gillis: I firmly believe all people should love their home. I have worked with clients of all types, and I think it should

I know I’m not the only one. I look at these beautiful homes - mid century modern, next century modern, lofts - and have to wonder: Where do they store all their stuff?

I know that simplicity is elegance, a clean look is a stylish one. I am very aware that the photos I see are usually staged, and perhaps cleared just before the professional swoops in to show just how majestic your potential new home looks without the random jacket here, or phone charging cable there.

I also know people who legitimately live in spaces as stunning and crisp as you’ll find when you Search With Style©. So how do they do it? I scoured the wilds of storage spaces to find just the right possibilities for you.

• Option 1: Hide it. Sewing chairs bring a certain amount

When Nook Sales Experts match a buyer with their dream home, the only thing as important as architectural style is the neighborhood. Today we look at the plants who've turned our neighborhoods into sustainable, magical gardens.

It took me a long time to commune with succulents. I'm originally a New England gal, so if you can't drop all your leaves in October and be bursting with green by May, I don't know if I can trust you. Sure, I'd walk my dog past those Dr. Seuss looking gardens and wonder if they were real or plastic. I'd gingerly touch buds to see if they sting like a cactus. In the early 2000s when I moved to California, however, succulents were still an exception to landscaping, not the rule.

Now, succulents have proven they serve our