Brie Dyas

When it comes to home trends, you can pretty much expect anything old to become new (and therefore, cool) again. This year has seen the renewed popularity of '80s trends many formerly thought would never make a comeback, such as dusty pastels, light wood finishes, glass-and-brass furniture, and black cabinetry and appliances. However, Pinterest's latest report on the rising décor trends for 2019 includes one that precludes the current "Age of Excess" décor: textile art.

When you spend a lot of time browsing Instagram or Pinterest, it's easy to think that everybody is living in a home with large windows that flood the space with natural light. The reality is the opposite: According to the National Building Code, standard ceiling heights measure in at eight feet tall. While there is a trend towards building homes with higher ceilings, it's far easier to work with what you have than to move to a new house.
"Achieving a well-lit space in a room with low ceilings...

Note: This was sponsored content created for Visit Phoenix.
When it comes to cities with incredible natural scenery, few can compare to Phoenix. With mountainous desert preserves both in and around the city, you’re never far from an Instagram-worthy view. Though the stunning scenery is a big draw for this desert city, there’s another reason to visit: its rising culinary scene. From a three-and-a-half-hour dining experience from a James Beard Award-nominated chef to a classic Mexican spot, here’s a bite-size sampler of everything Phoenix has to offer.

If you’re thinking about moving to a fast-growing city, you might make a few assumptions about what it will be like. There will be lots of jobs. There will be plenty to do. And it will be super expensive.
In some places that’s completely true. But not all cities grow in the same way—meaning some high-growth metros are way more affordable than others. We dug into the data around jobs, population, development, and home values across the U.S., and we found that in the decade since the 2008 finan...

Yagi Studio via Getty Images
If you’ve been in public in the past year or so, chances are you’ve noticed someone breaking dining etiquette that would seem second-nature to any adult. Vloggers loudly chew or smack their lips (go to the 8:40 mark to see for yourself). A fellow shopper at the Whole Foods buffet samples the ingredients with their bare hands. The couple next to you at a restaurant’s communal dining table arrives from the gym, radiating a sweat corona...

NOTE: This is a sponsored article created for Citi.

If you haven’t yet explored Harlem, you’re missing out on some of the best food in the entire city. This community is full of time-honored traditions, where varied flavors mingle with rich history. Here, a plate doesn’t just serve up something delicious. Instead, it reflects the love and dedication of the people who call this neighborhood home.

NOTE: This is a sponsored post created for Citi.
With his restaurants Red Rooster, Streetbird Rotisserie and Ginny’s Supper Club, Marcus Samuelsson has become an integral part of Harlem’s food scene. However, he’s just a part of the long culinary history of the vibrant community: In this video, the celebrated chef discusses what makes this neighborhood so special, along with how he’s working with Citi to help celebrate the flavors and history of Harlem with the Harlem EatUp! Festival.

Note: This was a sponsored post created for NOLET'S Silver Gin.
Crisp, cool gin is the ideal spirit for countering summer’s heat. But for the most cocktail versatility, don’t just grab the first bottle of gin you see when shopping—opt for NOLET’S Silver Gin, which has delicious fruit and floral notes that pair beautifully with a wide range of flavors. In this updated take on the classic Negroni cocktail, NOLET’S Silver Gin bridges the bitter notes of Campari with the subtle sweetness of Prosecco in the most refreshing way.

Restaurant design seems like it'd be one of those topics that appeals only to industry insiders or those who want to location-scout for their Instagram posts. But there's a good reason to be in the loop: The decor trends you see now in "hot" restaurants are the ones you'll see in your living room in the coming years.
Besides, the overall look of a restaurant's interior actually does impact the experience of dining out. An interesting plate can enhance a thoughtfully assembled dish, dark mater...

What’s living in San Francisco like? Maybe you think you know, from visiting or movies. But San Francisco is a big, diverse place with a bunch of distinct neighborhoods, and living in one can be very different from life across town.
Whether you’re looking to buy a house or rent an apartment in San Francisco, you’ll want to know all about your potential new neighborhood. Sure, you can find out about businesses and parks with a few keystrokes, but there are some things you just can’t Google. Li...

After the last strand of holiday lights gets put away for the year, there comes the realization that winter will be here for a very, very long time. In New York, that means constant slush, gray skies and mighty winds that greet you every morning with an icy slap to the face. When fleeing to the tropics isn't in the cards, the next best thing is finding somewhere that makes you forget about the situation outside.

Those places? Restaurants with plenty of plants and living walls of greenery—basi...

NOTE: This is part of a video/article series sponsored by BMW i3. I edited the script to create the editorial direction and wrote the article.
What makes a restaurant stand out in a neighborhood filled with endless options? It isn’t just about having a great menu. It’s also about creating a setting that feels one of a kind. This is definitely the case at the gorgeous Loosie’s Kitchen in Williamsburg, the sister restaurant to ever-popular Loosie Rouge and the new Loosie’s Cafe.

NOTE: This is part of a video/article series created for the BMW i3. I edited/rewrote the script to create an editorial direction, then wrote the resulting article.
In the eternal dessert debate of cake vs. pie, we go pie every time—as long as said pie is made by Four & Twenty Blackbirds. Founded by sisters Melissa and Emily Elsen, the Four & Twenty Blackbirds bakery evolved from a start-up run from an apartment to a thriving business with four locations, including a pie counter at the Brooklyn Public Library.