Unleash Your Inner Warrior with the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Warrior Pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: WarzoneLearn MoreAnnouncing the Call of Duty Endowment [C.O.D.E.] Bowl IV Presented by USAA on October 5Learn MoreCall of Duty: Modern Warfare III: Detailing all Game Editions and Preorder BenefitsLearn MoreSupport Veterans With the Call of Duty Endowment Valkyrie Pack in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0Learn MoreExtract In-game Currency and Support Veterans in Loot for Good, A Charity Extraction Challenge for Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 DMZLearn More5 Ways the Call of Duty Endowment Has Changed the Nonprofit SpaceLearn MoreThe Call of Duty Endowment Wins Its 7th National Award for #CODEMedicalHeroes CampaignLearn MoreCall of Duty: Next: Announcing Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl III Presented by USAA on December 16 Learn MoreHow the Call of Duty Endowments Seal of Distinction Became a Social Impact BenchmarkLearn MoreSupport Veterans with the Call of Duty: Mobile C.O.D.E. Timeless PackLearn More

While we all love a big, beautifully decorated Christmas tree where all can gather round, sometimes limited space simply doesnt allow it. It also takes a lot of time and energy to set up and decorate a large tree. The solution: a small or mini Christmas tree that can be set on a table or easily tucked into a small space. Mini trees are also great options for those secondary Christmas trees you may want to have throughout the housein a bedroom, in a smaller sitting room, on a dining room table, or, our new favorite holiday trend, even in the kitchen. One of the best things about small trees, besides their petite size, is that with less area to cover you can more easily go all-in with a specific theme or color palette. You can also look beyond the traditional pine or fir tree and opt for a nostalgic feather tree, a colored tree, or a retro tinsel tree. If youre feeling creative and crafty, there are also so many fun ways to repurpose your favorite vintage treasures into alternative Christmas trees (the tart tins tree below is a personal favorite!). And, given their easy-to-work-with size, mini trees make for fun kid-friendly DIY projects. Regardless of the style youre going for, youll find lots of inspiration and ideas in our roundup below of charming small Christmas trees. Get even more fun and festive ideas for holiday decorating: 1Candy-Cane Colored TreeCedric AngelesGo light and bright with a white feather tree housed in a white bucket. Add bits of color with strips of red ribbon tied in simple knots and small pinecones hung with bakers twine. RELATED: 30+ Easy Pine Cone Crafts to Spruce up Your Home This Holiday Season2Rustic Garland Embellished TreeDanielle DalySkip individual ornaments and instead drape an airier tree with a variety of garlands, such as dried citrus slices, white felted or wooden beads, and red berries shown on this small rustic tree. Finish with a star tree topper. RELATED: How to Dry Citrus for All Your Holiday DecorationsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Pastel White TreeBrian WoodcockFor a scene that is more snowy winter wonderland than classic red-and-green Christmas, go for a faux white tree. Decorate with a variety of pastel pink and blue and glittery white and silver ornaments and beaded garlands. An ice skate themed ornament as the tree topper keeps on the snowy theme. Cover a round hat box with Tiffany blue-colored paper as a pretty base. 4Shiny Brite Tabletop TreesBecky Luigart-StaynerAdd colorful sparkle to a mantel, buffet, or dining table with a mini tree made of vintage glass ornaments. To make: Cover Styrofoam cones (we used 12- and 15-inch cones) with ornaments, attaching with hot-glue. Start with larger ornaments at the bottom, transitioning to smaller ones as you work your way up. Fill in any gaps with mini ornament balls, and top with another larger ornament. If desired, wrap the finished tree with vintage tinsel and beaded garland.RELATED: Heres How Much Your Favorite Vintage Christmas Decorations Are Worth TodayAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Festive Farmhouse TreeBurcu AvsarIf you have a large hearth, make a small tree part of your fireplace decorations. Here, a small live evergreen tree sits in a seasonally appropriate Holly soda crate (any wood crate or box will work). In keeping with the homes farmhouse Christmas theme, play horse ornaments mingle with red glass balls and twinkly lights. RELATED: 40+ Rustic Christmas Tree Ideas for Your Country Farmhouse6Bingo Card ForestBecky Luigart-StaynerYou will proudly display these cute and colorful mini trees made of vintage bingo game cards year after year. Place them on the mantel or intersperse them in your holiday table centerpiece. To make: Cut three to five half-tree-shaped pieces from matching bingo cards (with one edge flat and the other jagged). Hot-glue the flat edges to a 3/8-inch dowel, fanning them out to create a 3D tree shape. Finish with a bingo tile topper using hot-glue. Place dowels in tall wooden spools for easy display.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Old-Fashioned Country Christmas TreeBrian WoodcockThis mini balsam fir embraces traditional elements like a plaid bow, cranberry bead garland, and tartan ornaments, plus homey accents like clip-on faux candles. An antique stoneware crock serves as a country-style tree stand. 8Playful Wood Pallet Christmas TreeDavid HillegasPaint a green tree shape on a shipping crate (you can find em for cheap on eBay or at the craft store), and string up some pom-poms in varying colors and sizes to embellish the slats. Top with a gold pom-pom to mimic a star. Try propping up the tree on your front porch for a festive welcome. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Town Scene CenterpieceDavid TsayThis Christmas centerpiece features a mix of old and new decorations (including highly collectible Putz houses) surrounded by greenery, twinkle lights (try a garland pre-strung with lights), and bottle-brush trees of varying sizes.RELATED: 100+ Best Places to Shop for Antiques and Vintage Online10Mason Jar Christmas TreeBurcu AvsarWe love this idea for a mantel, or even open shelves in the kitchen. Fill half a dozen canning jars with ornaments, tinsel, greenery, and other Christmas accessories. Stack the jars in a pyramid, then wrap it with a shiny garland and top with a star. RELATED: 50+ Christmas Mason Jar Crafts That Are Easy, Pretty, and FunAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Rustic, Organic Christmas TreeBrian WoodcockA sparse alpine balsam fir channels a less-is-more mentality, while an antique copper pot anchors the display with metallic heft. Bird and pine cone ornaments and a dried orange garland hit an organic note.RELATED: How to Dry Citrus for All Your Holiday Decorations12Candy-Themed Christmas TreeBrian WoodcockA flocked spruce and ribbon-candy ornaments hit a nostalgic note for this small Christmas tree. The happy-hued handmade button garland and vintage candy-tin base add simple homespun charm.RELATED: Heres How to Flock a Christmas Tree, for Anyone Dreaming of a White ChristmasAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Terra-Cotta TannenbaumBecky Luigart-StaynerStacked in descending size and wrapped with a red and green garland (like this pretty felt holly garland), weathered terra-cotta flowerpots make for a pretty garden-themed decoration on a porch or in a potting shed.RELATED: The Best Christmas Porch Decorations to Welcome Your Holiday Guests14Twine-Wrapped Christmas TreesKim CornelisonDecorate open shelves or an island in the kitchen with a grouping of mini red-and-white trees. To make: Wrap Styrofoam cones with classic red and white baker's twine. Hot-glue a star cookie cutter to the top for a finishing touch.TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Flower Frog Christmas TreesBrian WoodcockFor a dash of holiday horticulture, stack these floral fixer-uppers. Hang mini ball ornaments and accent with sprigs of greenery.16German Feather Christmas TreeDavid A. LandSmall vintage glass ornaments are right at home on this antique German feather tree. Strands of tinsel finish the old-fashioned look.TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Tomato Cage Christmas TreeBrian WoodcockWe love this clever tree idea for a gardener! Head to your local garden center to pick up a tomato cage. Turning it upside down, tuck the top of cage into a galvanized bucket or other container, and secure the bottom (now the new top) with floral wire or a strong twist tie. Outfit your tree with shiny ornaments, add greenery for a lush base, and top with a colorful bow.18Candy Cane Christmas Trees BRIAN WOODCOCKTuck these sweet trees made of peppermint candies on a shelf or by your gingerbread house or Christmas village. To make: Bake three candy cane sticks on a parchment paperlined baking sheet at 225F until just pliable, 3 to 6 minutes. Starting from bottom, quickly wrap candy around a cone-shaped Styrofoam form, trimming as needed and repeating until covered. Hot-glue red hots to starlight mints; attach to trees. To make a star-shaped mint topper, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Grease parchment and insides of star-shaped cookie cutters. Set cutters on baking sheet; fill with a single layer of mints in bottom, breaking to fill any gaps. Bake at 350F just until melted, 5 to 6 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes; remove cutters. Hot-glue star to top of tree.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Tart Tins Christmas TreeBrian WoodcockRound up a collection of vintage tart pans, ranging from 2 to 12 inches, and stack from largest to smallest. Top with a vintage star-shaped baking mold and display on a snow-filled tray. 20Camp-Style Christmas TreeDavid Tsay, styling by Sunday HendricksonNestled in a crusty vintage minnow bucket, with felt pennants and arrows tucked in reinforces a camp-style vibe. (Archery, anyone?) TOUR THIS HOUSEAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

Kitchenswe all have em, but how often do you neglect whats underfoot, in favor of focusing on the delicious meals youre busy whipping up? Guilty as charged! The truth is, there are few features that spice up a kitchen like an amazing floor, so its fine time we start paying attention to it! Eye-catching design aside, your chosen floor (as with your backsplash, cabinets, and kitchen island) must stand up to the occasional chocolate cakerelated mess, making it essential to pick one that sits at the precise intersection between looks and practicality.Where to begin? Per San Franciscobased designer Noz Nozawa, you have to consider what kind of space youre working with. The first factor is where the kitchen lives in your home, Nozawa tells ELLE DECOR. Is it part of an open-concept great room, where there will be a very visible flooring transition between kitchen and living space? Is the kitchen in its own room? Then the balance of style versus utility really comes down to the people who live there! If youre, indeed, prone to making messes (err, happy accidents!) and thus prioritize easy clean-up, go with forgiving surfaces like porcelain tile. Craving a rustic farmhouse look straight out of the Strega Nona childrens book? Commit to gorgeous terra-cotta tiles. As ubiquitous as they are, I absolutely love hardwood floors in a kitchen. Theres something very warm and easy about them, Nozawa says, offering another alternative. But I also love large-format tiles where there are fewer grout lines to keep up with. As with most kitchen design elements, the modus operandi here is: You do you. Dont let fear of water damage or spills influence your kitchen flooring choices! the designer insists. As someone whose dishwasher has absolutely flooded my kitchen before, I get it, but try instead to make design choices based on the best life you can dream of for your kitchen space.Our list of 32 gorgeous kitchen floor ideas from the ELLE DECOR archive represent just this kind of mentality. A word of warning: Youre going to be floored. 1Mix-and-Match FloorsAdrian GautYou'll be seeing quite a few checkerboard floors in this roundup, but what's special about this onefound in a Spanish-style Houston house designed by ELLE DECOR A-List firm Ashe Leandrois the fact that it combines materials. At first glance, the tile is homogenous (aside from its contrasting colors). The reality is far more attractive, however: The floors feature both reclaimed terra-cotta tiles from Chateau Domingue and acid-washed limestone tiles from ABC Stone. Talk about a mix-and-match moment!2Oak Floors (with a Twist)Joshua McHughThere's something so timeless about kitchen floors crafted out of natural wood. In the kitchen of designer Kimille Taylor's Upper West Side apartment, timeless is not equated with boring: seeing as how the oak floors are painted with a custom geometric design. Tired of your own wooden floors but don't want to overhaul them completely? Whip out the paintbrush!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3'Unexpected Red' FloorsMaura McEvoyThe unexpected red theory proves true with this exuberant floor from Forbo, in the Berlin Red color. The pictured kitchen of a Maine vacation home also includes matching cabinetry finishes and a vintage pendant (by Paavo Tynell)creating a truly put-together, fun-loving, retro space.4Poured Concrete Kitchen FloorsSam FrostIn the kitchen of a Venice, California, Frank Gehrydesigned abode, industrial materials take center stage... and are instantly made warmer through all those timber touches. The room's concrete floors pair exceptionally well with the sleek granite breakfast table and its surrounding chairs.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Lava StoneTiled FloorsMatthieu SalvaingThis Ibiza kitchen, brought to life by Madrid-based interior design studio Casa Muoz, has us in awe. Sure, that patio access is great and all, but the glazed lava tilesin a turquoise hue imitating the sea beyondare the real showstoppers. Decking out the countertops in the same material is yet another way Casa Muoz outdoes itself in this Mediterranean tableau.6Classic Checked FloorsChristy KosnicIn this galley kitchen, courtesy of Washington, D.C.based design studio Third Street Architecture, a marble checkerboard floor is exactly what saves the space from feeling too constricted. The pattern has potential to visually expand your kitchen's square footage, all while adding an element of play to the whole setup. More exciting meals incoming!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Exposed Brick FloorsStephen Kent JohnsonExposed brick isnt just for your walls: Designer Shawn Hendersons rustic floors in the kitchen of his upstate New York farmhouse stand out against the bleached oak cabinetry. 8Out-of-the-Box Terra-Cotta FloorsWilliam Jess LairdIn a 1950s California ranch, renovated to tip-top shape by design firm Studio Muka, the kitchen isn't decked out in your average terra-cotta tile. Instead, the flooring is not only hexagonal but also reclaimed from the client's 16th-century family homea double whammy when it comes to building a cooking space with character.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Red-and-White Checkered Floors Douglas FriedmanIf youre looking for a French touch in your cooking space, take a page out of ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Robert Couturiers book. In this Manhattan townhouse, he paved the floor in a country-chic pattern of red-and-white cement tiles. 10Multihued Kitchen FloorsNova Soul ImageryWant to rebel against the all-white kitchen aesthetic? Do so with a quirky, multicolored floor like the one seen in this Reston, Virginia, kitchendesigned by architect TJ Monahan and inspired by the hit show Only Murders in the Building. The hardwood floor planks from Mirth Studio are in competition with the kitchen cabinets for the "most vibrant" award, but we're equally obsessed with both.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Dark Wood Floors Christopher StarkThis Bay Area kitchen, by Noz Nozawa, is blessed with sky-high ceilings (not to mention towering redwoods within view outside). Nozawa accentuated the height via white walls, cabinets, and ceilings but kept the look grounded with chocolate-y timber floors. Bonus: The vintage rugs add an endearing dash of color!12Glazed Terra-Cotta Tile FloorsKaryn MilletThe kitchen in this Spanish-style home, the residence of design-world insiders Joe Lucas and David Heikka, features glazed terra-cotta floors that were original to the house. The couple opted to keep them and simply douse the cabinets in a complementary bright blue. We're charmed.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Quartzite Floors Billal TarightThe creative challenge for this Parisian apartment, designed by architect Elliott Barnes, was to use a single material throughout the home. Barnes selected Vals quartzitea durable and luxurious stonefor all of the homes floors, including here in the kitchen where its smoky hue is in perfect contrast with the stainless steel cabinets. 14Blue Tile FloorsPaul RaesideWe love these hypnotizing Emery & Cie floor tiles that British design firm Retrouvius used in the kitchen of this London townhouse. Like Picasso, your floors just might need a Blue Period.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Painted Wood FloorsStephen Kent JohnsonLiterary couple Darryl Pinckney and James Fenton, whose Harlem townhouse is drenched in color, painted the floors of their kitchen in Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore. As a result, they're now in fluid conversation with those bright red dining chairs and exposed brick wall.16High-Gloss Black FloorsDouglas FriedmanArchitectural designer Sandra Arndt went bold in the kitchen of filmmaker and collector Dorothy Berwins New York apartment. A bubblegum-pink table by Sabine Marcelis pops against the kitchens gleaming black floors, creating much-needed visual drama.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Terrazzo Kitchen FloorsNathalie KragIts no wonder that a pair of Capri restaurateurs have a standout kitchen in their home, designed by Giuliano Andrea dellUva. The wall tiles are custom, and the hand-poured terrazzo floor was influenced by the late-19th-century Villa San Michele on the island. 183D-Effect Parquet FloorsEric PiaseckiDesigner Steven Gambrel, whose name is synonymous with vibrant kitchens, created a custom 3D-effect floor in this Chicago home with oak that had been ebonized, fumed, and waxed. Trompe l'oeils for the win!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Stone Tile Floors Kelly MarshallYou cant get much sleeker than this minimalist kitchen in the Los Angeles home of Mara Brock Akil. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Tiffany Howell opted to keep the existing cool gray stone tile floor: a move that matches the twin stainless-steel islands and Arabescato marble walls. 20Patterned Tile Floors Guido TaroniArt historian Carolina Vincenti naturally selected antique cement tiles from 1925 to cover the kitchen floors of her Rome apartment. Matching yellow walls (and a feline companion!) complete the sunny look. Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

The worlds premier trade show dedicated to natural stone wrapped up this fall after four event-packed days in Verona, Italy, and suffice it to say, it rocked. Marmomac 2024 drew more than 50,000 attendees representing every link of the stone-production chain, from quarrying raw materials to designing interiors with finished itemsand even beyond, exploring still-experimental applications for manufacturing, architecture, and design.Ennevi VeronafiereThe immense show comes together each year in the vast Veronafiere exhibition spacepicture 12 show halls and seven outside areas stacked with stone slabs, stone interior installations, stone decorative pieces, and high-design stone creations the exact identity of which might present a mystery but whose beauty cant be denied. The venues Plus Theatre was also home to the astonishing Walk of Stone (shown above), a riff on the Hollywood tourist attraction, composed of squares of stone from around the worlda magical carpet, as the projects mastermind, architect Giorgio Canale, put it, that served as an ode to the materials diversity of colors, textures, and finishes.Ennevi VeronafiereA crown jewel of the show is the A Matter of Stone pavilion. Curated by ELLE Decor with an interior layout designed by the famed Italian design studio Calvi Brambilla, the hall showcased innovative uses of stone in architecture and construction, home furnishings, and interior and exterior design. The exhibitorssome 20 companies from nine different countriesare all in contention for the ELLE Decor-sponsored Matter of Stone Award, as well. EffezetagroupThis year, top honors went to Italian limestone company Pimar for its exhibition La casa di pietra (House of Stone), curated by Gumdesign, which demonstrates the role of marble in our homes through a collection of functional, iconic, and poetic objects. First conceived for Marmomac in 2014, the exhibit has gone on to be widely shown, along the way adding pieces and evolving in concept to reflect sustainability and the ideals of conscious design. It made a triumphant return to Marmomac for its 10th anniversary.EffezetagroupSpecial mention went to the Portuguese company Natstone, for its display featuring stone-processing innovations including honeycomb technology, which allows for natural-stone constructions such as furniture to be both strong and lightweight. EffezetagroupMarmomac serves as a microcosm of the industry, bringing together manufacturers, importers, equipment makers, buyers, architects, and designersanyone and everyone connected with this age-old, much-prized, and endlessly versatile material. All were there this year for exhibits by nearly 1,500 major players in the industry representing 55 countries; a jam-packed schedule of lectures, seminars, and workshops, including talks by renowned designers Henry Timi and Ron Arad organized in conjunction with ELLE Decor; and ample opportunities for professional development and networking.The show, a confluence of art, science, engineering, and design seen through the lens of natural stone, takes place annually; Marmomac 2025 is scheduled for September 23 to 26.

If you have a nonworking fireplace at home, you might miss out on building cozy fires, but you can still indulge in the warm and comforting atmosphere it can offer. There are countless empty fireplace ideas that can transform this home feature into a stunning design centerpiece in the fall and winter months. Fireplaces are typically the focal point of any room they're in, and it's time to return them to their former glory. The best empty fireplace ideas honor their original purpose while keeping them both functional and beautiful. Whether you choose to fill the space with decorative firewood, an arrangement of pillar candles, or an unexpected artistic accent, were here to help ignite your creativity. Below, we spotlight 19 brilliant ideas for utilizing your non-working fireplace. Trust us, with these designs on display, youll never miss a roaring blaze again.Additional copy by Hadley Mendelsohn.More inspiration for a cozy home:1Feign FunctionalityRebecca LehdeThis empty fireplace idea involves stacking logs to evoke the charm of a rustic cabin, perfect for a lakeside retreat. Filling the nonworking fireplace completes the space rather than leaving it bare.Tour the Entire Home2Display AntiquesFrancesco LagneseTake note of this empty fireplace idea from designer Tom Scheerer who used one to house a paper fan. The additional wood is a nice nod to the structure's past life. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Keep It BareLesley UnruhRather than fill your empty fireplace in an already busily designed room, keep it simple. In this sitting room by designer Sarah Vaile, the fireplace may be bare, but padded hearth guards offer excellent overflow seating.Tour the Entire Home4Retile ItKingston Lafferty DesignOld meets new in this empty fireplace idea from Kingston Lafferty Design. The ornate Victorian mantel contrasts with the graphic tiled fireplace, which reflects the geometric cabinets. The cactus in the fireplace niche livens it up. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Paint It BlackNicole Hollis StudioBrick doesn't always vibe with sleek monochromatic decor, luxe natural stone materials, and modern art. Nicole Hollis Studio's solution was to paint over them with a dark or black color. This creates depth and makes the old-timey character of bricks more discreet. Do this if you want to make your empty fireplace look edgy but understated. 6Go MonochromeLeanne Ford InteriorsLeanne Ford painted this entire nonfunctioning fireplace whiteeven the decorative firewood. Then she warmed up the living room with pampas grass and cream accents. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Conceal the OpeningANNIE SCHLECHTERIf you want your fireplace to look like it works even if it doesn't, simply cover the facade with a classic black screen. This empty fireplace idea adds so much character to this country-inspired townhouse living room. 8Use a Statement ScreenJONATHAN HOEKKLOOr, make it pop with a decorative screen like this brutalist one. It conceals the empty fireplace but also spruces up the surrounding area. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Display ArtworkREID ROLLSIn this chic, texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork. 10Arrange FlowersFrancesco LagneseWhen in doubt, blooms are usually the answer. Liven up the drab space with a pretty flower arrangement, like in the empty fireplace idea in this Nantucket cottage by Jim Howard. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Fill It With Vintage BooksJersey Ice Cream Co.Jersey Ice Cream Co. filled this empty fireplace up with stacks and stacks of vintage books, complementing the rustic, aged look of the mantel. 12String LightsMike GartenJust because you don't have a mantel or a working fireplace doesn't mean you can't huddle up to a warm, cozy glow. Though this living room is decked out for Christmas, the string lightfilled lanterns could work all year long.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Add Natural TexturesKatie Hodges DesignGo the classic route and pile logs in your fireplace to give it an inviting and homey feel, even if you can't actually light them on fire. If you have reclaimed wood seats, flank your fireplace with them as Katie Hodges did in this empty fireplace ideathey'll accent the firewood perfectly. 14Store MagazinesCourtesy of Zeke Ruelas for Emily Henderson DesignsMagazine hoarders, rejoice. You finally have another place to store your latest reads. Take note from Emily Henderson and pile them up in your empty fireplace. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Make It the Focal PointLeanne Ford InteriorsYour impulse might be to draw the eye away from an empty or nonfunctioning fireplace, but this living room by Leanne Ford may convince you otherwise. "The clients wanted to elevate their space and I knew the full wall fireplace was an opportunity to do that! I randomly came up with this idea to do a tiered thing to it and covered it with my ever favorite concrete skimcoat," says Ford.16Display DecorJonny ValiantIf coastal style is your jam, try adding a large piece of coral inside your fireplace. You'll feel like you're by the sea, no matter where you actually live. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17White OutHouse BeautifulA smart and easy empty fireplace idea is by simply saturating it with one color. To make the space feel lighter and airier, white should be your go-to.18Have A SeatCourtesy of Tessa NeustadtStick a small accent chair in your fireplace. It'll function as decor and extra seating when you need it. See more at Amber Interiors.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Light CandlesHouse BeautifulJust because your fireplace doesn't work, doesn't mean it should be in the dark. Placing candles in the space will give it an inviting glow.

When Chandler and Jeremy Quarles saw the online listing for their Brentwood, Tennessee, home, the kitchen was conspicuously absent. During a tour, they quickly learned why. The kitchen was like a time capsulecompact galley style layout, original dark stained oak cabinetry, bright yellow formica countertops, and even the original oven that survived decades of family dinners, says Chandler, the lead designer of their Nashville-based studio Peach & Pine Interiors. It had remained virtually untouched since the house was built in 1965, but the duo knew the kitchen had immense potential to be light-filled, functional, and charming, says Chandler.The couple planned and saved for nearly three years before renovating the kitchen, along with several other rooms on the main floor. To open up the space, they removed a wall that divided the former dining room and kitchen. This allowed them to place a 10-foot, solid walnut island in the center of the room, and then line the perimeter with ample cabinetry built by Broken Compass Woodworking. The focal point became the range alcove, where a dark soapstone backsplash and walnut shelving add a moody yet sophisticated touch.Joseph BradshawThe Barcelo Cream marble used for the counters is a bit harder, more user friendly than many marble species, says Chandler. It has been easy to use and maintain! Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore. Pendants: DeVol Kitchens. Cabinetry hardware: Massey via Rejuvenation. Faucet: DeVol Kitchens. Curtains: custom, on Pottery Barn curtain rod. Wall art: antique.Near the kitchen, the original laundry room felt cramped and awkwardly placed, as it was in direct line of sight from the front door. So they transformed it into a butlers pantry thats a hub for all things beverages, making entertaining so much more fun, Chandler says. It has a door that leads onto the back porch, and it is the perfect place for guests to come inside and fill their glass or grab a drink from the mini fridge.Joseph BradshawThe new butlers pantry in what was once a cramped laundry room.Joseph BradshawChickens would have once occupied the bottom of this Irish pine cabinet from the late 1800s.Joseph BradshawAll new cabinetry lines the wall opposite the breakfast nook, including a paneled refrigerator.Joseph BradshawThe range alcove features adark soapstone backsplash and walnut shelving.Since the existing breakfast room that was connected to the kitchen already had big windows with views of the tree-filled backyard, all it needed was a facelift. They added wainscoting painted in Antique Pewter by Benjamin Moore and paired it with an understated Morris & Co. wallpaper, a serious upgrade from the orange, mustard, and olive plaid wallpaper they discovered under layers of paint in the kitchen. Fresh lighting from Visual Comfort completes the look.Joseph BradshawThe 1910s English oak drop leaf table was sourced from Patina + Co in Nashville. The chairs, an heirloom set from Chandlers grandparents, were recovered in Kravet fabric.A soft, neutral color palette fuels a sense of calm throughout every areafrom the kitchen cabinetry painted in Benjamin Moores Natural Cream to the Barcelo Cream marble counters. My inspiration comes from classic, historic architecture from the American South combined with a love for English interiors, Chandler says. It is designed for the present and inspired by the past.Related StoriesIn the mix of new and old pieces that achieve her vision, the antique kitchen cabinet stands out. It is an Irish pine kitchen cabinet from the late 1800s, and we affectionately call it the chicken cabinet, the designer explains. The [previous] owners would have used the bottom sections to house their chickens when they brought them in from the cold at night. Now we use it to store all the beautiful, decorative pieces that I keep collecting.Not only is the kitchen now a major selling point, but, more importantly, its a place where their family can actually enjoy spending time every day.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

The popular encrypted messaging platform Signal announced on Monday some new features coming to its users. With the update, its now easier to join group calls using custom links, so read on as we detail whats new in Signal.Signal brings new features for group callsAs announced in a blog post, Signals latest update adds a new way for users to join a group call. Previously, users had to create a group chat before starting a group call. Now with the update, users can simply create a link to invite others to join the call.To create a link, simply open the Signal app and look for the links tab. Then tap the button to create a new link. Users can choose a custom name for the link and even require approval before someone joins the call. You can also remove people from calls and optionally block them from the call so they cant join again.Another cool option is the ability to reuse the same link for future calls, which is useful for weekly meetings, for example. Signal supports group calls with up to 50 people.In addition to these improvements, the update adds some other new features. For example, there is now a raise button during calls so that everyone can see who wants to talk next. Users can also now react with emojis during a call. Moreover, the call controls have been updated to make it easier to turn the camera or microphone on and off.The new features are now being rolled out to Signal users on desktop, iOS, and Android. When it comes to iPhone and iPad, the app is available for free on the App Store. Make sure you have the latest version installed on your device in order to get access to the new features.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple introduced a brand new interface to its Photos app with iOS 18, which for years had looked pretty much the same. Unsurprisingly, while some users liked the update, others are still reluctant to approve the new app. But there was one very annoying aspect of the new Photos app that Apple is finally fixing with iOS 18.2.Apple changes the video player in the iOS 18 Photos appWith the third beta of iOS 18.2, which was released to developers on Monday, Apple has made a small but important change to the Photos apps video player. In previous versions of iOS 18, videos are displayed with white borders around them and users have to tap the screen to watch them in full screen. Now videos are always played in full screen, just like in older versions of iOS.The new video scroll bar and playback controls are still there, but the white space around the videos is gone. Now tapping on the screen simply hides and shows the interface buttons as it used to before iOS 18.Personally, I was never a fan of the new video interface in the iOS 18 Photos app, so Im glad to see Apple changing it. Given that the company is reverting to the old design, it seems that more people were unhappy with this aspect of the Photos app.Since the very first beta of iOS 18.0 in June, Apple has made a lot of changes to the Photos app based on feedback from users and developers. The app is now entirely customizable and its internal navigation has been completely changed, which has caused some users to dislike the interface as they consider it too confusing.Photos app in iOS 18.1 (left) and iOS 18.2 (right)During the development of iOS 18, some other more radical changes were also reversed such as the carousel with highlights that was scrapped in iOS 18.0 beta 5. At the end of the day, this whole story reminds me of when Apple tried unsuccessfully to introduce a major redesign to Safari and ended up bringing back the classic interface after many complaints.Its worth noting that iOS 18.2 will be released to the public in December.What are your thoughts on the new Photos app in iOS 18? Let us know in the comments section below.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apparently you can buy anything, if you're rich enough.Dialing InDuring his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just one day after the election, president-elect Donald Trump decided to include his number one campaigner: Elon Musk.First reported byAxios, this three-way call was apparently less tense than one might expect.According to insiders Axios spoke to, Zelenskyy was reassured by what he heard from the billionaire pair amid speculation about how a second Trump presidency will affect the United States' relations with Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion.One of those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could discuss the matter freely, said that it "didn't leave Zelenskyy with a feeling of despair."In particular, the Ukrainian president was heartened that the call happened so soon after the election, one ofAxios' anonymous sources claims. Notably, the Zelenskyy call occurred days before Trump spoke to Putin and during that exchange, which seems to have happened without Musk, he advised his Russian counterpart not to escalate his years-long incursion in Ukraine.From Russia With LoveDuring the 25-minute call, Musk told the Ukrainian leader that he'd continue supporting Ukraine via Starlink satellite. That reassurance was also likely welcome to Zelenskyy following reports last month indicating that Russian forces were using Ukraine's Starlink access to their own ends.It's also curious that the South African-born technocrat was put on the call given that just a few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had been having secret phone calls with Putin since late 2022 the same year Russia invaded Ukraine.During those chats, Putin purportedly asked Musk not to provide Starlink access to Taiwan at the behest of Chinese President Xi Jinping and given that the disputed country still doesn't have Starlink, it appears that the billionaire acquiesced.It doesn't appear that those clandestine chats were discussed during the relatively brief call between Trump, Musk, and Zelenskyy. Nevertheless, we'd love to hear what the trio did talk about.Share This Article

They could be making rainstorms fewer and worse, too. Cloudy SkiesMicroplastics may literally be changing the weather.In a press release, Penn State saysthat its environmental researchers have found evidence that microplastics may help in the formation of the ice crystals around which rain droplets form, essentially "seeding" clouds unintentionally.Published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology: Air, this new lab-based study saw Penn State researchers place four different types of microplastics low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in small droplets of water, allowing them to cool slowly to see how they affected the freezing process.The results? The droplets with microplastics in them produced ice crystals between nine and 18 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than those without, demonstrating that rain-producing ice crystals can form at warmer temperatures with these inorganic particulates than without them.Translation: with microplastics changing the way rain forms, they may well be changing weather patterns too.Heavy RainMicroplastics keep being detected everywhere scientists look, from the penises of living humans to buried archeological treasure. This new study may aid how we understand these harmful particulates, and how they seem to be so ubiquitous."Throughout the past two decades of research into microplastics, scientists have been finding that they're everywhere, so this is another piece of that puzzle," said Penn State chemistry professor Miriam Freedman, the senior author of the new paper.As Freedman explains, atmospheric microplastics could both make it rain less and also make it rain heavier."In a polluted environment with many more aerosol particles, like microplastics, you are distributing the available water among many more aerosol particles, forming smaller droplets around each of those particles," the professor explained. "When you have more droplets, you get less rain, but because droplets only rain once they get large enough, you collect more total water in the cloud before the droplets are large enough to fall and, as a result, you get heavier rainfall when it comes."Though this isn't the first study to posit that there are microplastics in the clouds, this study offers more evidence than ever that they may be changing the weather for the worse."Its now clear that we need to have a better understanding of how they're interacting with our climate system," Freedman said, "because weve been able to show that the process of cloud formation can be triggered by microplastics."More on microplastics: Microplastics Likely Causing Wave of Cancer in Young PeopleShare This Article