Transform raw wood for custom-looking cabinetry with a stain that fills your need for color but lets the grain show through

Raw wood, natural light, shiplap siding — we just couldn’t get enough of these farmhouse-style kitchens uploaded to Houzz in January

A bold color palette zaps life into a Santa Cruz, California, home built out of two streetcars from the early 1920s

Deeper and richer than any stain, aniline dye gives wood stunningly deep color and a long-lasting finish

Learn about durability, looks, cost and more for wooden cabinet finishes to make the right choice for your kitchen

Banish blotches the safe way with pantry staples, to get your rugs looking as clean as the day they came home

Know the right solutions and when to use them to prevent stains from pets, soda, chocolate, blood and more

Caution: Do not try these at home

Get a look that’s totally you — and possibly for a lower cost than you might think

Ethan Waldman quit his job, left his large house and spent $42,000 to build a 200-square-foot home that costs him $100 a month to live in