I just use Google search with as much detail as I can think of. I was looking for a recipe, so I tried "Gardenweb+cooking+forum+annie1992+ginger cookies". It worked.

You used to be able to search in a particular Forum, even with Houzz. However, I noticed last week that they've removed that ability. Now, unfortunately, it searches all Forums -- useless in most cases!

In the past, if you went to a Forum and started a search, it would pop up with "in Kitchens" (or whatever Forum you were in). NOW, it just says "in Discussions" and then searches ALL forums.

As mentioned by SushiPup, Google (and other search engines) are probably going to be your best bet for searching -- but if you are searching for something that was posted on Houzz after it took over GW, you will need to specify Houzz, not GardenWeb. It doesn't work as well with Houzz, but it's often better than Houzz's internal search.

Personally, I don't understand why Houzz gets less and less useful/user-friendly over time instead of the opposite like most other sites do!

The search function hasn't changed for me--but I have to use the search box from the Forum title page, not an open thread.

Result:

Hey @mama goose_gw zn6OH, I would so love to be able to do a search within a specific forum as well. I just tried a bunch of times to search- starting from the forum title page and not an open thread, as you suggested. I see only the one main search box at the top, however when I enter my search term, there is no grayed-out option of a forum, only a grayed-out "in discussions" (which of course is different than forums :(

Are you currently able to do a search in the way that has previously worked for you? Many thx!