‘Pull yourself together’ or ‘thank you for transforming my life’? Notes to homes around the country hit us where we live

Take a shot on your own or go straight to just-for-fun speculations about whose homes these could be

Forays into antiques markets and online auctions bring old-time flavor to a sleek and soaring living-dining space

Extravagant outdoor chessboards and built-in game tables add a noble air around the home

No need to haul cartons to Goodwill for a picture-perfect room. You can have a well-decorated home and all your stuff too

Chucking the builder’s floor plan, a family reassigns rooms to work better for their needs

Tricked-out cabinets, clean countertops and convenience top the list

Learn stripping, staining, painting and reupholstering basics to make bargain-basement furniture worthy of center stage at home

Mother-of-pearl walls set the stage for a Hawaiian paradise home that swims with laid-back glamour

Drop the paint can, step away from the brick and read this remodeling advice from people who’ve been there