Wow Home Idea

Getty If one person in your family comes down with the flu, it can take just a few hours for the virus to spread. Stop germs in their tracks and keep everyone healthy this season with these room-by-room strategies. In the Kitchen Getty Buy paper towels Ditch reusable rags, which can spread the flu virus around your countertops and give germs a moist place to camp out. Throw the sink sponge in the dishwasher at the end of each day, too. Use disinfectant Nearly 60% of refrigerator handles, drawer knobs and light switches test positive for the flu virus in a home where one person is sick — and the virus can live for up to three days. Wipe down these hot spots and other frequently touched kitchen surfaces daily. In the Bedroom Getty Keep linens clean Relegating an under-the-weather spouse to a separate bed may feel unkind, but it's your best defense against the flu. To keep germs from spreading, wash your bedding daily and dry on high heat (it's okay to put it in with the rest...

Michelle de la Vega The next time you park your car in the garage, it'll be hard not to start dreaming up an extravagant renovation plan after you see what one Seattle-based visual and performance artist did with a tiny, tired car port. Ira Lippke/The New York Times/Redux Michelle de la Vega acted as her own general contractor, transforming her one-car garage into a fully functioning, 250-square-foot home that's nothing short of a cozy paradise. According to The New York Times , de la Vega pulled off the whole renovation for under $$,000. The space now includes a sleeping loft, a bathroom, and a wood-burning stove, as well as furniture pieces that were either custom-built or salvaged, refurbished, and repurposed by de la Vega herself. Now, prepare to be marveled by this clever, space-saving garage transformation: Interior | Before Michelle de la Vega Interior | After Michelle de la Vega at her home in Seattle on April 12, 2010. Keeping exp...

Courtesy of Henry Aldridge and Son The story is familiar to almost everyone: 103 years ago the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic set out on its maiden voyage, before meeting its deadly fate one April night. Despite its well-known history, however, the infamous ship continues to surprise historians and collectors as new artifacts surface. Earlier this month, the Titanic's lunch menu sold for $$,000 at auction, and now, a set of never-before-seen photos of the vessel are hitting the auction block, too. Courtesy of Henry Aldridge and Son Henry Aldridge and Son, a UK-based auction house, is holding a "Titanic, Hindenburg and Icons of the 20th Century" sale on October 24, and included in the lot is a set of five newly discovered images of the ill-fated ship. Courtesy of Henry Aldridge and Son According to the Daily Mail , the images were taken by a businessman from Belfast on May 31, 1911, the day the Titanic was launched into water for the first time. The...

Pairing your coffee break with a stream of pristine rooms is kind of the perfect way to spend even just 10 mintues. And we since love a pretty space a little more than the average bear, we dug through our Instagram feed to find out which rooms truly make our fans eyes' light up. The photos' perfect mix of bold hues, soothing neutrals, and simply beautiful rooms certainly proves their popularity. It's too bad you can't transform your own home with a simple double-tap, but that one movement can certainly start your design-minded wheels turning. Take a peek at the favorites: 1. A Serene Kitchen ThisCalifornia home designed by Barbara Berry is a neutral-lover's dream, but the kitchen is especially jaw-dropping. (Also, we're totally drooling over that carb-heavy brunch spread). A post shared by House Beautiful (@housebeautiful) on Oct 31, 2014 at 9:03am PDT 2. 19th Century Meets Modern This 1896 Victorian, the kitchen situates a vintage stove and weathered bar...

These rooms prove that seaside is chic with bold stripes, weathered wood, and a classic red, white, and blue palette. José Picayo Color Coordinated Blue and white makes the perfect summery living room in a Hamptons house. The fabric on the sofa is Vizir in Indigo from Old World Weavers. Throw pillows by Ralph Lauren. Francesco Lagnese Inventive Curtains Because she needed so much curtain fabric — 80 yards — in a North Carolina sitting room, designer Lindsey Coral Harper used three inexpensive linens and them sewn together with bold horizontal bands of navy. Sofa in Cowtan & Tout's Crispin. Club chairs in Ferrick Mason's Lucas Check. Asilah Mosaic rug, Niba. Ngoc Minh Ngo Life Preserver The guest bath in designer Ken Fulk's vacation home "feels authentic to the period of the house, but also clean and modern," he says. Pedestal tub and fixtures from Sunrise Specialty. José Picayo Studded Upholstery Nailheads add spark to an upholstered hea...