MORIS MORENO / New York Times News Service The bedroom of 80-year-old May Baratta, mother of designer Tony Baratta, glows with sunny shades of yellow, pinks and greens. “When I get up in the morning, there is a feeling of joy,” she says.

What's Inside Home almanac / Design, garden classes Tide smells the moola in scented detergents One-of-a-kind pottery is fantastical folk art Coveted Tiffany box can still exert power Whimsical walls perfect for boy's room San Diego's sunny days Trade show blows the lid off the latest in toilet technology More Homescape

For 22 years, Joanne and Daniel Megna lived in monochromatic splendor on Staten Island. “Everything was beige,” said Joanne Megna, who was reluctant to change the decor by Ruben de Saavedra, who was one of Manhattan's chicest decorators in the 1980s.

• How designers put sunshine under the roof

Don't let the price of lemons put a squeeze on your budget – fight back with your own lemon tree. According to wholesale citrus tree growers, lemon trees are by far the biggest sellers among the many different citrus varieties available to home gardeners. The popularity of lemon trees is the result of two factors: The price of lemons has risen steadily at the supermarket over the past two years, and lemon trees are among the most attractive of all citrus trees when utilized in a landscape.