Real estate listing abbreviations are really helpful — if you know how to read them. Otherwise, you'll be confused, misled, and disappointed when you arrive at house on three acres (ac) that has no air conditioning (a/c)! There are a lot of terms to know when you're reading the classifieds, so try not to get overwhelmed if you're just starting out. The more you read listings, you'll come to know them like the back of your hand. And, if your mind just doesn't work like that, no worries, you can keep this handy list I've compiled in your back pocket. I've outlined the most common abbreviations for property listings for you. You may encounter some other abbreviations for contract, credential, and financing terms; you can learn the meanings for those here, or ask your Realtor. Feel free to add other property term abbreviations below, if you know any!

3/4 bath — half and shower OR tub
5/4/2 — 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2-car garage
ac — acres
a/c — air conditioning
ba — bathroom
br — bedroom
btsa — bonus to selling agent

There are dozens more where these came from, so read more

Roubini Rugs has just launched a collection of 26 rugs riffed off of the work of Milanese painter, sculptor, interior decorator, and engraver Piero Fornasetti, naturally called the Fornasetti Rug Collection. The rugs are hand knotted in fine New Zealand wool, made in standard or custom sizes, and available through Neiman Marcus or Roubini. If you're unfamiliar with Fornasetti's original works, you may recognize them from reproduced versions in the form of furniture and other home accents (baskets, vases, plates); they have a playful, flippant sense of humor, and in some cases are clearly inspired by Greek and Roman architecture. "Emisfero Orientale" ($24,620) reimagines Greek mythology of constellations in golden tones, royal blue, and vivid red. "Bacio" ($8,100) pays lip service in bold graphic design to Lina Cavalieri's face. "Ortensia" ($14,100) is a tribute to nature, displaying an over-scaled hydrangea leaf on a velvety black background.

Earlier today, the fabulous lanterns in Justine's backyard inspired me to post a Midday Muse about backyard paradises. Now, my mind is jumping ahead to Summer backyard parties, filled with great barbecue, fun friends, and lively discussions. And what better way to light your friends' conversations than with some beautiful metal lanterns? I've rounded up a few to give you some ideas.

According to Real Estalker, Willem Dafoe has put his 1,949-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home in Upstate New York on the market for $850,000. And the house is a one-of-a-kind stunner —as unique as the actor, who's known for his unusual roles. The listing reads:

The rubber house is a local landmark and one of the few examples of true modern architecture in the area. It was commissioned and built for the late choreographer Eugene Loring. Inspired by the enormous boulders and rock outcroppings on the meadowed acreage, soaring walls of glass bring light and nature indoors. The third-floor tower is the quintessential spot for writing or gazing and the space that was the dance studio is a great room that's ideal for entertaining.

The 1980s house looks to me like a steel battleship, but turns out it's made from neoprene (i.e. synthetic rubber)! I love the interior and the subdued wall tones; you'd never guess from the exterior that it gets so much natural light. If this house were in LA, it would probably go for at least $2 million — that's the advantage of living in the country, in addition to enjoying the beautiful wooded land and deer frolicking to and fro. That is, until a deer decides to run straight into your car (which has happened many a time to dear old me). Would you like to live in this rubber battleship?

When confronted with the challenge of restoring furniture, what usually comes to mind is a pricey re-upholstery or hours spent slaving away on stripping and refinishing wood. But, one of the simplest ways to update a piece of furniture that's seen better days or is not totally your style is to replace its legs. You can take a chair with metal legs and swap them for wooden ones to give it a more traditional look, or just switch out boring wooden legs for clawfoot legs to give a piece a bit more personality. I personally still think it can't get any better than turned wood, but that's just me. Some great sources for furniture legs are Classic Designs by Matthew Burak, TableLegsOnline.com, and Bing's.
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I'm always on the lookout for a classic console table to serve as a landing strip for my everyday x, y, and z, on which I can also display decorative objects and books, etc., on a shelf below. I'm thinking that the Pottery Barn Potrero White Console Table ($249- $329, reduced from $359- $479) might just be the one. Crafted of aluminum, with an x-base that I love, it's sturdy, classic, and stylish, not to mention functional. It's available with a glass or stone top — I'm not sure which I prefer. It looks great here used on a porch as a Summer buffet, but would also be at home indoors. What do you think? What's not to like, right?