Author Archives: Nicole Clausing

3 Colorful, Vegetarian Mexican Side Dishes Perfect for Your Next Cookout

Bricia Lopez is a culinary force in Los Angeles: As a co-owner of the James Beard Award–winning Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza, she… Read More

There’s Slow Food, Slow Travel, and Slow Fashion—But Have You Heard of Slow Flowers? Here’s What to Know About the Trend

There’s an ugly truth behind those beautiful alstroemeria, dahlias, and roses we adore—80 percent of them are grown overseas and imported on gas-guzzling… Read More

3 DIY Small-Space Garden Ideas That Will Make a Big Statement

Have you ever heard that planting a small garden is like writing a short story instead of a novel? Well, I hadn’t either—until Los… Read More

A Food Writer’s Top Tips for Visiting Tijuana

Sunset’s Insider Guide series highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts. Follow along as we learn where to eat, drink, stay, and… Read More

This Is Everything You Need to Know Before Hiring a Landscape Designer

Ah, garden dreams. We all have them. You drive by someone’s front yard and gasp at how original, yet welcoming it is. Or you… Read More

20 Native Plants, 7 Timber Steps, 1 Oak Tree: The Anatomy of a Low-Water Habitat Garden

After 20 years of having a lawn that took, I wanted a yard that contributed: to the planet, to local animals, to biodiversity,… Read More

This Dramatic Black Colorado Ranch House Has It All (Plus, the Coziest Firepit We’ve Ever Seen)

When Stephanie Waddell, founder of Colorado-based Istoria Interior Design, moved from Chicago to Boulder with her husband, Greg, and her young son,… Read More

Is This City the Capital of Vegan Dining in America?

It’s time you reframe what you think you know about vegan food. And there’s no better place to do that than in Oakland. Read More

It’s Not Too Late to Plant Vegetables This Summer—Here’s How to Do It

When I first installed raised beds in my garden, I often felt like a dolt and mistakes were thick on the ground. I’d neglect adding … Read More

These Stylish Stools Are the Easiest Way to Upgrade Your Garden

The latest trending motif in design? Nature everything! That’s probably why wood and faux bois garden stools are everywhere right now. Yes, a stylish tree stump… Read More

Tinned Fish Boards Are the Tastiest Summer Party Trend—These Are the Wines to Pair with Them

Did you hear? Tinned fish is in. While it’s not exactly a new invention—originally created as a wartime food to sustain the French military… Read More

This Seattle Townhome Could Be the Future of City Living (Plus, Its Rusted Exterior Just Looks Cool)

The oxidized corten steel exterior is the first thing passersby notice about the two townhomes occupying a corner lot on Seattle’s Alder Street. The exterior,… Read More

These Designers Make the Most Beautiful, Radical Gardens We’ve Seen

The day I met David Godshall, one of the founding members of the progressive landscape architecture firm known as Terremoto, I… Read More

An Outdated 1960s Ranch House Gets Transformed Into a Light-Filled Home for Plant Lovers

In April of 2020, husband and wife Travis and Aubree Boul Gramberg, the owners of Koheid Design, a boutique landscaping firm, purchased… Read More

Do-Ahead Skewers and Sides Make This the Easiest Barbecue Menu of the Summer

On Thursday nights when the weather’s good, the back patio of The Dutchess, a restaurant in the sleepy country town of … Read More

This Is What We Wish We’d Known Before Putting in a Water Feature

Adding a water feature to the garden can be so exciting—not only do the dulcet tones of running water act like your own personal Calm… Read More

The Secret History of Guacamole in the West (It Wasn’t Always Pretty)

In the 125 years that Sunset has been covering the West, one recipe has appeared in the magazine more than most: guacamole. It’s a dish… Read More

These Luxe (and Highly Effective) Beauty Products Are All Made with Ingredients Found in the Garden

The hot sun can leave skin parched and in need of some serious TLC, so why not soothe it with products that are filled… Read More

The Best Home Stager in L.A. Wants You to Know These Essential Design Tips

I love the way Francesca Grace stages a house. I love it because every room doesn’t look the same. I… Read More

Drink the Issue: Sunset Wine Club’s Perfect Pairings from the 2023 Summer Living Issue

The wines of the West are an integral part of the lifestyle that we celebrate in our pages—and the Sunset Wine Club is the essence… Read More

The New Garden Lighting Trend You’re Going to See Everywhere This Summer (Bonus: It’s Budget-Friendly, Too)

With warmer weather finally on the horizon, it’s time to think about how we want to enjoy our outdoor spaces and if there are… Read More

Say Salud with These Great Tequila Drinks

It’s a little hard to imagine Cinco de Mayo without a party—but it’s even harder to imagine it without tequila. Whatever you’re doing today,… Read More

Don’t Miss This Week’s Meteor Shower—It’s Worth Setting an Alarm For

It has been decades since Halley’s Comet made its last visit to our corner of the solar system—and if you’re old enough to remember… Read More

Want to Replace Your Lawn? This New Garden Trend Is a Blast

Part of a garden editor’s job is to always be on the lookout for new garden trends, and when not one, but four friends… Read More