Author Archives: Nicole Clausing

These Are the Spots Locals Love in Santa Fe, So Go There on Your Next Visit

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

Don’t Make This Mistake When Decorating with Houseplants

So, you love houseplants. I totally get it—I do, too. But let’s be honest for a moment: The prevailing look on Instagram and TikTok would… Read More

This Stunning Secret Flower Farm Grows Across 15 Apartment Rooftops

Apartment rooftops aren’t usually considered natural spaces. They often have air conditioners, vents, maybe a rooftop patio if you’re lucky. But Joanna Letz’s … Read More

Meet the Woman Who Wants to Make Camping as Inclusive as Possible

“This is out of my comfort zone,” Delane Sims says. “I don’t like bugs. And I’m afraid of the bogeyman.”  Okay, all you non-campers… Read More

These Are the Most Beautiful Vegan Dishes We’ve Ever Seen

Not long ago in Sonoma County, plant-based, meatless, and vegan food was relegated to the hippier corners of the county. It was always there,… Read More

IKEA Makes the Most Beautiful Watering Can (And It’s Only $15)

When buying an indoor watering can, there are two important things to consider: One, will it be functional? And two, does it look as… Read More

Yes, You Can Make Mochi in a Microwave—Plus, Other Crazy-Easy Asian Desserts

Picture This: You’re in a hurry to get to a gathering, maybe a backyard barbecue or wine night with friends, when you realize… Read More

A Peek Inside Palm Springs’s Most Exclusive Architectural Community

Even the gatehouse at Desert Palisades is beautiful. With a dramatic cantilevered roof of patinated Corten Steel and surrounded by desert boulders,… Read More

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

Yes, You Can Create a Super Bloom in Your Own Yard This Year—But Hurry Before It’s Too Late

Wondering how to see a super bloom this year like the one in California’s Anza-Borrego? Unfortunately, that could mean waiting in a long… Read More

A Rare Green Comet Not Seen Since the Ice Age Is Swinging by Earth—Here’s How to View It Before It’s Gone

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) doesn’t have a glamorous name, but it does have an exotic pedigree and it’s the talk of the backyard astronomy world right… Read More

More Homeowners Are Ditching Gas. It’s Time to Flip the Switch to an All-Electric House

The road to a cleaner, safer, healthier planet begins at your front door. Research shows that homeowners have a critical role to play in… Read More

This Low-Water Garden in Sonoma Is Right on Trend for 2023

To declare that low-water gardening is a trend is an understatement. Despite the recent influx of atmospheric rivers, temperatures in the West are … Read More

7 Things You Need to Do in Your Vegetable Garden This Winter Before It’s Too Late

If there’s any time when I’m most likely to ignore my garden, it’s winter. Which is completely understandable, of course. The holidays take up… Read More

I’m a Garden Editor, and Here’s What I Always Do Before Buying a Houseplant

So, you’re wandering through your local Trader Joe’s or local nursery, and you think to yourself, Hey, I should get a houseplant. You grab the one that… Read More

This One-Pot Soup Is the Most Comforting Meal You’ll Make This Winter

Within months of opening in Seattle’s Central District, Communion became the must-get reservation for anyone looking for a fresh… Read More

The Houseplants That No One Else Has—And That You Need in Your Space

Los Angeles restaurateur Yuko Watanabe has an incredibly green thumb—her restaurants, Yuko Kitchen: Miracle Mile and Yuko Kitchen: DTLA are filled to the… Read More

How to Dispose of Your Old Christmas Tree

If the holidays are about giving, then January is about ridding. There’s so much to purge. The torn wrapping paper. The novelty socks. The extra… Read More

The Biggest Garden Trends Right Now

The holiday lights are still up, and New Year’s has yet to arrive, but I feel it’s my duty to tell you what the… Read More

7 Ways with Oysters for New Year’s Eve

After years of every day (and night) basically being casual Friday, wouldn’t it be nice to have a slightly swanky evening for a change?… Read More

This Ranch House Strikes the Perfect Balance Between Mid-century Design and Groovy ’70s Nostalgia

Treci Smith and her husband, Amir, live in a Southern California home that was never intended to be owned by Black people. When it… Read More

This Garden Courtyard with Mid-Century Vibes Was Designed Specifically for Outdoor Movie Nights

When Rashana Zaklit, the Hospitality Studio director at Gensler, a global architecture firm, looked at her Oakland courtyard, she… Read More

The Easiest (and Best Last-Minute!) Holiday Cocktail Party You’ll Ever Throw

Procrastinated and need some ideas for a holiday gathering? Look no further than these recipes that won’t have you spending hours in the kitchen… Read More

Do These Things to Survive a Natural Disaster—and the Aftermath

Considering the array of catastrophes that the West is prone to—earthquakes, wildfires, floods, even tsunamis—can be overwhelming. While it’s true that we can’t… Read More