Entertainment
Alison Piepmeyer’s House Is Filled With Books and “Dramatic” Paint
Photos by Lyndsay Hannah Photography
Alison Piepmeyer lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Zach, and two children, Linus and Georgie. They bought their 19th-century house “in rough shape,” in 2022, and have spent the last four years fixing it up and filling it with knickknacks collected over their 15 years of marriage. “I remember watching Love Actually as a young married couple — a movie I don’t recommend,” she laughs. “But one thing that stuck with me was that one of the character’s houses had art up and down every single wall. I remember thinking how cool that was.” Take a look around…
ENTRYWAY
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Wallpaper: House of Hackney. Mirror: Target. Umbrella stand: Vintage, similar.
On a cross-country dream: I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and we’ve lived all over California, but I always had a dream of moving east. I’ll look back at my childhood journals, and it’ll be like, ‘I’m gonna go to New York and be a FASHION designer!’ Ha! Then, six years ago, I got a job offer here. My husband I lived in San Francisco at the time, so it was a big decision, but we decided to go for it. And it was the best decision we ever made.
Hat: Inside Joke. Hooks: West Elm, similar.
On finding home: We did tons of research before moving, then checked out a bunch of neighborhoods. We looked at the Upper West Side (You’ve Got Mail is my favorite movie). We looked all over Brooklyn and eventually stumbled on Boerum Hill, which is this small neighborhood tucked between Cobble Hill and Park Slope. It’s very cute but not ‘perfect,’ and it felt like we just fit.
LIVING ROOM
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Wall sconces: Rejuvenation. String lights: Brightown. Couch: Vintage, reupholstered in Sunbrella outdoor fabric (“Very kid-friendly!”). Striped chair: Vintage, reupholstered in Sunbrella. Pharmacy lamp: Vintage, similar.
On finding the house: This house, built in the 1850s, was another big leap. It had been on the market for a while because it was in such rough shape. My husband was terrified, but I had a vision, and he trusted me.
On a work-in-progress: Once we moved in, it took about four years to get the house to where it is now — we had to abate lead paint, fix crumbling bricks, clean out piles of dead bugs — and there’s still a lot of work to do. We think of the house as a long-term project that we’ll just keep working on whenever there’s time and money to do so!
Ceiling fixture: Schoolhouse, similar. Curtains: Pottery Barn. Rug: Custom, from AfriKesh on Etsy. Throw pillow: Lulu and Georgia. Coffee table: Etsy. White chair: Target. Checked throw: Amazon.
On a beloved, impractical couch: I found the fainting couch on a used-furniture site, and had it redone in blue velvet. Our kids are obsessed with that couch and always wind up bouncing on it or sitting there while drawing with markers. It’s also very popular with guests, even though it’s small. Whenever we have parties, a pile of people always congregate there, sort of sitting on each other. It’s just a very cozy spot!
On book piles: We’re a big book family, and we try to do things that encourage our kids to read as much as possible. We have no restrictions on reading, and I love having different kinds of books piled around the house that they have access to. And I’ve noticed, just having so many books around means that if they’re bored or looking for something to do, maybe they’ll pick one up and flip through it.
TV stand: Target.
On history: There are a lot of imperfections and parts that will need updating later. Sometimes I’ll go to friends’ places, and I’ll be like, ‘Ah, it’s so nice and modern!’ My house is layered with 150 years of people doing their own updates, like a bathroom pipe that comes straight through our foyer. But in some ways, I like that. It makes me feel connected to the other families who’ve lived here.
Needlepoint pillow: Furbish.
On a rough-and-tumble sofa: The sofa and chair are vintage, but I had them reupholstered with outdoor fabric, so now the kids can draw, throw up, or pour something on them, and they will still hold up! I can rub any stain out with a Magic Eraser.
DINING ROOM
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Dining table: ABC Home, similar. Chairs: Vintage, similar. Cabinet: West Elm, similar.
On going dark: Some people get freaked out by the idea of black paint, but — as my husband and I often joke — it hides a lot of sins. In an old house, it helps obscure all the little dents and weird cords painted into the wall. Growing up, my mom was always repainting rooms in different colors, so I’m not scared of dramatic paint colors.
On compromise: We try to eat at the table, but my kids are still so little that they’re jumping and dancing around the room most of the time anyway. I’d say we’re half-and-half — half eat-at-the-table, half I’ll-bring-you-a-plate-wherever-because-I-don’t-have-the-energy-to-force-you-to-sit-there.
KITCHEN
Rug: Etsy.
On squeezing in: Zach and I did the kitchen ourselves, so don’t look too closely! It’s one of those things that’s fine for now, but eventually will need more work. It’s quite small, so you can’t really have more than one person in there at a time. We make it work by splitting the cooking duties 50-50. The kids would love to help, but at this point, they’re more of a hindrance!
On framed photos of friends: I like putting up photos of friends and family so my kids see all the people who are important to them. Joanna and Georgie have a special relationship, so I hung this photo of them at the beach.
BATHROOM
Wall tile: Clé. Shower curtain: Amazon. Stool: Amazon.
On a shared bathroom: This is our only bathroom, and it’s on the second floor, so friends just head up there when they’re over. It’s the only room we renovated, other than the kitchen, so I’m glad we made it fun. Green is my favorite color, and this tile makes me so happy when I walk in. So far, we haven’t found that anyone’s fighting over the bathroom — Zach and I just shower after the kids are bathed and in bed. The only time it’s a problem is when everyone has to pee at the same time.
Painting: Etsy.
On a parenting style: My husband is obsessed with music. He has a Disney playlist to help our kids get out of bed in the morning, and a calming playlist that he puts on at night. During bath time, he’ll use a little speaker to play their favorite songs and keep them entertained. It’s not a parenting method that would’ve occurred to me, but it really works for him!
KIDS’ BEDROOM
Bed: Ikea. Rug: Ruggable. Ceiling light shade: HAY. Curtains: Havenly. Canopy: Ferm Living. Bed curtain: DKNY.
On sharing: My kids are eight and four, and they’ve always shared a room. They like it! They help make decorating decisions, like where the books go and what art we should hang. Georgie, my four-year-old, chose the curtain for her lower bunk — we call it her bear cave. I’ve also found that kids are DELIGHTED by character bedding, like Linus’s Minecraft sheets. He loves them.
Duvet cover: HAY.
On bedtime books: Linus, my son, is eight, and he can read pretty well. Bedtime is at 8 p.m., but he is allowed to stay up in bed and read as long as he wants (he usually nods off by 9 p.m.). I’ll always find the funniest books in his bed that he’s collected from around the house. It’ll be like, a David Shrigley art book and a cookbook. It’s so cute!
On kids’ art: I find a lot of kid-friendly art on Etsy. And if we love a certain children’s book, I’ll look up the illustrator, who will often sell prints. We have a big print of Last Stop on Market Street. I also love our washable rug — we just throw it into the larger machines at the laundromat down the road.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Mirror: Zara Home, similar. Sconces: Etsy. Bedding: Piglet in Bed.
On priorities: Our bedroom is very small, but we still got a king bed. My husband and I are very different sleepers — Zach gets super hot, and if I’m close to him I want to cuddle — so sleep is a LOT better if we each have enough space to ourselves. The trade-off is we have a bed that takes up the whole room.
Rug: Amazon.
On overhead storage: One thing we overlooked when we bought the house is the fact that it had no storage. We added some wardrobes and cabinets ourselves, but this room was tricky because it’s so small. One night I went to an event at someone’s house and saw she’d built a unit like this over her bed — which hadn’t even occurred to me! I’d never seen anything like it. I loved it so much I designed one for our room and found a local woodworker, who made it. It’s amazing how much stuff fits in there.
OFFICE
Curtains: Ikea, similar. Desk: Blu Dot, similar.
On clutter: My husband sometimes uses the office, but technically it’s mine — which is why there’s stuff everywhere. I honestly just like the aesthetic of a cluttered office, full of art supplies and ribbons and glue sticks. The more clutter the better!
Peg board: Kreisdesign.
On mess vs. memento: One thing I love about my house is that I can walk through it, and yes, there’s lots of stuff — but everything holds a memory. They’re things that bring me back to different times in my life and marriage: a trinket we bought at the flea market in Paris, or ‘Oh yeah, we lived in San Francisco when we found that.’
Wall planner: Etsy.
On nostalgia: Some people would say it’s messy to have all this stuff, but to me, it all ties back to our time together.
Thank you so much, Alison! We love your cozy home!
P.S. Many more home tours, including an empty-nester’s apartment in Copenhagen and a very colorful Connecticut house. Also, Alison’s week of outfits, and Alison’s Big Salad issue with her wallpaper before-and-after photos (gift link).
(Photos by Lyndsay Hannah Photography for Cup of Jo.)
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you’re a frequent flyer.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #994 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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Little bite: CANAPÉ, FINGER FOOD, HORS D’OEUVRE, TAPA
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Construction equipment: HARD HAT, LADDER, NAIL GUN, TOOL BELT
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Vacation emoji: AIRPLANE, LUGGAGE, PALM TREE, SMILING FACE WITH SUNGLASSES
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Things you don’t eat that end in foods: COPYPASTA, JOHANNESBURGER, KNUCKLE SANDWICH, LICORICE PIZZA
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for March 1, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re not on. your best behavior.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dressing down
The words are related to discipline.
Mashable Top Stories
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe ways to chastise.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is The Riot Act.
NYT Strands word list for March 1
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Braidup
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The Riot Act
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Scold
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Castigate
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Reprimand
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Admonish
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
Entertainment
New Scream Movie Is Only For Diehard Fans
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
In 1996, iconic director Wes Craven rejuvenated the slasher genre with Scream, a film that served as the perfect deconstruction of horror movies. Scream was ahead of its time in many ways, predicting modern phenomena like true crime obsession and paradoxical relationships. At the same time, it worked as a perfect scary movie, one that transformed the entire genre for the better.
However, Scream was delivering diminishing returns even before Wes Craven died, and the franchise later re-oriented itself around a new pair of leads with Scream (2022). Unfortunately, the studio lost both Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, which necessitated the return of original franchise icon Neve Campbell for Scream 7. The new movie is directed by original Scream scribe Kevin Williamson, and while it provides competent kills and fun moments for returning cast members, the sloppy plotting results in a film that only diehard fans will really enjoy.
Sydney’s Coming, And Hell Is Coming With Her
The basic premise of Scream 7 is that a new killer (or is it killers?) is gunning for Sydney Prescott, and they are claiming to be the original Scream villain, Stu Macher. Syd is skeptical and thinks Stu’s taunting video calls are just an AI fabrication, but the danger is all too real when her daughter and her daughter’s friends become targets for the attacker. Now, Sydney must team up with Gale Weathers and other returning allies, but even their combined strength may not be enough to defeat the one type of foe they have never fought before: one who refuses to follow any kind of rules.
The Stu Macher stuff is mostly an excuse to bring fan-favorite actor Matthew Lillard back into the fold, and his taunting video calls to Syd are easily one of the best parts of the film. Unfortunately, his presence is also evidence of the worst part of the film: namely, that Scream 7 is much more interested in wallowing in nostalgia than really building anything new. This is a franchise that once deconstructed the entire horror genre, and every movie was fair game. Now, the latest Scream is only interested in its own lore, and with nothing left to really deconstruct, all director Kevin Williamson can really do is play the hits of yesteryear.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
On paper, that happens through a loose reconstruction of the first film: Sydney now has a daughter of her own, one who is the exact age that Syd was when the Woodsboro murders went down. She’s got a slightly creepy boyfriend who likes to climb in her window for surprise snuggles and a group of hapless friends that soon become cannon fodder for a marauding masked killer. The police (including her dad, the chief) are helpless to stop the carnage, forcing these plucky teens to take matters into their own hands lest they get picked off one by one.
A remake (or requel, or whatever we’re calling all this crap now) of the first film works well on paper, but the essential problem of Scream 7 is that it can’t decide which characters to focus on. We start out with an uneasy balance of newer and older actors, but the film soon focuses almost exclusively on legacy characters like Sydney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and even Scream 5 and 6 veterans Chad and Mindy. While that leads to some great fan service for returning audiences, it creates one of the film’s biggest problems: we don’t really get to know almost any of these younger characters before Ghostface is picking them off.
Ghostface Is Back For More Blood Than Ever Before
Fortunately, the kills in this movie are some of the nastiest and most memorable in the entire franchise, and Ghostface is as viscerally scary as ever as he dispatches victims in increasingly grotesque ways. Accordingly, your enjoyment of Scream 7 will largely hinge on your primary motivation for watching slasher movies. If you’re here for killers looking cool (the kids call it aura farming) and pretty faces dying ugly deaths, this latest franchise entry delivers all that and a bloody bag of chips. If you prefer to get to know the virtual victims before they are transformed into raw meat, you’ll likely find Scream 7 to be the weakest movie in the entire series.
Speaking of weak, the reveal of the killer (or is it killers? Don’t worry, I’m keeping this spoiler-free) is particularly disappointing because the motivation for stalking Sydney comes out of nowhere. In the first movie, Stu Macher and particularly Billy Loomis had tangible reasons for stalking Syd, and discovering who the killers were felt a bit like solving the puzzle of a whodunnit. Like Scream 6 before it, Scream 7 tries too hard to surprise fans with the reveal, and this came at a cost: namely, the killer’s motivation makes no real sense, and it comes in the form of an exposition chunk so thick it threatens to choke the climax of the movie.
Killer Performances From Actors Old And New
Aside from the cool kills, Scream 7 does a few other things very well. The new additions to the cast are awesome: Community’s Joel McHale is weirdly perfect as Sydney’s top cop husband, and the character steals his handful of scenes with McHale’s trademark rogueish charisma. But I was even more pleasantly surprised by Isabel May, who convincingly gives Sydney Prescott’s daughter an aching vulnerability whose pain masks ice-cold reserves of hidden strength.
As you might imagine, the returning actors all do a great job, starting with Courtney Cox: her Gale Weathers is as fierce and funny as ever, and she has taken the characters played by returning actors Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown under her wing as journalistic interns. Those younger characters continue to provide humorous, Randy-like commentary on the violent proceedings around them. But the actor truly giving it her all is Neve Campbell, whose Sydney reluctantly saddles up for one last fight with the ghostly demons of her past.
When You Stare At The Past, It Stares Right Back
Ultimately, how much you like Scream 7 will depend on how much you enjoy the franchise as a whole. As for myself, I’m a superfan: I saw the original in theaters, I’ve listened to the cast speak at multiple conventions, and I’ve got a house filled with way too much Ghostface merchandise. From the perspective of a superfan, the film is decent (good, not great) in bringing back our favorite characters and wrapping up its derivative story in the bloody packaging of some truly innovative kills.
If you’re not a Scream fanboy, though, it’s worth waiting to catch this on streaming, assuming that you catch it at all. Kevin Williamson wrote the legendary first film in this franchise, but now that he’s in the director’s chair, he created a movie that only complete franchise diehards will really enjoy. As for everyone else, let’s just say that if Ghostface calls, Scream 7 will never be the answer to this franchise’s age-old question: “what’s your favorite scary movie?”
After capturing gold, Wild trio focused on Blues
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026
