If it weren't for the rhythmic thumps of the tires on the expansion joints of the concrete bridge crossing the Amelia River, I might have felt like an explorer heading into new territory. But soon enough, I realized that I was just following the cars in front of me and…

When Mr. and Mrs. Perry bought their plot in Lakeland, Florida, they had no neighbors. The town's southern suburbs were largely unoccupied. The Southgate Shopping Center, with the atomic-era parabolic arch showcasing its name,…

It's all about the light. The decision was inevitable: of course, we had to buy the house.

Raconteurs like me revel in the darkest corners of dimly lit, wood-paneled rooms, lounging in chocolate-colored Chesterfield fauteuils under a …