Times are tough for home renovations, but Elizabeth Razzi discovers there is still plenty of new stuff to check out.

Once, she was a shy, sickly schoolgirl longing for a little adventure. Now Geraldine Brooks - foreign correspondent turned Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist - tells Janet Hawley how life became more interesting than she'd ever believed possible.

The time has come for the bathroom to step into the spotlight as a haven of relaxation, CHRIS WATSON discovers.

Can Jennifer ConnElly out-act Naomi Watts in the watery horror stakes? Phillip McCarthy REPORTS. DARK WATER Director Walter Salles Stars Jennifer Connelly, Ariel Gade Rated M. Screening now. Watch the trailer at smh.com.au/metro

JUST AS ski fashions have gone from the impractical to the impervious, where it is now possible simultaneously to make an athletic statement and stylistic point while looking like a speeding condom, apres-ski food and wine have become determinedly international. Menus at Australian ski resorts feature everything from risotto to..read more