Michelle Mastro Education: UCLA, Columbia University, Indiana University, Bloomington Location: Indianapolis, IN Michelle Mastro covers homes and lifestyles topics, especially as they intersect with culture and travel. Her writing has appeared in many newspapers and magazines. Before becoming a professional writer, she studied the material culture of Victorian homes in a PhD program.Highlights: 10+ years’ experience writing about and studying domestic spacesContributor to numerous homes and lifestyle magazines Experience When it comes to reviewing products for the home, Michelle’s most interested in how sustainable and green they are, while making sure they’re still effective at their job. She’s an avid news reader, routinely checking out the latest product reviews and staying on top of what’s going on in the home décor space.Her work has been featured in newspapers and magazines, such as Midwest Living, Architectural Digest, The Spruce, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Atomic Ranch, American Farmhouse Style, and many more. She is also the former managing editor of Victorian Homes magazine.Favorite Purchase:Her favorite purchase so far has been her Joseph Joseph Totem Max Recycling Bins. These came with carbon filters and a space for composting, checking all the boxes for her recycling and reusing needs. Education Michelle Mastro completed a BA in English at UCLA and an MA in English at Columbia University. She also completed PhD coursework at Indiana University, Bloomington, where she created two undergraduate courses. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.