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Showing posts from May, 2018

8 Clever Tricks to Keep Houseplants Happy

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Help potted plants thrive, whether you're home or not. Courtesy of A Baker's House Add a Filter Before you fill your pot with soil, line the bottom with a coffee filter. This will allow excess water to flow through the drainage hole, but keep dirt where it belongs. Getty And Don't Forget the Grinds When mixed with your potting soil, ground coffee, which is rich with nutrients, can help your plants grow. It's a smart addition to your compost pile, too. Courtesy of A View from the Pines Pile Pinecones If you've got an abundance of pinecones in your yard, layer some at the base of a planter. They'll help with water drainage, and help you use less soil — which makes for a lighter, easy-to-move pot. Getty Sneak in a Sponge Absentminded plant owners take note: Placing a sponge at the bottom of the pot will collect excess water that your plant can continue to drink if you forget to water it. Read more at HomeTalk » Courtesy of Megan Andersen Read Water Wisely

This Bar Cart's Best Days Are Ahead of It

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Bar carts have been having a moment (a long one) over the past couple years, thanks to a renaissance of midcentury style. As Pinterest will clearly show off, everyone loves entertaining with a cute rolling cart (one from the set of Mad Men will even join the Smithsonian's permanent collection). But, as with any in-demand item, these dining room accessories don't always come cheap. So when Stacey, the blogger behind Addison Meadows Lane, spied this little guy at a garage sale for two bucks, she pounced. As she revealed on Hometalk, all it took was a little power sanding and paint to get it into party-ready condition. Pastel and gold herringbone probably wasn't Don Draper's style, but this sweet (and inexpensive!) makeover sure suits us. Check it out: Follow Anna's detailed project instructions and DIY advice at Addison Meadows Lane and Hometalk. TELL US: What do you think of this makeover? More from GoodHousekeeping.com: • [link href='http://www.goodhousekee

The 11 Most Beautiful Castles in America

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Castello di Amorosa/Jim Sullivan Driving through California's Napa Valley, you'd never expect to happen upon a 13th-century Tuscan castle. But if you head about 3 miles south of Calistoga, that's exactly what you'll find. While construction on Castello Di Amorosa Winery only began in 1994, you'll feel like you've been transported to medieval Italy while you sip wine in its period-inspired tasting room. Given the deep-rooted history of most European royal families and the palaces that housed them, it's not surprising that the castles in the U.S. weren't exactly built for royalty–but they are so beautiful you'd never know the difference. Here, our top picks for the palaces, chateaux and castles across the country – and where to find them. Bannerman Castle Where: Beacon, NY Take the Metro North train north from Grand Central and you will probably notice the ruins of this castle in the middle of the Hudson River. Francis Bannerman VI, a Scottish-born

What's Next: 4 Home Trends to Look Out for This Year

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High Point Market, the furniture industry's most anticipated event of the year, takes place this month (April 18-23). The High Point Style Spotters gave us a sneak peak at the top trends we'll see this season. 1. Metallic "I saw a wide range of metallic finishes and threading at the Fall 2014 show. For spring, the trend expands and evolves with metallic finishes primarily in gold but lots of silver, bronze, and pewter," says Michelle Jennings Wiebe of Studio M Interior Design. "These finishes continue to provide a sophisticated sense of drama and elegance to any environment." Lisa Romerain 2. Blue " Pantone may have decreed Marsala to be the fashion color of the year but blue is the color of the year in furniture and accessories for the home," says Patti Johnson of Patti Johnson Interiors. "I see lots of deep and vibrant blue shades ranging from royal indigo to watery azure that are welcome updates to every decorating color palette this seas

12 Things Jonathan Adler Can't Live Without

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Getty It's not quite a rags-to-riches narrative – it's more a tale of mud to mogul. Jonathan Adler fell in love with the pottery studio as a teen at summer camp. Now his colorful, midcentury-inspired lifestyle brand has gone global, with 30 stores around the world, an extensive line of home accessories and furniture, and fabric and rugs for Kravet. The impish designer also finds time for the occasional decorating project, including his imminent refresh of the Parker Palm Springs hotel in California. "Design has gone from a sleepy world to a bacchanal of self-expression and creativity," Adler says. "It's a fun time to be a designer." Source: Elle Decor 1 Grace Jones's Nightclubbing CBW/Alamy My teen years were spent listening to this album and dreaming of my future in NYC. 2 Amangiri Getty I'm not religious, but if heaven exists, I hope it looks just like this Utah resort. 3 Barbasol Shaving Cream CBW/Alamy Pharmacy shelves are groaning with a

11 Icy Vacation Destinations for People Who Love Winter

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If bundling up for a big trip sounds like bliss to you, start with these locales. Getty Bavarian Alps, Germany Winter sport enthusiasts and snow lovers alike will find plenty to do in Bavaria, Germany. The area's many snowy peaks offer visitors the chance to ski, sled, snowtube, and ice climb. If you do need a break from the cold, just head to the spa region for a little relaxation and pampering. Getty Aspen, Colorado Aspen, Colorado is one of the most quintessential wintery towns in America, so it's no surprise that it plays host to a number of cold weather-friendly activities. Visitors can enjoy the snow and brisk air with sleigh rides, snowmobiles, and outdoor ice skating. Getty Big Sky, Montana Though Big Sky is not technically its own town, the community that calls itself the gateway to Yellowstone has made a name for itself as a winter haven. Big Sky is home to the most skiable terrain in America, so winter sport enthusiasts abound. Getty Chamonix, France Located in

Halloween Fairy Gardens Will Be All the Rage This Fall

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Life Is a Party + Enchanted Acorn shop via Etsy Fairy gardens and mermaid gardens have taken over flower beds and front steps everywhere this past year. Now that Halloween is fast approaching (Target already has its decorations on full display!), everyone's giving their mini displays a festive makeover — and we're totally into it. Think about it: You decorate the outside and inside of your house for the holidays, so why not give your teeny, tiny gardens a festive facelift too? The designs we've seen are filled with the usual miniature houses and chairs, along with the smallest and cutest pumpkins, tombstones and witches brooms we've ever seen. The blogger behind Life Is a Party, Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist, knows these gardens are all about the details. That's why she made little pumpkins out of polymer clay and scattered real leaves that she used a 1.5 cm leaf punch on across the surface. But our favorite detail is the tiny red wagon filled with pumpkins. life is