July 2017

DONE AND DONE

Several months back we conducted focus groups with our readers in several cities to hear what they think shout Better Homes & Gardens magazine. One of my takeaways was how many people keep at least two or three home improvement projects going at any given time. I remember the joyful way one mom in Atlanta described rotating through her weekend tasks.

BHGCELEBRATE

PEONY TRIO

WHAT'S TRENDING ON BHG.COM

OBSESSED WITH NAUTICAL

Ride this summer's seafaring wave with a crisp new take on an old genre: think The Official Preppy Handbook meets Moby-Dick. Classic maritime motifs-- anchors, knots, signal flags-- are uncomplicated, supersized, and celebrated for their graphic punch.

GOLDEN YELLOW

The color of sunflowers and buttercups, this saturated hue captures the sun-drenched glow of summer. Gray undertones, rather than white, give it an intensity that pairs well with primary colors.

DIY DRAMA

An Atlanta-area homeowner pulls off some decorating theatrics (hello, black ceilings!) to make a no-frills home live beautifully.

HEADS UP

Make your bed... and your headboard, too. You'll rest easy knowing each of these dreamy DIY designs starts with a single sheet of plywood and costs less than $100.

Dive into summer

Charleston event planner Calder Clark threw this birthday bash for her son's fifth. Borrow her ideas for a playful, kid-friendly shindig-- with or without a pool.

DESIGNING WOMAN

A Seattle entrepreneur treats herself to a light-filled home office for running her textile business, plus a super-organized workshop you'd never guess was her garage.

June & DECEMBER

Plucking inspiration from their garden, a husband-and-wife duo launches a line of botanical stationery and textiles from their Michigan dining room.

Vintage couture

Armed with online shopping savvy, a blogger from Missouri masters romantic vintage style on a modest budget.

Make sparks fly

Bring the fireworks to your front door with some easy red, white, and blue DIYs. No pyrotechnics required.

I DID IT!

What began in 2007 as a spotlight on readers and their projects has become one of our most popular regular features. To celebrate our DIY decade, we caught up with a few doers from the past. No surprise-- they "did it" again.

Jewel box garden

An eye-catching mix of materials and low-maintenance plants ensures this compact yard is all play and no work.

CALADIUMS

Brighten shady spots with the addition of caladiums-- now available in all-new colors, patterns, and habits, thanks to breakthroughs in modern breeding.

ENLIGHTENED LAWNS

GROWING A HEALTHY LAWN REQUIRES A CHANGE IN HABITS... AND MIND-SET.

Armchair inspiration

Gardeners spend much of the summer biding their time. A shelfful of handsome new books will tide them over.

GAME ON

GRAB A PADDLE, A PLATE, OR A PAGE-TURNER. THIS RENOVATED CALIFORNIA PORCH IS MADE TO SUIT ALL MOODS (AND PING-PONG SKILL LEVELS).

DYED & TRUE

A TEXTILE ARTIST'S BACKYARD BRIMS WITH THE PLANTS SHE USES TO MAKE A RAINBOW OF NATURAL-FIBER DYES.

ICE CREAM MAKERS

Homemade ice cream in minutes? Absolutely. Here's the scoop from our Test Kitchen. If you're a hands-on person, stir and swirl up a dish in one of the new freeze-and-fold models. If you're a button pusher, give an electric model a whirl for a bowl with the just-right texture of your choice.

Better

The giver gets a 45% greater emotional benefit than the receiver. Research shows that kindness is a prominent trait in happy marriages. Even the smallest thing-- like picking up a coffee for him on your latte run-- counts.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

A full family vacation experience in 48 hours? Yes! These locales pack in plenty of fun and relaxation to make the most of a short time.

BH&G throwback 1968 CRAFTING SPACE

Closet, corner, or crafts room-- organize a space to foster your creativity.