August 2017

A PLACE TO BE

In what room do you spend most of your waking hours at home? Growing up, our family of six lived primarily in the den. Down the hall was a formal living room that was rarely used, except for receiving guests we didn't know well, practicing the piano, and decorating the Christmas tree. Its gilded 1970s version of Louis XV furniture-- a couch and two chairs-- were barely sat in and remained from the early '70s until we sold the house this year.

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OBSESSED WITH GRAPHIC GAMES

Tease your brain and your senses with designer twists on traditional board games. Beloved classics like dominoes and checkers recast in splashy palettes and vintage-inspired cases up the style ante on game night, inside or outside.

Kids' stuff

The three design-savvy women behind Dallas shop Madre are on a mission to ditch cookie-cutter kid decor in favor of stylish spaces with staying power.

DELFT BLUE

This vibrant shade of blue is a favorite around the globe, from the shores of New England to the palaces of India and beyond. Pair it with white for can't-go-wrong style rooted in history, like the blue-and-white delft pottery from which it gets its name.

Go to your ROOM

An adventurous spirit, a creative type, or simply one-of-a-kind: Your child deserves a room uniquely suited to their personality and interests.

Outside in

Realizing their yard had more potential than an addition to their 1,195-square-foot home would, a couple start their renovation outdoors.

I did it!

A special request from the birthday girl led this mom to a sweet little project: a treat stand made from wood scraps and leftover paint-- with lots of hands-on help.

SUPPLY & DEMAND

Part craft room, part mini office, part household toolbox-- all neat and organized. This can-do closet puts all the little things at your fingertips.

PUNCH LIST

This month's home upgrades: stylish ways to open your front door, a handy surface for notes, and a device to help you avoid water damage.

IT'S SHOW TIME

Skip the theater, and cue up the latest in at-home tech and streaming apps for a neighborhood movie night. Coming soon to a backyard near you.

PHOTO ops

Thanks to smartphones, our well-lived lives are well-documented. Get pictures off your camera roll and into your hands with these favorite new printing services and products.

Backyard hideaway

The shed has been promoted from tool storage to a private space for hobbies and hanging out. Create your own dreamy retreat using these 10 ideas.

Garden SMART

An Oregon backyard proves just how beautiful sustainable practices can be, even in a small space.

Kinder gardening

Nurture the next generation of green thumbs with cool new products sure to get them digging in the dirt.

HARDY HIBISCUS

The enormous blooms of these exotic, easy perennials give gardens in our temperate climates a tropical touch.

BLOOMERANG DARK PURPLE SYRINGA

DIAMOND ROUGE HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

The storyteller

If these walls could talk... actually, at Grace Mitchell's house, they do. Every paint color, every stick of furniture, every accessory speaks to the soul of the family living here and the passion of the creative mom who pulled it all together.

Dahlias!

Thanks to a new generation of growers and floral Instagrammers, these colorfully diverse flowers are feeling the love. Here are five reasons why we think dahlias are worth all the adulation.

LIVING LAID-BACK & DOWN UNDER

Stylist Kristin Rawson's home near Sydney models a particularly Aussie brand of effortless style: minimal but warm, relaxed but tidy, family-friendly and completely pulled together. We took notes.

VEGGIE TOOLS

August's bumper crop brings veggie-centric dishes to the table: grated corn relish, shaved cucumber salad, spiralized zucchini pasta. Our Test Kitchen's favorite picks give you a (cutting) edge creating a summer spread.

Better

Reasons to celebrate this juicy fruit; A 1-inch slice is just 86 calories and high in vitamins A, B6, and C, plus heart-healthy lycopene. Try it chopped into salsa, blended into gazpacho, or frozen in a granita.

ORGANIZE YOUR HEALTH RECORDS

Don't wait until there's a medical emergency to scramble to collect your history. Here's how to get everything in order.

TRAVEL SMART

Before you head off on a family vacation, arm yourself with these strategies to deal with any pitfalls that may come your way.

BH&G throwback 1939 PET GEAR

Spoil your pets with colorful-- and practical-- accessories that you'll love as much as they do.