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What Is Slow Decorating? “Slow decorating is the process of taking your time to curate the perfect space for yourself,” says New York-based interior designer Amy Baratta. Slow decorating is not about completing your home right away but allowing time to get to know the spaces you live in and determine your own style. While “slow” can easily refer to the speed of decorating, it also alludes to the greater intention and purpose behind acquiring pieces for your home....

Whole Wheat Bread Prepare as directed, except reduce all-purpose flour to 3-3/4 to 4-1/4 cups and stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour after beating 3 minutes in step 1.

* The added cocoa makes the cakes bake in a shorter time.

Coarse sea salt Food coloring

Gardenia Growing Basics If you live in the warmer regions of the country (USDA Zones 8-11) you can grow gardenias outdoors where they’re easier to maintain. Growing gardenias indoors during cold weather is where it gets tricky. The basic indoor gardenia needs are bright light, humidity, and regular watering. So try to put your plant in your sunniest window, set it on a saucer of rocks with water part way up the saucer to add humidity, and water it as soon as the top inch of soil feels dry....

See more perennial plant combos we love. Yellow Wax Bells Care Must-Knows Yellow wax bells thrive in moist, shaded sites. Plants can tolerate 4 to 5 hours of sunlight if the soil is consistently moist. This easy-to- grow perennial thrives in deep, humus-rich soil. When selecting a planting place for yellow wax bells, keep in mind that the plant matures to 3 to 4½ feet tall. Plant it near the back of the border where it has space to expand without blocking other plants from view....

Flowering varieties add extra color and sweet fragrances. Depending on where you live and the conditions in your yard, different shrubs can add evergreen texture, groundcover on a slope, and even more privacy by blocking street noise. They also help protect the soil from erosion and support wildlife with food and shelter. Here’s a look at various important characteristics to consider to pick out the best shrubs for your yard....

Where to Plant Astilbe This showy garden perennial produces spikes of beautiful flowers that enliven the garden and add texture to flower arrangements in spring and summer. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-8, it grows best in partial shade, although it tolerates sun as long as it is kept moist. How and When to Plant Astilbe Plant astilbe early in the spring in well-drained soil with added compost and a general-purpose granular fertilizer....

Bell Pepper Care Must-Knows Peppers are a warm-season crop. In many areas, they are one of the last vegetables to be planted in the garden in spring. Wait until nighttime temperatures are regularly in the 50 to 55°F range before planting transplants in the garden. Plant transplants 2 to 2½ feet apart in full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Peppers demand at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day to produce fruit....

Know what you’re going to get. Unique foliage patterns, such as mottled leaves or gold leaf margins, are usually lost when snake plant is multiplied by cuttings. A variegated leaf cutting will root and then new shoots or pups that emerge are usually solid green. A solid green snake plant is great houseplant; simply know that a cutting will not produce a replica of the parent plant. To get a new plant that looks exactly like the parent plant, division is the way to go....

What are figs? The common edible fig belongs to the genus Ficus, which includes hundreds of species throughout the world, with most originating in the tropics like popular fiddle leaf fig houseplants. Common figs, however, are native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, where they have been grown for their sweet fruits for thousands of years. Coming from more temperate climates, deciduous common figs can grow much further north than their tropical cousins and thrive in USDA Zones 7-10....

Today’s mustard yellow paint colors and home accessories provide warmth with a jolt of modern energy. However, Nivara Xaykao, associate manager of color marketing and development at Benjamin Moore, cautions that the shade requires careful consideration and expertise to pull off. “The color is very decadent, a stylish alternative to gold,” she says. “Using a bright, primary yellow is almost expected these days, but using a deep, earthy mustard hue in a fresh way takes a lot of finesse....

Canvas For permanent marker on canvas upholstery, blot the stain with rubbing alcohol until removed. (Test on an inconspicuous part of the upholstery first to make sure colors do not run.) Sponge with clear, cold water. Blot dry. Note: Follow any instructions on the upholstery’s label as well. To remove a permanent marker stain from canvas, rinse the item under a steady stream of cold water until water runs clear. Blot stain with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first), rinse, and air-dry....

Depending on the type of stain, and how deep it is, you might be able to easily fix the spot. Follow these steps for tips on how to remove stains from wood floors, including how to remove water marks and what kind of stain removers to use. Before you know it, your hardwood floor will look as though it’s never had a stain. Before Getting Started To remove wood floor stains, first determine what the ring or watermark looks like....

To start, you’ll learn how to roast garlic in the oven and get tips on how long to roast garlic (so it always turns out soft and not dry). We also provide instructions on how to “roast” garlic on the grill for an impressive addition to your next cookout menu. From there, put your roasted garlic to good use with our delicious recipe ideas. Step 1: Prep the Garlic Bulb Look for a medium to large bulb (also called a head) of garlic for roasting....

Some sections of old, unpainted shingles and siding may look darker than others. This discoloration is most likely caused by excessive tannins leaching from the wood and mildew growth. You’ll have to remove the mildew and prime the wood with a stain-blocking primer. You can prime and paint new shingles as soon as you’ve installed them, which is preferable since weathering can quickly alter the paintability of wood. You’ll have to recondition the wood fibers if you haven’t finished or painted cedar shingles within two weeks....

Pumpkin Carving Safety Carving jack-o’-lanterns is one of our favorite Halloween traditions, but there are a few safety precautions you should know about before you begin carving. These pumpkin carving safety tips will make sure you get through the spooky season with all your fingers intact. Most importantly: Always supervise children while carving, and always be sure to cut away from the hand that’s holding the pumpkin. Using a printable pumpkin stencil will help you make small and precise cuts, and choosing a soft pumpkin will make you less likely to cut yourself as you’re carving out a friendly face....

Since meringue and whipped cream can be tricky to deal with, we turned to our Test Kitchen for the best tips on how to store lemon meringue pie, chocolate silk pie, and all other cream pies. Also, check out our guide for serving cream pie so each slice dishes up perfectly for the family. How to Store Meringue Pie and Other Cream Pies Here’s the scoop for ensuring your pie comes out of the refrigerator as beautifully as it went in....