To see the house before and after, it’s like night and day. No reno work was done; the transformation was accomplished only through decorative changes. (Okay, so they did get rid of one unnecessary door, but that barely counts.) Design and DIY influencers Holly and Brad Lauritzen of @ourfauxfarmhouse, Fariha Nasir of @pennies_for_a_fortune, and Danielle Guerrero of @ournestonpowell were tasked with redoing different areas of the house. And everything used in the transformation was from Home Depot....

There are plenty of reasons it’s impossible to keep every single piece of artwork our children create—let alone hang them proudly. Every closet would be full, every wall would be covered, and no one would be happy with that level of clutter. So, in an effort to save our sanity and their prized creations, we turned to the experts and asked: how can we show off our kids’ creativity without turning our home into the world’s messiest art gallery?...

That’s why we rounded up the inspiration you need to makeover the eyesore underfoot. Each idea shares how you can quickly and easily fake or create brand-new flooring without going broke. Here are seven fast fixes for frightful floors. Thanks to a spate of printing technologies that make it possible to print patterns on vinyl that closely resemble real things like petrified wood, or handpainted ceramic, decorative peel and stick products are more stylish than ever....

Klos has put together a multitude of themed children’s events and more—from a Cinco de Mayo fiesta complete with a burrito “cake” to an Andy Warhol birthday party for a 3-year-old—Klos has just about seen it all. Now, she’s sharing the tips and tricks gleaned over the years with us. Make a Plan First and foremost, Klos says the plan is everything. “I am a planner by nature, so I am always pretty prepared, but to me, the worst things happen when you are not ready for your guests,” she says....

To determine the bloom habit of your hydrangea, first determine the type of hydrangea you have. The most common types grown in North America are: Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), which includes the mophead and lacecap hydrangeas Mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla subspecies serrata) Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) Another determining factor for hydrangea bloom time is the local climate. In the South, an oakleaf hydrangea flowers in early summer while in a cooler location in the United State Midwest or Northeast, it won’t start blooming until later in the summer....

The Fuchsia genus comprises more than 100 species of woody shrubs and small trees. The varieties sold as garden plants are often hybrid crosses of selected species, bred for their unusual colorful flowers and amenable growth habits. In cooler zones, hybrid fuchsias are usually grown as annuals, discarded at the end of the season, though it’s possible to overwinter them indoors. Although they’re not a “plant-it-and-forget-it” type of flower, anyone can grow fuchsias with the help of some high-quality potting soil and a partly sunny site sheltered from the wind....

We turned to the experts to ask why leather is a great material to decorate across your entire home and how to best incorporate more leather into our homes. “Incorporating leather into your space is a great way to introduce your home to a warm color palette,” she says. “The undertones of leather play nicely with the oranges, greens, yellows, and reds of the fall and help to create a balanced look....

Bronze Bronze is created by combining copper and tin. Bronze anniversary gifts are symbolic of a strong marriage that is created by the joining of two different individuals who come together as one. Pottery There is much symbolism behind pottery. One thought is that marriage begins as a lump of clay that over time is slowly formed and shaped into something beautiful. Another interpretation is that pottery vessels carry water and other sustenance and represent the sustainability of the partnership....

There is a shade of brown for every preference and decorating theme, whether you love the weathered look of country decor or the sleek and clean contemporary vibe of minimalism. But choosing the right shade can be tough. Visit any home improvement center and you’ll be overwhelmed by a multitude of available brown paint colors. However, with all of the options available, the right shade is well within reach....

Graduation Announcement Etiquette You may choose to send announcements to let everyone from friends to distant relatives know that you or your child will be entering into a new phase of life. An announcement is not an invitation to the event. Take the time to word it in such a way that it’s not misconstrued as an invitation by following these guidelines: Send announcements a month before the ceremony if you want them to attend or a month after if you want them to be aware....

When rattan is harvested, it is cut into 13-foot lengths, and the dry sheathing is removed. Its stems are dried in the sun and then stored for seasoning. Then, these long rattan poles are straightened, graded by diameter and quality (judged by its nodes; the fewer internodes, the better), and shipped to furniture manufacturers. Rattan’s outer bark is used for caning, while its inner reed-like section is used to weave wicker furniture....

Trivia About American Robins The American robin goes by many names, including robin red-breast, just plain robin, and its scientific name, Turdus migratorius. European settlers named the American robin after the familiar European robin that they missed after emigrating to the New World. While both birds have orange breasts and upright postures, however, they do not otherwise look similar and are not closely related. American robins are part of the Turdidae family of birds, which includes roughly 180 species of related thrushes....

Use This Simple Formula For a more exact answer, we can use a simple formula. The stones used to build a stone wall, like crushed stone, stone dust, and many other building materials, are often measured in cubic yards. Stones can also be measured and sold by the ton. Use this equation to figure out how much stone you need to build a stone wall: (length in feet x width in feet x height in feet) / 27 = cubic yards of stone needed....

Even if it appears that the subfloor is dry, given enough time, it may still give off enough residual moisture to ruin your floor covering. Moisture is the core deciding factor in basement flooring. Basement flooring must adapt to these conditions. What is the best all-around flooring for basements, as well as for specific activities? General Basement Conditions Vinyl flooring, sheet or plank, is best as an attractive, 100-percent waterproof covering for basements that most homeowners can easily install....

Do note, however, that all such pest-resistant lists deal in probability, not certainty. Whether we’re discussing groundhog-resistant plants or deer-resistant plants, the fact is the pest in question will eat just about anything if starving. But you put the odds in your favor if you grow plants that pests are less likely to eat. There are many plants that groundhogs generally avoid; learn about some of the prettiest and most useful ones....

This style of chest is a 17th-century French design. You can find antique bombe chests, reproductions of the antique style, and occasionally a bombe chest that has a more contemporary look. When determining the style of a bombe chest, look at other features besides the curved shape for clues. A bombe chest with ball feet is more traditional, while a contemporary-looking one might have longer legs and have a brightly painted or more modern finish....

How Birds Lose Legs Depending on the extent of the injury it isn’t always possible to tell how a bird was disabled, but there are many different ways a bird can have a leg or foot amputated. Tangling: When thread, fishing line, balloon ribbon, wire, or a similar thin, durable string is tightened around a bird’s leg, it will eventually cut off circulation and cause amputation. This is particularly true if the thread is tightened so far that it cuts into the leg, or if the bird is young and still growing....

The cupped flowers of this fast-growing cultivar are a dark violet-blue color. There are typically eight overlapping sepals, which have hints of silver on their undersides. Reddish anthers (part of the stamen, where the pollen comes from) stick out from the center. Clematis ‘The President’ is considered a “repeat bloomer.” While it is still young, it may bloom in early July and again in September. But a mature plant should start blooming in May and then flower again periodically until the first frost....