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Multiple configurations abound, and with enough time and imagination, you’ll find just the perfect set-up to make your kitchen the one that everyone will remember. One secret to effective island seating arrangement is to remember to leave 32 inches behind diners (to pull chairs in or out) and 15 inches on each side between diners for elbow room. One downside is that you cut into your kitchen workspace. In the case of this featured kitchen island, its only work functions are as a general food prep area—leaving much room for dining....

Hardy perennial geraniums shrug off cold winters, with many hardy to zone 3. Pests generally pass over hardy geraniums, so no chemical sprays are needed. Plants have a long bloom season, and the lobed foliage is attractive even out of bloom. Plus, hardy geraniums don’t demand frequent division, and, once established, they’re among the easiest of all perennials to grow. In general, hardy geraniums are tolerant of a broad range of soil, temperature, and sunlight conditions, though they prefer well-draining soil....

These DIY pallet beds have one other advantage: they look great. Anything made out of pallets is a design trend right now, and you don’t want to miss your chance to create something for your home. Easy Wood Pallet Bed Frame from The Wonder Forest Blog How to Make a Rustic Pallet Bed Headboard from Mum Life Stories Farmhouse Pallet Bed With Rolling Trundle from Infarrantly Creative Wide Pallet Bed from Honey and Fizz Toddler Pallet Bed from Lori Danelle: Maker of Things How to DIY a Pallet Headboard from Fiddle Leaf Interiors DIY Pallet Swing Bed from The Merrythought DIY Pallet Beds for Kids from Fresh Mommy Blog Joanna Gaines-Inspired Pallet Headboard from This Mamas Dance DIY Pallet Reading Bed from Under the Sycamore Pallet Headboard from Little Bits of Real Food DIY Pallet Bed from Allison’s Illustrated Life DIY Twin-Sized Pallet Headboard from My Happy Simple Living Giant Pallet Headboard With Lights from Live from Julie’s House DIY Pallet Toddler Bed from The Mombot DIY Pallet Board Bed Swing from iSaveAtoZ

Essentially, your outdoor living space should look and feel like an extension of the inside. With a few do-it-yourself projects, you can make your own outdoor decorations that enhance the livability of your home’s exterior while amplifying your style. These 17 DIY outdoor ideas range from patio decor projects to porch improvements, and they even include a few ways you can stylize your garden. Make sure the style of the numbers is in keeping with the age and style of your home....

Usually, it comes down to a single element or two—a stunning accent wall or statement-making accessory that brings all the style, glamor, and drama to the design. But while a fancy wallpaper print or eye-catching focal piece can make your design, it can also blow your budget, leaving little to spend on necessities. Want to amp up the drama in your design for less? You will need to get creative....

According to Steve Hutton, who introduced the Star Rose cultivar: There can even be some advantages to growing some roses in the shade. Pale petaled beauties that can look washed out in bright sunshine will seem to glow in partial shade. Here are 18 roses that tolerate the shade just fine. You may, therefore, find that the same plant is called by several different names depending on where and when you buy it....

French country décor tends to skew more traditionally feminine than the modern farmhouse style that is ubiquitous in the U.S. today. But the best modern French country décor is eclectic and livable, reflecting the contemporary desire to embrace the rustic beauty of natural materials and the timeless charms of everyday objects as a salve against an increasingly complicated and digital world. Whether your French country escape fantasy involves a Provençal farmhouse with a view of lavender fields outside the window, a rustic thatched cottage in Normandy, or a provincial chateau, here are some ideas to help you transport the charms of the French countryside to your own doorstep....

Although once rare in commercial use, air plants are now quite trendy and used in a variety of hanging garden applications. While a few species can be grown in pots, most are mounted on pieces of bark or driftwood and suspended in air. A hanging grid is also a popular display for air plants because it groups together a collection and provides good air circulation. Air plants are now widely available at garden centers....

Here are 25 of the best Texas birds to see on a birding trip. Want to try some tropical birding? See these great birds in Florida. In the mood for northern winter birds? Find the best birds of Minnesota. Visiting the mountains? Don’t miss the top birds to see in Colorado.

Here are 31 reasons to celebrate during the month of March.

Some indoor pools are attached to the main living space by a sliding glass door or glass walls. Indoor pools in city apartments or town homes may be located on the basement level. And large residential properties may feature standalone pool houses located adjacent to the main home that may include extras like showers, a spa, or a bar and entertainment area. Whether you dream of converting a room in your home to house an indoor swimming pool, adding an indoor pool extension to your home, or building a dedicated freestanding indoor pool house in your backyard, having an indoor swimming pool means that you can design and decorate it to harmonize with the style of your home....

Fancy Bookcase Book lovers never seem to have enough shelf space, even if they have a home library or designated reading nook in the bedroom or den. If you’d like something a little different from a standard bookcase, then a china cabinet could suit your needs. An attractive china cabinet with sturdy wooden shelves makes a great alternative bookcase, and it keeps old leather-bound volumes dust-free behind the glass doors. As a bonus, you can stash your less display-worthy bodice-ripper romances behind the solid wooden doors of the lower section of the china cabinet....

These are the five basic bathtub materials, each with a list of their characteristics. Pros Can be very affordableRelatively lightweightAvailable in standard sizes (60 x 30 inches) DurableEasy to clean Cons The surface can chip when objects are droppedRust tends to form with even the smallest chipLimited options for color and shapeCan be noisy if not insulatedLoses heat quickly Pros LightweightAffordableAvailable in many colors, shapes, and sizes Durable Non-porous surfaceSurface is repairable...

With cleaning, this definitely holds true. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve tried the weird laundry hacks, DIY soap dispensing tips, and I’ve definitely been guilty of purchasing one of those ‘magic,’ tiny mops from a social media ad. We’re human—and cleaning is a natural part of our lives—so it goes without saying that we’ll lean into whatever strange hacks, tips, and products promise to make the job easier....

What do all those lovely events have in common? They’re all messy, and they all require showers, hand-washing, and a little-more-than-average use of the hose. In the summer months, the pools get filled, the hoses are on full blast, and sticky-hot days lead to longer, colder showers. But as fun as these summer moments are, they can negatively impact your plumbing, especially if you’re not careful. If you want to avoid a plumbing disaster this summer, here are some expert tips and little-known things to look out for....