Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

While trends may come and go, the one constant is we pour our hearts and souls into creating homes that are uniquely ours. And so the magazine and the terrific BHG TV team will continue to bring you fabulous and inspiring ideas – this issue is jampacked with ways to help you transform your home, whatever your style and budget. But as we go to print, the devastating effect of the bushfires that ravaged large hectares of our country continues to be felt. Words can simply not express the depth of our heartbreak for the loss of life, homes, wildlife, livestock, the injured, orphaned and displaced animals and the scarred landscape. It would be remiss of us not to salute all the brave volunteer firefighters, those who have fallen and…

PINK & TURMERIC In need of a decorating pick-me-up? Look no further than this beaut spicy combo. Bold and beautiful, there’s nothing stuffy about this dynamic duo and their sister shades. It’s a fearless colour choice that will infuse your room with energy. Look for soft blushes and raspberry pinks to team with shades such as mustard, cayenne, turmeric and saffron. MAKE IT A SPICY AFFAIR BEIGE & BROWNS After years of cool greys dominating neutrals, 2020 will see browns, chocolates, beiges and taupes sneaking into our interiors. Anything but boring and especially warming in their deepest hues, you’ll feel like you’ve been enveloped in an almighty hug – immediately comforting and calming. EMBRACE THE NEW NEUTRALS “For just the cost of paint and a roller you can totally reinvent…

if there’s a camellia or lavender bush in your garden, it’s possible it was bred by Bob Cherry in his NSW central coast nursery, Paradise Plants. Now retired to Tasmania, he’s maintaining the heavenly analogy by continuing to breed plants – as a hobby – growing his garden from scratch, and letting his wife, Derelie, have the run of the roses. He has created a sensational garden with everyday plants, where mass planting and a clamour of colour are the key – something you, too, can achieve. He has rows and rows of simple sweet peas, heaving populations of poppies, dianthus doubling down with the roses and lavenders with enough fluttering wings to blow you away. His philosophy is, if you like them, plant them! Lots of them! PUT TO…

Bite into an apple and you expect to see bright white flesh. But with the new ‘Magnus Summer Surprise’ you can have a tree that produces a bounty of rosy-red apples, but that first bite reveals an astonishing deep-pink flesh. Further, all parts of the tree have a purple-red colouring – the blossoms, branches, even leaves before they turn green as the fruit matures. Bred from the normally tart crabapple, it is sweet and once cut open is slow to oxidise or go brown. Developed in Tasmania – of course – it fruits in January and February to help kick off the fresh-apple-eating season. Order from Woodbridge Fruit Trees, woodbridgefruittrees.com.au or from your local nursery. Find the perfect spot Here’s how the ‘Magnus Summer Surprise’ will fit in your garden.…

1 IT’S A SNIP FOR INDOORS Hydrangeas happily bloom all summer if you plant them for morning sun. Then, on the weekends, just cut a few of the beautiful bouquets for a vase–it’s hardly a chore! 2 STARS OF ANY GARDEN Rows of agapanthus are favourites with landscape designers because they’re easy to grow and look stunning when the elegant, tall flower stems emerge. 3 IN PRAISE OF PINK Crepe myrtles are hardy and trouble-free in most parts of Australia and they reward you with tiny flowers that congregate as a bunch powerful enough to pack a punch! 4 SET FOR ALL SEASONS Get a fire pit for cool nights (Charlie’s dry stone pit was in his winning entry at the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show) and shade from a wisteria-covered…

BO CHICKEN WINGS Preparation time 15 mins plus 1 hour marinating Cooking time 45 mins Serves 4 1kg chicken wings2 bunches choy sum (about 400g), ends trimmedSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to seasonOlive oil, for drizzling1 green onion, green part only, thinly sliced2 long red chillies, sliced MARINADE 140ml apple cider vinegar100ml tamari¼ cup water1½ Tbsp honey1 Tbsp coconut oil6 cloves garlic, finely chopped4cm piece ginger, finely grated2 long red chillies, halved, deseeded and sliced1 tsp freshly ground black pepper STEP 1 To make marinade, put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine. STEP 2 Add chicken wings to marinade and turn until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight. STEP 3 Preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced (200°C conventional).…

PROJECT 1 ZIG-ZAG SHELVES Gather your supplies • 135 x 19mm x 1.8m Tasmanian oak • 6mm dia. x 1.8m Tasmanian oak dowel • Keyhole brackets (3) Components Long shelves 135 x 19 x 270mm oak (3) Short shelves 135 x 19 x 255mm oak (3) Dowels 6 x 65mm (20) You’ll also need Measuring tape; pencil; masking tape; mitre saw; combination square; drill press or cordless drill; 6mm drill bit; nail gun (optional); nails; hammer; PVA glue; flush-cut saw; clamps; rags; scrap timber for trimmer jig; trimmer fitted with straight-cut bit; wood chisel (optional); screws; sander; sandpaper; Danish Oil; spirit level; WallMate plaster fixings Here’s how STEP 1 Cut lengths of timber for shelves 10mm over the required length. Tape pieces together in 2 bundles, long pieces and short…

One of the biggest surprises of the digital age is the comeback of vinyl records with all their glitches, crackles and scratches. Old albums were not just about the music though, the artwork that graced the covers was just as important and some became iconic symbols of the times. With this simple display rack, you will have the platters that matter close to hand and an ever-changing visual feast as you flick through your collection. “Create your own nook of nostalgia with a record holder and retro-style turntable” Gather your supplies 1200 x 600 x 18mm plywood Components Feet 100 x 350 x 18mm plywood Ends 300 x 300 x 18mm plywood You’ll also need Circular saw; tape measure; jigsaw; quick square; scrap timber; hammer; nail; combination square; clamps; sandpaper;…

A fun, easy way to create beautiful marble-effect art – just pour the acrylic paint on a canvas then, to move the paint and to blend your colours, pick up the canvas and tilt it so the paint moves across the surface. Yes, it’s that easy! $175.80 PRE-MIXED POUR ART VALUE KIT Everything you need to make three beautiful Color Pour art projects. This pack includes: • 3 canvasses • 10 paints (8 colours, 2 metallic paints) • 2 paintbrushes • 6 pouches of glitter • 1.9g foil flakes • 1 drop cloth • 20 stir sticks • 20 cups • 6 gloves • 13-piece toolkit • Guide book PRE-MIXED COLOR POUR PAINT KITS Color Pour Pre-mixed Pouring Paint kits each contain 4 colour-coordinated paints, 118.3ml each. $54.71 each SHOP…

BICEP CURL TO SHOULDER PRESS 1 Stand holding weights with arms down by sides, palms facing body. Bend elbows to bring weights to shoulders. 2 Extend arms above head. Lower weights to shoulders, then sides. PUSH-UP 1 Place hands on floor just wider than shoulders with legs extended behind you. (To make it easier, bend knees to the floor.) 2 Lower your chest, keeping your body in a straight line. (No sagging.) Press through palms to return to start. SINGLE-ARM ROW 1 Start on all fours holding weight in right hand, left palm on the floor. 2 Bring your elbow up to your side, keeping it close to your body. Focus on squeezing your shoulder blade to lift your arm. 3 Repeat on other side. TRICEP DIP 1 Sit on…

This gorgeous sequin bag will add sparkle to your day. The luxe fabric features a front panel with double-sided sequins. One side is bright and sparkly, the other a lovely matt finish so you can go from day to night easily – just flick the sequins to your desired side. And the tote’s convenient zipper pocket brings order to the beautifully lined interior. The biggest decision you’ll have to make is which colour – Black or Rose Gold? Better TOTE SEQUIN BAG • Approximately 42 x 38 x 13.5cm • Front panel sequin detailing with reversible metallic/matt sequins • Luxe metallic PU faux leather back panel and handles • Black or Rose gold COSMETIC CASE • Approximately 20 x 12 x 5cm • Front panel sequin detailing with reversible metallic/matt…

A long with the wide range of holidays and destinations comes an equally wide range of concerns. But the environment is now high on the cruising agenda. WHAT IS CRUISING DOING? Long-haul flights! Carbon emissions! Europe! Over-tourism! But what about cruising? Globally, the popularity of cruising continues to grow but so does consumers’ awareness of the environmental impact of their holiday choices. With polluted oceans, islands of plastic waste, communities and wildlife affected, simply banning single-use plastic straws is not enough. SAILING INTO A BETTER PLACE The cruise industry is riding a wave of positive action to reduce the impact of its day-to-day operations. Cruise lines have joined other shipping organisations in a plan to create zero-emission ships by the early 2030s. And the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has…

Cool luxury is coming your way with Crystal Expedition Cruises’s new baby, Crystal Endeavor. She will be the world’s largest and most spacious luxury polar class expedition yacht, cruising 12 to 22 days in far-flung destinations away from traditional routes, with just 200 guests and all suites offering private butler service. crystalcruises.com Viking Cruises, called the ‘thinking man’s cruises’, continues to expand its award-winning fleet. Viking Venus will join her seven sisters in early 2021. These beautiful boutique ships carry a mere 930 guests and feel more like boutique hotels than ships. vikingcruises.com.au Ruby Princess will be the first ship homeported in Australia to offer the Ocean Medallion – a new way to stay connected while at sea, unlocking your room, with a touchless credit card, first-class wifi, hospitality services,…

NOW FLIP THE MAGAZINE UPSIDE DOWN…

In springtime, the jacaranda is the belle of the ball, its gorgeous ruffles and flounces of flowers appearing as though on a long, billowing skirt. But now, in late summer, you can appreciate the cool shade offered by the dense, fern-like foliage and imagine the leaves turning yellow before they fall in late winter – just as the spring greenery emerges on your deciduous trees. Then, for a few brief weeks before the flowers appear, the tree’s twisted, gnarly limbs are exposed to reveal a beautiful, sculptural silhouette. SOFT AND SWEET PURPLE PASSION 1 Boulevards of jacarandas become rivers of petals running through your suburb when the flowers rain. 2 Take advantage of the shade the dense and dainty fern-like foliage gives you in summer. 3 You can grow your…

Starting a garden just as the rain stops is a challenge. For passionate plantsman David Kennedy, that challenge extends across 3ha at Highfields, in the village of Little Hartley, west of NSW’s Blue Mountains. Five years after he started, he can show you how he has defied the climate to carve out four gardens with different themes reflecting the varied growing conditions, all linked with stone walls, borders, steps, fountains, waterfalls and watercourses – for when the rains come. 1 OCHRE MAKES IT OCKER A stone wall can become a design feature of your garden when flowers aren’t prominent. Here, weeping rosemary, small conifers and salvia are planted in a bed in the wall while the native red cedar (Toona ciliata) reaches over the top. Whatever the theme, there is…

Living green walls are a celebration of nature’s triumph over our built environment. The benefits are huge – they’re beautiful and they lift your wellbeing. But a dynamic vertical garden has disadvantages: it may compromise the integrity of your structure and can involve time-consuming watering, feeding and weeding. Instead, exploit the texture and colour of your wall with strategically placed planters and let each of your plants shine instead of being just one of the crowd. EASY STEPS TO BUILD A WALL PLANTER Gather your supplies • 2400 x 1200 x 17mm formply • 800mm plastic planter • 90 x 45mm H2 treated pine • 1.5mm Colorbond flat sheet • 200 x 200 x 40 x 6mm heavy-duty gal’ brackets You’ll also need Scrap timber; hammer; nails; jigsaw; circular saw;…

MISO-SESAME NOODLES WITH CUCUMBER AND CAPSICUM Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 20 mins Serves 4 2 chicken breast filletsSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepperCooking oil spray270g dried soba noodles2 tsp sesame oil2 carrots, peeled2 lebanese cucumbers2 red capsicumsJuice of 1 lemon1 Tbsp soy sauce2 tsp white miso paste2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted STEP 1 Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced (220°C conventional). Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then spray with cooking oil. Arrange on a lined oven tray then bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden and firm to touch. Set aside to cool. STEP 2 Meanwhile, cook noodles in large saucepan of rapidly boiling water until just tender. Drain well and toss with sesame oil. Shred chicken. STEP 3 Grate carrots coarsely. Halve and seed cucumbers, then…

There is lot of buzz about beeswax food wraps! Durable, hygienic and easy to make they are a fab alternative to plastic wrap. All you need is a block of beeswax from craft stores, a natural-fibre fabric such as cotton or linen (the open weave absorbs the wax) and a few drops of oil to keep the wax supple – and that’s a wrap! Gather your supplies • 100% cotton fabric • 100g beeswax block • Jojoba oil You’ll also need Scissors; cheese grater; glass jar; saucepan; paintbrush; iron; clip clothes hanger; pinking shears FOR SHOPPING DETAILS, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE Here’s how STEP 1 Wash and dry fabric and cut into desired shapes and sizes. STEP 2 Grate beeswax on a cheese grater using the larger shredding holes. STEP…

Set aside your paintbrushes and get ready for a new way to make art. With just plastic cups, you can create fluid abstract pieces that are one of a kind. You simply pour paint over your canvases and tilt to let it flow into gorgeous, creative swirls and shapes. The possibilities and colour combos are endless, and the results just beautiful. It’s time for you to pour it on! EASY STEPS TO YOUR FLOW ARTWORK MAKE YOUR OWN POURING PAINT You can make your own pouring paint by adding a medium to acrylic paint. Soft body or craft acrylics are better suited than heavy body acrylics. Floetrol, from hardware stores, is a paint conditioner that extends the wet edge and keeps paint flowing. Add it in a 1:1 ratio to…

Take a cereal box from your pantry, a hot-glue gun, paint and tinsel, and what do you get? A bespoke bag! Crafter, blogger, author and designer Rachel Burke lives a tinsel-tastic life, from creating glitter coats to art installations. To get more glitz in your life, make your own bag or check out shoprachelburke.com. Gather your supplies • Cardboard box (cereal box) • Acrylic paints • Tinsel fringe • Flat-backed gems • Faux flower chain You’ll also need Scissors; paint palette; paintbrushes; hot-glue gun Here’s how STEP 1 Cut down box to desired size with scissors. STEP 2 Paint the box in one colour – here, mauve – then leave it to dry. If you want to completely obscure the labels, apply 2-3 coats. Freehand paint a design on the…

Cross-stitch kit includes • Aida or linen fabric • Embroidery thread • Needle • Cross-stitch chart • Instructions PALM BOX THREADS Each metal box contains: • 17 skeins DMC Mouline Special • 3 skeins of Mouline Etoile • Leaflet with four designs SHOP TO BUY YOUR KIT, VISIT BHGSHOP.COM.AU P&H not included. Please allow up to 14 days for delivery. Prices are a guide only and may be subject to change.…

By now, I have cruised a good deal. But before my first cruise I questioned how I was going to leave the ship mid-ocean when I absolutely knew I would want to leave. (Read leap overboard as needed!) When the time came to disembark I wondered how I could cruise for another three weeks at least, it was such a magnificent experience. For you cruislings you understand. However, if you are yet to cruise, choose the ship appropriate to your needs and prepare yourself for an experience unequalled. Now join us for cruising info you’ll love. Julia Zaetta TOP TIPS Know what you want! 1. Big ship or small ship; luxury or adventure; short or long cruise; popular or less travelled; wining and dining; activities aboard; themes; onshore tours. 2.…

There are few better ways to enjoy your hobbies than on a ship. Along with your interests, you’re amid indulgent surrounds and visiting exciting destinations. Could it get much better than that! LOVE IT? YOU’LL FIND IT! There are themed cruises for flower lovers, music fans, Christmas crazies, even nudists, and so much more. Think cruising for history buffs, foodies, wine lovers, adventurers, art aficionados, country and classical music and opera fans, comedy lovers, planetarium gazers, and for those researching family history. There are cruises for events such as the Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne Cup, Oberammergau Passion Play and Tokyo Olympics. Then there are the skills you can learn on board, from cooking, of course, and wine tasting to blogging, knitting, playing bridge, art appreciation and painting, learning a language,…

The billowing canopy enables you to share your gorgeous jacaranda with neighbours in your street. FROM BIG THINGS, LITTLE THINGS Jacarandas grow to about 15m and are just as wide, so aren’t suitable for very small gardens. However, a Japanese breeder recently developed a dwarf variety that grows to about 2m and should be available in Australia in about five years. FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS Pair a jacaranda with the golden flowers of a silky oak or the clusters of bright-red baubles of the Illawarra flame tree. Or, plant all three so your spring is a royal flush of gold, purple and red. ILLAWARRA FLAME TREE Masses of tiny, bell-shaped, blazing-red flowers appear on this native in spring, often just after the leaves have dropped. GREEN TO GOLD Jacarandas are deciduous,…

Succumb to the temptation of apples fresh off the tree. While you can buy apples all year round, from now until May is when they are at their most tasty, crispy and juicy. So plant a few apple trees, watch the fruit grow, then cut them up to mix with your morning cereal, eat as an afternoon pick-me-up, toss in your salads and salsas or add to your late-summer sangrias. Then store what’s left over for delicious winter apple pies and cakes. APPLE TREE NEEDS How to keep your apple tree beautiful, healthy and productive. Sun 5-6 hours a day. Climate Most varieties need a cold winter. Protect from wind – many don’t fare well in coastal areas. Soil Fertile, well-drained and alkaline. Care Fertilise in spring and water in…

Go quirky with your hardy conifers by giving them a cloud prune, a design feature that originated in Japan.…

SEASON SPECIALS As summer fades, these plants power up. ON FIRE A showy annual, celosia’s colours are like a stunning sunset. SWEET AS The perfume from heliotrope smells like a freshly baked cherry pie. DANCING QUEEN Almost a metre high, helenium loves a soft, late-summer breeze. KEY TO CLIMATE ZONES ZONE 6 Mild warm summer Cold winter ZONE 5 Warm summer Cold winter ZONE 4 Hot dry summer Cold winter ZONE 3 Hot dry summer Mild winter ZONE 2 Warm humid summer ZONE 1 Hot humid summer PLANT NOW In each issue we give ideas, tips and planting advice for cooler, warmer, wetter and drier areas in each zone, so ask at your local nursery which zone best matches your conditions. FLOWERS ALL ZONES Ageratum, alyssum, aquilegia, cineraria, delphinium, hollyhock,…

“SHOW OFF AND MAKE YOUR OWN SORBET AT HOME – NO TRICKY SKILLS OR EQUIPMENT REQUIRED!” MOJITO SORBET Preparation time 15 mins plus infusing Freezing time 4 hours plus overnight Makes 8 600ml water100g caster sugar5-6 limes, 2 zested, all juiced, plus extra wedges, to serve50g fresh mint, leaves and stalks, plus extra leaves, to serve¼ cup white rum, plus extra, to serve1 free-range egg white, lightly beaten STEP 1 Put water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Heat on low, stirring to dissolve sugar, then increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Add grated lime zest and mint, setting aside 5 leaves. Remove from heat. Cover pan and set aside for 10 minutes to infuse. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool in the fridge. STEP…

FRIED RICE PAPER ROLLS WITH PRAWN LIME LEAF AND WHITE PEPPER Preparation time 40 mins Cooking time 20 mins Makes 24 375g skinless, boneless rockling fillet, chopped1 free-range egg white1 tsp white pepper3-4 coriander roots, cleaned and finely chopped1 tsp fish sauce1 tsp sugar1 tsp grated garlic1 tsp grated fresh ginger½ tsp sesame oil350g green prawns, shelled, deveined and finely chopped4 green shallots, finely diced50g fine cellophane vermicelli noodles, soaked, cut to shorten and well drained100g fresh frozen water chestnuts OR jicama (root vegetable from Asian grocers), finely diced5 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced1 packet rice paper roll wrappersCanola or vegetable oil, for deep-fryingLettuce cups and Asian herbs of choice, to serve DIPPING SAUCE Juice of 2 limes2 Tbsp fish sauce2 Tbsp oyster sauce2 red bullet or birds eye chillies,…

A MORNING STAR If you’ve never given quilting a go, this project is a great place to begin. A beautiful heirloom make, start it for yourself or give to someone special as a thoughtful gift. Made using the traditional morning star quilt block in fresh, contemporary fabrics, you’ll piece together triangles and squares using basic quilting techniques that are easy to master. Instructions on page 137 Try one or all of these gorgeous sewing projects! Beginner or seasoned patchwork pro, get your sewing machine ready to go. Whether you love quilts or making accessories and homewares you’ll be sorted with this selection of patterns that will cement good quilting techniques. TOTES WONDERFUL A simple shape creates a striking pattern in this quick-sew tote. Appliqué is an easy way to add…

SHEET WHY PICK IT No-rinse convenience HOW IT WORKS Materials such as paper and hydrogel (a biodegradable jelly) stop the serums in these masks from evaporating, which means more time for your skin to absorb the active ingredients. Drape the mask over your face and adjust to align the mask’s openings with your eyes, nose and mouth. GOOD TO KNOW Ideal for travel. Devotees have been known to wear them to combat dry air. TWO TO TRY Reversaderm Brightening Vitamin C Face Mask, $9.95, Dr. LeWinn’s; Skinfusion Sake Yeast Wrinkle Relaxing Sheet Mask, $9.99, Olay. CLAY WHY PICK IT T-zone TLC HOW IT WORKS Clay is a perennial favourite for the way it absorbs oil and draws impurities out of the skin. The only drawback is that it can be drying for certain…

Funny and touching – like looking through a keyhole at a lost worldRUPERT EVERETT, ACTOR A Lady in Waiting Anne Glenconner, $32.99 The eldest child of the fifth Earl of Leicester, Anne Glenconner’s childhood home, Holkham Hall, is one of the grandest estates in England. Bordering Sandringham, the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were frequent playmates. From maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation to lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, Lady Glenconner is a unique witness to royal history. She married Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, the owner of Mustique Island, which became a retreat for Princess Margaret. But beneath the glitz and glamour there has also lurked tragedy. With extraordinary wit and courage, she exposes what life was like in her gilded cage, revealing her great friendship with Princess Margaret along the…

QUILTING BASICS Gather your supplies • Walking foot • Rotary cutter • Cutting mat • Square quilting ruler • Long quilting ruler • Matching sewing thread • Sewing needle • Thread • Scissors All measurements in inches. Usual WOF for quilting is 40-42in or 101-106cm Abbreviations WR wrong sides together RS right sides together WOF width of fabric HST half-square triangles First things first • Before you begin, read all the instructions for your chosen quilt through to the end. This will ensure you understand the pattern and have everything on hand. • All fabric should be 100% cotton or linen, washed and ironed. You may want to colour-test coloured fabrics first to ensure they will not run. • These quilts have been designed using imperial measurements. To maintain accuracy,…

Evaluate where you set sail, to have a great time even before you begin Some of the world’s best cities make excellent pre-cruise holiday locations. So choose your departure port well. It’s too often a waste to go straight from the airport to the cruise terminal and miss these delightful pre-cruise experiences! Read on for just four to get in you the swing of researching all of them. GORGEOUS AMSTERDAM Walking this canal city is heaven. And outside the busy centre, you will want to visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, and one of the many delightful coffee shops. Excellent foodie walking tours are held in the Jordaan district or you can venture out to Haarlem. From one small street to another, with quaint bridges everywhere, Amsterdam…

Ask any river cruiser and they’ll tell you the experience was wonderful! They’ll say once aboard, you unpack, relax and enjoy what level of luxury you choose, from very comfortable to total opulence, without any worries, as most river cruising costs are all inclusive. Foodie experiences enhance your enjoyment aboard, adding to your days meandering alongside historic castles, picturesque villages, towns and farmlands, and immersion into exotic communities, worldwide. Your onshore excursions are amazing, too, with highly experienced guides taking you to splendid sites, museums, gardens, quirky places – and the hotspots! Or you go onshore at your leisure, finding quaint streets and your own discoveries. When you return aboard, you reminisce with a cool cocktail before a superb dinner. CHECK SOME OF THE BEST Crystal River Cruises, with the…