Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

Whether minimalist, a maximalist, or somewhere in between, we can all agree that a little colour goes a long way in bringing joy and flavour to our homes and gardens. I’ve always felt a strong affinity for colours – especially those blooming on my balcony. The best way to start my day is sitting in the sun, admiring the roses, kangaroo paws, hydrangea, dahlia, fuchsia, pansies and alyssum! As you flip through the pages of this issue, you’ll find a raft of vibrant ideas. Looking for bright blooms to fill your garden? Pick your favourites from our seasonal chart of flowers (p34), discover the plant colour of the year (p140), and start collecting some beautiful bonsai with Melissa (p70). We take you through colour theory and how different painting and…

TOMATO RAINBOW TART Preparation time 25 mins plus cooling Cooking time 20 mins Serves 4 2 sheets frozen butter puffpastry, partially thawed 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten 500g fresh ricotta 1 cup Greek-style yoghurt 100g fetta ½ x 110g tub green olives with garlic and chilli, finely chopped 2 Tbsp chopped basil leaves, plus extra leaves to serve 1 Tbsp chopped chives Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season 2 x 450g tubs heirloom medley cherry tomatoes, halved (you’ll need a mixture of deep red, red, yellow, orange and green tomatoes) Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle STEP 1 Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Place puff pastry sheets on top of each other and use a rolling pin to gently press and seal them together. Drape pastry into…

SCAN ME Scan this QR code to shop these items. GLOSS OVER IT You need to decide on more than the colour when you choose interior paint. You’ll also need to determine the best paint type for the job, the finish you want and the best tools for applying it. Use these tips. Your ideal paint type and finish will change with each project, but there are a few basics to consider. Flat or matt finishes reflect less light and are better at hiding imperfections in a surface, but are more prone to scrapes and marks. Glossier finishes are easier to wipe clean and more hardwearing. A gloss is good for enhancing details but it will highlight any surface imperfections. There are four sheen categories in paint – flat, low…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 GRAHAM ROSS Join me as I show you around Sefton Hall on BHG TV, Friday, March 7 on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change.) For more gardening tips go to WWW.Bhg.com.au Roses, lilies, salvias, hydrangeas, dahlias – more than 200 of them and other colourful perennials – turn summer into a magical kaleidoscope in the gardens of Sefton Hall at Mount Wilson, west of Sydney. Surrounded by tall, mature trees, it’s an elegant hideaway – established more than 100 years ago – which has been restored to its original “impressionist craziness” by co-owner and gardener James Douglas. Meandering paths beguile you through clematis and cherry laurel arches to the 2ha of garden rooms – a perennial garden, a woodland, a rainforest (known…

SEASON SPECIALS Keep up the glow with these stunners! Hot stuff Heleniums parade sizzling colour from late summer to autumn. Dancing queens Japanese windflowers are named for the way they sway in the breeze. Blaze of glory As many of your summer flowers fade, crocosmia keeps up the sparkle. 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 Candytuft (left), cineraria, delphinium, everlasting daisy, hollyhock, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, sweet pea and stock (bottom left). ZONES 1–3 Coleus, dianthus, gerbera, salvia, verbena and zinnia. ZONES 4–6 Cornflower, godetia, lobelia, pansy, viola and wallflower. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Broad beans (left), broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower,…

ICE-CREAM TRUCK CAKE 30cm round cake board 1 piping bag 1 square 20cm cake 61/2 cups buttercream Pink gel food colouring Teal gel food colouring 4 white Iced Tic Toc or similar biscuits 50g pkt Smarties 7 square Arnott’s 100s &1000s biscuits 3 rectangular ice-cream wafers 1 ice-cream cone STEP 1 CUT THE CAKE! Okie dokie, get excited because this is one of my absolute favourites! Following the cutting guide, cut the cake directly in half down the middle. Piece 1 is the base of the truck. For the second cut, slice down diagonally to create the windscreen on piece 2, which will be the cabin. The remaining bit – piece 3 – will be used to make the ice-cream cone. STEP 2 COLOUR First make the coloured buttercream –…

Stay in well-located luxury Battery Park is located close to the subway, shopping and ferry, giving you easy access to anywhere you need to go in New York. The Conrad New York Downtown is a beacon of modernity in the hustle and the bustle of the city, with an architecturally inspiring lobby. “Interior architect Mónica Ponce de León envisioned our space as an art corridor and gallery,” says general manager Chintan Dadhich. The atrium is filled with impressive installations by Ponce de León and iconic American artist Sol LeWitt. And externally? “Atop our hotel, a 1000 square-foot urban farm thrives nine months a year, producing fresh organic produce for our restaurant,” Chintan says. For those wanting cutting edge, try the in-room wellness NutriDrip IV Drip service from Clean Market. Connect…

Colour theory also encompasses the feelings that different colours evoke in a space. In general, bright warm colours (red, oranges, yellow) spark energy and happiness while cool, subdued colours ( blues, greens and purples) are calming. Think of a bedroom that feels instantly relaxing or a dining room with eat, drink and be merry vibes. While colours are warm or cool, note that even if a colour is technically cool, it includes warmer and cooler variations. Colour drenching Painting everything the same hue is known as colour drenching. That can include walls, woodwork, the ceiling and even furniture, depending on how far you want to go. “It’s a bold and impactful way to transform a space, but you can dip your toe in the water with softer tones,” advises Jono…

The pigments that give fruit and vegetables their colour are called phytochemicals. These naturally occurring compounds – there are more than 10,000 of them – are part of a plant’s immune system, helping protect it from bacteria, fungi and other threats. When you eat those fruit and vegies, you may benefit from those phytochemicals, too. Interestingly, each colour group contains a unique set of nutritional features. Looking at these foods through a colour lens can help you focus on eating a wider range of plants. That, in turn, can provide your body with the nutrients it needs. Of course, if you have any specific nutritional concerns, please see your health practitioner. Orange Carotenoids give orange vegetables and fruit their colour. Betacarotene is converted in the body to vitamin A, a…

SCAN ME Scan this QR code to shop these items. On solid ground When choosing hard floors, think about creating a complementary palette. Whether you prefer the drama of a high-contrast colour scheme or the richness of low-contrast pairings, durable hybrid oak floors offer the perfect canvas. Ashbury Oak hybrid planks, $60 per sqm (supply only), from Carpet Court. GOLDEN! These tumbled brass fixtures evolve from bright gold to a deeper brown over time. Priced from $21.90 to $799.90, from ABI Interiors. LOOK AT ME Don’t hide all your favourite things – show them off in this ash veneer cabinet, with panels of tempered glass and marble veneer top. Its neutral palette won’t clash with your colourful collectables and tableware. Jamieson buffet, $1299, from Harvey Norman. Sit in the BOX…

BUDGET FRIENDLY IDEA BETTER TIP Create a ‘frame’ on your canvas by masking the outside area before you and your talented pet start painting. The extra detail creates a professional-looking result. You can paint a tinted background for an added colour hit or leave it plain white. Making art with your pet is a fun way to bond and create ‘colourful’ memories. Paw painting, nose boops, tail swishes – even a lively fandango – can all go in the mix. You can allow your pet to walk, stomp or pitter-pat across the paint as they want, or be more hands-on with your guidance. The result? A unique piece of abstract art that’s full of pawsonality! Hang it up or gift it to your fellow pet parent. Each time you look…

Evie Kemp is the author of MUCH: A maximalist’s guide to a creative home, published by Koa Press. It’s an inspiring book where every page is filled with Evie’s joy, quirkiness and personality. Originally hailing from the UK, she moved to New Zealand with her family at age 14. In MUCH, Evie takes us on the journey through her creative discovery, as well as guiding readers with practical tips on how to design interiors that both thrill the eyes and comfort the soul. BHG: In the book you share how you grew up in what sounds like a very colourful environment, with a creative influence from your family. What advice would you give to someone who hasn’t had that first-hand experience and maybe doesn’t have those skills? EK: Think of…

Using a make-up palette that flatters your natural complexion is a shortcut to looking your best. Check out these helpful tips and tricks for complementing your colouring and getting fabulous results, with a little help from the brand new limited edition range from Natio, the Golden Hour collection. KNOW YOUR SKIN’S UNDERTONE Your skin’s undertone can be warm, cool or neutral. Once you’ve discovered yours, choosing the right product becomes simpler. Here are three ways to work out your skin’s undertone. 1 Check your veins You have a cool undertone if the veins on your wrist appear blue or purple. If they’re green, you have a warm undertone. If you can’t tell, you probably have a neutral undertone. 2 Check your metals If you have a cool undertone you’ll likely…

The winters in elevated, inland areas of Australia can be cold with heavy morning frosts, making them unsuitable for the lush temperate, subtropical or tropical plants favoured along the coasts. Instead, these areas are more suited to classic English-style gardens with cool-climate plants that are bare and dormant in winter but burst into life in spring and sizzle with colour over summer. Summers can get hot and windy, however, so protection from these elements is provided by tall trees with generous canopies in summer, fiery colours in autumn and filigree silhouettes in winter. While spring, summer and autumn are all about plant activity, winter is not the time to retreat indoors and develop cabin fever because the soil is too hard to work. It’s the chance to explore the ‘bones’…

SHOP NOW BRIDES’ DELIGHT Hailed as the prototype for a new class of hydrangeas called Garlands, ‘Runaway Bride’ has crispy white blooms all along its branches, not just at branch ends. It’s already becoming a bouquet favourite with European brides. Expect repeat blooms for two to four months, from late spring into autumn. Released under various labels via Plant Management Australia, pma.com.au. HIGH STYLE UP THERE Lift your plants to new heights in these glazed porcelain hanging planters. They come in two sizes and seven colours geared to contemporary interiors; $99 (20.5cm/1.6kg) and $189 (30cm/ 3 .1kg), from Angus & Celeste, angusandceleste.com. TASTY Heritage passion Delve into the diverse world of heirloom crops with the aid of The Seed Hunter by Mitch McCulloch (Dorling Kindersley, $55). A former top London…

COLOUR IN YOUR FINANCES Get a clear view of your expenses, fast. HIGHLIGHT BY CATEGORY Here’s a way to make budgeting more fun. Grab some highlighters (or use the highlighter tool on your computer), download your latest bank statement for the last quarter, then get colourful. Colour code entries by category – pink for entertainment, green for shopping, yellow for mortgage/rent and blue for utilities bills, etc. You’ll suddenly get a good visual of where your money is going. MAKE A PLAN Now you have a colour-coded list of where your hard-earned cash is being spent, it’s easier to see where you can make a few changes. Is there more pink or green (for entertainment and shopping expenses) than you imagined? Look into where you can do a little cost…

Every article, image, word and idea you see across our Better Homes and Gardens channels exist because we strive to bring you true value. Many brains, hands and hearts go into each concept, as we consider how we can help to make your home, garden and life better. Whether we set out to entertain, educate or inspire you, there’s always a problem we’re trying to solve, or a joy we’re aiming to bring. But we believe no brand can be truly great without listening to its audience. That’s why we’re introducing a new feature – the Reader Page. Here we ask you to write in to tell us how you really feel! Have you tried any of our projects, recipes, or DIY ideas in your home or garden? Do you…

TOP READ TELL ME EVERYTHING Elizabeth Strout (Viking, $34.99) When I was buying this book, I was told that Elizabeth Strout was “the most generous storyteller” and I agree wholeheartedly. This novel follows the life of lawyer Bob Burgess and his close friend Lucy Barton, and unravels the “unrecorded lives” around these two characters in the small US town of Crosby, Maine. While Bob becomes involved in a murder investigation, he takes walks with Lucy to talk about life’s hopes and regrets. Lucy visits the enigmatic Olive Kitteridge, living in a retirement village, and they tell each other stories of people they have known as a way to imbue meaning into their lives. If you love American small-town charm, winter walks and taking a peep into lives that are…

Editor Megan Osborne Creative director Scott Cassidy Deputy editor Raffaela Pugliese Chief sub-editor Jo McKinnon Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Decorating editor Raffaela Pugliese Garden editor Jenny Dillon Food editor Sarah Murphy DIY editor Tiff Bancroft Beauty editor Annie Millar Stylist Kate Walsh Editorial assistant Jada Susas Enquiries (02) 9282 8000 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS In your garden Tony Fawcett Moon guide Milton Black Better pets Caroline Zambrano DIGITAL www.bhg.com.au Digital editor Tahni Mesann  Senior content producers Jade Coull, Rachel Iorfino ADVERTISING  Group category manager Rhyl Heavener  Brand executive Mikaela Lezcano  NSW head of sales Blake Wright  Head of sales VIC, SA and WA Will Jamison  QLD head of sales Judy Taylor  Marketing manager Jess Taylor  Subscriptions campaign manager Ankita Jathar TELEVISION  Host Johanna Griggs Presenters: Pets Dr Harry…

“I’D LOVE TO SEE ZINNIAS GET A BIT MORE APPRECIATION – THEY’RE EASY TO GROW.” Life among fields of flowers involved second cousins Eliza Henry-Jones (a novelist) and Melanie Kercheval (a digital marketer) taking a path off the beaten track into the rich red soils of the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Eliza initially bought the farm to keep her horses. She then dabbled in gardening, eventually selling her produce at farmer’s markets. After having a baby, she started growing flowers. Mel, who had also just had a baby, wanted to use her marketing skills to help small-scale growers – and that’s how Gather Flower Farm was born. Dahlias, roses, proteas and peonies now thrive among annuals such as zinnia, cosmos, statice, cornflowers, Queen Anne’s lace and scabiosa. The blooms are…

INSIDE JOB For added dimension with a retro twist, apply two coats of warm yellow paint to only the interior section of a side table or storage unit. We used British Paints Harvest View. FRONT-ROW SEAT Settle into a design statement with a baby pink and warm yellow chair. Apply primer, then three coats of pink base, letting each coat dry. Use painter’s tape to mask out symmetrical details, then apply two coats of mustard paint to the detail areas. Once dry, protect your work with a clear topcoat. We used British Paints Pink Haven for the base and Dulux Harvest Gold for the details. HOME SWEET HOME Add personality to a basic stool by painting the legs a solid dark green and the top in a contrasting baby blue.…

BUDGET FRIENDLY IDEA TO KEEP YOUR CREATION GLOW-RIOUS, FINISH WITH A CLEAR SEALANT. FOR DOORMATS, THIS IS ESPECIALLY KEY — THEY’LL BE BRAVING MUDDY BOOTS AND PAWS , RAINY DAYS , AND ALL THE COMPLIMENTS FROM VISITORS. BY PAIRING NATURAL MATERIALS WITH VIBRANT NEON ACCENTS , YOU ’RE CREATING A LOOK THAT’S GROUNDED YET ELECTRIC , COSY YET EYE-CATCHING. WHEN IT COMES TO DECOR, YOU WERE BORN TO GLOW! It’s no wonder our homes are turning into temples of natural fibres. In the quest for sustainability and cosy vibes, accessories such as jute rugs and rattan planters have become home decorating staples. They’re earthy, elegant and textural. But if you’re looking to turn up the volume, a splash of neon paint on a doormat or basket is the perfect way…

Milton’s tips for Pisces season (February 20 to March 20) Neptune (imaginative and mystic) rules Pisces, so when it comes to colour in the garden, its nebulous and dream-like qualities tend to favour varied forms over defined ones. Pisces gardens can f low and connect with the colours of lilac, mauve, lavender and that sublime hue of jacaranda. Spruce up your Pisces garden combination with hydrangeas, leadwort for ground cover, dianthus and clematis. By next spring, your garden will put on a spectacular display. Pisces love salads – for a delicious side dish, combine finely sliced red onion, cucumber and fresh garden tomatoes, tossed with red wine vinegar. ZODIAC SIGNS The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups – fire, air, earth and water. Fire signs Aries…

See colour through your pets’ eyes Blues and yellows are the top picks for pets. Did you know dogs see blue and yellow vividly, while reds and greens appear dull? Cats are also thought to see blue and yellow, but reds and oranges look like shades of grey to them. By understanding how your pets see colour, you can make a space easier for them to navigate and relax in. CREATE CONTRAST Use contrasting shades (blue against yellow or dark against light) to help pets distinguish their surroundings. For instance, a yellow food bowl on a dark mat is more noticeable than a red one on a similar-toned surface. CALMING SHADES Blues and greys are relaxing for dogs and cats so are ideal for pet beds and chill-out zones. Avoid…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Adairs adairs.com.au Bunnings bunnings.com.au IKEA ikea.com/au Kmart kmart.com.au Officeworks officeworks.com.au Pillow Talk pillowtalk.com.au ELEVATE YOUR EVERYDAY OBJECTS, PAGE 54 Project supplies Big W Delfin table lamp, $35. Scalloped-edge frame, $8. Openook ceramic fruitbowl, $5.50. Bunnings FrogTape 24mm Multi-surface Masking Tape, $11.50. Dulux 1Step Prep Primer, Sealer & Undercoat, 500ml, $34.90. British Paints Extra Bright base in Harvest View, 500ml, $19.90. British Paints Extra Bright base in Devil’s Cloak, 500ml, $19.90. British Paints Extra Bright base in Pink Haven, 500ml, $19.90. British Paints Extra Bright base in Brunswick Green, 500ml, $19.90. British Paints White base in Feeling Fresh, 500ml, $19.90. Dulux 250ml sample pots in Murray Red and Spiced Mushroom, $9.90 each. IKEA Skogsta chair in acacia, $89. Kmart Arched bedside table, $39. Short timber stool, $25. Wood-look…