HGTV Magazine November 2014

House numbers Standard 4"-tall house numbers in polished brass, $8.50 each, rh.com DIY pillow We sewed a felt leaf on a solid pillow. For a similar solid pillow, try the DFO Essentials 16" x 16" Sunbrella pillow in burgundy, $30, outdoorpillowsonly.com. For the leaf pattern and how-to, go to hgtv.com/cover-star-pillow. Pillow Layered Circle 16" x 16" fleece pillow, $68, reeesat.etsy.com DIY pillow We sewed a felt leaf on a solid pillow. For a similar solid pillow, try the DFO Essentials 16" x 16" Sunbrella pillow in burgundy, $30, outdoorpillowsonly.com. For the leaf pattern and how-to, go to hgtv.com/cover-star-pillow. Bench 48"W x 15"D x 18"H reclaimed wood farm table bench, $399, westelm.com Doorbell Small Rosette Style doorbell plate in French antique finish, $32, emtek.com for stores Pillow Yellow/Gray Colorblock 18" x…

There was a time when I spent every weekend fixing up my former house in Birmingham, AL—a 1930s bungalow that needed plenty of updates. All that DIYing kept me busy (and in good shape), and I learned a ton along the way. Some lessons came easy, some not—like the time I painted my living room ceiling. Halfway through, I ran out of paint and bought more. When I was done, I looked up and—gasp!—the ceiling was two different shades. So what did I do wrong? Although I'd bought the same brand, color, and finish, the paints were not the same formula—one was from the most expensive line the company offers, the other was their budget-friendly option. Turns out, the tints are slightly different. Now if I run out of paint…

Once again, you have outdone yourself! I appreciate that you stayed away from the usual fall leaves and instead showed us cheery colors on the September cover. Inside the issue, I especially enjoyed the House Tours and seeing all the HGTV stars. —Kelita Deems, Parkersburg, WV Affordable decorating and storage tips are my favorite things about your magazine. Most recently, on September's Editor's Page ("Steal These Ideas!"), I found a way to display my grandmother's cookie cutters—in apothecary jars. Thanks, Sara! —Christine Lippert-Scronce, Smithton, IL I was thrilled to read September's "Black, White, & Red All Over!" Like the Yeates family, my family of four lives in a small home (1,056 square feet). We've been there for more than 15 years, and it's cozy and practical. So many Americans live…

How to fix a wobbly washing machine 1 check whether the machine is level Unplug the washer and place a level on top, checking both left to right and front to back, so you can ID which leg is uneven. 2 adjust the front legs If a front leg is the culprit, reach under the machine with an adjustable wrench and turn the leg to raise or lower it. (You may also need to adjust the nut.) Repeat until the bubble in the level is centered. TIP FROM A PRO "Hard to get to the washer's front legs? Rest a pry bar on a piece of wood to prop the washer up. FYI, all these steps are the same for a top loader." —Chip Wade, host of Elbow Room 3…

…to cook vegetables without washing them first? A: The danger isn't in the veggies you're about to eat—sticking them in boiling water or the oven will kill any bacteria on them—but in what they could leave behind. Chances are you're laying the produce on a cutting board or countertop first. "E. coli or listeria on your food can land there, cross-contaminating that surface," says Joellen Feirtag, Ph.D., a food safety specialist and professor at the University of Minnesota. Fortunately, you only need to give the veggies a rinse before prepping them. "Forget using produce cleaners or washes—plain old running water does the trick," Feirtag says. BOTTOM LINE: really bad! …to put guests' coats on your bed? A: Worried about what may have hitched a ride on your visitors' outerwear? Although…

Hangers Because coats shouldn't get tossed on the bed Joy Mangano Huggable velvet and chrome hangers in emerald green, $9 for a set of 12, hsn.com Include a card with your favorite casserole recipe. Casserole dish and recipe card Because everyone needs a new idea for leftover turkey CW by CorningWare 3-quart stoneware casserole dish in blue, $20, bedbathandbeyond.com; Food & Thanks recipe cards, $10 for a set of 12, matrickandeve.com Dish soap Because it gets used up in minutes Pomegranate 16-ounce kitchen soap, $16, mangiacotti.com Cleaning supplies Because someone's bound to spill Sparkle paper towels, $6 for 8 rolls, grocery stores; Color Scents 8-gallon trash bags in lemon zest, $4 for 60 bags, walmart.com Stamps because it's nice to get a jump on holiday cards Custom first-class medium postage…