HGTV Magazine is about real life at home. In every issue you'll find money-saving mini makeovers, simple ways to conquer clutter, smart DIY solutions, time-saving cleaning tricks, and so much more. Plus--see how the HGTV experts really live!
front door of the month…
It may sound strange, but the first thing you should do when you want to boost your home’s curb appeal is go for a walk. Trek around your neighborhood, or any neighborhood that makes your heart flutter, and you’ll find inspiration! On my spy strolls, I’ve found plenty of good ideas to borrow, like when I grew begonias in my sunniest flower bed after I saw them thriving in a similarly sunny bed three houses down from mine. I’ve figured out which brick walkway pattern I like best as well as my favorite house numbers, front door colors, porch lights, and porch swings. I’m barely a beginner at gardening, but 90% of what I know, I know because I’ve asked friendly neighbors—and some friendly strangers—what they’re growing. (Thank you, Caroline…
Your April issue was a really fun read. One of my favorite parts was seeing Jen and Stephen Pan’s bright and airy home [“The Perfect Dose of Color & Pattern”], especially their minty green mudroom. It’s a super-practical, pretty storage spot. I wish a mudroom like theirs came with every house. —Diane Uli, Menifee, CA I love HGTV Magazine and always read it as soon as it arrives. I had a major “oops” moment when I got to the part about jogging without an ID in April’s “How Bad Is It.…” I’ve since added a label to the back of my phone with emergency contacts so I’m covered when I go for long walks with my dogs. Thank you for the important safety tip! —Kate Shadock, Albuquerque, NM Every month…
1 stake a beach umbrella If your beach umbrella’s pole doesn’t have an anchor at the bottom—it usually looks like a giant corkscrew— buy one that you can attach, advises BJ Fisher, director of health and safety at the American Lifeguard Association. (Try the Sandgrabber, $10, walmart.com.) 1. Dig a hole in the sand and twist the anchor into the ground following the package instructions, usually until most of the anchor is covered by sand. 2. Properly secure the umbrella’s pole into the anchor. As you open it, point the crown of the umbrella to face the breeze. This will help prevent it from catching the wind. 2 patch an inflatable raft Many pool floats come with a patch kit, says Alton Etheridge, vice president of sales and marketing at pool…
…to not clean your grill before using it? Skip the scrub and you could be setting yourself up for a disappointing dinner. “A clean grill will reach hotter temperatures and produce better-tasting food,” says Kevin Kolman, Weber’s appointed “grill master.” If you’re lazy with your grates, you’ll likely mix flavors (think fishy-tasting steak—yuck!), and you may have to buy replacement parts sooner than usual if caked-on food becomes impossible to remove. So, says Kolman, every time you fire up the grill, let it preheat for 10 to 15 minutes, which will turn any residue from the previous grill session to ash. Then use a grill brush to scrape the hot grates clean before you throw the next meal on. Once a year, do a more thorough cleaning: When the grill…
daisy vs. chamomile The daisy is a perennial with a flat yellow center and white petals. Shasta daisies, which are most common in the U.S., have 4-inch-wide blooms that flower from early summer through fall. This annual, which blooms from June to August, has 1-inchdiameter flowers with bulbous yellow centers and white petals. Its flowers can be dried and used for herbal tea. shovel vs. spade A shovel is a garden tool used to dig large holes, like for planting trees and shrubs. It has a rounded end that comes to a point, which helps it break into hard soil. A spade has a narrow, straight head with a flat, sharp end. Its shape makes it ideal for dividing perennials, transplanting plants, and edging beds. bumblebee vs. honeybee A bumblebee is a winged…
