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The front door is a major element of painting a house exterior, and completing the job of painting it successfully will boost the home’s curb appeal. Selecting the right paint finish – gloss or with less sheen – should also be central to your front door ideas. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to achieving great results when you’re painting a front door, and asked the experts to contribute their advice on getting a professional finish....

Have you tried your hand at growing watermelon but have no idea when to pick them? This handy guide explains when and how to pick watermelons for a perfect summer treat. How to pick a watermelon Learning how to grow watermelon is a fun beginner’s gardening task, however, knowing when to pick watermelon is the key to a delicious harvest and it all depends on how and when you plant watermelon....

However, whilst the faint white stains water leaves behind on wood seems like they will be impossible to remove, you can restore wood furniture and flooring to its former condition, and you may already have the ingredients to do so in your pantry. Below, we take you through the easiest ways to remove water stains from wood. How to remove water stains from wood ‘Prevention is always the best cure, and it is important to mop up wet spills immediately,’ says Jon Ashbrook, Head of Product Development at wooden flooring specialists Ted Todd (opens in new tab)....

Problems arise, however, when you start to add your furniture. Waxed or polished hardwood floors, or dusty hardwood floors for that matter, can become slick and slippery causing your furniture to slide around with everyday use, which means refinishing hardwood floors on a regular basis if you want them to remain pristine. With flooring holding the power to make or break a space, it is important to have the flooring you want without having to sacrifice functionality....

Because they’re usually small, transient spaces, powder rooms often get overlooked in the renovation process. However, functionality doesn’t have to be the only thing at play here. It’s likely to be visited by guests so put your best foot forward and don’t scrimp on style. Here, I share six of my best powder room ideas for ensuring your pint-size water closet makes an impact. 1. Assess the space and storage requirements Function is at the core of smart powder room design, so consider practicalities first....

Inside and out, rustic patinated doors lend an old-world charm to this Spanish Colonial-style house. There is beauty in working with wood. Old or new, pale or dark, the warm and tactile nature of timber ensures it enhances any home. Timeless and naturally beautiful, wood has always been a mainstay in a country home, but now we are seeing it crop up more and more in modern design, and to beautiful effect....

From stylish kitchen window ideas and window treatments, to cozy seating and dining areas, there is so much you can do with the space that a bay window provides for your kitchen ideas. A window that projects outwardly from a building, a bay window is usually constructed from a collection of angled glass frames, creating a projected design that creates more space and lets more light into a room. Bay windows are usually found on more traditional properties, but of course, there are many bay window ideas that can be integrated into modern newbuilds and refurbishments....

Having everything on display, however, is not for the faint-hearted as it requires a certain amount of dedication to keep shelves looking smart and uncluttered. Kitchen shelving ideas Here, we take you through shelving options for all kitchen ideas, plus give you plenty of inspiration for how best to display your favorite finds on them. 1. Play with decorative shelving Not everything needs to be hidden away when it comes to storage....

At the same time, counters can bolster your laundry room ideas from a style standpoint, bringing a finished look to the space and enhancing laundry room organization. Feel like your laundry room could benefit from a countertop? Keep reading. Laundry room countertop ideas We’ve rounded up the best types of laundry room counters to use, layouts that will help you maximize your counter space and more, below. Should you match your laundry room countertops to your kitchen countertop ideas?...

It’s enormously flexible, too, able to fit in with all your bathroom ideas. There are LED uplights, downlights, strip lights, wall lights, and pendants, so LED lighting can provide overall illumination, what’s required for completing specific tasks accurately, and feature lighting that makes the room a stylish space. A successful lighting design for any room involves layered lighting and these LED bathroom lighting ideas can inspire a successful project....

There are few insects as hated as the mosquito. As well as administering painful, itchy bites to their victims, the insect is known to spread dangerous diseases in some countries, like Zika virus, malaria, and dengue fever. If you’re prone to being bitten, then adding a few mosquito repellent plants is likely to be top of your garden ideas. However, they should only be relied upon in combination with other measures....

It might seem like a daunting task, but if you’re in the process of organizing a kitchen, neat, tidy and well-organized Tupperware will stand you in good stead. An organized kitchen cabinet (or organized kitchen drawer, depending on the space you have available) can make all the difference to your Tupperware storage. An orderly system only makes for a more eye-pleasing arrangement, but it’ll likely save you time and money, and potentially reduce food waste, in the long run....

The courtyard is not just the heart of the home, it also sets its tone. Understand the soul-nourishing oasis of its inner sanctum and you’ll appreciate the aesthetic in the rest of this exquisite property. A sense of calm and relaxation fills every space of the redesigned house, making it one of the world’s best homes. We talked to Robert and Cortney Novogratz, the design duo behind The Novogratz (opens in new tab), about the inspirations for their latest project and asked their advice on creating calm, relaxing living spaces....

Just like indoors, outdoor lighting ideas have a dual role of curating an atmosphere and providing practical illumination. Whether you use your patio ideas as an outdoor dining space or as an area to relax with sofas and armchairs, these patio lighting ideas can help you to achieve the perfect balance between pretty and practical. Patio lighting ideas When you’re planning your patio ideas, it’s vital to create sufficient light for everyone to move around the space and take their seats safely – as well as see their food and drink....

Spring bulbs, such as cheery narcissi, classy tulips, alliums and delicate snake’s head fritillaria are just some of the spectacular bulbs that need to be planted during the next month or so, but just how do you plant bulbs, what to choose and when exactly will they flower? Well, the good news is that by following a few simple pointers you can grow and enjoy a dazzling display. Get to know when to plant bulbs, and how deep, how tall each type grows, and when they flower, to plan beautiful and truly bespoke combinations....

Similarly, the profile and density of the railings will create either an open or private feel for your porch, something you may want to vary between your back and front porch ideas. The finish on the railings is important, too, with light colors creating an airy feel, and darker tones creating a more dramatic appeal. Wood finishes will bring a rustic appeal to your home too. Below, we showcase a variety of porch railing ideas to help you make the right choice....

Pumpkin carving tends to get all the fanfare around October 31, but there are a lot of advantages to painting pumpkins. For one, you don’t have to clean out the inside of the pumpkin, so there’s less mess. Plus, pumpkins that haven’t been carved last longer, so you can enjoy the fruits of your crafting longer. Paint also offers a better chance to get creative with your Halloween decorating ideas, since the options for color and pattern are endless....

So we asked eight interior designers about their favorite bedding brands, featuring a mix of high-end and mass-market options. White bedding still seems to reign supreme, accentuated with a pop of detail. Today’s interior designers are looking for organic fabrics, and there also appears to be a preference for breezy, breathable linen. Don’t be too surprised if their picks give you some major bedroom ideas … better yet, we now know exactly where to find the favorite bedding of interior designers....

Roof gardens, terraces and balconies provide a great opportunity to enjoy the surrounding views, and with the right small garden ideas you can extend the living space of your home, whatever the size. When it comes to gardening, every roof garden has its issues. Strong winds and extreme exposure can desiccate even the toughest plants, while weight restrictions, safety regulations and getting materials to the top of the building all make vertiginous outdoor space among the most challenging sites....

The charm of rustic dining rooms comes from the beauty and tactility of the surfaces including wood, and the easy mixing of antique and pre-loved designs with newer choices. And while these dining room ideas may include keeping ceramics and tableware on show, the aesthetic is calm and uncluttered, making rustic rooms wonderful spaces in which to spend time with family and friends. Here we’ve put together ideas to inspire along with advice from interior designers....