Innholdsfortegnelse for January-February 2016 i HGTV Magazine

If a piece of wood furniture is varnished, can I just paint right over it? No. You’ll need to remove the furniture’s waxy, shiny coating first or the paint will bubble and peel, says Nancy Krass of Atlantique Furniture Restoration in Huntington Station, NY. To take off the varnish, sand it with coarse sandpaper (150 grit), followed by a finer paper (220 grit). For furniture with intricate carvings that sandpaper can’t reach, use a paint-and-varnish stripper like Citristrip ($20 for 1/2 gallon, homedepot.com), then finish with fine sandpaper. After all the varnish is gone, you’re good to go—just wipe off the sandpaper grit with a damp rag, prime the piece, and paint. How is a perennial plant different from an annual plant? Annuals are one-and-done plants that live for only…

Jennifer and Stephen Standing packed light when they moved back to the United States after five years abroad. Bringing almost nothing with them from their stint overseas, they bought a 1930s Colonial in Savannah, GA, and started decorating from scratch. They prioritized first-floor rooms and their kids’ bedrooms, figuring they’d spiff up the master bedroom eventually. But three years later, the space was still mostly empty. The walls were bare, the main light was a clunky ceiling fan, and random furniture seemed adrift in the 14-foot-by-19-foot room. “We didn’t even have a headboard,” says Stephen. “It was like being in college.” The key to taking the bedroom from lifeless to personalitypacked: We used a snappy blue-andwhite palette and tons of patterns on everything from the walls to the floors. Now…

Aren’t they pretty? Turn the page for the instructions. gallery wall key Display your DIY masterpieces in the arrangement shown above to create the ultimate floor-to-ceiling collection. 1 washi tape lines 1. Cut pieces of washi tape in varying lengths. 2. Stick each piece of tape to white heavyweight mixed-media paper at an angle, overlapping some of the pieces. WASHI TAPE Masking tape in assorted colors, $4 per roll, mt-tape.us 2 abstract leaves 1. Cut rounded leaf shapes out of tissue paper (for opaque leaves, use two pieces of paper; for sheer leaves, use one). Cut out a stem and a few mini stems. 2. Adhere the tissue paper to a pre-stretched canvas using decoupage medium and a foam brush. 3. Coat the entire canvas with a thin layer of…

The plate wall in the November House Tour “What to Do When Gray Is Your Favorite Color” hit home for me. Like the Breens, I’ve always collected plates. I’d rather have plates than diamonds, which my husband enjoys. I recently displayed mine on a wall in my kitchen nook. Looking forward to your next issue! —Ellen Laden, Fredericksburg, VA Your Front Door of the Month is one of my favorite parts of every issue. Seeing the beautiful paint colors month after month convinced me to paint my own door a cheery yellow. I hope it provides a ray of sunshine during this year’s Western New York winter. Thanks for inspiring me. —Anne Siconolfi, Fairport, NY Wow, I thought I had a great menu planned for Thanksgiving, but after reading through…

…to not rinse a dog’s paws after a walk in the snow? Your pup’s paws don’t need to be washed after a snowy stroll unless they’ve come into contact with road salt or other deicers, says veterinarian Brian Collins, D.V.M., of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals in Ithaca, NY. The chemicals in those products can irritate paws—and, worse, cause an illness if your dog licks his feet and ingests the stuff—so once you get home, dip Fido’s tootsies in a bowl of warm water, and towel them off. (Bonus: This also prevents salt damage to your floors and furniture.) If you didn’t encounter salt, it’s fine to just dry off your dog’s feet. What about suiting up your furry friend in rubber boots? Says Dr. Collins, “Your dog might…

after enduring 10 years with a cramped kitchen, Matt and Jennie Rosecan got the chance to dream big when they reno’ed their entire 1930s home in Arlington, VA. Plotting out the kitchen, which would include an additional 440 square feet from the backyard, Matt pictured a restaurant-inspired space gleaming with stainless steel. Jennie envisioned something colorful and rustic. “Our styles seemed really tricky to combine,” says Jennie. Bringing in designer Katie Otis and the team at Sagatov Design + Build to referee, the couple cherrypicked from their competing visions to create a best-of-both-worlds mix. Slick metal now partners with warm wood, color is used strategically, and Jennie and Matt gained an appreciation for each other’s decorating tastes. “This kitchen sums up what it’s like to compromise,” says Jennie. “It’s a…

about the house BUILT IN: 2012 SIZE: 3,877 sq. ft. “This house has so much character that you almost can’t tell it’s new construction. It makes our day when people walking by compliment the porch and front door. We honestly wouldn’t change a thing.” —Brit and Zack Drozda, homeowners ideas to steal paint colors potted plants The Drozdas bought the orange hibiscus topiaries at a nursery, then planted them in pale blue pots to show off their striking braided stems. Foshan 141/4"H x 133/4"-diameter glazed ceramic planter in aqua green, from $50, borderconcepts.com for stores mailbox The weathered copper mailbox features a ginkgo leaf. Copper wall mailbox, $310, expressions-ltd.com shutters Board-and-batten shutters, secured in place with wrought iron shutter dogs, boost the home’s cottage-like charm. Classic Collection 30" x 18"…

The listed websites may not always offer online ordering, but they will provide all the information needed to buy what you want, including the store nearest you. Some items may be listed as discontinued, custom, or vintage. Sites such as craigslist.org, ebay.com, and etsy.com are great resources to find similar styles. If something is listed as “trade only,” the design professionals at decorativebuyingservice.com can purchase these items on your behalf. cover WALLPAPERS (from left) Nikko wallpaper in blue and navy, $48 for a single roll, thibautdesign.com for stores; and GP & J Baker La Fiorentina wallpaper in marine, $176 for a single roll, wallpaperdirect.com. FRAMES 18" x 28" MDF picture frames in satin white with styrene. Original price: $26.80 each. Deal price: $24.12 each with code HGTV10 at arttoframes.com. CABINET…

WALLPAPERS (from left) Nikko wallpaper in blue and navy, thibautdesign.com; GP & J Baker La Fiorentina wallpaper in marine, wallpaperdirect.com FRAMES 18" x 28" MDF picture frames in satin white with styrene. Original price: $26.80 each. Deal price: $24.12 each with code HGTV10 at arttoframes.com. CABINET (custom) Hans 45"W x 20"D x 39"H poplar and plywood buffet, tritterfeefer.com. We painted ours California Blue by Benjamin Moore. KNOBS Facet-03 2 1/4"-diameter brass pulls in satin brass finish, nest-studio-home.com cabinets knobs rug vases x-bench wallpapers WHERE TO BUY WALLPAPER REMNANTS If you don’t have wallpaper left over from another project, these sites sell scraps: fondlyvintage.etsy.com, zoesoldeshoppe.etsy.com, and wallpaperyourworld.etsy.com.…

RESOLUTION Lose weight APP My Fitness Pal (free on iTunes and Google Play) “There are thousands of weight-loss aids, but this one does it all: keeps track of the calories, carbs, sugar, and fat in the food you eat as well as lets you log exercise. You can even use it to turn your phone into a pedometer. The app also tells you which key vitamins and nutrients you need more of. That can be a real eye-opener!” —Sarah Krieger, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics RESOLUTION Spend more time with friends and family APP Google Calendar (free on iTunes and Google Play) “If you want quality time with loved ones, you have to plan it. This shared calendar lets you invite friends and family to view your…

STYLE: an entryway Every home deserves a smile-inducing setup near the front door. Turn a photo into poster-size art (framebridge.com can do it for you), then stack books on and under a bench. The finishing touch: a stylish fabric hamper filled with a potted fiddle-leaf fig tree. START WITH: STYLE: a kitchen sink area Have an electrician wire a hanging light socket, then slip a basket over it as a shade. For café curtains, cut and hem a colorful scarf, then hang the pieces from clip-on rings and tension rods. Finally, pot fragrant herbs in a set of mugs to keep on the counter. STYLE: a dining room bar Turn a bookish storage piece into a fun hub for entertaining. We painted the back panel inside our bookcase Great Green…

Walt and Dana Lukken were getting frazzled. Their 1890s duplex in Washington, D.C., was undeniably quaint but way too teeny. There was only one bathroom, and they were a family of five. In 2011, eager for space, they scooped up a 2002 townhouse only a few blocks away as fast as it hit the market. While they loved that it was more than 3,600 square feet over four floors and had suburban-style amenities, like a garage –– a rarity in their historic neighborhood –– there was a hiccup: The rooms, with their generic crown molding and bland lighting, felt charmless. “The new place lacked the character we had in our 100-plus-year-old house,” says Dana. To age the interiors, the couple enlisted designer Kathryn Ivey and embarked upon a six-month reno.…