Stylemakers are more than the people featured on the cover of each Stylemaker issue of Better Homes & Gardens. They fill the pages of the magazine. They sit on panels, lead demonstrations, and bring their enthusiasm as attendees at the annual Stylemaker event. They are always learning, meeting new people, and sharing their experiences. Above all, they’re authentic. Their personal style, the stories they tell, and the things they create spark genuine connections....

Floating shelves don’t have to be store-bought. You can make your own using MDF and your choice of pine or poplar wood. It may take some time, but the end result is well worth it. The following tutorial introduces you to DIY shelving and shows you how to build a floating shelf. See more simple weekend projects in this basement makeover.

Essentially, a gas fireplace insert consists of a firebox equipped with a steel or cast-iron surround, a log and burner set, and a decorative faceplate that fills the gap between the insert’s surround and the sides of a fireplace opening. Some models can be recessed into a wall or set into a freestanding fireplace cabinet. Gas fireplace inserts require piping for gas and electric wiring for switches and thermostats as well as proper firebox and flue placement....

We’re also sharing our must-know tips for caring for a live Christmas tree so it looks merry and bright from the day you bring it home until the day the ornaments go back to the basement. Once the holiday is over, be sure to recycle your real Christmas tree for a sustainable and earth-friendly holiday. Choose Your Location At Home “Before you head to the lot or store to pick out this year’s perfect tree, you must be certain of where you want to place the tree and the space available....

What to Know Before Blending Styles Encouraging everyone to get involved initially will go a long way to making the merging of styles successful. It not only helps everyone to be invested in—and understanding of—the process and outcome, but it wialso ll start to illuminate the threads that ultimately tie together a cohesive look. Acknowledge Limitations One of the first things to do is acknowledge size and space limitations. It’s likely you can’t keep every piece of furniture; maybe some duplicate items will need to go or perhaps a few pieces are just too big for the available space....

According to Google trend data, search interest in sage green reached a record high this year, with the color currently beating out emerald and mint as the most-searched shade of green. “Sage is a lighter, more muted shade of green, so it creates a calming effect in just about any space in the home,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “It also has such strong ties to the greenery and nature that surrounds our home, so it really helps bring the outdoors in and make a space feel more grounded....

Before you start squashing the little pests, play detective for a few minutes. Try to figure out what’s attracting the ants by watching where they’re going and what they’re doing. This will help you decide which of the methods below to use to banish them from your lemon trees. Why Ants Are Attracted to Lemon Trees You may notice ants crawling randomly around your plants in search of food, or they may be a little more goal-focused....

No matter what material you’re dealing with, it’s important to act as quickly as possible. Before you do anything else, blot the area (don’t rub) with a clean white cloth to soak up as much excess liquid as possible. This helps prevent the red wine stain from sinking deeper into the material and reduces the amount of wine you’ll have to remove later. Then immediately treat the red wine stain using the appropriate method before it has a chance to set in....

Alder, willow, cottonwood, apple, pear, peach, pecan, walnut, elm, and maples are most susceptible to fall webworms, but these pests are known to make their nests in more than 90 different species. And don’t be fooled by their name. Fall webworms often start spinning webs and eating foliage in June. These summer infestations are smaller than the extensive colonies that form in late summer and fall. So if you begin dealing with fall webworms in summer when you first notice them, you’ll avoid a more significant infestation in fall....

These are the best steaks for grilling: Chuck: Most cuts in this section are considered a bit too tough for grilling. One exception: flat iron steak.Rib: This section offers tender, full-flavor cuts, such as ribeye and prime rib steaks.Short loin: Some of the most tender steaks for grilling come from the short loin, including porterhouse, T-bone, filet mignon, and top loin (strip) steaks.Flank: This is the belly area, which produces flank, skirt, and hanger steaks....

After the walls are painted, the floors are laid, and the cabinets are installed, baseboard moldings are installed and play an essential role in how a room looks and feels. Thoughtfully chosen baseboard moldings go a long way toward emphasizing design styles that range from streamlined modern to old-world to traditional. Installing baseboard molding is a job for anyone comfortable using power tools, making a few specialized saw cuts, and who has a knack for accurate measurements....

Their durability and non-flammable nature make epoxy-coated floors a good choice for garages and basement workspaces. They are strong enough to withstand dropped power tools, carry the weight of rolling and parked cars, and stand up to spills of all kinds. In fact, when properly applied, epoxy floor finishes can endure for as long as 20 years. How to Choose the Right Epoxy Epoxy floor paints are tough, resin-based paints that come in two separate parts mixed together before applying....

If you’re replacing an old ceiling fixture and feel comfortable working with electricity, opt for a triple pendant cord set. Cut a hole in each jar lid and tuck a light into each jar. Then hang from hooks. Materials 3 pint-size Mason jars with lids2×4 board2 clamps1-1/2-inch bimetal hole sawMetal file3 socket lights (We used IKEA’s Hemma.)40-watt equivalent LED bulbs Secure Mason jar lid to a 2×4 board with clamps....

If you’ve ever made pom-poms before, you know it can be tedious work. However, we’ve got the ultimate time-saving secret to making a handful of pom-poms all at once. Check out our tutorial to learn how to make a pom-pom garland below. Step 1: Wrap String Flip a chair or a stool upside-down to make a large batch of pom-poms quickly. Begin to unravel your skein of yarn and bring one end of the yarn against a chair leg....

Meanwhile, soak the root ball of each plant in water. Squeeze the soil gently to release excess water. Tuck each root ball into a planting hole so that each plant’s stem is at the same depth is was before in its pot. If necessary, use a spoon to dig out a little space to fit all the roots into your sphere planter. Use your fingers to firm the soil around each plant to hold it in place....

How to Make Angel Food Cake Follow along step-by-step to perfect this classic cake recipe. Step 1: Separate the Egg Whites Separate the yolks from the whites immediately after taking the eggs out of the fridge (cold eggs separate more easily). An egg separator ($7, Bed Bath & Beyond) makes easy work of this. Carefully separate each egg white into a small bowl, such as a custard cup. If any yolk gets into the egg white during separation, refrigerate that white for another use—even the tiniest bit of yolk can affect the beating quality of the whites....

How Many Cups in a Can of Pumpkin, Really? Fifteen ounces of canned pumpkin is just shy of 2 cups (16 ounces would be 2 cups). By comparison, a 3-pound pie pumpkin will likely give you enough puree for a recipe that calls for a can of pumpkin. After cooking and draining a pumpkin, this is about what to expect from a typical cooking pumpkin transformed into fresh pumpkin puree:...

Buy It: Select by Calphalon 10-Inch Hard-Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan ($27, Target) Buy It: NutriBullet Blender Combo ($150, NutriBullet)

1. Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area in Knoxville, Tennessee If you’re headed to (or live in) the Eastern Tennessee area, you’ll have to stop by the sunflower fields in Knoxville. The 70-acre field is the site of a sunflower festival in the middle of July, making it a good spot to see the golden blooms—especially during odd-numbered years. Due to crop rotation, the full 70 acres of flowers are only planted every other year, but even during even-numbered years, the smaller fields are a spectacular sight....