Home & Garden
Better Homes and Gardens
June 2020Get Better Homes and Gardens digital magazine subscription today and find out how to turn your home into a comfy, inviting haven. Every issue is packed with bedrooms that wrap you in warmth, kitchens that start your day with sunshine, gardens that greet you with gladness, porches that put you at peace, and recipes that become instant family classics.
in this issue
editor’s letter
in this together Writing an editor’s letter in a print magazine is like pitching a ball blindly into the future and hoping you’ll land in an OK spot without hurting anyone or breaking any windows. We go to press about eight weeks in advance, so by the time our pages hit your mailbox, we are already working on issues far along in the calendar. For example, last month I wrote about my love of going to the grocery store and how centering and calming I find it. Well, a lot has happened in the world since I expressed those sentiments. As I write this, I am on lockdown in NYC, the current global center of the COVID-19 outbreak, and though we are allowed to leave our homes to grocery shop, each trip…
bhg.com what’s trending online
[SWEEPSTAKES] Win $25,000 to use toward designing the kitchen of your dreams. Enter for a chance to win atBHG.com/25kDream. Details on page 110. How to Hang Artwork Tackle your blank walls with our complete guide to hanging art. We walk you through the best practices for dealing with brick, drywall, and plaster; choosing the proper height; and getting it perfectly level. BHG.com/HangArt AMERICA’S BEST FRONT YARD The finalists from our search for America’s Best Front Yard have been chosen, and you can help us pick the winner! Vote for the yard you think is our nation’s finest at BHG.com/BestFrontYard. Details on page 110. [EXCLUSIVE BH&G OFFER] ‘Summer Crush’ Hydrangea The intense raspberry red or deep violet (depending on soil acidity) of dense flower clusters dazzles even from a distance. Sturdy, compact shrubs top out at 3 feet, making them…
hello, summer
Backyard meals are one of the great joys of the season, even more so when you have a rainbow on the table. That’s why I like to hold down bright paper napkins with rocks painted in coordinating patterns. To make the napkin weights, paint rocks from your backyard or a crafts store with acrylic paint. The flatter the surface, the more pattern you’ll get to enjoy. —JESSICA THOMAS, style director PEP SQUAD Paper napkins covered in cheerful stripes, florals, or graphic shapes are design starting points for painted rocks. We found these at casparionline.com, knotandbow.com, merimeri.com, shop.ohhappyday.com, and target.com. PAGE-TURNERS Our picks to binge-read this summer. ALL ADULTS HERE by Emma Straub I couldn’t put down this witty and keenly rendered story of parental foibles, birth-order dynamics, and the joys and messiness of family. —OMA FORD,…
the british are coming
Oka The classic English country house is the driving force behind Oka’s catalog offerings like heirloom-inspired furniture (think deep-seated club chairs, whitewashed wood, and rattan) punctuated with block-print cushions and patterned lampshades. Having an American warehouse eliminates overseas shipping costs, and plans are in the works for the company’s first stateside brick-and-mortar store. • oka.com Daylesford Since opening an organic farm shop and café in the countryside in 2002, Daylesford has developed a line of fresh farmhouse-style home goods, including striped kitchen linens and candles with garden-inspired scents. Shop owner Daphna Peled stocks the products exclusively at Pillar & Post, her Washington, D.C., store specializing in British furniture and accessories. • pillarandpost.com Toast This cult-favorite fashion and lifestyle company started with a loungewear line and is known for warming comforts. The range of home goods…
find your best sunscreen
“Even incidental exposure—5 minutes here, 10 there—cumulates. Ten minutes a day is more than an hour by week’s end.”NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D., dermatologist savvy sunscreen picks (for picky people) If you’ve been disappointed by sunscreen in the past, prepare to be pleased. These innovativeformulas make UV protection no problem. MINIMIZES BLOTCHINESS A physical block is a wise option if your skin is sensitive or prone to pigmentation issues like melasma, Schultz says. Try Bare Republic Mineral Face Lotion SPF 70 ($15; target.com). EASY TO APPLY Dealing with a squirmy kid or windy day? Foam sunscreen glides on easily, isn’t goopy, and dries quickly. Try Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Whipped Sunscreen Lotion ($18; trustthebum.com). PRACTICALTO REAPPLY Boost UV protection without mussing your makeup. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist Sunscreen SPF 55 ($17; neutrogena.com) makes SPF touch-ups super convenient. COMPLEXION-SOOTHING If you’re…
erica explores next-level lashes
Playing up your lashes pays off. Eyes look bigger, brighter, more beguiling (winky-face emoji). That’s why even the most minimal routines should include a swipe of mascara. My lashes grow straight out, making them a little hard to see, so I add oomph with a few coats of a rich, volumizing formula like L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Lash Magnifying Mascara ($8; walmart.com). Beauty & Fashion Director Instagram @embeautycoach FALSE LASHES When I want to turn up the wow factor for an event or important photo, applying falsies is worth the extra effort. 1. I prefer natural-looking lash strips like Velour Lashes Effortless collection ($26; sephora.com). The reusable lashes have a flexible band and don’t need trimming. Falsies adhere best when you apply all your regular makeup first, including mascara. Newbies should practice applying falsies before…
