Better Homes and Gardens July 2016

just do it I must confess something to all you DIYers out there: The first time I heard the acronym, it took me a little while to figure it out. (This was pre-Google, in case you’re wondering.) That story tells you a little about my level of skill—even today—with a needle and thread, a hot-glue gun, and any sort of carpentry that requires precise joinery. It’s not that I don’t like handiwork. I love gardening and cooking. Both are pure relaxation for me. But for the rest, I often rely on the kindness and advice of friends and professionals, especially while we were creating this DIY-theme issue. One such expert is BHG senior editor Kit Selzer (with me at left ). Kit is a DIY wonder: She knows how to reno a…

1 SUMMER DRINK HACKS Save your summer sippers! Our ice tricks will keep drinks cold but not diluted. BHG.com/IceHack 2 HEAVENLY HYDRANGEAS Sun, shade, low-maintenance—find your perfect bloom. BHG.com/BestBlooms 3 DECOR FOR JULY 4TH Bring sparkle to the table and door with festive red, white, and blue crafts. BHG.com/4Decor [ SWEEPSTAKES] Win daily! ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN OUR FAVORITE DECORATIVE ITEMS IN JULY. ENTRY DETAILS ON PAGE 111. Enter at BHG.com/HomeDecor [ BLOGGER OF THE MONTH] SOUTHERN REVIVALS JAMIE LOTT BHG.COM/JAMIEBLOG @SOUTHERNREVIVALS SOUTHERNREVIVALS.COM “My favorite DIYs are the ones where I get to build something,” Jamie says of the projects she features on Southern Revivals. Initially launched as an online portfolio, the blog quickly grew after Jamie received tutorial requests from as far away as Australia. Her most satisfying DIY makeover to date? Her office, “a large-scale project on a small-scale…

HORNED MELON PLANTER A tiny tropical fruit planter sets the scene. $24; shop.chen-williams.com PATIO PARTY PITCHER Gilt accents plus flamingos? You can’t get more Miami than that. $85; rosannainc.com BRIGHT SERIES PILLOWS Geometrics pop in a super bright palette. $150 each; momastore.org NUDE GLASS VASE A pretty pastel goes ultra-modern in this cased-glass vase. $75; comerfordcollection.com PORTER DINNER PLATES Cheeky, the paper plate makers who donate a meal for every purchase, now make porcelain. $5.99 each; target.com PINK FLAMINGO CARD This sweet illustration of the iconic bird could double as artwork. $4.50; gingiber.com GREEN LEAF WALLPAPER This botanical print could’ve come right out of Blanche Devereaux’s bedroom. $35 a roll; chasingpaper.com NOVA KILIM RUG Soft-color geometrics in this flatweave echo the Deco buildings of South Beach. $450; olliellausa.com PALM LOUNGE CHAIR You can just picture yourself poolside in…

7 A.M. My boys (Knox, 2, and Andrew, 7 months) are my alarm clock now. I get up, make breakfast, and hand them off to my husband, Fred, while I hop in the shower. 7:30 A.M. I’m into color-protecting shampoo and conditioner from Aveda right now—it keeps my color looking fresh. Postshower, when my face is still damp, I put on Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 ($34; skinceuticals.com); it has a tint to even out your skin. 7:45 A.M. I wish I could say I go right to makeup, but by now I’m probably tending to the boys—getting new toys to keep them entertained or changing a diaper. 7:50 (ish) A.M. My summer makeup routine: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer ($24; itcosmetics.com), Stila Stay All Day Bronzer ($36;…

Mood-lifters and energy-boosters, yellows are pure infusions of happiness. Natural partners for soft aquas and grays, yellows also embrace strong reds and pinks. The trick to cheery walls is to avoid the washed-out shades of the noon sun: Rich sunset colors and pastels that mimic early morning light are the most appealing yellows. Is yellow right for you? Take our color quiz to find out. BHG.com/JulyColor HOT OFF THE SPRING RUNWAYS, sunny yellows are headed for home interiors, and Atlanta designer Helen Harbin Davis is on trend. “Yellow is a versatile color,” she says. “It’s one of my favorites to pair with blue and gray, but unlike other primary colors, it also works well with warm tones. In this room, it’s a perfect backdrop for the amazing corals and blues.” Here’s her…

Saving money might have been Courtney Fernan’s original make-it-herself motivation, but over the years her hobby has become a full-blown, full-time passion. “I just love making things,” she says, especially “creating something custom to fit the space.” Her space is an Orange County farmhouse-style home that she and her husband, Ryan, continually update to reflect their family (which includes daughter Riley and son Grady). They’re happy to install cabinetry, lay tile, and paint furniture. And to get a one-of-a-kind look, Courtney sews, staples, and wields a glue gun. The thrill of every project, she says, is “making it something that’s totally your own.” SPECIAL TOUCHES Details carry decorative weight in the living room, above. Courtney lengthened curtains with a fabric border and “goldleafed” corners of picture frames with painters tape that she…