Better Homes and Gardens Australia

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So while you're hunkering down, many of you still working from home, use the opportunity to tackle those pesky little jobs you never quite get around to doing. Or if you're really game, take your first tentative steps to redesigning your kitchen. Spo

a rural idyll conjures up romantic thoughts of tranquillity, of closeness to nature and an escape from the hassles of urban life. This is true of the gardens at Ooralba Estate, snuggled under the escarpments of the Morton National Park and overlookin

Call them what you like – horny goat weed, bishop’s hat or barrenwort – these little flowers are the prettiest and most delightful plants to get you ready to usher in spring. Popping up like dainty, miniature orchids on wire-like stems in early sprin

• When the flowers disappear, you are left with a fabulous display of foliage that can be mottled, freckled, speckled, splashed or delicately veined with a rich array of colours on a deep-green background. • With many epimediums, the emerging stems a

• Choose a pot about 30cm in diameter to give the roots room to grow. • Pick a terracotta pot, as excess water seeps through the clay rather than lingering in the soil. • Don’t use a saucer, but put the pot on feet so any excess water drains away. •

It takes a concrete jungle to remind us of the power of flowers, the freshness of foliage and how a cacophony of colour can be corralled to soften sharp edges and dilute the jarring sounds of busy city streets. The City of Sydney celebrates the comin

Your heart will miss a beat, then go all aflutter when you take in their intoxicating scent. Next, your heart is sure to break when the small shrubs curl up and die, leaving a hole in your garden and a searing ache in your memory for that sweet, citr

don’t think of your shed as just being full of bits and pieces that you might make use of one day. Look at it as a bunch of materials that can go together to make something amazing. A shed full of old timber offcuts, a couple of old doors plus some s

You’ve set up a little vegie plot – a raised bed in the garden or containers on the balcony – chosen your plants and are looking forward to a summer crop of tasty produce. Now you have to schedule in planting, feeding, weeding, watering, and pest and

Times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time, AEST. This applies to NSW, the ACT, Qld, Vic and Tas. For SA and NT, deduct half an hour. For WA, deduct two hours. During Daylight Saving Time, add 1 hour. Best days Second-best days On these days, thin

Blooms as vibrant as the bluest sky are set to make Corydalis ‘Porcelain Blue’ a garden favourite. A shade-lover to brighten the darkest corner, it’s at its flowering peak in spring and autumn, is frost hardy and grows to about 25 x 30cm. It’s from T

Garden Editor Lots of things are happening in our gardens now! Check out the clusters of tiny Viburnum blossoms smothering hedges. Winter heath (Erica carnea) is still ringing its bells, calling in spring. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) has white

Camilla Franks is a household name thanks to her signature kaftans, which are like beautiful works of art, but did you know she has amazing homewares, too? Here, you can get a glimpse into her home, where her passion for vibrant colour and eclectic s

GET CRAFTY Edge a bought throw with plush poms, handmade with a pompom maker! PLANT LIFE Infuse your home with lush houseplants – it’s a quick way to bring a breath of fresh spring air inside. You’ll find larger plants look their best in woven basket

Why go bare when there are so many ways to dress your windows? Shutters, shades or blinds can work – with or without curtains. They can be made to measure or bought off the shelf. And, for those who prefer pre-loved items, book time in your diary to

renovating doesn’t always have to involve major building works. It can be as simple as settling on a colour scheme with a few inspired touches that elevate your home from everyday ho-hum to one with your unique brand of style. The fun begins when you

Why bend when you can stand? Fit built-in ovens and a coffee machine side by side, for ease of loading, unloading, cleaning and for the look of luxe they bring. For a state-of-the-art look, include a wine fridge in your design. Lay white-grey oversiz

Select a Shaker-style profile for your door and drawer fronts, especially if you plan on including glass cabinets in your cabinetry mix. Opt for a modern matt rather than a gloss painted finish. Indulge your maximalist side and include brass details

With open shelving drawing attention, stick with flat-fronted and handleless cabinetry to prevent a cluttered feel. Consider an energy-efficient induction hob that also provides extra bench space when not in use. You’ll then need stainless steel or c

Stretch cabinets to the ceiling to max your storage. Trim the top with architectural cornice. Line the splashback with subtle marble herringbone mosaics or any of their ceramic look-alikes. If you wish, conceal modern appliances, such as the fridge,

Great bones! Expose beams and roof boards to add warmth, character, natural rusticity — and welcome height — to a thoroughly modern kitchen. Use the same timber as that of the ceiling to trim your window. To tie a grey and white colour scheme togethe

Artwork for your bed! The many calming colours in this overscale original floral design will see you sleep easy and wake fresh as a daisy. Essa cotton sateen quilt cover in Multi, $299.99/queen size, sheridan.com.au. Perfect for your TV with storage

Preparation time 30 mins Cooking time 2 hours Serves 6-8 2kg carrots, peeled and chopped¼ cup extra virgin olive oil1 tsp fennel seeds, crackedSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season¼ cup honey2 tsp red wine vinegar2 cups basmati r

Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 4 2-3 fresh corn cobs, charred on the grill, kernels cut from the corn and kept warm6 free-range eggsVegetable oil, enough to fill7-8cm of wok3 spring onions, finely sliced1 kaffir lime leaf, chiff

Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 25 mins Serves 4 1 cup basmati rice400ml water, plus 150ml boiling water15g dried porcini mushrooms1 Tbsp vegetable oil6 flat mushrooms, sliced1 onion, thinly sliced2 cloves garlic, crushed1 Tbsp sweet smoked pap

Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 25 mins Serves 4 4 zucchinis, cut into small chunks1 red onion, cut into thin wedges3 large cloves garlic, skin on¼ cup extra virgin olive oilSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season300g cherry

Older homes offer character in the form of charming architectural features, but can also suffer from awkward floor plans. You can transform an uninviting space using a rich colour palette and clever solutions to make the most of unused areas and boos

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So many more people are working from home at the moment, but if you are struggling to find an office nook or spare space for a desk, this upcycle idea with a tallboy is exactly what you need. Simply transform an old chest of drawers into a work stati

• 66 x 30 x 300mm pine • Clear stain or wax • Leather thonging • Wooden beads Painter’s tape; tape measure; pencil; mitre box and saw; screwdriver; sandpaper; offcut; paintbrush; lint-free cloth; scissors; picture hanging strips STEP 1 So you only cu

• 19mm-dia. wood dowels • Pots with a lip and no drainage holes • Mitre saw or handsaw and mitre box • Wood glue • Drill • 40mm nails • Spirit level • 65mm screws • WallMate plasterboard anchors (optional) STEP 1 a crooked dowel will throw off your p

Building your own loom is a lot easier than you think and is super budget-friendly, as you only need a length of pine, a few tools, screws and nails. Plus, you can easily adapt the instructions to make the kind you want, such as a standing loom with

Are you after a traditional-look quilting pattern? This queen-sized bed creation has only nine large blocks to piece, so comes together incredibly quickly, leaving you lots of time to make more! All instructions on page 156 GOOD TO KNOW Take delight

Yoga is very popular for good reason. It not only improves strength and flexibility, it also boosts your health and wellbeing. The classes can be as gentle or as challenging as you like (you’re always in charge) and, once you’re in the swing of it, c

When it comes to moisturising, it turns out neck creams aren’t marketing hype. There are fewer sebaceous glands on the neck, therefore the skin tends to be drier, and your regular face cream may not be hydrating enough. It’s also more prone to rednes

Want soft, smooth skin in winter? Here’s how you can get it Skin has a pH of about 5.5, whereas many soaps have a higher pH - that is, they’re more alkaline. Using alkaline products increases your skin’s pH and damages its protective barrier. Don’t k

HOW IT AFFECTS Extreme temperatures can put a strain on the heart, which raises the risk of heart attack or stroke in those with high cholesterol or arterial plaque build-up. Cold temps cause blood vessels to constrict, making the heart work harder t

Three fun ways to teach your children about money Sometimes the old faves are the best. Break out the Monopoly board and get a family game going. It’s got all the lessons, including strategy, teaching about real estate and informing about debt and bo

Oral hygiene is essential for general wellbeing, and the best way to maintain it and minimise dental problems is to take preventative action. So brush your teeth for two minutes every morning and night, floss daily and see your dentist twice a year.

Check your renewal policy. A large number of customers automatically renew their insurance without comparing it with last year’s premium or shopping around. By doing this, they unknowingly may end up with significant premium increases on renewal, esp

Australia’s thrilling diversity of climate, landscape, seaside and culture makes it one of the most exciting and unique countries to visit. So, when restrictions ease somewhat and we can travel more widely in our vast brown, blue and green land, go s

1 Meter Maids, of course! Originally dressed in gold lame bikinis matched with tiaras, the maids now wear gold Lycra bikinis and Akubra hats and have become an enduring tourist favourite and an iconic international celebration of Surfers Paradise. An

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Solutions to four sticky situations you may come across Watch the dog’s body language. If the tail is high, the dog’s mouth is pursed or she seems stiff, those are signs the dog is stressed and might bite. Stay calm, don’t yell, and try to position y