Home & Garden

By Marianne Willburn | BHG.ComTroy Warren for CNT #HomeGardenI love getting away from it all in my lush, green, indoor jungle, especially when winter winds start to blow. But a true jungle is not monochromatic, so I like to mix my houseplant colors up a little, too. Just as using contrasting hues, textures and shapes are key to an exciting garden design outdoors, indoor gardens play by the same rules. A little kick of color in just the right place can turn "attractive" into "amazing" in seconds.Here are five newer houseplant varieties that can create a statement on their own, or…

By Caitlin Sole | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Stone countertops add natural beauty and impressive durability to kitchens of every style. Our guide to stone countertops covers the price, performance, maintenance, and installation considerations of natural stone, including marble, granite, limestone, soapstone, and more. There are few materials better suited for daily food prep, cooking, and entertaining than stone. Natural stone is nearly indestructible, virtually maintenance-free, and has a timeless quality that integrates well with any kitchen. One more plus: Each slab of stone is unique. Granite is one of the most popular stone countertop materials thanks to…

By Andrea Beck | BHG.ComTroy Warren for CNT #HomeGardenMake sure your indoor plants don't get too much of a good thing.More light isn’t always the answer for healthy houseplants; just like you, your plants can end up getting sunburned if they spend too much time soaking up the rays. You can’t slather them up with sunscreen before you set them in the sun, but there are a few things you can do to prevent leaves from getting scalded by too many rays. Usually, your plants are the most at risk in the spring and summer if you decide to move…

By Katie Laughridge, Tribune News ServiceTroy Warren for CNT #HomeGardenAnother magical holiday season has come to a close. The holidays may still not feel quite like “normal” yet, but I still enjoyed bringing out my favorite decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving to the Christmas finale. Having holiday decor around the house brings in an extra dose of cheer, and I think that was especially called for this year.Now, however, it is time to pack all that glitter and glitz back into the basement until next year. I always feel a bit melancholy seeing the holiday bits and bobs leave my…

By Walter Reeves, For the AJCTroy Warren for CNT #HomeGardenQ: I’ve got a compost tumbler that’s totally full but not composting. I don’t know what to do with my kitchen compostables! Grey East, emailA: It is too cold now for bacteria and fungi to break down stuff in your tumbler. Winter high temperatures in Atlanta average in the 50s. The microbes involved in composting like temperatures in the 60s or higher. The black color of your compost bin helps to absorb heat during the day, but I’m sure it gets cold at night. Depending on how much raw material you…

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionTroy Warren for CNT #HomeGardenSpring cleaning may get all the attention, but it’s winter cleaning you need to pay attention to.From checking the fireplace to cleaning windows, these tasks can often slip by throughout the year but are important in keeping a home free from dirt and germs.“Constantly changing weather conditions and varying temperatures, means we often carry a lot of dirt into our houses,” the team at Helpling, a London-based online cleaning booking company, told House Beautiful U.K. “With most of us now working from home, having a clean house is even more important…

By  Hiranmayi Srinivasan | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden People are spending more time upgrading and maintaining their homes than ever. But high demand, supply shortages, and delays are making repairs more complicated—and pricier. Much like the year before, 2021 continued to see many people spending more time at home, leading to homeowners investing more money into maintaining and upgrading their spaces. According to Angi's 2021 State of Home Spending Report, the average home improvement spending was $10,341 this year—a 25% increase from 2020. Spending on emergency repairs increased 42%, with an average of $2,231 spent on an average of 2.2 projects…

By  Andrea Beck | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Unlike a bouquet of flowers, these adorable indoor plants will keep on growing, just like your affection. You can't go wrong with a bouquet of flowers when you want to show your love to a good friend or life partner, but it's always a little sad to see those pretty blooms shrivel and die so soon (usually in less than two weeks). Instead of a one-and-done cut flower arrangement, you can express your love in a more everlasting way with adorable houseplants that have heart-shape leaves. With a little care, these houseplants will remind…

By  Avery Newmark, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden At the start of a new year, you make resolutions to get in shape, save money, travel, or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home? You know, that place where you’ll spend more time than anywhere else next year? In the spirit of new beginnings, the Spruce has compiled a list of the best home improvement resolutions for the coming year, along with tips on how to stick to them. Create a long-term plan Because most home resolutions aren’t something you have…