Jody Minns's Stories

Thursday, August 6, 2020

‘Queer Eye’ Bobby Berk’s Best DIY Ideas for Your Home This Summer

Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” now in its fifth season, has the Fab Five busier than ever helping people make a fresh start. Part of these transformations, of course, involve renovating and redecorating their clients’ homes—courtesy of interior designer Bobby Berk.

In each episode, Berk turns disorganized, outdated spaces (primarily in Philadelphia) into chic show-stoppers where people are proud to live. What’s more, his upgrades are tend to be fairly easy to do and affordable, providing plenty of decor ideas for us all.

Need some fabulous inspiration for your next home improvement project? Read on to find out some of Berk’s best home decor moves from Season 5, which could amp up your own abode this summer.

Pass-through shelves can help separate a large space

queer eye — Before: This room is large, but it didn’t seem livable.
Netflix

In Season 5’s season premiere, “Preaching Out Loud,” the Fab Five help Pastor Noah fix up his temporary living space within the church where he works.

While his space is simply a storage area when the team first sees the place, Berk is able to transform this church’s spare room into Noah’s personal sanctuary.

One particularly great organization feature Berk brings into play is a large bookshelf that separates Noah’s desk from his sleeping area.

The ample storage will help Noah keep his room tidy, and in addition, the shelf has pass-through holes that help keep the space feeling open, while still providing Noah with the illusion of a separate office.

This shelf is a great way to add a sense of separation to any large room, while also preventing it from feeling closed off. It could work to carve out work and sleep areas, kitchen, and dining areas, and so much more—a stylish way to keep things organized but still open.

A home office shouldn’t look like a dorm room

In the episode “DJ’s on Repeat,” Berk and the rest of the crew help Ryan make his home feel a little more grown-up.

Ryan splits his time working as a property manager by day, and a DJ by night. He’s stuck between the youthful party life he’s always loved and the professional future he’s hoping for. And, as Berk learns, Ryan’s home also seems to be stuck between these two worlds.

While Ryan does have a dedicated office space, the room is disorganized and cluttered. It doesn’t even look like an office space, except that it has a small desk in the corner.

Berk revamps the area by cleaning up the room, repainting the walls a relaxed blue, and making the room’s centerpiece a large desk. The new layout and furniture makes the space feel more like a professional setting, making it the perfect place for Ryan to focus on his work.

Pay attention to outdoor areas, too

In “Silver Lining Sweeney,” Jennifer steals the Fab Five’s hearts with her story of resilience. This supermom is dedicated to taking care of her three daughters and her husband, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease.

She tells the team that her front yard is important to her because she and her husband can no longer go out to bars, due to his declining health, so the couple often socialize with friends in this outdoor space.

At first, the space is plain and looks a little unloved. So, Berk freshens it up with some simple cosmetic changes.

He replaces the shabby table and chairs with some new furniture, paints the black porch stair railing white, upgrades the house with a new front door, and even adds homey features like an outdoor rug and a planter box.

These upgrades may not take a lot of time or effort, but they make a big difference to the home. It looks as if Jennifer and her husband now have an even more fabulous place to invite friends over!

Paint and wallpaper go a long way

This green accent wall makes the living room stand out.
Netflix

In the episode “Paging Dr. Yi,” the crew meets Lilly, who’s pulling double duty as both a pediatric doctor and a mom. To top it all off, she and her family have just moved.

However, with her busy schedule, Lilly hasn’t been able to settle into her new home. This is hard because, growing up, she admits she was never allowed to decorate the walls of her room, so she always felt halfway moved in.

So, Berk goes all out when it comes to the wall decor. He gives Lilly’s new living room a stunning green accent wall, does a wood treatment on one of her bedroom walls, and even gives her daughter’s room a beautiful wallpaper accent.

These design choices are perfect for this home, because the feature walls make each room feel unique and special. Simply with some wallpaper and a simple coat of paint, Berk proves that a new house can quickly feel like home.

Hide clutter behind cupboards

Before: This kitchen was cramped and cluttered.
Netflix

When the Fab Five meet Nate on the episode “Body Rock or Bust,” Berk knows right away that he has a lot of work to do.

Nate owns a gym and lives in a back room. While this might make his commute easy, the living space is small, so the area feels cluttered.

So Berk gives Nate’s apartment a whole new look, transforming the messy kitchen into a stylish cooking space.

While the kitchen seemed tiny before, the new cabinetry makes the same space feel sleek.

The secret? Berk explains that a small space like this calls for a trick of the eye: vertical lines to bring the eye up.

He shows that this can be accomplished by hiding drawers behind cabinets.

The drawers keep things organized within, but out of sight, behind the tall cabinet doors. This ultimately makes the space feel much less cluttered.

The post ‘Queer Eye’ Bobby Berk’s Best DIY Ideas for Your Home This Summer appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

‘Good Bones’ Reveals the Fastest, Cheapest Home Makeover Ever

On “Good Bones,” Mina Starsiak and her mother, Karen Laine, are used to cutting corners on their reno budget. But in the latest episode of their show, they remodel a designer’s home—and let’s just say he wants a whole lot done!

In “MJ’s Dream Home,” Starsiak and Laine visit designer MJ and his husband, Andrew, who’ve just bought a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house in Wolfington, IN, for $160,000.

While the home is livable, this couple wants tons of upgrades that would normally jack the reno budget sky-high. Nonetheless, Starsiak and Laine are given only $60,000 for the renovation. In renovation terms, that’s not much money, given the amount of work they need to accomplish.

Read on to learn how Starsiak and Laine deliver a whole new house without blowing their budget—and how you can make a few changes around your house without spending a ton, too.

The fastest, cheapest home makeover: A new coat of paint

MJ and Andrew’s new home already looks quaint and charming, but it may just be too traditional for this couple.

So, Starsiak decides that the fastest and most budget-friendly makeover she can offer for the whole house is simply a new coat of paint in more modern colors.

They decide to paint the shutters black and gray, then they update the brick with a light beige. Once the paint dries, it looks like an entirely new house! As far as transformations go, this one was pretty easy, quick, and cost-effective.

“The secret to it is that’s all lime-washed,” MJ says. “So the brick, over time, will actually expose a little bit here and there.”

The lime wash adds some age and character to the house, without letting it look outdated.

As far as this home’s makeover goes, it looks as if they’re already off to a great start.

Sometimes budget flooring is better

When MJ and Andrew bought their home, they were under the impression that there was concrete subfloor in the sunroom. However, when Starsiak and her team rip up the hardwood flooring, they find that the subfloor is simply wood.

This is disappointing, because MJ wanted to put stone floors into this space, and without the concrete subfloor, this would simply be too expensive.

So, Starsiak decides to install the next best thing: EVP flooring, or vinyl flooring, that looks like stone. MJ isn’t thrilled with the compromise at first, but Starsiak convinces him that the EVP will be great.

“I know it’s EVP, and you’re not hyped about that,” Starsiak tells MJ, “but I think it’s a way better option than stone for cost and coldness underfoot.”

When the renovation is finished, the floors look amazing. Not only has MJ finally come around to the idea of EVP flooring, but Andrew isn’t even able to tell the difference between this flooring and genuine stone.

Create a kitchen island that stands out

MJ and Andrew are determined to give their home a healthy blend of both modern and traditional, but MJ has begun to realize that finding the right balance between the two styles can be a challenge, especially in the kitchen.

After they decide on light floors and light kitchen cabinets, MJ decides he wants a high-impact countertop on the kitchen island.

“I want the island to be a big statement,” MJ says, “and I want it to be the most organic dark stone I can find.”

In the end, MJ is happy with the dark stone, and so is Starsiak. When she reveals the finished product to Andrew, it’s clear she’s proud to show off this feature.

“The real showstopper in the kitchen is the matte black stone on the massive island,” Starsiak says, “which will be perfect for entertaining.”

Arches add a classic vibe

MJ has his heart set on adding arches into his home design, saying, “I really am lacking arches—and arches are like my favorite thing ever.”

Starsiak knows that this is an odd style choice. Arches are usually considered to be a little dated, with many designers preferring clean square edges.

Starsiak even admits that she and Laine usually spend time taking arches out of homes, not putting them in.

Still, MJ is determined.

“I wanted to have some kind of design element that was more traditional or classic,” MJ explains. “And I think arched bookshelves in the living room will achieve that in a really beautiful way.”

So, the team commissions some custom bookshelves that will fit perfectly in the room. The shelves may have an old-fashioned look, but they fit in well in the modern room.

“I think it really makes the room,” Andrew says.

A red brick fireplace can look timeless

Classic red-brick fireplaces can feel dated in some homes, but MJ wants to embrace the traditional look by stripping the white paint from his living room fireplace.

He and Laine get to work, applying a paint stripper and then using an angle grinder to clean off the brick.

With the paint gone, the fireplace looks completely different. Instead of feeling old-fashioned, the brick makes the living room look timeless.

In the end, MJ and Andrew love their new space—and what’s more, the renovation finishes up right on budget. Starsiak and Laine manage to overhaul the whole house for $60,000, proving that home makeovers don’t have to cost a fortune.

The post ‘Good Bones’ Reveals the Fastest, Cheapest Home Makeover Ever appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

10 Surprising Features Inside the Property Brothers’ Own Homes

Drew and Jonathan Scott of “Property Brothers” are known for their gorgeous home renovations on their many HGTV series, from the original show to “Brother vs. Brother” and beyond.

But what do their own homes look like?

In case you’re wondering how Jonathan and Drew decorate their personal spaces, here’s a gander at the features they deemed important enough to add. Some are pretty surprising—and not something you’d normally see in their clients’ homes.

We can see why the Scott siblings have them, though, and why you might be inspired to add them to your own abode.

Surprising things in the Scotts’ Las Vegas home:

1. A sunken outdoor sitting space

The Scott brothers must love sitting by this pool.
HGTV

Drew and Jonathan share a house in Las Vegas—and back in 2014, they revealed a renovation to the property in their series “The Property Brothers at Home.”

The house itself is masculine but comfortable, with lots of dark tones and cozy furniture, but the real show-stopper is the outside space.

The pool is ideal for hot summers in Las Vegas, and the area includes a sunken sitting space great for relaxing after a long day in the sun.

With a large white L-shaped couch and a stunning stone fire feature (which doubles as a coffee table) this space is as luxurious as it is practical.

“The yard is not finished unless it’s functional,” Drew said as they installed the white couch. “You need seating, you need tables, and we have some great stuff.”

Of course, while the brothers would certainly recommend seating in their clients’ outdoor space, this sunken sitting space isn’t a design feature the brothers are likely to put in their HGTV clients’ yards. It’s a luxe look that requires a large backyard and a great big budget.

Still, it’s perfect for the Scotts themselves.

2. An outdoor dining room

While Drew and Jonathan already have a great sitting space in the backyard of their Las Vegas home, they also decided to add a beautiful outdoor dining space, perfect for poolside lunches.

This space is clean and sleek, with a dark patio cover for shade and a gray feature wall that contains both a TV and a fireplace.

“It looks awesome, in the end, and I can picture our whole family out there dining,” Drew said.

3. A curved kitchen island

Drew and Jonathan made sure their Las Vegas digs had a large kitchen, and it has one style choice that truly stands out: a curved kitchen island.

“The countertops are great,” Drew said when they first started renovating the house.

In fact, the brothers found the counters and the curved island so superb that they left them just as they found them. They only changed up the cabinets and added some stools.

This rounded island gave the sitting space a more intimate vibe. Each bar stool, instead of facing forward, curved in slightly. That allowed each person to see everyone around the counter, perfect for kitchen island conversation. Smart move, brothers!

Surprising things in Drew’s honeymoon home:

4. A fireplace in an unconventional shape

In “The Property Brothers at Home: Drew’s Honeymoon House,” the Scott siblings renovated the Los Angeles home owned by Drew and his wife, Linda Phan. Since a fireplace is often a romantic focal point, it makes sense that they put some effort into making it unique.

It turns out that the home’s original fireplace from 1921 had a firebox with an interesting peaked cutout. So the Scott brothers kept it as is, and simply cleaned up the rest.

“Being able to keep that original feature and the original shape is amazing,” Jonathan noted.

5. A whole wall of built-ins

It seems no Property Brothers house is complete without a few built-ins. Drew and Jonathan know that shelves can provide convenient storage around a fireplace or in a media room, so they often include built-ins in their clients’ living rooms.

For Drew’s honeymoon home, however he wanted his built-ins to be more of a statement piece, so in the dining room, he filled a whole wall with white built-ins.

“This was a unique feature that we wanted to add in,” Drew explained, adding that he and Linda like to travel and wanted a place to store their collectibles.

For an extra artistic look, they made sure many of the items stored in this wall were white, too.

6. A statement hood vent

Drew’s honeymoon kitchen also turned out very chic, with black and gold tones all around, a big island, and beautiful windows, for plenty of natural light.

But perhaps one of the best features in this space is one that is usually forgotten: the oven vent hood. Vent hoods are typically designed to blend into the background, but this one popped.

In an intense shade of black and with some shiny gold accents that echoed the light fixtures, this vent hood pulled the kitchen together.

“We wanted to make sure, no matter where you are in the main living space, that you see one big focal point, and that’s the range and the vent hood,” Drew said as he presented the renovated kitchen.

7. A black-and-white patio

Drew’s honeymoon home is stunning inside, but what about outside?

The Scotts took a big risk with the back patio, choosing intricate black-and-white tile for the flooring and a black-and-white striped awning. It was certainly a bold design, but the combination worked.

“I love the mosaic tile,” Drew said, showing off the space. Linda added that one of her favorite pieces was the awning.

“As soon as we added this,” she said, “it created just so much usable space.”

Surprising things in Jonathan’s quarantine home with Zooey Deschanel:

8. A statement coffee table

View this post on Instagram

We need your suggestions for the best board games! Why don't you text me your favorites? My number is 702-707-6046. (Yes, I'm serious. I may even have another exclusive chat this weekend with anyone who texts me!) PS – who do you think is the board game champion: me or @zooeydeschanel? #hometogether

A post shared by Jonathan Silver Scott (@jonathanscott) on Apr 16, 2020 at 3:55pm PDT

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Jonathan and his girlfriend, Zooey Deschanel, decided to quarantine together.

It’s not clear whether they shacked up at his place, hers, or at a totally different abode elsewhere, but they’ve been posting plenty of photos that show the home’s interior—which is gorgeous, in true Scott brothers fashion.

One feature that stands out in this space is the statement coffee table. It seems that Deschanel and Jonathan are often using it for board games during quarantine, but the table also serves as a beautiful accent piece, next to a plain white couch.

With a complex geometric pattern and a dark, moody color, it’s the perfect accent for an otherwise light room.

9. An electric piano

View this post on Instagram

I have filled this unexpected down time with catching up on work but also enjoying activities that I don’t always have time to do. Like I said on our IG Live last week with @mrdrewscott and @imlindork, I'm determined to play the piano. Any song suggestions for a beginner? Remember, I'm an old dog learning a new trick! #HomeTogether

A post shared by Jonathan Silver Scott (@jonathanscott) on Apr 8, 2020 at 3:07pm PDT

Quarantine is a good opportunity to stay in and learn a new skill, and it seems Jonathan has chosen his new hobby.

As he said in one Instagram post, “I’m determined to play the piano.”

But who has the space to fit a full piano in their home, especially with the whole family staying in all the time?

Jonathan proved that a home could have the benefit of a keyboard without taking up too much room, by getting an electric piano. It’s not only smaller than a full piano, but less noisy—earphone jacks allow Jonathan to practice without disturbing others.

10. Floor-to-ceiling windows

View this post on Instagram

Hope everybody had a safe & happy Easter and gave extra ❤️ to those you care about. #BeSafe #BeKind #Easter

A post shared by Jonathan Silver Scott (@jonathanscott) on Apr 13, 2020 at 10:37am PDT

Drew and Jonathan are always trying to bring natural light into a home, so it’s no surprise Jonathan chose to shelter in place in a home that has beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows (and a patio to boot).

The windows fill the living room with light, and provide great views of the greenery outside.

The post 10 Surprising Features Inside the Property Brothers’ Own Homes appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Monday, August 3, 2020

Pandemic Purge! 8 Things To Declutter From Your Apocalypse Stockpile

declutter pandemic — Kai und Kristin Fotografie/Getty Images

It’s been a crazy year, and if recent events have put your hoarding habits into overdrive, well, you’d be forgiven. After a weird spring and even weirder summer, you’re not the only one who’s been compiling random stacks of stuff “just in case.”

Takeout containers, Amazon boxes, used paper masks, and even wooden chopsticks are among the offenders that have taken up seemingly permanent residency in our homes.

That’s why we spoke with home organization and tiny-living experts from all over the country to bring you this list of things that it’s time to ditch. If you’re ready to say buh-bye to your apocalypse stockpile, here are eight things to toss, for the ultimate pandemic purge.

1. Office clothing

Summer is always a good time to go through old clothing, and that’s especially true this season. With so many of us working from home, you may find your closet overflowing with things you can’t imagine ever wearing again—even when (or if) the office does open up.

“Going through clothing before each season creates awareness of the items you already own, but may have forgotten,” says home organizer Katie Barton, of Cabin Lane. “Trash any clothing that has holes or stains and sell or donate the rest.”

If you have a lot to get rid of, Barton says she’s had great success selling clothing in “bundles” through Facebook Marketplace or in local consignment shops.

Sell or donate: Sell your unwanted clothes online, or find the nearest drop box to donate them.

2. Excess canned goods

Photo by Abundance Organizing

Remember when it felt as if we might never be able to shop for fresh veggies again?

With grocery stores mostly back to full stock, it’s time to get rid of some of those extra canned goods you’ve been storing these past few months—especially the expired or unappetizing ones (we see you, store-brand SpaghettiOs).

“Your pantry is probably looking a bit in need of help right now,” says Jen Breitegan, owner of Organizenvy.

“How many cans of crushed pineapple or kidney beans do you have left? I’m betting quite a few. Be honest about the canned and boxed items you bought in a panic but your family didn’t eat, and then donate them to local food banks.”

Donate: Find your closest food bank with Feeding America.

3. All the takeout freebies

When restaurants went to takeout and delivery only, it wasn’t just the excess food that filled our kitchens. Free utensils, plastic bags, condiment packets, and the takeout containers they all came in—and we’re betting you still have quite a few of those things lying around.

“I’ve heard of people hoarding paper napkins and plastic eating utensils they receive with takeout orders,” says Breitegan. “Again, be honest about how many sets of chopsticks your family really needs, and see if you can cut your stash by at least half.”

Recycle: Free up some of your cabinet space by recycling any takeout extras you (realistically) won’t ever need.

4. Pandemic reads

We all had high ambitions when the stay-at-home orders started—like finally reading Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time” or learning how to expertly debone quail, thanks to a library of recent cookbooks. But if all those hefty volumes have been sitting gathering dust for months, it may be time to store, sell, or donate them.

“Books take up lots of space, and can start to smell and leave a musty scent in a room if left for too long,” says Christine Wilcox of LettingGoLivingMore.

“I love the feel of a real book in my hand, but I only keep those that are really important to me. Everything else goes to the thrift shop for someone else to enjoy.”

Donate: Go through your book collection and put together a box for donation to your local library or favorite (used) bookseller.

5. Items from unfulfilled hobbies

Much like the books, you also probably had high hopes for the many ambitious new hobbies you’d take on during lockdown. Knitting? Guitar? Competitive Quidditch? Snow-globe making? If you’re more of a Netflix all-star, like us, it might be time to own up to it and free up the space for more useful things.

“If you’ve been able to leave the house to play a sport and still haven’t done so, maybe it’s time to accept that the dusty tennis racket is never going to get used,” says Wilcox. “Sell old sporting equipment or donate to a local school, and use the space for the new hobbies in your life.”

Sell or donate: Post your stuff on Facebook Marketplace to sell, or consider making a donation to your local youth center or school.

6. Busted art and office supplies

Photo by NEAT Method

“It’s not uncommon for parents to end up with baskets full of broken crayons, eraserless pens, and markers missing the caps,” says Barton.

“Throw out the things that don’t work, so that you know what needs to be replaced. This is also a good rainy-day activity for kids.”

Trash: Do yourself (and little ones) a favor by purging any busted office and art supplies, and free up some of that at-home office space in time for the school year ahead.

7. Old cosmetics

If your former beauty regimen has gone the au naturel route in the past few months, it’s probably a good time to reassess which cosmetics you actually need in your bathroom, and which ones are ready to be tossed.

“Go through old makeup, especially anything that’s expired,” says Lindsey Maxwell, co-founder at Where You Make It. “You might not want to waste it, but using expired makeup could cause breakouts and other skin issues.”

Recycle: Pull out your old makeup and cosmetics, and then send those little plastic tubs straight to the recycling bin.

8. Delivery packaging

Since Amazon and other online stores have been getting so much of our business this past few months, it’s worth taking a minute to assess how much packaging you may still have lying around. Bubble Wrap and cardboard boxes won’t really help in any emergency situation we can think of, so it’s best to just toss them now.

“It may seem wasteful to throw away perfectly good boxes, but as they collect, infestation can occur,” says Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer for The Cleaning Authority. “Mice, bed bugs, and even raccoons can find their way to any appealing pile of trash, turning your garage into their home.”

Recycle: Take all those empty boxes and throw them into the recycling bin ASAP!

The post Pandemic Purge! 8 Things To Declutter From Your Apocalypse Stockpile appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

A Tour of Martha Stewart’s Garden—and Her Planting Pet Peeve

In these months of quarantine, many people have turned to gardening as a way to keep busy—while they keep their social distance from the rest of the world. As it turns out, the home and garden expert Martha Stewart has been doing the same, just on a much bigger scale.

In the past few months, Stewart has been filling her time gardening at her 150-acre farm in Bedford, NY. Now, she’s turned her quarantine activity into a new show: Her gardening series, “Martha Knows Best,” premiered on HGTV on July 31 and will be airing new episodes on Fridays at 10 p.m.

For the series premiere, Stewart doubled down with back-to-back episodes, titled “Vegetable Garden” and “Container Gardens.”

She gives viewers a peek at her beautiful farm, shows off her gardens with her gardener Ryan (no social distancing there, so we have to assume he is part of her social bubble), and even helps both the rapper Snoop Dogg and Antoni Porowski of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” with some tips on growing their own potted plants.

Read on to find out what advice Stewart gives these celebrities, plus, get some great tricks for your own quarantine gardening.

Use Bubble Wrap to save on soil

Martha Stewart and Antoni — Stewart, and her gardener Ryan (right), talk to Antoni Porowski (left) about apartment-friendly plants over video chat.
HGTV

In the “Martha Knows Best” season opener, titled “Vegetable Garden,” Stewart video chats with Porowski, best known as the chef on the hit Netflix show “Queer Eye.”

Porowski is hoping to grow some vegetables in his New York apartment and asks for Stewart’s advice on getting started with potted plants.

When Porowski shows Stewart a large, empty pot, she tells him to fill half of the pot with Bubble Wrap before pouring in the soil. She explains that without that packing material as a cushion, he’d end up adding way more soil than his vegetables need.

“You would have used twice as much soil, and unnecessarily, so I’m saving you the price of at least one bag of potting soil.”

It’s a great money-saving tip, and Porowski is impressed.

Get your soil tested

Also in this episode, Stewart takes a video call from Mitch in Lemoore, CA. While he has a sunny yard, he can’t seem to get his garden up to snuff. His vegetables are dying, and Mitch can’t figure out what he’s doing wrong.

Right away, Stewart asks about Mitch’s soil. When Mitch turns the camera to his garden, Stewart knows right away that the dirt isn’t up to snuff.

“Yeah, see, it’s way too hard,” Stewart says. “Nothing can grow in that.”

She also says that it often helps to get the soil tested.

“First thing to do is take off the grass, dig up some soil,” Stewart says. “You can have it tested by the local extension at any university. You should have a pH of about 6.5, 6.7.”

Use the right tools

When Stewart and her gardener, Ryan, are preparing to plant some vegetables, she says that one of her top planting pet peeves is when people don’t use the right gardening tools.

“It makes the job so much harder,” she says.

Stewart points out that she and Ryan are using a shovel and a spade, which look alike, and could be easy to confuse.

However, a shovel has an angled bottom with a concave shape (perfect for digging up dirt), while the spade is a flat tool with a straight edge (which is great for cutting).

“So, a spade cuts. A shovel lifts,” Stewart says. “Easy. Remember that.”

Use the right pot for the right plant

Martha and Snoop Dogg — Stewart and Snoop Dogg talk tomatoes on video chat.
HGTV

In the next episode, “Container Gardens,” Stewart focuses on creating the perfect container plants.

She takes a video call from her friend Snoop Dogg, who’s hoping to plant some tomatoes in a pot.

Snoop Dogg has a few different pots of different sizes, and he and Stewart choose one that looks big enough for his tomato plant.

Stewart instructs the rapper to cover up the hole at the bottom with a stone so the soil doesn’t fall out, then tells him to loosen the roots of the tomato plant a bit.

However, by the time Snoop Dogg is finally putting the tomato plant in the container, Stewart realizes their mistake: The pot is too small.

“Nope,” she says, “it has to go way down. Find a slightly bigger pot.”

The new pot works much better, allowing Snoop Dogg to add extra soil around the plant and giving it lots of room to grow.

In the end, the container plant looks perfect, and Stewart tells Snoop Dogg he can expect fresh tomatoes in about 30 days.

Utilize spacers for proper drainage

Also in this episode, Stewart tends to her own container plants. She plants some succulents in a long, rectangular container and tops her plants with some lovely gravel, to personalize the look.

While these container plants may look finished, Stewart explains that there’s one more step she needs to take, to help with drainage.

“The last thing you do after you plant your containers is put in spacers,” Stewart says, putting small wooden sticks under her container to lift it up.

“You don’t want to see these spacers, necessarily,” Stewart explains, “but you do want to have the space, so that the drainage is free.”

Choose shade-loving plants for a shady area

In this episode, Stewart takes another video call, this time from Maggie in Mendenhall, MS.

Maggie explains that she just moved into a new home and wants to plant something in her flower boxes, but doesn’t know what to choose.

She explains that this part of the house is in shade 99% of the day and that she’s worried nothing will grow here.

Stewart says Maggie has lots of options, like ferns, Solomon’s seal, and colorful sweet potato vines. Still, she tells Maggie to start simple.

“Try some ferns to start,” she says.

It’s no wonder Stewart’s farm is so beautiful—it seems she knows everything about plants! Her advice is sure to help her fellow quarantine gardeners grow some fantastic foliage.

The post A Tour of Martha Stewart’s Garden—and Her Planting Pet Peeve appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

BULKY ITEMS | Storage and Organization Solutions

Exclusive: ‘Build Me Up’ Host Orlando Soria Reveals the Hidden Powers of Home Design

Ever notice how making changes around your home can give you a fresh outlook on life? That’s the premise behind a new HGTV show, “Build Me Up,” starring interior designer Orlando Soria.

In the series, Soria (whom you may recognize from his previous gigs on “Unspouse My House” and “Secrets From a Stylist”) helps homeowners who’ve undergone a big life change such as divorce or death in the family. Through home design, he helps them hit the reset button.

We talked with Soria about the healing potential of interior design, and heard his top tips for creating a happy home environment.

How did you get started in interior design?

I spent my entire life designing spaces without really knowing it. My first “design” memory is painting my bathroom when I was around 7. My parents let me paint it whatever color I wanted. My memory is that I did it myself, though looking back I must have had help.

Which colors did you choose?

Peach, pink, and turquoise. I realized my mistake immediately and learned an important lesson: Just because you like a color doesn’t mean it belongs on your wall. I learned you kind of have to pick your battles and allow certain parts of the room to shine while others create the palette.

Starting early gave me a foot up when I started professionally designing 10 years ago. I just kept doing it and eventually realized, “Hey, I am naturally good at this and I’ve been doing it instinctively my whole life—why not make it a career?” Ultimately that led to my show “Build Me Up.”

Why do you think home design is so important to your clients?

Through working with clients on “Build Me Up,” I’ve seen just how powerful a home transformation can be for a client, how it can take someone who’s feeling down in the dumps and make them feel like they have another shot at happiness. It sounds simplistic, but having a beautiful home can be really healing for someone going through a trauma.

Have you ever changed your own space during a big transition?

During my last breakup, I moved from a home I’d renovated with my ex into an apartment. My old place had been sleek and contemporary. For my new apartment, I wanted a space that had more history and character, so I chose a beautiful French chateau–style building. The style of it was such a departure. And it gave me so many opportunities to explore new aspects of my design personality.

What did you learn during that time?

I learned that there are a lot of great things about designing a space on your own: You don’t have to worry about the needs or desires of anyone else. You can be kind of selfish, and that’s so fun. And the design process is a distraction. Instead of thinking about everything in your past, you’re thinking about the future, what you’ll do in your new space, who will be there with you, and what types of activities you want to do there. All that forward thinking is such a positive experience and helps you move on.

That’s why I wanted to make “Build Me Up.” I wanted to pay forward the positive elements of my postbreakup home makeover to other people and, in doing so, help them heal from whatever might be troubling them.

For those on a budget, what rooms or home features should homeowners start with?

I always tell people to spend money on things you notice, things you touch, places where your eye naturally goes when you enter a room. So I like to give people the advice of changing out their door hardware, light fixtures, faucets, and things like that.

Do you have any advice for people just starting their home design journey?

My advice to people getting started with designing a space is to make one decision first without worrying about the rest of the room. I think people get overwhelmed by thinking about everything at once, and then get so crippled with fear that they can’t make any decisions.

What happens after you make that first design decision?

All the other decisions get so much easier. For example, if you pick a blue rug, you know what sofa can go with that, what coffee table will contrast nicely. Make one decision based on a foundational piece you love, and the rest will get way easier.

What advice would you give people for making design changes on their own during quarantine?

You can do so much without leaving the house, it’s amazing! I’ve been doing a ton of indoor gardening, ordering plants and pots online, and it’s added so much life to my home. Making small changes can really make a difference.

I also swapped out my bedding, and my bedroom felt completely different. Even just getting new tea towels in the kitchen refreshes the room. It doesn’t have to be a full-on overhaul to make your home feel revived.

What home design mistakes do you see most often?

Scale is the No. 1 issue I see in clients’ houses. Usually it’s that they buy furniture that’s too big in hopes that it will make their house feel “luxe.” It usually does the opposite and just makes their house feel tiny. Trust me, a smaller sofa in a smaller living room looks a lot better than a huge one you can’t walk around.

How can you make sure a new furniture piece will be the right size?

Look up an item’s proportions online and use blue painter’s tape to dimension them out onto the floor. Or you can buy butcher block paper and cut out the footprint of your furniture to see where it might fit.

How do you feel looking back on the projects you did for ‘Build Me Up’?

I could not be prouder of this show. Our goal with every episode was to make our homeowners really happy and to change their lives. When you see it, you’ll see that people really do change from start to finish.

I think right now, more than ever, it’s just nice to see people taking care of each other, listening, and helping each other through challenges.

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