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The slow-cooking method of a rice cooker is great for making cheaper cuts of meat tender and delicious. A rice cooker is also good for soups, stews, and curries, and can also cook puddings and sauces. You can prepare ingredients the night before in the lift-out pot and then leave them in the fridge overnight, though it’s best to bring them to room temperature in the morning before cooking. Easy to operate, the best rice cookers come with manual timers or digital control panels....

Even if you are decorating on a budget, there is no reason for your space to look cheap. In many cases, the things that lead to a house looking cheap aren’t even a reflection of wealth, in fact there are many budget friendly ways you can make a home look expensive. What makes a house look cheap Filling a room with matching flatpack; piles of clutter and disproportionate furniture are all factors that can make houses look cheap....

There are different approaches to helping you own less, but if it’s decision-making you’re struggling with, employing the 20/20 rule can be one of the most effective decluttering tips. Designed to help you clear clutter quickly, it saves you time and unnecessary stress, plus builds your confidence in tackling bigger tasks. So, what exactly is the 20/20 rule for decluttering? We’ve quizzed the experts to find out how it works so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s the right strategy for you....

Impressive in shape and size, these sprawling vines are amongst the easiest vegetables to grow, and are perfect zucchini companion plants. Sow in spring and plant out after the last frosts, they will soon set about producing up to four or five pear-shaped fruit per plant. Pale tan in color with bright orange flesh inside, the fast-developing squash are a hungry crop and will benefit from regular watering and feeding once they have flowered....

Hostas (plantain lilies) have sizeable leaves that inject woodland borders with verdant structure in spring, summer, and fall, and along with knowhow about how to plant hostas, the detail of when to plant them is essential. Our guide has the answers you need to enjoy their unique, lush foliage in your flower bed ideas, along with advice from the experts. When to plant hostas The gorgeous green of hostas is welcome in a backyard, and some gardeners fall deeply for them, gradually building up a collection of different leaf textures, shapes, colors, and sizes, which look stunning growing side by side in a tapestry of green....

Holly tree pruning should be carried out at least yearly to help shape the tree and prevent its sharp leaves from growing wildly over other plants and flowers. Because most varieties of these plants are some of the best evergreen shrubs, it is important to maintain their shape year round. Luckily, when done properly, pruning holly bushes is simple, making them a brilliant addition to your garden ideas. When to prune holly bushes The best time to prune holly bushes is in late spring, around April, when the chances of frosts are low....

While it is important to know when to plant lavender for your plants to take root and establish impressive blooms, transplanting lavender is a key plant care tip that can help to extend its lifespan by providing it with fresh nutrients, protecting it from bad weather, and ensuring that it has enough space to grow so that your flower bed ideas continue to have lush purple plants. Below, you can learn when to transplant lavender for thriving perennial plants with these experts’ advice....

While it is easy to see the appeal behind basil – its distinct flavors and aromatic scents make it irresistible – but wilting is one of the first signs of a problem. Knowing how to grow basil expertly is a great way to encourage a healthy crop, but wilting basil remains a common problem for gardeners of all levels. So, if this problem poses a threat to your herb garden ideas, this why it’s happening and how to revive wilted basil....

‘We settled on Winchester, southern England, where I’d lived and farmed close by for about 20 years earlier in my life,’ says Tony. ‘I have a great fondness for this ancient city with its historic cathedral and fascinating history, surrounded by Hampshire’s most beautiful countryside.’ The couple bought a three-bedroom house, in a surprisingly quiet location close to the center of the city, with wonderful views of the cathedral, St....

See: The color wheel – H&G’s guide to color theory Emma Deterding, Founder and Creative Director of Kelling Designs (opens in new tab) and KDLoves (opens in new tab), has created her guide to adding color – and pattern – to your home with ease. 1. Opt for statement walls An easy way to introduce color to any room is to go bold with your walls. Whether you opt for a beautiful, bright paint color, or choose a wallpaper in a vivid tone, you can really transform a room quickly and easily....

Naturally a great place to start is at Etsy (opens in new tab), whose virtual hub showcases a host of talented independent designers and craftspeople from around the globe. Many of these are of African descent, who create beautiful home accessories inspired by their rich cultural heritage and traditions. Whether you’re treating yourself or looking for something unique as a Christmas gift, the site is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration....

As far as pantry ideas go, extra large pantries offer many opportunities to create a streamlined, designer look in the kitchen. We’ve asked experienced house flippers and design experts to give their top tips for adding an extra large pantry in a way that will help maintain a refined style. Why are extra large pantries so popular with buyers? The demand for extra large and walk-in pantries has soared during the pandemic, and no wonder – we’re all doing more cooking and store more ingredients at home, and cramming kitchen cabinets with all the extras just isn’t cutting it....

Of course, it can do a lot more besides, including whisking, creaming, even making ice cream, but it’s clear that this mixer has thrown in enough muscle to make multiple loaves at once, which is something you won’t always find with key stand mixer brands. We were taken by the design, which had a retro feel and comes in 12 colors. The design is practical, too, with a somewhat low and long base that means it will sit happily under kitchen counters....

And a basement extension has plenty of potential. It could be used as an additional living room or a home movie theater, create space for guests, add a playroom for kids, or a games room for all ages, a home office, a crafts room, and more. But crucial to whether it’s the right project for your home is the cost of a basement conversion cost – we’ve called on an expert to provide the lowdown so that your basement ideas can become reality....

See: Cottage garden ideas – wonderful ways to create the look When you step into the quaint cottage garden, the first thing that strikes you is the abundance of life that fills the small plot: the neatly ordered raised beds are bursting with color and variety, with everything from trailing sweetpeas and vibrant dahlias, to luscious kale leaves and the pink stems of rhubarb. It is a mixture of order and apparent chaos, much like nature itself, but one in which everything is thriving....

So, we asked – do you love or hate brick wall ideas? See: Kitchen ideas – decor and decorating ideas for all kitchens When the styling team at Country Homes & Interiors created their latest decorating article, they photographed two versions of one look. The first featured an exposed brick wall, and the second featured Morris & Co (opens in new tab) wallpaper. The brick look was chosen for the magazine, but both images were posted on the @countryhomes (opens in new tab) Instagram page, where followers were asked to name their favorite....

We love a good period drama – from the gripping storylines to the beautiful costumes, there’s lots to fall in love with, and no more so than the stunning settings that bring the whole world to life. While Pemberley, Downton Abbey and Bridgerton House may be fictional, the houses which stood in for them on screen are definitely not – and they’re just as inspiring in real-life. So why not visit the real-life houses behind your favorite British period dramas?...

The grand estate first entered the market in February (for the same asking price), but it was later reduced to $21.9 million before it was taken off the market entirely in September, according to listing records. The Scottish DJ moved to the prestigious Los Angeles neighborhood after success in the international music industry. He first rose to fame after producing songs for other artists, in 2011 and 2012, and his key hits include One Kiss with Dua Lipa, I Need Your Love with Ellie Goulding, and Summer....

This exceptional mansion – which was belonged to Dame Barbara Cartland – boasts approximately 8,513 sq ft of superb accommodation set across five floors, with an impressive outdoor terrace space. After a year as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express, Dame Barbara Cartland published her first novel, Jigsaw (1923), a risqué society thriller that became a bestseller. She also began writing and producing somewhat racy plays, one of which, Blood Money (1926), was banned by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office....

He is professionally known as David Linely, and founded LINLEY in 1985. See:An Edwardian apartment in London with a Parisian feel The new LINLEY apartments are dressed with bespoke furniture and accessories, and showcase the finest in British design and craftsmanship. The Grade II listed 1 Queen Anne’s Gate in St James’s Park was originally the abode of the British Foreign Secretary, as marked with a familiar blue plaque – ‘Viscount Grey of Falloden, 1862-1933 lived here’....