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“The two most common types of sheet weaves are percale and sateen,” says Byron Golub, director of product and merchandising at Saatva. “Of the two, percale is the more breathable option. Here’s the technical reason why: percale uses a one-yarn-over, one-yarn-under design. It produces a fabric with a matte finish that allows for excellent airflow between the threads.” To find the best percale sheets, our in-house testers evaluated more than a dozen different percale sheet sets at our lab in Des Moines....

Whether you’re thinking about a traditional ironing board, a tabletop board, or another option, the best ironing board or ironing surface provides a smooth spot to lay your clothes flat to achieve the best wrinkle and crease-free results. It should feel sturdy, not wobbly, and most importantly, it shouldn’t be difficult to fold up and put away. “A wobbly ironing board just isn’t safe, especially if you have small children around, because you don’t want a hot and heavy iron to fall on anyone,” notes Helen Sattler, owner of The Sassi Seamstress and head designer for True Earth Clothing....

Raking leaves manually can take a long time and a lot of elbow grease. With a good leaf blower, the job can be done in a fraction of the time. Sean Khandker, owner of InsideOut Gardening, Landscaping, and Maintenance Services, suggests choosing a leaf blower based on what you want to do with the leaves afterward. “Fallen leaves can really be useful as mulch,” Khandker says. “So if you want to nourish your flower beds or use the leaves in a compost heap, choose a leaf blower with a vacuum capacity and a collection bag....

But there is good reason to get your shower in order. First, it can help you relax and alleviate stress as you wash the day away. Plus, with less to move out of the way, it’s easier to clean your shower. Lastly, decluttering your shower makes it easy to identify and remove expired products. Ready to tackle this put-off bathroom project? Check out the following shower storage ideas to organize your space....

Why Is There a Turkey Shortage? In the past several months, the USDA reported an avian flu outbreak. Nearly 50 million birds (including turkeys and chickens) have been infected and died on farms across 43 states. Yes, that’s nearly the amount of turkeys consumed on a single Thanksgiving. Since fewer commercial turkeys will be available this year, this is going to result in a price hike. As of right now, the price per pound of turkey (8 to 16 pounds) is $1....

Plants for Creating the Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan 3 White stonecrop (Sedum album ‘Chubby Fingers’): Zones 4-8 5 Golden carpet sedum (Sedum acre): Zones 3-8 1 Barrenwort (Epimedium rubrum): Zones 4-9 6 Sea thrift (Armeria maritima): Zones 3-9 4 Creeping thyme (Thymus coccineus): Zones 4-9 1 New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax): Zones 8-10 4 Hybrid sedum (Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’): Zones 3-7 1 Sea lavender (Limonium latifolium): Zones 5-9 2 Oregon stonecrop (Sedum oreganum): Zones 2-9 1 Two-row stonecrop (Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’): Zones 4-9...

Balsamic Vinegar Substitute Here’s what you’ll need for quick balsamic vinegar replacement: For every 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, substitute 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus ½ tsp. sugar. For a DIY balsamic vinegar glaze: In a small saucepan ($17, Target), simmer 2 cups balsamic vinegar with ½ cup of brown sugar over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved and the sauce is reduced by half. The glaze will be a thick, syrupy consistency....

It was everything I was searching for and more, and transformed my room into the island oasis of my dreams thanks to its wicker canopy and plush cushions. It is quite literally my favorite place to chill. The egg chair is 37.5 by 42 by 58.5 inches and weighs about 45 pounds, which I will admit was slightly larger than I had anticipated. It comes in a huge box with three main pieces to assemble....

The couple knew that Gail Plechaty, known for interiors with illuminatingly light palettes, was the designer who would massage the architecturally rich interiors into a state of timeless and breathtaking grandeur. They were right. Once a breezeway that connected Hefner’s side-by-side properties, the sitting room is dynamic with a stately antique secretary that is painted with green lacquer. While Plechaty finds every project that she designs memorable in its own way, this one was especially enjoyable due to clients who spoke her same design language....

“I started my account about two years ago because I wanted a place to chat about the books I was reading and the pies I was baking, but I didn’t actually start playing around with the “book pies” until about a year later,” she says. “I saw the cover of a book I wanted to review and thought, ‘That would make a really cool pie.’ And I’ve been in love with creating bookish pies ever since....

How to Grow Corkscrew Albuca Native to South Africa, Albuca spiralis is a type of succulent that sprouts its distinctive, coiled leaves from a bulb-like base that sticks out a little from the soil. Like most succulents, this plant prefers things on the warm and dry side. It will be happiest in a clay pot with a drainage hole and in temperatures above 60°F. If you set it outdoors, you’ll need to bring it in whenever the weather gets colder than that....

Editor’s tip: Adjust the width of the back piece so the wolf head sits securely on your little one.

“Our previous home was French country and full of warmth, color, and softer forms,” Cristie says. “That was when we had kids in the house with kid things. Since we were moving toward another stage that was just going to be the two of us, we wanted a transitional look that can go one way or the other.” Santa relies on his elves to bring Christmas to its peak. Mike and Cristie had their own helpers to help execute their vision: builder Patrick J....

It was—by a client of designer Wendy Blackband. “He called and asked, ‘Are you sitting down?’” Blackband says. “He had bought this 1942 home on the best lot in Newport Harbor. I couldn’t wait to get to work.” And much work awaited. Small rooms, tiny windows, meager outdoor connections, and mere hints of beachy California views tarnished the charm of the vintage home. “I wanted to make the rooms more usable, but I also wanted to respect this home’s history,” homeowner Craig Atkins says....

Stains can sometimes reappear when they’re treated with a spray, but carpet cleaners like this one from Bissell are designed to remove them permanently. It comes with Bissell Pet Spot and Stain + Pet Oxy Formula that effectively gets rid of spots and pet odors, and the powerful suction removes tough stains from carpets, upholstery, and car interiors. The cleaner’s also lightweight to easily carry it around your house (particularly if you have stairs or need to use it in your car)....

If you’ve shopped for patio furniture before, you know that high-quality sets can cost upwards of $2,000. That’s why the Better Homes & Gardens River Oaks 5-Piece Wicker Conversation Set is such a stand-out. It’s a luxurious yet affordable option that doesn’t compromise quality for price, according to the nearly 100 shoppers that gave this furniture set glowing 5-star reviews. One reviewer writes that “it looks like it costs at least three times what we paid for it....

Learn how to paint siding on your house to give it updated curb appeal. Make sure to take all the necessary steps for a quality paint job that will hold up to the test of time with our tips for painting siding. How to Wash Siding Before painting siding, you’ll want a clean surface to work with. Washing siding by hand with warm water and car-washing detergent will do the job, but power washing is faster and more convenient....

4 ounce semisweet chocolate ½ cup whipping cream Ladyfingers 4 egg yolks ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon hot water 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla 4 egg whites ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoon powdered sugar **Tip: Or use regular vanilla ice cream and add the seeds of one vanilla bean.