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Especially around Valentine’s Day, you’re probably most likely to find sweetheart hoya as a single potted leaf that’s only a few inches tall. That leaf is thick and fleshy, similar to other varieties of hoya; it’ll eventually grow vining stems with lots of smaller heart-shaped leaves spread out along its length. It can even produce small clusters of flowers, too. Sweetheart hoya is easy to care for. It loves getting plenty of indirect sunlight, so give it as bright a spot as possible, like a table near a south-facing window....

Learn more about coneflowers. Learn more about dahlias. 16 Steps to Better Bouquets Learn more about zinnias. Learn more about phlox. Learn more about globe amaranth. Learn more about sunflowers. Learn more about black-eyed Susan. See classic flower arrangement ideas for your home. Learn more about peonies. Learn more about yarrow. Learn more about roses

Automatic pool cleaners (or pool vacuums) remove debris from the surface of the pool floor and walls. While some cleaners are powered by your pool’s suction or water pressure, newer robotic cleaners have their own power source and container to avoid straining your pool’s existing equipment. Some non-robotic cleaners have their own containers, while others use your pool’s existing filtration equipment to house debris. With so many options it can be difficult to figure out which is best for your pool size and style....

“A napkin ring adds a touch of elegance to any table,” says Raquel Skrobarczyk, owner and principal designer at Heather Scott Home & Design. “And since people have been staying home by themselves these last few years, they want to go all out when entertaining. When putting together a table, they want to bring out special plates, table linens, and napkin rings to make everyone feel special and appreciated.” To arrive at the 13 best napkin rings, we researched a variety of choices available online, keeping in mind dimensions, material, and number per set....

Before you commit to any budget-friendly countertop material, consider your lifestyle and do your homework. If you have a busy kitchen that receives a lot of use, a durable, low-maintenance surface such as tile or solid surfacing might be the best fit. If you’re looking for extra cost savings, consider inexpensive countertop materials that can be easily installed as a DIY project, such as butcher block. In our guide below, we’ll walk you through five of the best budget-friendly countertop materials to consider for your kitchen, including tips on maintenance, clean-up, typical costs, and more....

However, deep cleaning an entire home is a big job, and sometimes even tackling a single room can be overwhelming. To make seasonal cleaning a breeze, break down each room into a checklist of must-do tasks. Then, integrate cleaning into your daily schedule to make it feel less like a chore. Follow this fall cleaning checklist for a room-by-room approach to tidying your home for the season. Kitchen Cleaning To-Dos The kitchen is often the center of the home, where everyone gathers when they get home from daily activities....

Bold Large-Scale Patterns The 2010s were a big decade for bold patterns. “Many of us can probably look at our graphic print accessories, whether it be a chevron pillow or a Moroccan motif area rug, and think back to 2014,” says Andrea Magno, director of color marketing and development at Benjamin Moore. Whether you embraced them or passed for solid colors, these high-energy, statement-making patterns were all the rage throughout the decade....

If you’re splurging on a few new spooky accessories this year, be sure to brush up on the latest trends before you head to the store. To help inspire your holiday decorating, we’ve rounded up the hottest Halloween decor trends of this season. Of course, you don’t need to go out and buy a whole new set of decor—it’s just as easy to recreate these trends with items you have at home....

To understand the season of Mardi Gras, we have to rewind all the way back to the 12 days of Christmas, which begins on Christmas Day. The twelfth day of Christmas—referred to as Epiphany—marks the day when the wise men finally arrived in Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. (This is why it’s tradition to take your Christmas tree down on January 6.) Epiphany marks the official end to the Christmas season and the beginning of the Mardi Gras season, which is celebrated between Epiphany and Fat Tuesday (the Tuesday before Lent begins)....

Tips for Bathroom Layouts Placement of the toilet, sink, and tub may depend partly on the existing plumbing. For example, most homes will have a “wet wall,” an interior wall thicker than most walls because it contains water lines and the main stack. Minimize long horizontal runs of drain and vent pipes by installing fixtures on or close to the wet wall. Plan for a layout that’s comfortable and convenient. The following pages show the bathroom plumbing diagram and how to install a basic 5x8-foot bathroom—just enough room for the three major fixtures with adequate space between them....

The Most Popular Ice Cream Truck Treats in America So what do you choose when you get to the window? Apparently, America favors the Klondike Bar above the rest with nine states selecting the chocolate-covered treat as their top pick. Firecracker ice pops and Choco Tacos tied for second place in eight states each. Five states chose ice cream sandwiches for the third spot, followed by lemon ice and Fudgsicles. From there, a sprinkling of other frozen treats, including Bomb Pops and Drumsticks, are one or two state’s winning choices....

Her first step was to take down all the nonstructural beams in the 8-foot ceiling and vault it to the roofline, expanding the space to 13 feet at its peak and exposing hidden upper windows to make the room feel twice as big. A low-framed ceiling cut off transom windows. Marie turned a low structural beam into a decorative asset. She clad it with bleached white oak planks and added beams branching off either end to make it look like an intentional part of the design....

“It wasn’t really anything super special or charming,” Megan says. “But we saw quite a bit of potential in it. It was simple and basic enough that we could make it what we wanted.” The Miller living room’s enhanced architectural features make it a cozy and inviting family space. Daughter Navy, 6, shows off her building block skills, while Megan and June, 4, read on the sofa Jesse built. The bottom cushion is an extra-long twin mattress that Megan tucked a quilt around....

Pink in Jenkins’ hands is the button-down shirt beneath an Armani suit: part of the look, not the complete ensemble. For easy traffic flow in the entryway, Jenkins chose a Century credenza rather than a hall table and snugged furniture along walls. Contemporary color and pattern put a certified-fresh seal on Jenkins’ work. That’s evident from the entry of this home, where he introduces his design with wallpaper. Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, the motif is traditional....