Better Homes and Gardens

REHABBED TO FAB “At the 10th-anniversary Field + Supply fair in New York’s Hudson Valley, I noticed designers were giving new life to old textiles, using remnants to upholster furniture, create pillows, and embellish clothes. I love seeing this celebration of sustainability in design.”—MONIKA EYERS, east coast editor SMART BAKES “When it comes to cooking, AI has officially entered the chat. On a trip to Napa with Signature Kitchen Suite, we test-drove their Gourmet AI-equipped wall oven, which suggests recipes based on your ingredients and uses a camera to monitor cooking in real time. No more burnt cookies!”—CAITLIN SOLE, associate digital editorial director Hello, 2025 Design Trends Ready for a new look for a new year? With help from color specialists and interior designers, we’ve rounded up the key trends you need to know about…

Inspiration of the month The Dream List 1 SCENE SETTER Think of a mural as a supplemental view. Sophie Ashby planted a magical garden that breathes life onto a windowless wall, above, while designer Jessica Helgerson took cues from ferns in a nearby park to direct the focus of a Portland kitchen inward, bottom. “With the ferns surrounding you, it’s like being outdoors,” she says. In a Palm Beach kitchen below, designer Frank de Biasi installed a scenic antique Dutch panel that plays off the Danish modern dining chairs. 2 WELL-PLACED Leverage a room’s architecture for maximum impact. De Biasi took advantage of an existing niche. Helgerson took care for the ferns to climb the doors and window casings as they emerge from the floor and countertops, resulting in a pleasing progression. Wainscoting offered a…

decorate ● cook ● make ● grow Readers Write In IN THE RED ZONE We asked BHG followers on social media what they would name this palette of deep reds. Here are a few responses we loved. RED BRICK ROAD—Heather DeRoma, Avon Lake, OH CRIMSON CRUSH—Lori Long, Aldrich, MO RUSTIC RUBY—Cierra Toland, Greensboro, NC BUYING INFORMATION: BHG.com/Resources PRODUCED BY: MONIKA EYERS; STYLING BY: JESSICA THOMAS. PHOTOS: (KITCHEN) MATTHIEU SALVAING, (BEDROOM) CHRISTIAN HARDER, (BATHROOM) HARIS KENJAR…

Cheerful & COMPACT “During the workday, there’s something comforting about seeing your little plant doing its thing,” says Kellyn Kennerly, author of the new book Happy, Healthy Houseplants. For a desk with limited real estate, choose plants in 4"–6" pots that feature special foliage or even flowers. All the plants shown here prefer bright, indirect light and are slow growers, so won’t need repotting for several years. Although the African violet and moth orchid may need a little extra attention, the rest are no-drama plants. Sun-SEEKERS A window ledge is a perfect spot for a lush collection of plants that like six or more hours of light per day. And clustering plants together is beneficial for them, Kennerly says, since it helps increase humidity levels. “They’re like little buddies creating a healthier atmosphere…

You’ll Heart It Pipe and swipe two lines of buttercream, then spell out your custom message. 1. PIPE ONE SIDE Use a piping bag fitted with a large open tip to pipe a thick line of buttercream, using the shape of the cupcake as a guide and tapering the line at the bottom. 2. FILL THE SECOND SIDE Pipe a second thick line of buttercream to meet the firstin a V shape at the bottom of the cupcake. 3. SMOOTH OUT CENTER Use an offset spatula or your finger to smudge the seam between the two buttercream lines. 4. FLIP AND FREEZE Flip the frosted cupcake over onto a parchment paper-lined baking pan and gently press down. Freeze 10 to 15 minutes. 5. WRITE A MESSAGE Gently peel cupcakes off the parchment paper and add edible letters. IN GOOD SHAPE A silicone baking…

Spaces below ground provide universal design challenges like little to no natural light and fixed structural elements, but these intrepid homeowners were undeterred. Interior designer Ryan Rabuska had a refined vision for the basement of his Wolcott, CT, home. He imagined a swanky lounge for watching movies with his fiancé, Jeff Pelletier. “We figured since there were no windows, we might as well lean into the dark,” Ryan says of the space he transformed with gallons of paint, yards of velvet curtains, and plenty of DIY ingenuity. “I WASN’T AFRAID OF ALL THE BLACK BECAUSE I KNEW IN THE END I WAS GOING TO LIGHTEN THE LOOK WITH TEXTILES AND REFLECTIVE FINISHES.”—RYAN RABUSKA, homeowner The couple’s basement lounge isn’t just strategically dark, it’s light-years away from what it was. Although the room…