While his clients, whose primary residence is two hours inland, were lured to the Southern California town because of its proximity to the water, their penchant for formality pushed aside the conventional casual aesthetic of beach environments. They wanted a classic abode that boasts a scheme as polished as a piece of sea glass. “This isn’t a beach house with an expansive backyard of sand and panoramic views of the ocean,” says Butera, who is well-versed in the Newport Beach lifestyle....

“The homeowner, Sharon Michie, is an avid traveler, and this home is inspired by her experiences and the places she’s fallen in love with in France and Spain,” architect Ryan Street says. “The scale and proportions are all drawn from what you’d expect in a Mediterranean hill town. But this is also Texas. It wouldn’t work to copy a home on the Mediterranean coast and plop it down in Austin....

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Types of Peonies Peonies come in three main types: herbaceous, tree, and itoh. Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are the most common in gardens, with hundreds of varieties to choose from. These varieties usually have scented flowers that come in shades of pink, red, and white. As the name suggests, herbaceous peonies don’t form woody stems. Instead, the stems stay green and flexible, so they may need staking to keep them from flopping over, especially when the flowers get wet in the rain....

Traditionally, you’ll see turmeric used in curries—it’s what’s partially responsible for their bright yellow hue—but as of late, fueled by news of its many health benefits, turmeric has made its way into smoothies and lattes (aka golden milk, which is basically turmeric and other spices heated with warm milk), as well as in soups, fried rice, and roasted vegetable dishes. You can even add it to salads, tuna, and a long list of other savory options—and there are plenty of reasons to do so....

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Hard Water vs. Soft Water: What’s the Difference? Hard water is the term used to describe water high in dissolved minerals, largely calcium and magnesium. On the flip side, soft water tends to have higher concentrations of sodium. Some states have higher concentrations of hardness in their water (like New Mexico, Utah, Indiana, and Florida), whereas others have less. What Does This Mean for Our Skin? Since hard water contains essential minerals, it is sometimes the preferred drinking (and cooking) water....

I’ve tried everything from skipping dairy to red light therapy in my quest to achieve clear skin. Not everything has worked, and there certainly hasn’t been one life-changing product. But like the cocktail of factors that lead to acne, a combination of tactics is necessary to fight it. By practicing good habits and taking the right precautions, I’m at least able to reduce the severity and duration of my breakouts and enjoy a few good skin days here and there....

Patty pan squash is a variety of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), making it a relative of the zucchini and yellow summer squash you might be more familiar with. They come in yellow, light green, dark green, orange, white and multicolored varieties, and can be harvested and utilized when the veggies are as small as a ping pong ball or as large as a softball. Patty pan squash season is generally around May through August....

What You Need Lobster pick (or skewer)NutcrackerEmpty bowl for discarded shellsBib (optional)Extra napkins (a must!) Steps Tail This part of the lobster is the easiest to handle and is usually the meatiest. Grab the body in one hand and the tail in the other, and twist in opposite directions. The tail will break off. Roll the tail onto its side on the table, and push down with both hands until the shell cracks....

Legginess is not just an awkward phrase some plants go through before they blossom. It’s a sign the plant is straining to position its leaves in the sunlight, enabling it to produce enough energy to stay alive. Reaching in the direction of available rays, stems grow longer and thinner and drop leaves that the plant can’t support with its limited food reserves. Fortunately, with a few smart interventions, you can help your houseplant regain its lushness....

Into meal planning for the family? We’re also sharing some of our fave freezer-friendly soup recipes (not all soups are OK to freeze) to keep the freezer stocked. How to Freeze Soup When making homemade soup, your recipe will determine whether it will freeze well. Broth- and tomato-based soups, stews, and chilis freeze best. Avoid cream-based soups and soups thickened with flour or cornstarch. Wondering if you can freeze potato soup?...

Alas, we can’t eradicate them. With over 3,500 mosquito species worldwide and more than 400 in the U.S., they’re here to stay. But there are ways to prevent them from ruining your next s’mores night around the campfire—and keep yourself mosquito bite-free. Why Mosquitoes Bite While it seems like it, we’re not a mosquito’s favorite meal. “Many mosquitoes wouldn’t bite a person—they bite frogs, birds, lizards,” says Dina Fonseca, Ph....

How to Grow a Citronella Plant A member of the scented geranium family of plants, citronella plant is often stocked alongside the herbs in the garden center. Sometimes it will even be labeled as a mosquito plant. Look for a plant that has healthy, deep green leaves. Then, gently remove the plant from the container and take a peek at the roots. The roots should be bright white and just beginning to reach the edges of the container....

The plant grows 8-16 inches tall with three to five upright stems, each bearing three to five toothed leaflets. Beginning its second year from seed, tiny whitish green flowers appear in spring. These are followed by attractive bright red berries that ripen in late summer or early fall. It’s the root (technically a rhizome) of the plant that is used medicinally, but it can take several years for a decent-sized root to develop....

1. Choose the Right Hydrangea Only the flowers of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) and mountain hydrangea (H. serrata) can change color. Other types like oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) or smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens) such as ‘Annabelle’, cannot change their flower colors, naturally blooming in white, cream, or dusty pink. These plants are just as full and beautiful, but if your goal is deep pink hydrangeas, make sure you’re planting varieties that can turn that color....

You’ve probably tried, or at least heard of, smashed potatoes. The basic premise is simple: Boil baby potatoes until tender, smash with a jar or heavy object to flatten, smother in oil and seasonings of your choice, and roast to perfection. I don’t know why it’s taken us until now to apply this cooking method to other vegetables, but TikTok users like @foodingwithfaith, @ballehurns, and @aboutthismuch are showing us how to transform Brussels sprouts into a smashed, decadent variety that rivals the beloved potato....

As a professional organizer, one of the first things that I like to distinguish with my clients is a list of exactly what they want to keep under the kitchen sink. That’s when we discover that the extra bottle of toilet bowl cleaner really doesn’t belong in this space since there’s no restroom nearby. Once you’ve determined the items you want to store, the organizing process will be easier. Use the following tips to learn how to organize the cabinet below your kitchen sink....

Most paint brands offer several options for white paint, and the larger paint brands can have dozens of choices to choose from. All those different shades of white paint—Snowbound versus Pure White versus Oxford White, among hundreds of others—could lead an indecisive soul to spend hours agonizing over the right pick. No more! To simplify the process of picking a white paint color, we spoke with Leigh Spicher, the national director of design studios for homebuilder Ashton Woods....