If you’re new to buying properties, you can get up to speed on the basics in our guide on how to buy a house. 1. The best place to buy a vacation home in Massachusetts: Cape Cod Cape Cod takes the top spot with good reason – it is the most famous seaside destination in Eastern US, offering countless opportunities for boating, lobster fishing, or just lying on a stunning beach dune during the summer....

Privacy trees give such a wonderful feeling of seclusion, and are one of the best backyard ideas for creating a lush backdrop for planting. While fencing and walls are good for practicality and security, the best trees for screening offer a softer way to achieve this, and are perfect for pairing with more solid boundaries. Trees offer more dappled coverage and, where a canopy starts at a higher level, can allow you to see through at a lower height....

Featuring major brands such as De Buyer and Made In, our guide includes a mix of the best turkey roasting pans we’ve tried, and a few that we’re working on reviewing in the next few months, but which come highly recommended by users and professionals alike. Unlike the best Dutch ovens, these turkey roasting pans are made of steel and designed to be used without a lid, to achieve that perfect crispy skin....

Using a pet vacuum can also make your home hypoallergenic, which works wonders when seasonal allergies hit. Our panel of expert reviewers meticulously tested the best vacuums for pet hair, so you can trust our judgement on what’s best to buy. Thanks to our hands-on experience of trialling these vacuums in our homes, I’m certain that every single one of them is a good buy. The specialized models from household names like Dyson, Shark and Bissell all have features that go further to clean up after your pet, which puts them among the best vacuum cleaners....

The Queer Eye guru has gained Emmy recognition for his expertise – and his most recent advice is amongst his most helpful to date. So, what are Bobby Berk’s tips for using neutrals? In an exclusive interview with H&G, Bobby shared neutral living room ideas – including how to create a refreshingly balanced palette – and how to give your room an organic feel. Below, he shares his interior design tips – and everything else you need to know for a beautiful scheme....

There are a host of elements that make up a dinner party-ready dining table, from the linens to the dishware, and the candles to the glasses. Color schemes, materials combinations, and centerpieces all contribute to the overall effect, too. See: Dining room ideas – inspiration for decorating and furnishing your space ‘Soon we’ll be able to let loved ones back into our homes, hosting friends and family for dinner parties once again,’ says Kate Cartwright at Burleigh (opens in new tab)....

Air conditioners are a popular way to cool your home, and there are modern versions that can keep interiors at a pleasant temperature with less energy use. But there are plenty of other eco home improvements, too, that could help you go greener without sacrificing comfort. Bear in mind that there are measures you should take to keep the heat out of your home before you decide on the most eco-friendly cooling option....

The comedian, known for her eponymous talk show, and her actress wife spent nearly $70 million on two side-by-side properties in Carpinteria – an exclusive seaside city in south-eastern Santa Barbara. The record-breaking compound includes some of the world’s best homes, including a $41.7 million Tuscan farmhouse-style mansion and another $28.2 million property now owned by the couple. A report from Siteline Santa Barbara (opens in new tab) describes the sale as the ‘priciest residential deal’ in the area – notably more than the $63 million Montecito ranch purchased by billionaire Riley Bechtel around two years ago....

If you’re looking to include water feature ideas in your garden, it is best to think about when and if you’re planning to sell your home at a later date. While they might look lovely, when looking for the best ways to add value to a home in a garden, it is best to stay away from koi carp ponds, fountains, swimming pools, and other water-based garden additions. ‘For buyers, a feature such as a koi pond has significant ongoing costs including water, chemicals, electric, and fish food,’ says Samantha Richards from Gazeboshop (opens in new tab)....

‘The first thing I fell in love with was the road,’ says Aoife. ‘It’s a really leafy cul-de-sac with cats lolling everywhere. The sort of thing you would find in a country village, but it’s in the middle of London.’ Her viewing of the house – the 30th property she’d been to see – was not the first time she’d visited this particular area, however, as she had been to a party here several years earlier in what would become her neighbour’s home....

So, think like a visitor and take a look at your front porch as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Is the floor scuffed and muddy? Does the glazing need a polish? Is there a clutter of coats and boots in the entrance? Don’t despair if so – our front porch cleaning tips from the so-called Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie will make the chore a breeze....

Gozney has long been known as a leader in portable pizza ovens and that’s how I became familiar with them. I had a blast testing out their Roccbox pizza oven, for example, and making delicious Neopolitan pizzas in a minute with friends. Perhaps most impressive about the Roccbox was its capability to reach temperatures of up to 950 degrees farenheit. When I heard that the Gozney geniuses had created a larger oven with similar temperature capabilities, I was intrigued....

The obsession with New Age decor was perhaps our unwitting last grasp for a simple life before the onslaught of a thing called the Internet. As the rest of the media world became obsessed with a celebrity and reality culture, Homes & Gardens returned to its interiors roots, making heroes of the new breed of textile designers, craftspeople, e-trepreneurs, boutique retailers, florists… A century since launching, we’re updating Instagram on our phone rather than caring for fox fur, but we still love a mood board, a colour card and a fabric swatch....

The range has been created in collaboration with celebrated British designer Dee Hardwicke. Adapted from an original ceramic illustration, these beautiful tiles create a casual, rustic warmth in both modern and traditional interiors. ;I’m really inspired by the creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship embodied by the Garden City pioneers and the Arts & Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th century,’ says designer Dee Hardwicke. Tile trends – from Art Deco to terrazzo to outdoor tiles...

Living room lighting should consist of different elements, such as pendant lights or chandeliers, wall-mounted lights, and floor and table lamps, providing ambient, task and feature lighting for the room, and enabling changes of mood. The same can be said for bedroom lighting, in particular, too. But since all but table and floor lamps require the involvement of an electrician the question of how much it costs to install new lighting is important....

When deciding how to clean cast iron, you need to take into consideration the item’s age and whether the metal has a painted or exposed surface to be sure to use the correct cleaning tips. Unless enameled, cast iron pans and skillets are designed to be exposed and the surface seasoned with oil; fireplaces and stoves will be finished with iron paste or paint to protect the surface; and exterior metalwork will likely be painted....

Delivering a crisp, crunchy bite in a salad, as a snack or crudité; delicious roasted; adding sweet flavor to stews and soups; blended into a juice; or even grated into cake and muffin mixtures, carrots are the ultimate versatile veg. They taste even better when they are homegrown, are packed with vitamins and a great source of fiber. Alongside the classic orange carrots, there are also many other varieties and colors - from white and purple to yellow – you can grow, and which you won’t be able to find in the grocery store....

Other types of French beans – climbing or pole French beans – will need planting in spring, but if you buy established plants later, these can continue cropping right through to September – perfect if you are looking for continuously productive kitchen garden ideas. French beans are similar to snap green beans but have extra-slim, flavorful pods. They may be eaten fresh or cooked. The French green bean is thinner and thought to be more tender and flavorful than snap green beans....

The answer is that it depends on the type of tomatoes you are growing. If you prune, or pinch out, the wrong sort of tomatoes, you can actually hinder rather than help the harvest of these versatile and delicious fruits. Growing tomatoes is easy and well worth it as the sweet flavor of a homegrown tomato is far better and unlike any you will have tasted from a supermarket. You want to ensure that you maximize your yield, so, to prune, or not to prune – that is the question....

There are endless options when it comes to freestanding cabinetry – integrated doors and lighting, varying sizes, creative shapes as well as choice of different materials, finishes and colors. Providing more than just somewhere to store away your linens, crockery or books, a glass-fronted cabinet serves as a space to present your favorite trinkets – a chance to get creative and experiment with the art of display. We’ve asked a host of experts for their guidance on how to find the ideal display cabinet or dresser and the key things to consider....