Five ways to make your flowers last longer by floral artist, Bex Partridge | House & Garden

Kitchen renovations are a serious commitment of time, money, and patience. If you’re considering upgrading your outdated, inefficient kitchen or are in the midst of a down-to-the-stud renovation, now is the time to decide what design features will make your life easier. After all, you don’t want or get a re-do anytime soon.  Would an appliance garage clear a cluttered countertop, or would a beverage station come in handy? To narrow down the top features you should consider adding to your kitchen, we tapped Ami McKay, president and principal designer of Vancouver-based PURE Design: Interior Design, Build, & Shoppe Read on for her seven smart suggestions.

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One day in early May, I was driving past the hardware store. I glanced over in the direction of the gardening center and what I saw made me slam on the brakes.Finally, after months and months of dreary

Trends can be a fun way to change up your space every so often, but when you invest in a quality (and costly) piece of furniture, you definitely want it to stand the test of time—throughout the seasons and fluctuating fads. When searching for this type of decor, what you want to try to find is known as universal or timeless design.

There's nothing more frustrating than trying to fall asleep in a hot bedroom during the hottest nights of summer. An air conditioner is the easiest way to fix your overheated bedroom. But if you don't have one, or can't afford one, you don't need to toss and turn in discomfort. There are other, more affordable ways to make your bedroom cooler.

Deservedly one of the most popular houseplants in the UK, the peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is relatively easy to grow and, in good condition, always looks elegant. Above a mass of large, glossy evergreen leaves that stand tall and proud, the plant intermittently sends up white arrow-shaped spathes. These petal-like bracts, which can be 15-centimetres long and resemble the sails of a ship, are not flowers, but encase the flowers proper, which are held on a spike known as a spadix. In bloom, the peace lily is reminiscent of the arum lily and our native lords-and-ladies (sometimes known as lily grass or jack-in-the-pulpit), which also belong to the arum family (Araceae); none are true lilies (Lilium).

With so many different plants to choose from, how on earth are you supposed to determine which green friends are best for your space (or a client’s)? That’s where the pros come in to help out. We’ve called on a series of experts to weigh in with their top picks for underrated yet totally fantastic houseplants that deserve a little extra love. In addition to looking chic, plants offer plenty of health- and wellness-related benefits—from air purification to encouraging lower levels of stress and anxiety. You certainly don’t have to feel guilty about stocking up on several, whether you choose to do so at your local nursery or hardware store or via online resources including The Sill, Bloomscape, and more. Read on for our list of the most underrated houseplants, according to designers, professional green thumbs, and more.

Iris ‘Benton Olive’ in Sarah Price's garden

Plants have as much power as a piece of art, beautiful fabric, or favourite antique to make a room sing, but decorating with them requires just as much consideration as anything else. We chatted with an interior designer, landscape architect, floral designer, and well-known tastemaker about design strategies to implement when bringing plants into the home. Plus, our experts have shared a few favourite houseplants to help you get started—as well as their top sources for impeccable faux options if you’re wary of the added responsibility.

10 stems of foliage cut from your garden, foraged or purchased from your local florist

Air plants (Tillandsia) earn their name by being capable of growing without soil. In their native habitat of Central and South America, they cling to trees, cliffs, roofs, and telephone wires with their roots and absorb nutrients from the air. Their grey-green foliage is coated in a silvery frosting of water-absorbing hairs called trichomes; these are capable of taking moisture from the atmosphere, especially in rainy or misty conditions.

Harry's Chelsea garden, The School Food Matters Garden