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See: More craftspeople, restorers, artists and makers on our People page I live and breathe glassblowing. I’ve built up an incredible insight into the nature of glass and have learned to work with the material, not against it. Glass is something that can’t be dominated; you have to ‘feel’ it and endeavour to correct it as you go. I try to make unique pieces that haven’t been produced before. Much of what I create is commissioned privately, but I also offer bespoke services to restorers and the public where I remake or replicate objects that are no longer available....

First there’s the sheer size. Then there’s the size of the brand showrooms: 20,000ft? Not unusual. Only in America! Then there’s the people. I’d been told to expect a warm Southern welcome, and I wasn’t disappointed, though I met incredibly friendly, engaged, fascinating people from all over the US, and all over the world. If you were one of them, keep in touch. I was there to meet interior designers, to see what some of the best brands in the world were launching for 2023 (after all, these will dictate interior design trends for the next 12 months), and to spread the word that, though we’re a British heritage magazine brand, Homes & Gardens’ website talks to the US reader first (millions a month, in fact) – though we equally appreciate our millions of monthly readers from Britain and the rest of the world....

But since this is part of your home rather than a corporate space, as an element of your overall home office ideas, the style of the lighting is equally crucial. Light fixtures here need to be carefully selected so they play their part in the room’s decor. We’ve put together a selection of home office lighting ideas for ceilings, desks, and walls to inspire you whether you’re working with an interior designer or planning the room yourself....

Whether you’re cooking up a gourmet breakfast or sautéing a delicious dinner, grease splatters can easily reach kitchen countertops, kitchen walls, kitchen cabinets and backsplashes. Thankfully, there are some simple tricks you can employ to remove kitchen grease without too much stress. ‘Removing built up grease can be arduous indeed,’ says Sabrina Fierman, of high-end residential cleaning service, New York’s Little Elves (opens in new tab). ‘Make the job easier by using the right products for the task....

Learning how to clean outdoor cushions isn’t terribly tricky but it differs a little from cleaning a couch and there are a few tips and tricks that will help keep them looking box-fresh throughout the summer. ‘Whenever you buy outdoor cushions, keep a note of the cleaning instructions, as different brands and fabrics will have different recommendations. Label instructions and laundry symbols wear off with time, so note them down and keep them handy in your utility room or by the washing machine,’ advises Sarah Dempsey, cleaning expert at MyJobQuote (opens in new tab)....

That means you lose all the aero and transparent glass effects which consume power. That’s fine provided the effects return when you plug in the power source. Now, this is where the problem arises. A lot of times the computer fails to restore the aero effects and it stays with the basic color scheme even when it’s not in the power saver mode anymore. The problem can be resolved by restarting the system, but there’s a more convenient method available....

We’ll warn you now: it’s not an easy job, particularly if yours is anything but a water-based paint. Even then, it’s tricky. But following the right approach can make or break the clean up. So if you have been painting a room or the kids have been painting at home and there’s been a spillage on your living room carpet, this is how to get paint out. How to get paint out of a carpet How to get paint out of a carpet...

Looking like large bubble tea balls, with veins running down their globe shape, gooseberries are one of the most easy-to-grow fruits to have in your garden. They once had a bad reputation as a host to a tree-felling pest, and their cultivation is still banned in some States. But the Federal restrictions on growing gooseberries were lifted in 1966 and now they are welcomed in gardens and homesteads in most regions of the US....

The flush of voluptuous peonies each year may be short but they are highly anticipated for their impressive, dinner-plate sized blooms, and many have a lovely fragrance. Few other plants have such large blooms, with a range of colors from pure white, through yellow to coral, pink and deep crimson, and a choice of single, semi-double and double forms. Try growing peonies as flower bed ideas to add color, luminosity and elegance, as cut flowers, or you could also make a peony border to edge a path, or enclosed in low hedging....

See: Home makeover ideas – simple ways to transform your home ‘The selection of art is an intensely personal and often costly process,’ says Emma Sims Hilditch, founder and creative director of Sims Hilditch, who is something of a plate wall expert. ‘For those looking for a more economical and slightly different way to fill a blank space in a room, then a plate wall is a great solution and is easier to do than you might think....

Fresh leaves and flowers can be made into a health boosting tea – said to soothe coughs, sour throats and stomach upsets – making it a staple in many herb gardens. Naturally high in thymol, oregano is widely known, and prized, for its antiseptic and germ-killing qualities and has long been used in products ranging from mouthwashes to industrial disinfectants. The essential oil has even been credited with successfully combatting the super-bug MRSA....

Added to this, organizing a kitchen so that it functions seamlessly is vital to our sanity and its aesthetics in a busy home. ‘Kitchen drawers are essential when planning kitchen storage ideas, particularly a small kitchen, as they often offer maximum use of space,’ explains Tom Howley, design director at Tom Howley (opens in new tab). ‘They can be tailored to your exact specifications, allowing easy access to kitchen essentials rather than delving into the back of bulging kitchen cupboards....

Google only shows a last few searches in the Omnibar and because of my extensive browsing nature, it’s almost impossible to fish in the browser history to look for the Google page that I searched for. In such scenarios, the Google Search history archive is what helps me out. Well, it’s just a scenario, and I am sure not many people use their Google app as a note-taking app. But if you think about it, there might be one of those days when you might want to access the search history on a different computer, or if you have accidentally deleted the browser history, you might want to retrieve it....