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    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
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    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

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    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

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    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
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    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
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    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

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Love at First Splash

By Rebecca Bull Reed
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Soothing Pool
Credit: Photo: Joseph De Sciose
Savvy design and five nifty details create a summertime oasis.
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Recess an area for privacy

Soothing Pool
Credit: Photo: Joseph De Sciose

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then Tommy and Martha Antoon are about to receive the ultimate compliment. We suggest you follow their lead in your yard. Though the look is high-end, the techniques are adaptable when thoughtfully executed. Jeffrey Carbo Landscape Architects designed this resort-like haven for the Alexandria, Louisiana, family, and the firm certainly didn't hold back on design details that make a difference. Here are several that anyone can do.

A change in levels can add interest to a deck or patio and provide seclusion for relaxing or dining. A bench along the edge offers seating and doubles as a railing while maintaining the view. When the distance to the ground measures no more than 4 feet, a bench such as this may suffice for the railing.

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Enjoy the sound of water

Enjoy the sound of water
Credit: Photography Joseph De Sciose

You can mask the chatter of neighbors, drown out road noise, and even re-create a sound that was once there. In this case, water falling over the spillway at the end of the pool mimics the sound of Bayou Rapides that once ran fast along the back of their property until a dam constructed downstream slowed it down. The trickle of running water can also make a space seem cooler than it really is, and a simple fountain may be all you need to get the same effect.

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Cluster containers brimming with color

Break some rules
Credit: Photography Joseph De Sciose

Sounds obvious, but this oh-so-easy trick is often overlooked. For extra drama, add spiky or vertical plants, such as ornamental grasses or caladiums, to your pots. Group several containers together in prominent locations, and stagger heights, if possible, as done here on the steps.

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Break some rules

Lush Poolside Deck
Credit: Photo: Joseph De Sciose

Shrubs don't always have to be planted right next to the house. Brought out 5, 10, or even 12 feet from the home, a billowing mass of azaleas softens lines and frames views to and from the pool. Low-growing mondo grass and ferns planted next to the foundation look airy and have a less congested feel than a too-common skirt of shrubs.

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Satisfy the need for structure with plants first

Satisfy the need for structure with plants first
Credit: Photography Joseph De Sciose

If a pool is not yet in your budget, try out its shape with grass. (This is also a good idea for patios.) An artistically designed lawn lets you test-drive a space before making a pricey commitment. Who knows? You just might change your mind.

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    1 of 5 Recess an area for privacy
    2 of 5 Enjoy the sound of water
    3 of 5 Cluster containers brimming with color
    4 of 5 Break some rules
    5 of 5 Satisfy the need for structure with plants first

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