Good Housekeeping Sep-15

DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW what you wanted to be when you grew up? I didn’t. When I was little, I assumed I’d go into education like all of the grown-ups in my family. As a teen, I found that any new career idea seemed impossible. I loved to read magazines and briefly entertained the idea of working at one. In fact, my mom asked a friend who was a newspaper editor to give me advice. Her response: “She shouldn’t bother. It’s a man’s world, and unless she’s ready to make coffee for years or sleep her way up the ladder, it’s a frustrating dead end.” Once my mom shared this with me, I immediately gave up that thought. I didn’t know how to make coffee — never mind the other…

how to MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE Paint an interior door (and its edge) in a bright color combo using water-based gloss or semigloss paint. You don’t even have to remove it from its hinges_—_just tape hardware with painter’s tape. Use a drop cloth to save your floor, and let it dry for at least 48 hours. And that’s your knockout weekend project, open and shut. Sarah Richardson Home Design Director @SarahRichardsonDesign HOW DO I DEAL WITH A ROUNDED CEILING? It’s tricky when there are no sharp corners to tell you where the walls end and the ceiling begins. If you want to use a single color for a whole room, it’s best to go for a light tone (like a pale cream or gray). Some of my tricks: ADDACHAIR RAIL.…

I don’t have a spare room. When guests stay over, am I required to give up my bed, or can they sleep on the couch? — CAIT S. REQUIRED? NO. But always consider the guest. While your high school BFF might be fine sleeping on the couch, insist that your parents or elderly aunt spend the night in your bedroom. If you have two guests or a couple visiting but no pullout couch, you could get an inflatable mattress. Or, graciously tell them your place is too small and suggest nearby hotels. MORE WAYS TO BE WELCOMING STOCK UP on guests’ faves — sparkling water, wine, coffee, snacks — so they’ll feel at home. Ask about and honor food allergies, and try to accommodate diets. ADD EXTRAS to the room…

KEEP YOUR SOFA SIMPLE Choose a pale neutral with a streamlined profile (e.g., narrow arms and back) to maximize seating without overcrowding. GO BIG To make the room feel more expansive, opt for a few full-size furniture pieces rather than cramming in lots of small-scale items. REINVENT THE KITCHEN TABLE Prep, serve and entertain at an island that fits stools underneath, offering seating for a gathering of friends. The homeowners added iron legs to bring this butcher block piece to the right height. meet the HOME OWNERS After falling in love with a traditional Cobble Hill brownstone in 2012, college sweethearts Brenna, director of visual merchandising at Fresh, and Andrew, VP of development at Shake Shack, knew they wanted to bring back the original character of this 800-square-foot flat. “The…

Butternut Squash Risotto In pressure cooker in 1 Tbsp. oil on med., cook 2 med. shallots, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 4 leaves sage, chopped; and ¼ tsp. salt 2 min. Add 2 c. arborio rice; cook 2 min., stirring. Add 4 c. lower-sodium broth and 1 lb. chopped butternut squash. Lock lid; cook under high pressure 6 min. Release pressure; stir in ½ c. grated Parmesan, ¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper. SERVES 4 ABOUT 465 CALS, 11 G PROTEIN, 91 G CARBS, 7 G FAT (2 G SAT), 5 G FIBER, 890 MG SODIUM. HOW TO: Pressure Cook • Read the manual. A stovetop cooker will work differently from an electric one, and they can vary from model to model. • Raise the pressure. Use high heat…

1. TEA TIME Matcha is next-level green tea. Sip the super bevvy on the go, and blaze through your to-do list. Midori Matcha, $6; midorimatchatea.com 2. PERFECTLY POLISHED Pink is always appropriate. This pretty petal is part of a foursome of universally flattering shades. Nails Inc. Perfect Pink Collection, $14; us.nailsinc.com 3. ON WITH THE GROW Black thumb? Pop the sensor into the soil to track the water and light your greenery gets. Parrot Flower Power, $59; parrot.com 4. DINNER ON THE DOUBLE Fresh ingredients and simple recipes are dropped on your doorstep by this meal-prep service. CHEF’D, starting at 2 dinners for $23; chefd.com…