Blog Posts by House Beautiful Magazine

Yes, it's French - but don't let that intimidate you. Alex Hitz's simple, classic sauce makes anything and everything taste better.

Beurre Blanc - it's nothing short of magic. Honestly, at this point in our yearlong relationship, I feel as if I can share a closely guarded culinary secret with you: If you can make a superior sauce, people will think you cook much better than you actually do. Forget "culinary arts," "knife skills," "braising," or any of the other typical themes of beginners' cooking courses, and jump right ahead to something that requires very little acumen at all, ensures success, and provides near-instant pleasure: sauce making.

In time for grilling season, the sauce that seems just right is that most classic of all French sauces: beurre blanc. It's a reduction of shallots, white wine, and lemon juice, with cubes of cold butter whisked in to make a luxurious, fully emulsified sauce that explodes with flavor. It's really easy to do, and tastes like you've been

Give dad an edge with one of the best new gadgets out there this Father's Day.

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Wild or tame, these animal-themed designs have the perfect balance of humor and sophistication that appeals to the child in all of us.

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Conquer Your Fear of Color

Unexpected Color Combinations That Really Work

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Don't get Dad another tie. From tool-shape bottle openers to a canvas tablet cover, these affordable gift ideas are sure to please.

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Chevron, stripes, checkerboard - even painted lily pads - these cool floors make a colorful statement right under your feet. For your next project, try something new with your floors.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

Is your house ready for a change? Get inspired with these easy and unique updates you can make to your space.

1. Paint a piece of furniture Kool-Aid purple.

2. Collect seashells to embellish a fireplace surround.

3. Hang a wind chime inside the house where it can catch a breeze.

4. Set up an outdoor room - anywhere, any way you can.

5. Dress your bed in all white for the summer. It's like floating on a cloud.

6. Paint your home office leafy green, to create the feeling of a tree house.

Related: The Smallest Rooms We've Ever Seen

7. Don't just clean up a room - put away all the stuff that's accumulated on every flat surface.

8. Sometimes the simplest window treatments are the best.

9. Slipcovers!

10. Cut flowers and greenery from the yard for each room in your house.

11. Paint your bedroom closet a favorite color.

12. Plant a little garden - even just a few flowers - by every doorway that leads into the house.

More: Does Your House Need a

From buying fabric online to making the most of your budget, interior designers share their top tips - and tell you what not to do.

1. Fabric
"I'd never buy fabric online. You need to feel it, look at the colors, see the scale of a pattern."
-Stephen Shubel

2. Budgeting
"You have to make compromises when you build a house. I wanted antique wide-plan floors for my new home in Nashville, but that was unrealistic for a house this size. I got an end run of commercial wide-plank white oak for $3 a square foot and had someone hand-brush it with a deep stain. That's the closest I could get." -Jeannette Whitson

3. Accessorizing
"Have you ever slept in one of those beds with 60 pillows on it? You need a guidebook to be able to put them back. Good design does not have to be jaw-dropping - it just has to feel good."
-Jim Howard

Related: 5 Disastrous Rooms Transformed

4. Stress
"Enjoy the process! Have fun. And trust your instincts. Once the fear is gone, the fun

Because alfresco dining - and drinking - is just more fun! We asked 9 tastemakers for their favorite finds for outdoor parties. Take advantage of the season with these essentials.

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.