Styled and Savored #019
Your weekly curated guide to great finds that make your home life easier, fuller, richer, and happier.
This week’s Styled & Savored charges ahead with a roundup that covers all the best ways to eat, drink, decorate, and even tackle those nagging household projects.
Is your backyard looking a little sad? We’ve got a Summer Lawn Care Guide that has you covered with simple steps to keep it green and thriving, while advice on how to choose the right contractor helps you dodge headaches on bigger projects. Meanwhile, indoors is getting a fresh dose of style with the announcement of the first of the cavalcade of 2026 Color of the Year announcements, plus there’s a review of seven design trends for 2025 that are equal parts bold, fun, and doable.
On the menu for this week: smoky chorizo nachos that practically demand a party, creamy slow-cooked Tuscan chicken for effortless comfort, and a crisp collection of 23 summer salads that make dinner feel cool and breezy. And don’t forget the drinks. We’ll have you mixing up a refreshing triple tiki rum punch that’ll help you beat the heat.
From sizzling recipes to smart design moves, Styled & Savored is here to make sure your summer feels inspired, delicious, and just the right amount of stylish.
Seven design trends that scream 2025
Style by Emily Henderson decodes seven design trends that will literally shout “2025” – some with spikey fringe, others with whispering elegance. One standout? Scalloped edges and wave patterns, which are everywhere from pantry borders to furniture edges, but fair warning: that arch you’re eyeing may age faster than your last iPhone model.
Then there’s the cottage-core revival – think ruffled cabinets, frilly lampshades, and plates hanging like your aunt’s cozy kitchen. It’s nostalgic, warm, and full of “Mom radio mornings.” Pattern and color drenching make the list too – maximalism’s statement look: wallpapers, rugs, and sofas in the same florals. Bold, immersive, and completely intentional.
The post cleverly pairs each trend with a “2035 Gut Check,” asking: will we still love this in a decade, or cringe at our 2025 selves? It's a wink that says, “Trends are fun, but pick what speaks to you, not just the algorithm.”
This post is prophecy wrapped in playful commentary. Each trend feels less like decor habits and more like a cultural moment you might remember with equal parts pride and nostalgia.
2026 Color of the Year…so far!
Young House Love kicks off their annual tradition early — 2025 colors, we still see you. They round up the first two major paint industry picks for 2026’s Color of the Year: Behr’s Hidden Gem, a smoky jade blue-green that whispers “drama with depth,” and Valspar’s Warm Eucalyptus, a soft, vintage sage that’s pure zen. These contrasting hues signal a tug-of-war between bold personal expression and soft nostalgia.
© Young House Love
Behr’s Hidden Gem invites you to go deep. Paint it on your cabinetry or let it anchor a moody living room. It’s bold yet adaptable, praised for its calming presence and confident personality. Valspar’s Warm Eucalyptus offers the opposite comfort – a natural, restorative green that’s inviting whether on walls or porch trim. Both colors speak to emotions and atmosphere, rather than flashy trendiness.
But the blog post isn’t just tallying swatches. It’s building suspense as it contrasts 2025’s mauves and browns with what might come next, riffing on guesswork for brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, and inviting readers to play along and see who predicts the next “Hot Dog” color (yes, that was a thing).
By the end, the post feels like design spring training: fun, speculative, and rooted in real decor talk. Whether you’ve got a gallon or a Lorezado swatch on hand, you’re primed for the next season of color curation.
How to select a reputable home contractor
Extreme How-To touches on a topic that’s near and dear to our hearts with an article that skips the contractor horror stories and gets straight to helping you find someone you can actually trust.
The guide starts strong with practical safety checks: verify license and insurance, call past clients, and always ask for written cost estimates (preferably itemized).
It also breaks down subtle red flags – like overly aggressive sales pitches or sky-high deposit demands – and explains what to do when estimates feel off. Beyond vetting, the guide reminds readers to lean on communication tools by setting weekly check-ins, photo updates, and getting every change order in writing. It’s part common sense, part diplomacy, and 100% peace-of-mind-making.
What’s refreshing is that the article treats you not like a DIY newbie, but like a savvy homeowner who just needs a playbook, not a lecture. It makes vetting contractors feel like smart, dogged detective work, minus the trench coat and blaizing interrogation lamp.
Whether you're building a deck or reworking your bathroom, this post gives you the roadmap and the confidence to keep control of the process and your wallet.
Summer lawn care guide
Today’s Homeowner gives your lawn the VIP treatment with a clear-as-grass Summer lawn care guide. It begins with water: how much, how often (hint: deep and infrequent is king), and the best times to avoid evaporation. Mowing is next – a higher blade keeps roots strong and shade-savvy, while sharp blades prevent ragged edges and weeds. Fertilizer enters the chat, with tips on slow-release formulas that feed your grass without burning it in the August heat.
© istockphoto.com
The article also walks through aeration and dethatching – two OG tasks that keep your turf airy and hydrated. The article warns against the temptation of midday watering parties (“your lawn isn’t a fish,” it quips), and because weeds don’t take a summer break, it wraps with guidance on targeted, safe weed control that avoids chemical overkill.
This is equal parts guardian and instructor, both knowledgeable and warm, like a neighbor who’s saved you from driveway burnout more than once. With this guide, “summer lawn care” becomes less chore and more seasonal zen: just you, your mower, and a lawn that actually makes you want to sit outside.
Explaining the meat salting trick chefs use
Serious Eats serves up a smart tip for anyone cooking meat at home: salt early. The article explains how salting meat 24 to 48 hours before cooking pulls out moisture, which then gets reabsorbed – helping seasoning penetrate deeply and resulting in juicier, more flavorful cooked meat.
© Serious Eats
The piece dives into the science – why a light coating of kosher salt helps proteins denature and improve texture – and practical guidance: how much salt per pound, where to store the meat while it rests, and how to adjust cooking time after brining.
It’s like having a mini science class that actually makes your dinner better. The tone is knowledgeable but not pretentious – “Salt like a pro, even if you’re only cooking chicken for two.” The post reassures readers that this isn’t just for chefs; home cooks benefit big time.
End result? You emerge inspired to plan ahead, salt smart, and cook with confidence because now you know why that steak or roast tastes deeper, juicier, and more seasoned all the way through.
Extra-cheesy chorizo nachos
Charlie at Simply Meat Smoking has given us the nacho upgrade of our dreams –because let’s be honest, chips, cheese, and spicy meat is the holy trinity of great snacking. This one-pan wonder layers crispy, restaurant-style tortilla chips with juicy rounds of fresh Mexican chorizo (ditch the cured stuff), hearty black beans, and a symphony of bubbly cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses. It’s basically nachos, but elevated to a higher level.
The magic happens in the oven at a scorching 425°F – just enough to let the cheese melt into golden, bubbly perfection without soggying out the chips. Once it’s emerged with cheese perfectly gooey and edges just crisping, Charlie recommends topping it all with cool guacamole, sour cream, crunchy pickled jalapeños, vibrant pico de gallo, and a finishing flourish of cilantro.
What makes this functional and fun: it’s endlessly adaptable. Want more heat? Go heavy on the jalapeños or swap cheeses. Vegetarian? Sub in spiced tofu or mushrooms for the chorizo. Need a gluten-free version? As long as you’ve got the right chips, you’re good.
Whether you're feeding a crowd or making a solo snack binge happen, this recipe nails flavor, simplicity, and that just-right hint of assembly-line speed. Nachos aren’t just finger food, they’re communal affection, and this version spreads it thick and cheesy.
23 fresh salads for when the weather is hot
CopyKat’s salad roundup is the literal chill pill you need for these scorching months. It’s packed with 23 vibrant recipes that transform raw produce into refreshing, flavor-packed meals. Think crisp classics like zucchini ribbons with lemon and mint plus bold exotic options like Thai-style papaya salad or watermelon feta with mint and lime. There's something for every refresher level, from casual spring mix combinations to kitchen-sink grain salads.
Each salad plays like a mini escape: cucumber with dill yogurt to cool things down, or a vibrant tomato-garlic-kale medley for something grounding. The list walks the balance between effortless prep and wow-factor flavor. There are no long ingredient lists, but there is plenty of textural variety and punchy dressings.
“Skinny doesn’t mean bland,” the post insists, with a wink. It makes salad building feel empowering, not like punishment. By the end, you’re inspired not just to eat green, but to savor summer on a plate or bowl.
Crockpot Tuscan chicken
Ask Chef Dennis turns your slow cooker into a flavor machine with his Crockpot Tuscan Chicken — a creamy, garlicky, tomato-laced wonder that makes prep look almost indulgent. You toss boneless chicken breasts into the crockpot with jarred sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), garlic, Italian seasoning, and a touch of cream. Low heat does the magic, letting the flavors meld and the meat tenderize.
© Ask Chef Dennis
What’s genius is how it layers complexity: tangy sun-dried tomato flavor, savory herb aromatics, and a silky sauce that you can swirl over pasta, spoon atop risotto or rice, or just dip a little focaccia into the creamy broth. It’s effortless but feels like restaurant cozy during a weeknight dinner.
With this meal, you get minimal effort and maximal reward. It’s a hero dish that makes your slow cooker look like a culinary assistant, not a backup.
Triple Tiki Rum Punch
A Beautiful Mess serves up a seriously fun tropical escape with their Triple Tiki Rum Punch – a cocktail that blends light and dark rums with pineapple, orange, and lime juices for a fruity, easygoing sip that’s perfect for summer days (or any day you’re craving a vacation in a glass)
© A Beautiful Mess
The recipe is refreshingly straightforward: simply combine your rums and those three juices in a cocktail shaker over ice, shake until chilled, then strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Garnishes like pineapple slices or a maraschino cherry add a classic tropical touch, but feel free to get creative and add orange or lime wedges if that suits your vibe.
What elevates this punch beyond the ordinary is its flexible nature. You can swap in flavored rums (like coconut) or top your drink with club soda, ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda for a bubbly twist. A dash of nutmeg or Angostura bitters can sneak in a little tiki sophistication, making this recipe as fun as it is forgiving and customizable.
Quote of the week: On gratitude
Gratitude is like a lens that sharpens life’s details. What once felt ordinary suddenly becomes extraordinary. It doesn’t change what we have, but it transforms how we see it.
“Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.'“
– Charles E. Jefferson (1860 - 1937), American Congregational clergyman, author, and pastor of Broadway Tabernacle in New York City
That’s it for this week. Let us know your thoughts about any or all of the featured posts in this edition of Styled & Savored, and tell us what you’d like to see us cover in future editions as well.
