Better Homes & Gardens: May 19

Better Homes & Gardens this week visits Ravine House and Saumarez Homestead and whips up burgers and lava cakes.

Joh + Pete – Amazing Home: Ravine House
Hanging over a rock chasm next to the ocean, the Ravine House is a stunning feat of architecture, showing what can be achieved on even the most challenging sites. Johanna and Pete explore this cleverly designed home, revelling in the tranquillity it inspires, despite the drama of the ocean outside. Rather than just designing a boring box to make the most of the views, the architects worked with the ravine it sits on to give it a shape that reflects the rugged landscape around, creating interesting sightlines no matter where you look. Come take a look around this treasure map of a house where X really does mark the spot.

Adam – Your Home-More Efficient & Warmer
With the weather getting colder, Adam shows you some easy things you can do to keep the cold out without having to turn on those expensive heaters. Whether its drafts flowing in around doors, cold windows or cleaning your air con so they run more efficiently, Adam’s tips will save you from having to rug up inside and save you money from those ever-increasing power bills.

Fast Ed – Beast Of A Burger – When Too Much Is Not Enough
Friday night takeaway is a great way to end the week. But for all the convenience of ordering in, making your own fast food can be even better. While we all love a beef patty, Ed’s using something else that’s even better for his beast of a burger. But the best part of making your own takeaway is you can add whatever extras you want, you can make it cheaper and it will be even more tasty!

Fast Ed – No-Fail Chocolate Malted Lava Cakes
If you’re looking to make self-saucing puddings as well as the restaurants do for this staple dessert, Ed has a cheat that will mean you’ll get the gooiest sauce every time. Making a ganache to go in the middle eliminates the need for underbaking the pudding and potentially getting inconsistencies. But don’t be worried if this sounds difficult, the proof is in the pudding.

Graham – Saumarez Homestead Walkaround
The Saumarez Homestead in Armidale has been described as the heritage jewel of the New England region of NSW, and rightly so. It’s a late Victorian-Edwardian Mansion surrounded by formal gardens and a collection of farm buildings that date back to the 1830s. Tonight Graham takes a stroll through the home and the two hectares of English style garden, that includes a magnificent rose garden, picking garden and paddocks with trees to shade and beautify. The original charm of the homestead garden has been maintained with restorations and new areas created to make it one of the largest and most successful rural properties of the New England region.

Charlie – Mediterranean Courtyard
One of the big benefits of gardening is you have free reign to create whatever you want. So, if you love the warmer climate-style gardens of the Mediterranean, why don’t you create one in your own backyard? They Mediterranean style is really well suited to the Aussie climate; they’re waterwise, low maintenance and look great. So, don’t be surprised if you’re inspired to transform your garden into a Southern European entertaining area this weekend.

Juliet – Macrame Jewellery
Macrame has made a comeback in a major way, and you can use the technique on everything from accessories to home decor! With just a few simple materials, you can create a chic, boho pair of earrings that look like they came from a boutique, but you’ll be able to say that you made with your own two hands. Juliet will show how to make a few variations of earrings that are so simple you will not only want to make them for yourself but give them as gifts to friends as well.

James – Getting Into A Ute
The humble ute ain’t what it used to be. Until recently they were mostly the domain of tradies using them as another tool. But as more and more people have begun to replace the family sedan, the ute has become a true utility, doing the school run, lugging the groceries and taking the kids to Saturday sport. With that in mind, James talks to a car expert to go through all the pros and cons of three different utes on sale today. Take note, because there’s a good chance a ute will be your next car.

Dr Harry – Zambi Wildlife Retreat
Retirement is all about enjoying life after your work years in a relaxed and comfortable environment. But that’s for us humans, what about working animals? Where do they go? Well, Dr Harry discovers Zambi Wildlife Retreat, a retirement village for animals who worked in the entertainment industry, like lions and tigers. But Zambi also looks after animals that aren’t just retired, but have been rejected by their mother, shunned by the pack or rescued from injury or private ownership. From the small and fluffy to the large and fluffy and even some winged friends, Dr Harry meets the animals living their golden years in safety, comfort and nice warm ray of sunshine.

7pm Friday on Seven / 7TWO