Actress and director Melora Hardin, best known for her roles on The Office, Monk, and The Bold Type and her Emmy-nominated turn on Transparent, is also a passionate collage artist and wallpaper designer. She discusses her creative process and how it informs her work on, off, and behind the screen.
How did you get started in collage art?
As a little girl, I was always creating and drawing, and I kept getting pulled into collage. I enjoyed being messy, adding layers, and making something. I also loved that I could cover a collage up with something else if I didn’t like it. It was a fun way to express myself—it was kind of like doodling.
How did you get back into collaging?
When I started making my documentary, Hunter’s Thunder, collaging was something I could use to inform me as an editor. It’s a little like directing because they are both about putting pieces together to tell a story. It’s this ability to tell stories that attracts me most to collaging.
I also did a lot of collaging in Montreal while shooting The Bold Type since I hadn’t been to that city before and was about 3,000 miles away from my family and friends. I felt compelled to collage since I knew there would be downtime. It gave me something relaxing to do to balance the intensity of the work I had done in Los Angeles with Hunter Austin, the subject of my documentary.
What is your documentary about?
It’s both an inside look at my friendship with Hunter and a story about a meaningful chance connection, real-life serendipity and healing, and women holding women up. It’s 85 percent self-shot and is quite intimate. With a documentary, you follow real life, not a script, so I didn’t know where the story was taking me. When I started editing my footage, I did a series of collages to help me figure out what I wanted to say. My collages resonated with Hunter; it was incredible to see my art have such an effect on somebody. They gave her an imaginative escape that helped her heal and create a new vision for her life.
Does being a collage artist and an actor share any similarities?
Yes. In acting and directing, as with collaging, you sometimes need to release control and allow intuition and instinct to lead. The process requires a lot of skill because you have to know how to relax your brain to get the best results.
What is your creative process when collaging?
I begin by looking through magazines. I have piles of them—new ones, vintage National Geographic and Life magazines, and some from France. Anytime I see an interesting image on paper or cardboard, I save it. When I go to an airport, I find a newsstand and flip through each publication; if I find something intriguing, I buy it. Later, I’ll cut out what I like—I have piles of clippings to pull from when collaging. I sometimes accent the images with gold, silver, or copper leaf and usually glue everything together with Mod Podge.
Where do you create your collages?
I work on them wherever I go, but I really love to spend time on them in Montreal—that’s where I have the most space to spread out and make a mess. Rather than glue them together right away, I leave my collages out for a while. Then, when I’m happy with a collage, I take photos of it so I can take it apart, reassemble it, and glue it down. Putting my collages back together exactly as they were before is the tricky part.
I’ve filled a bedroom wall in my place in Los Angeles with my collages. When I wake up in the morning, I gaze at them and let them speak to me. On another wall in my bedroom, I’ve hung more collages using adhesive strips that allow me to easily move them around. My husband loves them; when I told him I was going to put them all over the wall, he was fine with it.
Tell us about your wallpaper collection:
It’s called Storyboards by Melora Hardin because everything in the collection tells a story—you can even infuse them with your own imaginings. My first experiment for the series was a collage I made for the bathroom wall in my Montreal condo. The collage makes the space, which has a big bathtub, feel incredibly restful. I can soak, relax, and gaze at its giant blooms, butterflies, and ancient-looking sculpture—it has an owl perched on it that appears to be looking at me. The scene in the collage can be almost anything, whether a lake or a garden—the possibilities are endless.
Do the wall coverings you designed have a unifying theme?
Much of my collection is inspired by Hunter’s Thunder and the idea of metamorphosis and healing. Some elements it features, such as butterflies and flowers, are about letting the light in since shame can only exist in the shadows. For example, my “Birds of a Feather” pattern has a bleak black-and-white background, but it also has a vibrant gold and pink foreground.
Is your decorating style as colorful as your collages and wallpaper?
Yes—I want my spaces to be warm and welcoming. I’m what you’d call eclectic and “house proud.” In my homes, I have lots of magic and whimsy and have collected many things. I love that my wallpaper can turn a room into a work of art.
For more info, visit melora.com
When the first weeds appear in your yard this season, you may be tempted to reach for the synthetic weed killer you bought from your local gardening store. But while it’s sure to quickly zap those pesky intruders, it may not be the best option for you, your lawn, or the environment. Luckily, there is a healthier alternative—organic lawn care. By embracing natural methods, you can not only create a safer outdoor space for your family but also contribute to the overall well-being of the planet.
Organic lawn care is a holistic approach to maintaining your lawn without relying on harsh synthetic chemicals. It includes prioritizing all-natural products like organic fertilizers and compost to enrich the soil with essential nutrients, help improve its overall structure, and promote plant health. Additionally, it encourages the use of natural weed-control methods like pulling or spreading corn gluten meal. Together, these practices create a sustainable and balanced ecosystem in your yard, resulting in a greener, healthier lawn that is ultimately safer for the people and pets who come in contact with it.
When swapping to all-natural lawn care, first test your soil to better understand its current pH and nutrient levels. Knowing where it’s lacking will help you determine what amendments you can add to improve its overall health. You can purchase a soil-testing kit online or through a local nursery or store.
Once you have your game plan, prep your lawn by pulling any visible weeds, mowing your grass to about two inches, and aerating the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to better penetrate it. You can then add whatever compost or organic fertilizer will serve it best. Such a conditioner will slowly release nutrients into the soil and provide your grass with what it needs to stay healthy and grow deep roots.
It’s best to mow your grass with sharp blades and leave it between three to four inches tall in spring and summer; the taller it is, the more it shades the soil, thereby keeping it moist and reducing weed growth. As a general rule, don’t cut more than one-third of the grass each time you mow to avoid putting additional stress on it. You can also leave the clippings on your lawn to let them decompose and release nutrients back into the soil.
Another key step is to water your lawn deeply but infrequently, at least once a week depending on the amount of rainfall in your area. (Just make sure to follow any local water-conservation ordinances.) Early morning is generally the best time since the sun won’t be as intense, causing less evaporation. As for weed control, hand-pull or use tools to remove any as soon as you notice them, cutting them off before they have a chance to take root. You can also apply a layer of corn gluten meal in spring to better prevent their germination.
Organic lawn care is a sustainable practice that benefits both your home and the planet. By focusing on soil health and implementing natural practices, you can achieve a beautiful, healthy yard and create a safe and eco-friendly outdoor space.
A steaming-hot pizza hits the spot anytime, especially on a cool spring evening. However, getting one usually entails popping a frozen option in the oven or ordering takeout, often with a typical topping like pepperoni. Elevate your pies to new heights instead with these recipes from the Pizza Night cookbook, which are as easy to make as they are delicious.
This simple pie features four cheeses, salt and pepper, and honey, giving it a tasty combination of sweet and salty.
A zesty mix of barbecue sauce, onions, and jalapeños is offset by a cool ranch dressing, providing ample flavor in every bite.
Recipes excerpted from Pizza Night by Deborah Kaloper. © Smith Street Books 2023. Photography by Emily Weaving.
Makes one 9½ in. pizza
Makes one 9½ in. pizza
If you own a home, regardless of its type, you need homeowners insurance. It may cover your dwelling’s structure and your personal belongings from various risks, such as fire, theft, and vandalism, and can potentially help pay for legal fees and damages if someone is injured on your property. However, not all policies are created equal; coverage will vary depending on your policy and insurance company along with your home’s age, location, and value. Check out this handy guide to better understand what may or may not be included in your homeowners insurance.
A standard homeowners insurance policy usually provides basic protection, but verify with your insurer what exactly falls under your policy so you know what you can expect if you need to submit a claim.
A home’s structures
If your home suffers damage due to fire, smoke, theft, or vandalism, a standard homeowners policy normally covers the repair or replacement of the dwelling’s main components—the foundation, walls, and roof—and may pay for alternate lodging if your home needs to be rebuilt. Other common structures, such as a garage, deck, or fence, may also fall under the standard coverage umbrella.
Personal belongings
Homeowners insurance often includes coverage for personal property inside your home that has been damaged by fire, stolen, or vandalized. Your policy may help pay for repairs or replace your belongings. If you have any high-value items, such as jewelry or artwork, you may need to purchase extended coverage to protect against their potential loss or damage.
Water damage
Water damage is typically covered, as long as it’s from sudden and accidental events such as a burst pipe, failed water heater, or broken washing machine hose. In addition, if your roof leaks due to a covered event like hail or a severe storm, your policy will often cover the cost of repairing it.
HVAC system
If your HVAC unit gets damaged from an unforeseen event such as a severe storm or fire, your policy will likely replace or repair it. However, this would not be the case if a unit breaks due to age or negligence.
Liability
A standard policy will typically help pay for legal fees and medical expenses if someone is injured on your property. You may even be covered if your dog bites someone, though some companies won’t insure specific breeds.
Understanding what’s not included in your homeowners insurance policy can help you be better prepared in the event of a loss. Consider purchasing additional coverage for specific risks depending on your location and situation.
Flood and earthquake damage
If you live in a flood or earthquake zone, you may want to seek separate insurance as a standard homeowners insurance policy will not cover this type of damage.
Plumbing
While the resulting water damage may be covered, homeowners insurance usually won’t pay to repair or replace a burst pipe or broken water heater. An exception to this would be if they are damaged due to a fire or storm; in these cases, they should fall under your dwelling coverage.
Termite damage
Termite damage is viewed as preventable, so treatment and repair are not covered under your homeowners policy. The only caveat is that if the termites chew through wires and cause a fire, some insurers may cover the repair of the fire damage.
Certain roof damage
Though your roof is covered under your standard policy, the insurer will not pay for a roof leak or other issues if it determines such damage is due to lack of maintenance, age, neglect, or abuse.
The cost and coverage of homeowners insurance can vary, so make sure to compare quotes from different insurers before choosing a policy. And always review your policy annually to ensure that it still meets your needs.
