May 1975

There must be a better way to finance a house!

You can pay in a variety of ways for almost everything you buy today-- except a house. While innovative methods of home financing are being tried and are working in a few areas, the vast majority of homes are financed the same way they've always been: with an old-fashioned, fixed-payment mortgage that obligates you to so many dollars a month for so many years.

... ... -- sleek ... versatile

... modern is cold" cliché ... doesn't apply to these next ... American-made European ... ... Both are easy to ... have adjustable shelves, and ... work as freestanding ... since they are made up of ... ... components these ... ... can be arranged (and ... ... to suit your fancy.

Faulty furniture: who's to blame?

Whose fault is it when you buy a new chair or sofa and it doesn't live up to your expectations in quality, performance, or wear? Is it the manufacturer's fault? The store where you bought it? Or could it be yours? Here, Bette Clemens, the Director of Consumer Affairs for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., throws some light on these and other important consumer questions.

Consumer Action Panels: How they work for you

My office has just completed a survey of the complaints coming into 158 state and local consumer offices across the country, and we've found that furniture complaints fall within the "top ten" category-- right along with automobiles, major appliances, and misleading advertisements.

Furniture buying: How to judge case goods

You wouldn't think of spending $500 or $1,000 on a plane ticket without knowing where you were going. Yet, you may find yourself spending that much and more on case goods (unupholstered furniture) with only the word of the salesperson that what you're buying is worth the money.

How to buy upholstered furniture

"Beauty is more than skin deep" is a maxim worth remembering when you shop for upholstered furniture. Under that pretty upholstery fabric is a composite of materials and workmanship that can add up to a good buy or a bummer.

Home improvements and repairs: when does it pay to do it yourself?

Galloping inflation has put a whole new light on the economics of home improvements and repairs. One big reason is that labor costs for such jobs have soared in many areas to $10 or $15 an hour. In some parts of the country, they have risen to over $20 an hour.

Eight steps to a successful garage sale

Garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales-- call them what you like. They're one of the surest signs of spring, and a good way for cost-conscious families to make some extra cash and clean out the attic at the same time. In fact, one national news magazine recently reported that gross receipts from garage sales range usually between $100 and $400.

HOW TO GET THE ART DECO LOOK

If you tend to save things, and you're over 35, Art Deco might be as close as your closet. In fact, if you own anything that was made during the 1920s and 1930s-- a lamp, a comb and brush set, a chair, a table, or a teacup-- there's a good chance it's designed in the Art Deco style.

GARDEN-FRESH FABRICS YOU CAN PRINT

There are dozens of ways to print fabric-- silk screen, batik, tie-dye, and wood block, to name just a few. But these printing techniques usually require elaborate preparation, budget-bending equipment, and a messy aftermath (work areas often bear telltale tattoos for years).

GOOD NEWS

Firm, steady support can make the difference between a project that looks professionally finished and one that's obviously done by an amateur. This handy work surface not only supports your project, but grips it tightly while you're working on it.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS THE MOST CHANGE FOR THE LEAST MONEY

The tired, but sound, old house that "needs some work" is one of the most underrated solutions to today's housing crunch. Most shoppers turn thumbs-down as soon as they realize just how much work is really needed.

SHELVE IT

A dull, commonplace room can be easily transformed into a smart-looking, functional living space by adding a well-planned shelving system. It can solve a multitude of storage problems if you're suffering from overstuffed cabinets. And, it could become the focal point of the room when it's skillfully arranged with cherished books or records.

WILDFLOWERS How to tame them for your garden

Make this your year to go natural by opening your garden to the flowers of the field, roadside, and woodland. From spring to fall, the native plants assert their independence by blooming untended-- oblivious to seasonal quirks such as too little or too much rain, and insect or disease explosions. Although some of the wildflowers look fragile, as a group they're tough, trouble-free, and well worth space in your garden.

MAY SEWING SPECIAL: FRESH-AS-SPRING FROCKS

Spring is here at last, and the stores are filled with some of the freshest fabrics we've seen in years. To celebrate, we've collected into one pattern four of the prettiest dresses we could find. These are special dresses for very special occasions, all designed just for us by Burda Moden of Germany.

OUTSTANDING VACATION RESORTS IN MID-AMERICA

... inflation, recession, and the energy crisis threatening ... put a damper on travel this season, many families will be ... at resorts close to home. They can anticipate a marvelous time. Every section of America has hundreds of fine resorts-- self-contained retreats where you can spend a splendid holiday without long, dreary, gas-consuming days on the road or ... necessity of changing hotel rooms each night. Some of the best ... mid-America are described in this article, and here's how we ... about choosing them.

How to order material from the magazine

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted each company will happily refund your money

The man next door

Ah, spring, the time when you finally lay down the book of fairy tales and take up life itself-- in other words, when you switch from the seed catalog to Mother Earth.