March 1979

SHOULD YOU TAKE ON A SECOND MORTGAGE?

Most likely your home has risen dramatically in value over the past few years, so you have substantial equity to show for your original investment. Though you can't cash in directly without selling your house, the Increase in equity does give you lots of borrowing power.

BARRIER-FREE ROOMS FOR THE DISABLED

Almost half a million handicapped men, women, and children in this country are confined to wheelchairs. Thousands of the elderly must also depend on wheelchairs for mobility.

TIPS TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

A REGULAR FEATURE DESIGNED TO MAKE AROUND-THE-HOUSE JOBS EASIER FOR YOU

Should your new house come from the factory?

Don't be too sure you're not living in a factory-built home right now. Only an expert can tell the difference between a manufactured house and the conventional site-built variety. And even if your entire house wasn't built in a factory, there's a good chance some of the components were.

A dual-purpose divider

A Step Ahead in SOLAR LIVING

This home has no furnace, no air conditioner, not even a fan. Yet the house maintains comfortable indoor temperatures year-round. How? Air flows in a gravity convection loop through an air space that acts as a buffer between you and the weather.

MAKE ROOM FOR A KITCHEN EATING AREA

If you have to scoot up to a counter top to eat breakfast, the possibility of a sit-down dinner in your kitchen might seem impossible. But take a look at the two families pictured here. Like you, both families had an eat-in problem, and each solved it handily. Instead of trucking platters of food to a formal dining room and coping with a cramped breakfast nook, both families now can enjoy the fun of cooking and eating together in the same open kitchen eating area.

How to order material from the magazine

BABY FURNITURE BUYMANSHIP

An infant's needs are few, but certain basic furniture pieces are essential. Here is some information to help you shop wisely for baby furniture, whether you're expectant parents furnishing a first nursery, or about-to-be grandparents with gift-giving in mind.

INVESTING abc's: COMMON STOCKS

Once your family has adequate insurance and savings, it's time to look for additional ways to plan for the future-- especially in the face of steep inflation. Here is the second in a series of articles explaining the various types of investments you may want to consider.

THE NEW ENERGY-SAVING ENGINES

Choosing the engine for a new car used to be simple. You picked the number of cylinders and the size according to your needs and desires. If you paid a premium for a performance engine, you sacrificed fuel economy. If you opted for a smaller, less expensive engine, you gave up some power.

Sleek storage

Track lights

Tire tips

Plant IDs

Family booster

Sheet update

A long time ago sheets were white, and cotton, and everyone knew muslin was for kids and percale was for grown-ups. Muslin and percale are still around, but just about everything else is different. About ten years ago 50-percent polyester/50-percent cotton blend was introduced, and the long wearing, no-wrinkle, easy-care qualities of this innovative blend brought sheets into the fashion limelight.

Scholar's vacation

It may not seem like your dream vacation-- you pay a hefty fee for the privilege of working hard-- but thousands of people, from high school students to grandmothers, have already discovered the satisfaction of going on an Earthwatch expedition.

HOUSEPLANT HOW-TO

The common names of houseplants can be confusing. Many plants are known by several names, which may vary in different parts of the country. The two plants shown here are commonly called ferns, yet neither is a true member of the fern family.

A DOUBLE-DUTY KITCHEN TABLE

Here's how to build a kitchen table that's doubly useful. The table's sturdiness and good looks make it suitable for family dining. And the marble block inset is ideal for rolling out pastry.

Family get-togethers

When members of your family get together to celebrate a special event, why not start some new traditions to supplement the established ones? Here's a collection of ideas for activities designed to span the generations and bring people together to share experiences.

Updating with GLASS

Face-lifting a house doesn't always entail installing new siding or roofing, or even investing in a fresh paint job. Here's an example of how restyling the window areas of a house can update the facade-- and give a brighter feeling to interiors.

Grow Something Different

You'll be inspired to do more than just dream when you thumb through the new crop of garden catalogs. They're brimming with practically irresistible flowers and vegetables. We know, because we got a sneak preview of the new varieties last year, and also garden-tested some old favorites that warrant a second look.

THE FINE ART OF DISPLAYING ART

When it comes to creating a warm and personal family environment, pictures are worth a thousand words. Art, whether it's a one-of-a-kind painting, a collection of calendar prints, or a handcrafted quilt, can add life and character to an otherwise nondescript room. And because art can be anything you happen to like, it acts as a personal expression of your family's tastes and interests.

TATTING New Ideas for a Gentle Art

Children growing up during the early 1900s were fascinated by the syncopated bobbing of the tatting shuttle as their mothers made lace. Tatting-- and related lace-making techniques such as bobbin lace and Battenburg lace-- evolved from mariners' utilitarian knots.

Collectors' kitchens

To avid antique hunters, the find is only part of the game. The other part is the display. The kitchen makes an ideal showcase because that's where the family spends lots of time. Here's how several expert collectors decorated their kitchen with favorite finds.

Kitchen ventilation buymanship

Getting rid of stale cooking odors, fumes, and smoke is reason enough to ventilate your kitchen. But removing heat and moisture-- especially if your home is air-conditioned-- also saves energy.

Clean-'em-up boot scraper

HOMEGROWN VITAMINS

Vegetables and fruit, fresh from your garden and orchard, are delicious ways to give your diet a nutritional boost.

HOW TO HANG ALMOST ANYTHING

After you've decided what to hang where in your home, your next major decision is how. Don't just grab a hammer and pound-- you may end up with a cracked wall, or worse yet, with your bookshelf or picture on the floor. To avoid such "hang-ups," just follow these guidelines.

WHAT'S WHAT IN VACCINATIONS FOR PETS

Several diseases pose major threats to dogs and cats, but with the help of a competent veterinarian, you can protect your pet from most of them. Here's a rundown of what vaccinations your dog or cat needs and when.

GARDENING IN MARCH

This month is a good time to get the jump on the growing season by polishing off some of those early garden chores.

Simplified transfers

Tiny table saw

Versatile flooring glue

Chill stoppers

Nursery storage units

If you are in the market for a baby's crib, you'll soon find that most nursery groups also include matching storage units. Here's some information.

FACTS ABOUT FRAMING

How you frame your art affects not only how it looks, but how long it lasts as well. Even though you may select frames for aesthetic reasons, their major function is to protect your art. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind whether you do the framing job yourself or turn it over to a professional.

GREAT WEEKEND VACATIONS With Kids

As anyone who has traveled with children knows, a vacation with the kids can be a marvelous time of shared pleasure-- or it can be a disaster brought on by conflicting interests, boredom, and crankiness. A couple of suggestions may make all the difference:

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

Christine insists that whenever spring arrives this year, it's going to be late as far as she's concerned.