May 1982

EDITOR at large

Often, after a health article appears in our pages, people write to tell us how helpful it proved in some personal or family application. "It might just have saved my life," they sometimes say. But never until now have we received such a message from anyone who also wrote the article itself.

Superinsulated Houses

Take a look at the two houses pictured at right. Attractive, aren't they? But what's especially appealing about them isn't visible. It's the way they function. Both of these houses are the products of a revolutionary new building technique called superinsulation.

Does It Pay to Be Your Own Contractor?

It can pay off big. If you do it yourself, your total outlay could be 15 to 20 percent less than it would be if a professional contractor did the same work for you. Also, you have quality control of the construction, and you can get great personal satisfaction from a job well done.

Creative Flower Gardeners with great ideas to share

No two gardens are identical, for the simple reason that no two gardeners are alike. Every gardener has his or her own particular style. This personalizing of a garden is what makes each one interesting in its own way.

Rooms To Relax In

Want to make a room look comfortable and inviting? Start by warming the space with eye-pleasing tones and textures, then providing plenty of sink-into seating pieces. Here are two rooms that show you how.

Tips, Tools, and TECHNIQUES

This feature is written by you. It's a wide-ranging collection of shop hints, installation tips, and repair shortcuts that you-- along with millions like you-- have picked up from your experience as a do-it-yourselfer. We pay $25 for each problem-solver we publish.

Should You Sue?

Lawsuits can be expensive, long-drawn-out, and nerve-racking, and frequently they're unproductive. Before you decide to sue, consider the following questions carefully.

NEW OPTIONS FOR DINING SPACES

These days, many homes no longer have a dining "room," so squeezing in a spot for family feasting or entertaining isn't easy. But look around. There are more dining options than you think-- like a desk area, a sliver of hallway, or a wasted corner. To simplify your search, we've come up with several alternate dining places you may have overlooked, plus a variety of flexible furniture and suggestions for innovative entertaining.

Gardener's log

If you enjoyed our feature article on flowers to grow and dry for permanent arrangements (page 104), here's one more flower you should consider. Most varieties of yarrow or achillea grow fairly tall, two to three feet; but there also are varieties that remain matlike, with flowers borne on four-to six-inch stems.

DOES YOUR PET NEED Dental Care?

Have you ever taken a look inside your pet's mouth? That's the first step in preventing infections that can endanger your pet's overall health.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE New Materials In Your Car

Slam the hood of a new car, and you may not hear as "solid" a sound as you're used to; tap on a body part you assume is metal, and you may hear the hollow sound of plastic. Does this mean that cars are made of flimsier materials today?

Antiques & COLLECTIBLES

Decoys are among today's most sought-after collectibles, and they're truly American in origin. The Indians made the first decoys as early as 1000 A.D. and taught the craft to the colonists. By 1850 decoys were being made to resemble and lure over 50 different species of birds.

DECIPHERING Stereo Jargon

Shopping for stereo equipment can be daunting if you don't know the jargon. When a salesperson starts spouting technical terms or touting "new and improved" gizmos, you have no way of separating fact from hype.

GARAGE SENTRY

MULTI-USE TOOL SET

SMALL-SPACE GAMES

HOUSE OF BUILT-INS

Can you afford to buy a new 2,500-square-foot home? And furnish it ...and heat and cool it... and pay taxes on it? These questions are prompting builders and architects to explore new financing options and to create a new breed of housing that earns the label "affordable."

A BLOOMING CARPET OF QUICKPOINT FLOWERS

Curtain up! Here is a show-stopping quickpoint rug (left) that's sure to draw rave reviews. We call it "flowers by the yard" because the basic design is easily adapted to any size space in any room of the house.

NEVER-FADE FLOWERS You Grow From Seed

Plant now for colorful dried bouquets this fall and winter. All of the hardy annual and biennial flowers described here are easily air dried and will retain their bright colors long after the growing season has ended. You can start your dried flower garden from seed, or you can buy transplants from a nursery or garden center.

EASY-DOES-IT PROJECTS TO STREAMLINE YOUR KITCHEN

If your family is as busy as most, you're probably looking for ways to get things organized and make better use of space around the house. The ideal place to start your streamlining is the kitchen, where clever organization really pays off. To inspire you, here's a potpourri of projects that have worked wonders in other busy kitchens. You'll find a surprising variety here-- everything from savvy storage tricks to compact work centers. And every one is an inexpensive project you could adapt easily to your own kitchen and build yourself.

FAMILY CAMPING VACATION GUIDE

Versatile is the word for a family camping vacation. It can be whatever you want it to be: a quiet wilderness adventure, a comfy stay-put sojourn at a lively resort, or an over-the-road ramble to see the sights.

Grow Dwarf Fruit Trees

Why not turn an unused corner of your yard into your own private mini-orchard? It's as easy as planting a few dwarf fruit trees. These hardy pint-sized fruit trees grow only about ten feet tall and will begin to bear fruit a year or two after planting.

Investing: Should You Use A Discount Broker?

You can save up to 50 percent or more on commissions if you buy and sell securities through a discount broker. But these bargain-rate firms aren't for everyone. Here's what you should know.

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

Dr. Bob Hannelly says if it weren't for bad habits-- other people's-- he wouldn't have to work half as hard as he does.