January 1986

EDITOR'S LETTER

It's always our business to look into the future to bring you those trends and ideas that will affect your family life.

THIS IS IT!

All the currents and trends, all the fashions and facts, all the wide and exciting range of ideas and products that will influence your family in the coming months.

Housing

Contemporary architecture has broken the box. No more houses stamped from a pattern named "Anywhere, USA." Today's best housing speaks with a regional voice, combining comfort with up-to-the-minute technology. A whole new face-- doors, windows, trim, rooflines-- borrows freely from the past, but looks forward, too. These are the houses that celebrate home.

Food

In the last few years, the change in the American palate and pantry has been nothing short of a revolution. The trends ascending in 1986 are flavored with adventurous menus, high health and quality, a demand for the best. Here's what's on the table.

Decorating

Design trends change slowly. Though you don't buy a sofa as often as a suit, furnishings fashions are on the move. For '86 and beyond, style emphasizes informal elegance, high-impact color, and romance, yes, but with leaner lines. Here's the news.

Travel

In the coming year, these are the attractions worth the trip:

Pets

Cars

Gardening

What's coming up in the front yard for '86? As with so much else this year, the emphasis is on convenience, a tilt toward nostalgia, a noticeable willingness to experiment with the unfamiliar, and-- wouldn't you know-- upscaling. Yes, it's come to this: gourmet trowels.

REBORN BUNGALOW

An old house-- even an ordinary one-- makes a perfect setting for today's hot "cottage chic" look. To prove our point, we worked with the Gear design team to enhance the cozy appeal of this old bungalow.

TODAY'S PARENTS How Well Are They Doing?

Tell us how you think other parents are doing and what your own experiences are (or were, if your kids are grown). Then clip out these pages and mail them to us. We'll report the results of this survey in a future issue, respecting your confidentiality, of course.

A NEW WAY TO PRINT FABRICS AND FLOORS

Now you can revamp a room in half the time! The key is a big rubber stamp that'll work on walls, floors, furniture, and fabrics. Stampwork transformed a plain white sheet into this cozy quilt (above). Turn the page for a roomful of stamping ideas that can change your whole attitude about decorating!

FIRST-PRIZE ADDITION SUNNY AND STYLISH

See how five families transformed ordinary houses into prizewinning showplaces. Next time, you could win!

OUR PICKS FOR '86!

Spring is at your fingertips as this year's crop of garden catalogs start to sprout in your mailbox. These horticultural wish books are crammed with luscious vegetables, gorgeous flowers, and innovative tools designed to make your garden a success. To help you get started with your armchair gardening, here's a sneak preview of some of our favorite newcomers.

SMART NEW SWEATER DESIGNS

The whole family will love these versatile sweater sets designed to be layered or worn singly. Just a little time and two simple patterns in a variety of sizes will yield warm winter knits perfect for everyone. Even a beginner can dash off these stunning wardrobe accessories! Alternating knit and purl stitches create the subtle checkerboard pattern, and variegated hues within Unger's "Driftwood" yam add to this knitwear's appeal.

HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTEST

If you're malting your home bigger, better, or more beautiful, you could be a winner! We're searching America for the freshest, smartest ideas in home fix-ups. Large or small, if your project has pizzazz-- this contest is for you!

INTO THE OUTDOORS

One way to escape winter's chill is to take a bicycle tour in sunny regions that are too hot for summer pedaling. Expeditions are scheduled in scenic areas of Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

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

Ken Floyd admits to realizing this lifelong ambition when he supervised the car-pooling for his church's recent ski outing: "I was finally able to say, 'Take two doctors and call me in the morning.'"