June 1995

Between friends

Chair remakes

So, the red-hot rays of old Sol have faded the fabrics and dulled the finishes of your summer chairs. Renew them with one of these makeovers, sizzling with color and weather-worthy fabrics.

Stamps of approval

Any room bursts into bloom when you put rubber stamps in floral designs to play. Look for botanical stamps at a crafts store or buy our rubber stamping kits. The rest is easy: Press the inked stamp onto paper for artwork to frame, above, or onto fabric for room accents, such as curtains and pillows. Let the ink dry, fill in the flowers with color from fabric pens, and your mini "garden" is done. Turn the page for more.

Have a Safe Summer

Following a few simple rules can help keep kids healthy and happy for a summer's worth of fun.

Bunk Bed Safety

Splashed with bright colors and playful in design, metal bunk beds make a favorite "bedmate" for kids. When built correctly, this cleanlined design is safer than the traditional wood bunk.

Happy & Safe Picnicking

TEST GARDEN TIP

High-impact color

Gate garland

Front-yard finesse

Flower festival

Garden getaway

Creating a family paradise

On a small, steep lot, Liza and Tim Crosse found room for the joys of gardening. Out front, Tim terraced the slope to plant fruit trees and flower beds. Out back, there's a gazebo, a vegetable garden, and a level lawn where the boys, David and Tom, can play, above. And everywhere, on the deck, on the steps, on the paths, and in the gardens, there are flowers. "Tim does structures," Liza says. "I am into color and plants."

Summertime splendor

For garden drama, it's hard to beat Pam Georges' Portland perennial patch, planted in view of Oregon's famous Mt. Hood. Her passion for season-long color comes to life each year in a perennial extravaganza that blooms from spring to fall. Pam's paradise peaks in summer, when the perennials sprinkle the garden with flowering splendor.

Family reunion

This is a story of love and redecorating. It gets really messy. But its theme is an inspiration; the ending a happy one. Though this tale involves family connections, it is written for anyone who has fallen in love with a wreck and triumphed, and its message radiates to those who try to live with their past-- or at least furniture of their past-- without being bound by it.

Sunday morning rooms

Retreating to one of these three inviting porches on a Sunday morning would be pure pleasure. These are sanctuaries where the air is crisp, songbirds chatter from surrounding trees, and tranquility reigns. Lounge here with the hefty weekend edition while reflecting on the state of the world, yesterday's scores, and your good fortune.

Summer whites

These summer projects take you back in time, back to the genteel days of garden parties, lawn tennis, and regattas on the river. It's easy to resurrect the romance and repose of that bygone era: just order project plans for our birdhouse, gazebo, and Adirondack chairs.

Dollar-Saving Facelift Ideas

You can give your kitchen an attractive new outlook even if you don't have the budget for a major remodeling. Here are some kitchen facelift ideas that are so simple and inexpensive that you're sure to want to start the project this weekend.

Kids' Stuff

Give your lads (or grandkids) all they need for hours of at-home entertainment. Here are plans for three of our readers' all-time favorite play units, each incorporating many versatile features that will accommodate the changing interests of children.

Warming Up to White

Classic Colonial

Super nozzles

STEEL II: THE SEQUEL

DO YOU KNOW?

SEAL OF APPROVAL

Nutrition information

With each recipe, we give important nutrition information. The calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein will help you keep tabs on what you eat.

Fantastic Floats

The soda fountain at your local drug store is probably long gone. Too bad. If they were open for business today, they might dish up new fangled floats like these. Choose your flavor, then enjoy this ice cold treat at home.

Summer Temptations

For cool relief, pour a pitcher of flavored sun tea. Take advantage of herbs from your garden and add as much (or as little) flavor as you want. Let the sun brew the tea for you.

BH&G kids school's out!

...but learning won't stop. Many summer activities provide natural lessons in science (watching a thunderstorm roll in), language (reading a book under a tree), and business (running a lemonade stand). Don't tell the kids, but the projects on the following pages will stretch their brains while they're having fun. Plus, you'll find a great Father's Day gift idea, continued on page 206

School's Out Stuff to Do

Hey kids! Hey parents! School-age kids love making real things that they can use or play with. If you enjoyed the fabulous ideas in the BH&G Kids feature on pages 205 to 211, try these products specially selected for the readers of Better Homes and Gardens® magazine.

Auto update

Ford's restyled Explorer, complete with standard dual air bags, is just the latest entry in the burgeoning world of sportutility vehicles, where sales have jumped from 197,000 in 1980 to 1.6 million last year. The appeals? The promise of off-road adventure, although few owners actually venture off-road. Interior space and rugged construction that fit a pack-'em-up-and-go lifestyle. Plus, good visibility on the road, which earns high marks with women.

The Shopper's Mart

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

The man next door

Burt Jr. swears that when he's old enough to plant his own garden, he's only going to grow the things he likes-- no squash, eggplant, or beets. Funny, I remember once making that very same vow.