June 1997

Between friends

No--Sew Window Treatments

Even if you've got no time to sew-- or no machine to sew on-- you still can whip up some great window treatments this weekend. The first step? Check out your linen closet or local department store for sheets and table linens that can be transformed into creative curtains.

Over the edge

If you think only about what goes on top of a shelf, you might be missing a great opportunity to add color, softness, and architectural interest underneath. Decorative wood moldings, fabric and paper lace, wallpaper borders, even upholstery trims make great add-ons to ordinary wood shelves, whether they are wall mounted or in a case or cabinet.

Suite Canopies

When it's time for dreaming, slip under the cover of one of these canopy dressings. Suited for any four-poster with a tester rail, these two canopies have softening power, whether you like a frill or are the more tailored type.

Decorating Q&A

Q: I have just moved into a new home and can't afford the draperies I want quite yet. What would you recommend I do in the meantime?

Pillow perk-ups

Craft fast and fashionable pillows without threading a needle. The projects shown here are made from presewn fabric envelopes or tubes, sold in kits or by the yard. You add your own iron- or glue-on trimmings. One stop at the fabric store and you're ready to start.

Sweet Sampler

Bountiful Botanicals

Slips of Space, such as this sliver of wall between a window and door, can make for tricky picture arranging. Here's one solution: Hang four same-size prints in a vertical stack. Grouping all four prints in this manner gives them a far greater impact than hanging them alone or in pairs.

At your service dining storage

The real crunch in many dining rooms lasts well beyond the salad course: a dearth of room for storage and serving. If cramped quarters downgrade your dining room's company manners, adopt one of these space-stretching strategies.

Good As New

When time, weather, and wear have taken their toll on metal objects around your home, fight back with liberal doses of elbow grease and paint. Put life back into patio chairs, lighting fixtures, and ornate gates. Show your mettle.

Mowing & Clean Air

Although gasoline engines on lawn mowers are small, they can be big contributors to the smog problem. An older mower in need of a tune-up can emit as much polluting compounds in 30 minutes as a car driven 172 miles.

Allergy-Free Homes

ENERGIZE YOUR MORTGAGE

Soccer Mom Meets Supercharger

Buick aims its easy-riding Regal down a high-performance highway where family sedans seldom travel.

Are You Prepared for a Layoff?

Today's corporate climate doesn't guarantee anyone a job for life. To keep your job, you need to work smart. Do whatever it takes to make sure you're crucial to your company. But also have a plan-- in case somebody thinks you're not.

Turf Battles

Q. My boys, ages 5 and 7, fight over everything from toys to who gets to sit where at the dinner table. I am so tired of trying to settle their squabbles. How can I stop this rivalry?

We're Growing Our Site

Walk this Way

Imagine. A gentle breeze whispers through your hair. The sun tiptoes across your face. Your mind drifts like a cloud.

Put On Your Walking Shoes

If you enjoyed this health feature, we are pleased to offer you more information about general fitness and walking from Kathy Smith, author of the Better Homes and Gardens Walking Program outlined on page 96.

Whirligigs and Whimsies

Friendly face-lifts

Perk up your palace with a face-lift if years of wear and tear leave it drooping and downcast. That's what Peggy and Bill Jagger did to their Atlanta, Georgia, bungalow by adding a wraparound porch. It's one of three exterior makeovers in the pages ahead.

Pattern Your Concrete

Wildflower Meadows

All in the downs, the fleet was moored, Banners waving in the wind. When Black-Eyed Susan came aboard, And eyed the burly men. "Tell me, ye sailors, tell me true, If my Sweet William sails with you."

Outdoor projects

Spring is the season when our thoughts turn to skies alive with migrating birds, the allure of downy grass on a sunny day, and all those outdoor projects put on hold since last winter. Offered here are a few projects to add to your to-do list. This roundup includes a pair of fetching gates, home-style mailboxes, and an elegant fence designed to cover up even the most inelegant of air conditioning units.

Saltbox Birdhouse

Outdoor Room Plans

Cause to Pause

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Problem? What Problem?

Outdoor rooms

It is time once again to see if you can make grass grow between your toes. 'Tis the frolic season, when restraint is occasionally tossed aside along with shoes and socks. To help you enjoy the summer to its fullest, BH&G presents its annual Outdoor Living issue, chockablock full of tips, projects, and inspiration. You might enjoy reading it outside, perhaps in the garden. Somebody hand me a lemonade. On second thought, make it a double.

When Wildflowers are Forever

Under the old oak tree

Rooms with a roof

Some garden rooms do have walls of wood and a roof up above. Even so, you can plant in them. And on them. Here's a look inside.

Warm welcomes

Save the folding lawn chairs for the backyard barbecue. These outdoor living spaces are as comfortably lush as any room in the house. To create your own welcoming porches, look for furniture and fabrics that encourage lounging. And don't forget the details-- throws for snuggling and pillows for resting easy.

Decorating with a light touch

The first step to uncomplicating your life just may be to uncomplicate your decorating. Sure, it sounds too good to be true, until you visit the Delaware cottage of Laura Burrows-Jackson and her husband Michael Jackson, where decorating-- and life-- have a certain breezy quality.

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, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein will help you keep tabs on what you eat.

Fun in the summer sun

The Shopper's Mart

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

The man next door JUNE 1997

Christine and I detect another sign that our daughter Rosemary is maturing. She says she has accepted the fact that when you can't get what you want in life, "it's probably time to want what you get."