June 1998

Between friends

Lace Lifts

Make lace the style-setter for your room by layering it over other materials that give the traditionally delicate weave a bolder geometry.

Old Softies

In the old days, bedtime stories often were shared under a fluffy chenille spread. Rows of tufted stripes embellished with floral or geometric patterns provided warmth on cold nights, softness in summer heat, and affordable style every day. Today, chenille is making a comeback and spreading all over the house. Teamed with antique or reproduction furniture and funky trims, these collectible textiles conjure up vacation cottages and vintage charm. Flea markets, antiques shops, and Grandma's attic are logical places to find old chenille; new chenille spreads and ready-made accessories can be found in many catalogs and home stores. Even stained and torn pieces from the past can be cut up and given new life, as we've done with the glued-on lampshade and tied-up curtains (above).

A Friendly New Face

Face-lifting a century-old house poses a special challenge: How can you freshen its appearance without spoiling the 19th-century charm? For Ian Frazer and Ambrose Smith, Englishmen transplanted to Indianapolis, the answer was an arresting color scheme, plus a new entry gate out front and a Victorian-style fence that unifies the little house with its postage-stamp lot.

Outdoor Living Projects

Traffic jams, crowded beaches, and no-vacancy campgrounds can turn fair weather foul no matter how bright the sun shines. Take the easy route: relax right at home by outfitting your yard with one of these pretty-as-a-picture, easy-to-build projects.

The Durable Deck

Choose the right material when stocking up to build your deck or you could find the newest addition to your home rotting away long before its time. Here are some basics that will help you buy lumber that will last.

Take it outdoors On the deck

Sure, you can have fun this summer with nothing but the basics: food, friends, 50 SPF sunscreen. But isn't life better with a few accessories? Here are some ideas for coloring your world this season, whether you're picnicking by the lake or puttering around the backyard.

Sunny Side Up

As tongue-in-cheek names for styles go, this kitchen was what you would call "1970s wood grain." But the dark and dismal didn't end with the wood. A cabinet over the peninsula loomed between the kitchen and adjacent spaces, blocking valuable sunlight and views. Inefficient cabinet storage left countertops littered with small appliances.

Water Filters: The Clear Facts

Bottled drinking water and water purifiers may have been purely fashion or fitness statements in the 1980s, but for a growing number of Americans, they're now an extra safeguard against water contamination. Although most tap water is safe, advancing technology and highly publicized breakdowns in our water systems-- such as the outbreak of Cryptosporidium in Wisconsin in 1993 that claimed 104 lives-- have made us wary of relying wholly on public utilities for our water needs.

A New Cat on the Prowl

Cat fanciers will notice more than a hint of their favorite feline in the 1999 Mercury Cougar. Darrell Behmer, chief designer of the new sports coupe, says that his own cat, Mittens, provided inspiration for the car's character. "The look Mittens has when she's ready to pounce-- I see that same look in the car," he says. From its cat's-eye headlamps to its athletic stance, this Cougar delivers what its name implies, something the previous one didn't do.

EPA Web Site Walk-Through

Allergy-Free Vacuuming

Northern Exposure

Mediate, Don't Litigate

In the seven years since their divorce, Mark and Mary Abbott have been to court three times battling over child support and parental visitation. Finally, they have agreed on one thing: Facing off as adversaries was a poor way to put a marriage asunder.

How to Avoid Tuition Trauma

Regis University isn't in the habit of giving away diplomas. But for any of its 2,000 undergraduate students who are willing, the Denver-based university promises them an on-campus job with pay of up to $2,400 a year that they can use to offset living expenses or tuition.

10 Steps to a Drier, Healthier House

Normal activities such as cooking, bathing, washing clothes-- even breathing-- can lead to damaging moisture buildup in your house. If left too long, excess dampness can produce mold-stained wallboard, water-soaked insulation, or rotten wood framing that needs replacing. Follow a moisture elimination program-- from the bathrooms to the basement-- and you'll be on your way to a drier, more comfortable home.

A Cancer Fighter's Grocery List

Your risk of cancer could be decreased by 20 percent or more if you eat five servings (½ cup each) of fruits and vegetables each day. Making this simple, good-for-you change could reduce the nation's overall risk of acquiring most forms of cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund.

It's a Jungle Out There

It's summer! Time to move the family outside. Here's how you and your clan can keep safe while working hard to see a robust lawn grow and garden bloom.

Organic Standards Sprouting

Eating "organic" makes us feel good about our health and the environment. But there's no national standard defining what the term "organic" means.

TEST GARDEN TIP

A Better Foxglove

Her Train Terrain

Branching Out

SPECIAL PLANT OFFER

TOPS IN TASTE

The Good-Humored Garden

When Keith Jones got his first pink flamingos--two plastic absurdities--he knew he had to breed them. "Now, about the time of my birthday each spring, they give birth, " he says with a grin. Most of Keith's Portland, Oregon, garden in Zenlike and serene, so visitors get a good giggle from his gonzo combo of beauty and the beasts. Fellow Oregonian Shannon Quimby also thinks pink: She paints her outdoor furniture in a startling color.

Tops in Tomato Taste

Taking a bite of your first home-grown tomato is a bit of a revelation. "So this is what gardening is all about. It's so easy. And this tomato-- the literal fruit of my labor-- is so much better than store-bought." Then you will want to try growing more tomatoes-- other tomatoes. Big ones, small ones. Yellow, green, pink, even purple ones. And the more you grow, the more you taste.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Summer is here, the kids are home from school, and the sunshine is calling. So embrace the season and create an inviting outdoor space for family fun or tranquil escape. There's no better place than your own backyard.

Outdoor family rooms

Friendly porch living has always been a mainstay of Southern hospitality. So pull up a rocker, pour a glass of lemonade, and let these Southerners show you how to bring loved ones together in this trio of outdoor social spots designed for casual comfort and fun.

SUMMER FUNWARE OFFER

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.

Happy Camping

Marshmallows flaming on the ends of sticks announce the arrival of the camping season. Whether it's a visit to a local or state park, or a camp-out in your backyard, we'll help you enjoy the season with a game you can play outdoors, a blanket you can turn into a poncho, and such fun projects to make as bark frames, nature bracelets, banners, and gooey banana-boat treats.

Kid's Room Hideaway

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