July 1999

between friends

Pretty Privacy Windows

There are some areas of the home where you want to block the view-- but not the light. These four fresh, no-sew ideas offer bright solutions for bringing windows out of hiding.

case closed

Make a case against plain pillows and boring bolsters by covering them with colorful, inexpensive, and seasonal napkins. It takes minimal (or even no) sewing skills to tie, zip, lace, and button linens over existing pillows. Look for napkins that come in standard sizes and interesting fabrics and patterns. If the napkin is sheer or the pillow underneath will peek out, make sure the pillow is pretty. For other designs, an uncovered pillow form is fine.

Rhythm in a Room

Here's a snappy trick for creating decorating harmony: Try varying your room's visual "tempo."

Places to play

Playing house requires no more than a child's vivid imagination, but sometimes a little structure can help. Here are three little structures that will be welcomed by kids and parents alike.

Pet Stops

If cats and dogs could talk, they'd have simple requests-- a little food and water, some playful exercise, and lots of love. Thoughtful design might not be high on their list, but that doesn't mean they won't favor a house planned with their special needs in mind. If you have pets, you're sure to appreciate the amenities these homeowners added for their four-legged friends.

fresh airs for the Florida Room

Meant-to-Be Front Porch

After four years of telling friends they lived in the "ugly yellow house on the corner," Rita and Bill Houston's family knew it was time for a change. Built in 1945, their Palos Heights, Illinois, residence was typical for tract houses of its time-- right down to the bland yellow aluminum siding, the gray shingles, and the concrete stoop. But, as Rita says, "The house was just screaming for a front porch."

Pebble Paving

Fathers and Daughters

When a girl enters adolescence, a father often feels alienated from his daughter's world. He can't seem to say anything right. And, even if daddy's little girl used to run and jump into his arms, now a simple hug may seem awkward.

Selecting a Summer Camp

Some kids hear reveille at the crack of dawn during their summer camp. But 16-year-old Amanda Shaw heard the revving engine of a NASCAR stock car outside the bunk area at Atlanta Motor Speedway. She was at Race Camp, a summer camp designed for kids who want to become race-car drivers. "We got to drive twice a day," says Amanda, who hails from Ooltewah, Tennessee. "I was voted the best driver of my session."

Water Water Everywhere ...

Too many of us are missing out on an important nutrient. It's not a food. It's not a vitamin or mineral. But without it, vitamins and minerals-- in fact, all the elements of food and nutrition-- can't do their work. This overlooked nutrient is readily available, often free, and easy to take. The powerful player here is water, and most of us aren't drinking the eight 8-ounce glasses recommended daily for good health.

take a walk

Forget counting calories or carbohydrates. Simplify your life with a workout that's easy, safe, and ready when you are.

Artful Calendar

Health Resources

Read our health feature about colon cancer on pages 110 to 114; then try these books for more information.

TEST GARDEN TIP

EDITOR'S CHOICE Raising the Bar

LOOKING GOOD

UPDATE

PERFECT PAIRS

3-D House Tour at the Mall

Coming soon to a mall near you! A special screen preview of "Blueprint 2000," next year's Home of the Year from Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Take a virtual reality/3-D film tour of our 21st-century design.

Books for Gardeners

If you liked our "Annual All-Stars" feature (pages 138 to 144), try these books for more information.

annual ALL-STARS

Annual flowers may not live long-- by definition, just one growing season-- but what a glorious year it is. With a modicum of care, these show-offs bloom for months.

simple and serene

Sometimes a garden is both a refuge in the present and a memory of the past-- a place that is something and that means something. When you are in Mitsuko and Andrew Collver's cool, calm, and collected garden, you are also transported to other times and other places, sharing the quietude of the garden with distant friends.

clutter-free country

Polly Minick is living proof that a passion for country decorating can comfortably coexist with a thoroughly modern lifestyle. On any given morning, you may find her surfing the Internet for primitive antiques or watching TV stock-market reports while hooking folk-art rugs. In the Georgia home she shares with husband Tom, she also combines a collector's appreciation for the past with a minimalist's eye for open space and pure form. Follow her lead to let some fresh air into your own country looks.

living alfresco

Once warm weather arrives, it's time to move outside. Start by defining an outdoor room in your yard. Then fill the space with easy-to-make indulgences-- soft terry-cloth pillows, a hammock slipcover, breezy table coverings, and painted buckets-- to encourage leisure time, anytime.

four-season cottage

By its nature, a summer home is a relaxing place. Maybe it has something to do with breezy screen porches, mismatched silverware, or just the idea of getting away. But summer is short-- so why not enjoy your retreat spring, fall, and winter too? Playing in the fresh-fallen leaves or snow is a renewal of its own.

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.

BH & G kids

Long hours in the car don't have to be boring. Make the trip fun with pint-size boxes created from postcards, zippered bags bulging with souvenirs, and taste bud-tempting treats.

the man next door

My wife Chris came home from renewing her driver's license in a real funk. When I asked her what was wrong, she frowned. "How is it that one lousy photo can ruin 10 years of building self-esteem?"