August 2002

From the editor

Back to School

Better Homes and Gardens

Camp Gilmore

"Happiness depends on leisure," said Aristotle, and this Connecticut family took the philosopher's words to heart. They removed their home's rear barriers and revealed the idyllic pond where their best moments now take place.

Call to order

Life coaches tell us not to sweat the small stuff, but in truth it's the small stuff that often keeps our lives-- and our households-- from running smoothly. Here are some simple ideas for regaining control over the little things.

Summer's last hurrah

Your late-season garden may be a bit beaten down, but it's not out. Rally the last wave of flowers into lush and lovely bouquets.

Make it yours

Today's take on the historic crafting technique of decoupage has gone modern with bold, graphic images and the use of photocopiers and scanners.

Trellises from trimmings

Every vine needs a place to twine its tendrils. This rustic tepee is a stylish structure designed to lift the beauty of your garden to eye level. Build it in an afternoon from garden prunings, then use it to showcase all sorts of upwardly mobile plants.

More than making do

As far as Laura and Mike Fischer are concerned, the Joneses can have their big houses. "We don't live in the world of 'keep-up,'" says Mike, who appreciates beauty but values his dollars. The couple works with what they have (a few good pieces mixed with some more generic ones), and uses bold-color paint to provide maximum impact for minimum cost.

Hide and Sleek Kitchen

Often it's what you don't see in a kitchen that gives it a look and feel of streamlined efficiency. Superior storage-- places for everything at the points where they will be used-- clears the decks for culinary chores. When combined with generous countertop space and appliances suited to your cooking needs, well-planned storage makes it easy for family members and friends to pitch in at mealtimes.

Set a place

Your prized plates deserve more attention than being stored away until a holiday. Instead, use your collection to create a wall arrangement everyone will notice.

Learning from Homeschool Families

Shauna Pearson has always loved art. Unfortunately, her favorite subject was taught for just one hour a day in her public elementary school. What's worse, Shauna once told her art teacher that she wanted to be an artist when she grew up, to which the teacher replied, "Artists are poor," while several classmates laughed.

Friends for life

Your child's friends matter more than you may think. Help your kids find the best friends for future success and happiness.

Movin' on Up

Volkswagen's Passat W8 becomes the only midsize family sedan or wagon with a muscular eight-cylinder engine. But the extra power pushes the price into a posh new neighborhood.

Backyard Kitchen

Small Yards Big Show

Despite their size, these two backyards offer lessons in thinking big.

Accents for Outdoors

Made especially with our feathered friends in mind and introduced this season by Woodstock Percussion, these Birdhouse Chimes (above, left) are tuned to the first five notes of Louise, a carefree melody written in 1929. The chimes feature five bronze tubes suspended from a handcrafted, hardwood birdhouse perfectly suited for a wren or a warbler. The wood parts have a soft gray washed finish for a charming weathered look.

That Old Black Magic

As the pastels of the cottage garden style continue to give way to the hot tropical looks, elephant's-ears become more and more a part of the home landscape. And why not? Come summer, almost all of the nation exists in a tropical or subtropical state, where huge leaves and eye-popping colors feel right at home.

Looking good

Perfect pairs

Test garden tip

Urban oasis

Step across the wooden footbridge, over a narrow wet-weather creek, and between the guardian tetrapanaxes to enter the unexpectedly secluded garden of Christine Baukus and Irv Coats. From inside, worldly distractions disappear behind a wall of leaves. Enter and unwind.

Family-friendly style

family-friendly style Faced with a black hole of a kitchen and a bear cave of a family room, the Gil family won our home improvement contest-- and our kudos-- for transforming a suit of particularly unpleasant 1970s rooms into light, bright, stylish spaces.

Giving the ranch a hand

Clean lines and convenience popularized the ranch house plan in the 1940s. But the chic style of the mid-century modern home had vanished by the time Susan and Ed Clarke's ranch was built in 1975. So they gave the house a second chance.

Remaking a classic

Philip Mittell makes his living representing people who design movies. When it came time to do a little set dressing of his own-- turning a 1916 house in the Hollywood Hills into the Mediterranean villa of his dreams-- he wanted more than celluloid magic. A deliberate process integrating modern designs with antiques created a refined look that will last long after the credits roll.

Picnic eggs

Postponing summer's itchy chores in favor of an afternoon enjoying the cool breezes off a lake doesn't mean that you have to do your basking on an empty stomach.

Save the Sippy Cups

Is It Safe to Store Butter Out on the Counter

Breast-Fed Babies Have Higher IQ's

Berries Pack Punch

Buzzz

It's your birthday

Everyone loves friendly little ladybugs. The French adore them so much that they call them les betes du bon Dieu, or creatures of the good God. So it comes as no surprise that hearts flutter over a pretty-in-pink "Ladybug Bash." This birthday party will have everyone seeing spots-- polka dots adorn everything from the cups to the cupcakes. It's a party no fan of beetles (the bugs, not the band) would miss.

The Shopper's Mart

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

The family next door