March 2004

1716 LOCUST

CROCKERY COOKING

GARDEN TIPS

DECORATING GALLERY

March

CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY WITH CELTIC ACCENTS AND TOUCHES OF GREEN.

Good Fences Good Gardeners

NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS CAROL AGER AND SUSAN LATTER SHARE A COMMON LOVE FOR GROWING THINGS AND CELEBRATING THEIR DIFFERENCES.

UNDER COVER Charmer

LIKE A BOX OF CRACKER JACKS, THIS TACOMA, WASHINGTON, COTTAGE HAD HIDDEN SURPRISES FOR HOMEOWNERS CHRISTINE AND TROI COCKAYNE.

A ROSE FOR YOU

GET ORGANIZED

YOU'LL BE A STEP AHEAD WHEN YOU RESOLVE TO UNCLUTTER YOUR CLOSET AND GET YOUR SHOES TO TOE THE LINE.

RELAX

CULTIVATE AWARENESS WHILE GARDENING AND YOU WILL BE RICHLY REWARDED.

TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

ADD VIBRANT, CAREFREE COLOR TO YOUR GARDEN WITH THESE EASY-TO-GROW PLANTS WHOSE SHOW-OFF LEAVES ARE ANYTHING BUT PLAIN GREEN.

TIME CAPSULE

TWO CALIFORNIA ANTIQUES DEALERS TURN BACK THE CLOCK IN A 1926 COTTAGE THAT HOUSES TREASURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

ENLIGHTENING A Classic

AFTER LIVING IN A DARK KITCHEN TOO LONG, A NEW JERSEY DESIGNER BROUGHT IN THE SUN AND HER FAVORITE BLUE-AND-WHITE POTTERY.

CRANKING UP THE VOLUME

A GEORGIA TEEN UNLEASHES HER CREATIVE ENERGY ON HER BEDROOM, SHAKING UP THE SPACE WITH A WILD MIX OF COLOR AND PATTERN.

SERENE STYLE

COLLECTING NOW

SPRING FRESH

GOOD SEEDS

EMPTY NEST

THE DESK AT HAND

BRIGHT SPOTS

WHAT WORKS IN SHADE

DRY SOIL AND HEAVY SHADE-- THE DOUBLE WHAMMY OF GARDENING-- PROVE TO BE NO OBSTACLE FOR THIS DELAWARE COUPLE.

NIP-AND-TUCK BATH

BETTER, NOT BIGGER, WAS THE PLAN FOR THIS BATH IN A COTTAGE-STYLE HOME AT LAKE OSWEGO, OREGON.

SHADY GARDEN-IN-A-BOX

Everlasting Style SPICY COLORS

CLASSIC. VERSATILE. FUNCTIONAL. THESE BUZZWORDS MARK OUR FAVORITE FINDS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET IN HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA.

DECORATING WITH PRIMROSES

COLOR ON PURPOSE

There's no time like the present to enter the Better Homes and Gardens Better Home Better Living Contest. To help you get started, we've put together five sample ideas for one of our contest categories, Best Use of Color Indoors. Once you are inspired, get an entry form (see page 137) and create your own winner!

THE DISH ON APRONS

NEW TRADITIONS

SEDER PLATES

LUSCIOUS YOU

KEY LIME SURPRISE

LABEL MAKERS

COMBATING Cliques

HELP KIDS BUILD THE CONFIDENCE TO STAND UP TO SCHOOL CLIQUES AND RELY ON THEMSELVES.

GET NEW-CAR Savvy Online

THANKS TO THE INTERNET, BUYING YOUR NEXT CAR COULD BE A HASSLE-FREE, HAGGLE-FREE EXPERIENCE.

GOOD Skills MAKE GOOD Neighbors

SETTING UP A "SKILL SWAP" ALLOWS NEIGHBORS TO TRADE SERVICES, SAVE MONEY, AND STRENGTHEN BONDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

KAUAI ON THE Cheap

ON THE ISLAND PARADISE OF KAUAI, FAMILIES CAN ENJOY ALL THE BEAUTY AND LUXURY OF A GENUINE HAWAIIAN VACATION-- WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

Wanted ... YOUR GOOD NAME

IDENTITY THEFT CAN RUIN YOUR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL HISTORY. HERE'S HOW SCAMMERS OPERATE AND HOW YOU CAN STOP THEM.

Small house, BIG HEART

This empty-nest Florida couple downsized by almost 4,000 square feet and watched their quality of life multiply tenfold.

The art of CHANGE

A lush, ever-evolving garden in Kansas City combines classic garden furniture and modern architectural elements.

REPEAT REMODELER

WITH BOLD COLOR AND INTREPID ENTHUSIASM, PAUL STEPNES HAS TRANSFORMED EVERY HOUSE HE'S LIVED IN. HIS LATEST MINNEAPOLIS RENOVATION IS NO EXCEPTION.

COLOR COMES OF AGE

AN ADDITION AND A GROWN-UP COLOR PALETTE TRANSFORM A WASHINGTON, D.C., COLONIAL INTO A CONTEMPORARY HOME FOR AN ACTIVE YOUNG FAMILY.

ROLL 'EM, ROLL 'EM, ROLL 'EM

SPOON FED

FRY RIGHT

SIMPLE ICE CREAM

BUTTER ON THE SIDE

IS IT Done YET?

THE PULL, THE POKE, THE FORK, THE FLAKE, THE PICK, THE THUMP Let these time-tested techniques guide you to just the right moment for taking your food off the fire.

NO-FAIL CHEESE COURSE

There's something so companionable about a plate of cheeses on the table; it's hard for conversation to lag when there are flavors to compare and plates to be passed.

CHEESE PLEASE

THE NEW Family RETREAT

A DIFFERENT KIND OF RETREAT LETS PARENTS AND KIDS COME TOGETHER TO REFLECT ON FAMILY AND SPIRITUAL VALUES-- AND SPEND TIME PLAYING ON THE BEACH.

MEDICINE CABINET

EVERYDAY ORANGES

Buzz BUCKWHEAT FOR TREATING DIABETES

The Shopper's Mart

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

THE FIRST STAGE