September 2004

1716 LOCUST

WE UNEXPECTEDLY HAPPENED UPON HER AT A LOCAL ANTIQUES SHOW. SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO CLUTTERED BOOTHS OF AMERICANA, SHE WAS SITTING QUIETLY WITH ONLY A BACKDROP OF FRAMED SILHOUETTES TO ADVERTISE HER WARES.

AUTUMN COLORS FOR THE HOME

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LOW-CARB RECIPES

CARING FOR AGING PARENTS

September

GRAB YOUR SCISSORS AND TURN SILHOUETTE OUTLINES INTO FUN AND STRIKING DECORATIONS FOR ANY ROOM

HEADING TOWARD HAPPINESS

A WYOMING COUPLE BUILDS A LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE AND FINDS THEMSELVES ON THE PATH TO PEACE AND CONTENTMENT.

Marriage OF STYLES

HER TASTES ARE TRADITIONAL; HIS MODERN. DESPITE THE DIFFERENCES, A YOUNG BOSTON COUPLE ENJOYS KEEPING THEIR DESIGN SENSIBILITIES IN STEP.

GIFT OF A Garden

WHEN THEY BECAME EMPTY NESTERS, CHICAGO SUBURBANITES ED AND KATE MARGOLIS DECIDED TO RENOVATE THEIR YARD INSTEAD OF THE HOUSE.

for the love of LINEN

SAVOR A NEW CROP OF LINEN, STYLED IN REFRESHING CITRUS HUES. THIS BREEZY, VERSATILE FABRIC UPDATES ANY ROOM WITH REFINED TEXTURE, PLAYFUL LOOKS, AND JUST A HINT OF ROMANCE.

FEEDING FRENZY

SCHOOLHOUSE RULES

ADLER ACCENTS

TOY STORY

Many new parents vow never to allow ungainly toys in the house, a decree that quickly fades after their initial visit to major toy shops. Jennifer Komar

MY ROOM

STYLE BY THE YARD

INSTANT DECORATING

BETTER HOME BETTER LIVING CONTEST

IT'S YOUR CASTLE, SANCTUARY, GYM, OFFICE, PLAYGROUND, COMFORT ZONE, AND CONCERT STAGE. IT'S YOUR HOME, AND YOU LOVE IT. THIS YEAR, WE'LL HELP YOU MAKE IT MORE BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL THAN EVER. SMART DESIGN AND SAVVY PLANNING WILL BRING FABULOUS RESULTS. WHEN YOUR PROJECT IS COMPLETE, ENTER THE 2004 BETTER HOME BETTER LIVING CONTEST, WHICH FEATURES MORE THAN $100,000 IN PRIZES.

One FOR All

THE MARSHALL FAMILY OF PORTLAND, MAINE, CHERISHES THE TOGETHERNESS THEY GAINED AFTER TURNING A COLD, CRAMPED KITCHEN INTO AN INVITING GATHERING SPOT.

KEEP IT GOING

YOU'VE COME SO FAR. NOW MAINTAIN YOUR FITNESS LEVEL WITH A ROUTINE DESIGNED TO KEEP BOTH BODY AND YARD IN TOP TRIM.

EAT WELL

DAYLILIES

Chosen exclusively for our readers, the varieties in these collections are grouped by those that stay open in the evening and are fragrant, and by whether they offer cool or hot colors. All bloom year after year; the cool- and hot-color plants usually bloom more than once a season. Each daylily is shipped as a bareroot tuber with at least two leaf fans; planting instructions are included. Shipped for fall planting in your area (mid-September to mid-October 2004). Credit cards are charged at shipment. Order early; daylilies are limited. No shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, or Puerto Rico.

BEST KIDS' PLAY SPACES

If you want to strut your home improvement stuff, there's still time to fill out an entry form for the 2004 Better Homes and Gardens Better Home Better Living Contest. You'll find entry details on page 95 or online at www.bhg.com/bhblcontest04.

HOME TWEET HOME

SHIPSHAPE BATH

AN EFFICIENT LAYOUT AND A MIX OF PAINTED, VARNISHED, AND NATURAL WOOD SURFACES-- REMINISCENT OF A SAILBOAT-- MAKE A TOP-DECK MASTER BATH FOR THIS CALIFORNIA HOME.

EDIBLE BEAUTY

CREATE A TANTALIZING LANDSCAPE BY PERMITTING COLORFUL VEGETABLES TO PERFORM OUTSIDE THE BOX.

HONEY POTS

Honey, the delectable concoction of bees, is once again a staple of the table.

PB & J ALL THE WAY

ATTACHMENT LESSONS

GOING FOR THE Gap Year

TAKING TIME OFF BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ISN'T SLACKING. IT'S A TIME-HONORED WAY FOR TEENS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AND IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS.

EXPLORING YOUR LOCAL University

TOUR BEAUTIFUL GARDENS, VISIT A MUSEUM, SEE A SHOW, GO TO A GAME, FIND ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE AT A CAMPUS NEAR YOU.

WHEN Mom GOES BACK TO School

MIDDLE-AGED STUDENTS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND INSPIRING YOUNGER CLASSMATES, INCLUDING THEIR OWN KIDS, TO HIT THE BOOKS HARDER THAN EVER.

PROTECTING Kids FROM PREDATORS

PARENTS NEED TO UPDATE THE ADVICE THEY'VE BEEN GIVING KIDS TO KEEP THEM SAFE. JUST WARNING THEM ABOUT "STRANGER DANGER" ISN'T ENOUGH ANYMORE.

MAKING A STATEMENT

WITH A TALENT FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF CONSTRUCTION AND A CONFIDENT EYE FOR DESIGN, A MINNESOTA WOMAN REVIVES A QUAINT COTTAGE.

LIVING ON EASY STREET

A CALIFORNIA GARDEN DESIGNER TURNS HER CITY LOT INTO A FAMILY REFUGE.

Perfect Fit

BORROWING SPACE-PLANNING SOLUTIONS FROM THE STANDARD SUBURBAN RANCH HOUSE TURNED A MANHATTAN APARTMENT INTO A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY HOME.

PASTRY ESSENTIALS

Quidditch ANYONE?

A MAKE-BELIEVE GAME FOR WIZARDS CAN BECOME A REALITY IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

BACK IN Control

WITH TREATMENT, WOMEN AFFECTED BY STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE CAN MAKE A WELCOME RETURN TO ACTIVE, NORMAL LIVES.

The Shopper's Mart

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

BATHROOM READING

Just a century ago the backyard outhouse was the apex of toilet technology, and bathing-- rare by today's standards-- took place in a large freestanding tub set up in the kitchen, within arm's reach of the stove, the original water heater.