May 2006

1716 LOCUST

YOU COULD WIN $2,500 SPA GETAWAY

DECORATING INSPIRATION

THE WEDDING PLANNER

CUSTOMER SERVICE ON BHG.COM

Storybook nursery

Storybook nursery Let classic children's tales inspire the decorating in your little one's room.

The Fabric of Success

Open any home decorating magazine, any month, and you're likely to see lively examples of the organic patterns and animated yet muted colors that are hallmarks of Galbraith & Paul fabrics. High school sweethearts from Illinois, then marriage partners, then business partners, Liz Galbraith and Ephi Paul produce hand block-printed fabrics and lampshades that are used by designers everywhere. The fabrics and lamps also decorate commercial spots, such as California Pizza Kitchen restaurants, and the Four Seasons resort in Costa Rica.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR DRAMA

The best showcase for this interior designer's gutsy mix of color, pattern, and texture is her own zestfully styled New Jersey home.

CRAFTING A MISSION STATEMENT

A coastal California bungalow gets an interior facelift that suits its historic-style exterior and its forward-thinking owners.

Better Homes and Gardens TOP 20 CONTEST

We're getting ready for the Better Homes and Gardens Top 20 Contest, and we can't wait for you to get involved! We'll be taking a look at all the imaginative, smart ideas you have for creative living-- and we have 20 categories for you to enter. Whether it's building a child's play space, planting a family garden, or carving out a home office that really works, we'd love to see it. As inspiration, take a look at the remodeled kitchen of Sharon and Mark Erickson (below). The Ericksons entered our previous contest after bringing their Willmar, Minnesota, kitchen up to speed and style. We love the results of all their hard work-as well as their enthusiasm. Read on to find out why.

Frill Me

Mix Master

Streamlining Style

CLICK 'N' GIVE

World Beat Bookshelves

Lighten Up

Crunch Time

Classics Come Full Circle

Double the Fun

PLACES EVERYONE!

SAY CHEESE!

Look, No Hands

Bamboo On the Rise

The Up Side

New York interior designer Eric Cohler has paid attention to ceilings ever since he was a child, when he realized something was amiss with his bedroom's bottom bunk ceiling. "I painted it black," he says. The trick raised the roof by adding depth.

PLUG-IN GARDENS

Here's a quick-- and not dirty-- way to keep pots bursting with color. Scoop out what's finished and drop into its place a plant that is conning into bloom.

IDEAS GROW IN A SMALL YARD

Reclaim a porch? Rethink a roof? That's what Los Angeles homeowners did to expand their gardens and outdoor living space.

COLORFUL COUNTERPOINTS

PROLONG THE BLOOM

PROLONG THE BLOOM Researcher Allan Armitage offers tips for keeping fresh-cut flowers in bloom as long as possible.

A PERFECT FIT

They're versatile, they're hot or cool, they're just the right size. We've designed these dazzling 4x8-foot gardens with our readers in mind. One garden may fill your space; and when you need two or more, these gardens fit together perfectly end-to-end or side-by-side.

GARDENS BY MAIL

9 Ways TO HELP THEM Practice

9 Ways TO HELP THEM Practice Teach kids the value of practice and turn them into give-it-their-best achievers who take pleasure and pride in their accomplishments.

Inheriting THE windfall

Use an inheritance wisely and well. These strategies can help you make the most of a generous legacy-- and keep your windfall from becoming a pitfall.

OUTDOOR Reading adventures

Take your next Better Homes and Gardens Reading Club meeting outside. Books and activities that take place outdoors will entertain all ages.

Girlfriends-only getaway

When daily routines wear you down, round up friends for a revitalizing retreat to play, relax, and learn. You'll return home to loved ones with new energy.

An Annual Affair

Annuals do all the work in Bill and Joan Ruppert's garden. Feathery pink celosias, towering cannas, flashy coleus, and dozens of other unabashedly bright annual flowers put on a sensational show every summer. Even when the heat and humidity soar, the garden keeps its freshness and poise.

Ingenuity on display

In less time than it takes some homeowners to decide on paint colors, Benjamin Sohr and Genifer Goodman sailed through a top-to-bottom transformation of their 1950s ranch-- on a budget, no less. The secret to the two-month makeover? This creative duo had a laser-true vision of the modern, upbeat style they wanted, which helped them plan cost-saving strategies in advance and snap up finds that fit the look.

WITH LOVE TO MOM

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.

SUPPER SUBSTITUTES

SPRING CLEANING

OUR FAMILY QUILT

SIDES-TO-middle

I recently came across an item in a magazine that showcased a bed linen manufacturer's latest innovation-- a sheet for temperature-challenged couples. It allows one person to slumber under cool cotton, the other under cozy fleece.