October 2007

Between friends

When people ask me what the best part of my job is, it's difficult to choose. But-- honestly-- a high point of my week is Wednesday morning, when our team gathers to select the homes and rooms we'll photograph for future issues.

HOUSE CALLS

Q: We've received so many responses on how you "go green" that we're keeping them coming this month...

A: WHEN I WAS A CHILD in the early '50s my father urged us to be conservationists. The word "recycle" wasn't used then. We were taught to pick up paper and trash that others had thrown down. To this day I do whatever I can. Kitchen waste gets recycled; that compost goes into the vegetable garden in the spring and into the flowerbeds.

5 reasons you can't miss BHG.com this month

We're celebrating the launch of our online Living Green project by giving away a great way to help our lucky winner live greener: a Prius, the cool Toyota hybrid car. But Living Green and our innovative online tools will help all readers change the world, week by week, with simple, affordable tips that will make both the Earth and your wallet feel better. Sign up today at BHG.com/livinggreen

Dressmaker Pumpkins

Inspired by fabrics and sewing notions, these pretty decorations will outlast the season. And better still, you don't need carving tools.

MAD FOR PLAID

WALL FLOWER

GO EAST

MODERN ROMANCE

BED FELLOWS

I love floral designer Jonathan Rachman's unexpected combinations...

Touches of Black

Like a sweep of eyeliner, black works its magic on any room. Use this go-with-anything accent for effortless sophistication. Just a few spools of ribbon, a quart of paint, or a pretty plate lets you play with a new look.

Ready-to-Wear Windows

Designer Laurie Smith offers wardrobe advice for living room windows in need of a demure new look.

Coming of Age

Reclaimed building materials, classic furniture, and welcoming color transform a plain ranch house into a patinaed beauty.

Spell Bound

This home sprinkles tricks and treats at every turn with spirited touches that creep into the decor.

Sleeper Hits

Color, pattern, and texture play supporting roles in three blockbuster bedrooms.

Room with a View

This basement TV room was nice enough, but designer John Loecke saw the potential for a fun family hangout. His two-stage makeover takes it from plain white box to multimedia mecca that keeps everyone entertained.

LIVE LARGE

Q: When space is limited, how do you make a room seem larger? These designers help you think big.

Mixed Greens

Recipe for a room: Pick a crop of comfy furniture, toss in fresh fabrics, add a dash of black. Enjoy with family.

Lighting NOTEBOOK

A WELL-LIT ROOM FEELS COMFY TO WORK AND PLAY IN, AND FLATTERS YOUR FACE AND FURNISHINGS. EXPERTS SHED LIGHT ON HOW TO CREATE THE BEST LIGHTING PLANS FOR YOUR HOME. PLUS: WE SOLVE YOUR EVERYDAY LIGHTING DILEMMAS.

Smart Starts

Meet our new contributing editor, Stephen Saint-Onge, a designer known for his down-to-earth approach to creating livable rooms on real-life budgets. As a husband, father, and homeowner, Stephen knows what it takes to put together comfortable, good-looking rooms fast (something he mastered while doing home makeovers on television). Now he's putting his practical advice to work for you.

Clothes Call

Divide and conquer an overstuffed bedroom closet with affordable solutions that maximize storage space.

Energy Stars

Kerry and Brian Hogg thought they knew all about making their home energy-efficient... until an energy audit showed them how their house was leaking money.

MORE WAYS TO SAVE THIS WINTER

1 Buy a programmable thermostat and use it to control the temperature in your home automatically. A top-of-the-line unit ($99) provides a seven-day menu with four program periods per day, while a low-cost unit ($30-$40) offers one schedule for weekdays, another for weekends.

Downhill Style

Gorgeous foliage and creative landscaping techniques turn a rocky, overgrown slope into a fabulous garden.

Final Flourish

Try these fall-blooming beauties to give your garden a rousing autumn send-off.

Garden Spirits

Spanish Panache

An unused side yard becomes a posh Mediterranean-style retreat.

Garden Symphony

A New York musician uses exquisite plant combinations to compose her outdoor masterpiece.

For The Birds

Create a welcoming habitat in your backyard.

Strike Up the Band!

PERFECTLY NATURAL

THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN

The annuals that brighten the first days of spring also enjoy cool fall weather.

PRETTY TIDY

STAND UP STRAIGHT

LAYERS OF LEAVES

RAKES

SEE SPOT'S SPOT

COOL CUTIES

LIVING FOSSIL

To find a tree or shrub with good autumn foliage, shop garden centers this fall

Give Gifts that Bloom

Send family and friends the heady fragrance and delicate blossoms of paperwhites during the dreary winter months.

Baking Leaves

Invite the kids in for a cookie decorating party-- and turn your kitchen into a tasty forest of colorful hand-painted leaves.

All Together Now

Learn to turn crunch time into quality time with your family-- no matter how busy you are.

Tasting Tours

Our wine experts take you to their favorite domestic regions for the best of fall tastings and other nearby attractions.

Reverse the Cash Flow

13 ways to plug your money leaks.

Grand finale

A gardener in love with autumn weaves a richly colored tapestry of trees and shrubs.

Autumn Indoors

Natural Attraction

AT THIS CALIFORNIA FARMHOUSE, THE DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO THE LANDSCAPE THAT INSPIRED ITS REINVENTION.

Kitchen Aid

Anyone Can Cook has kitchen tips for beginners and seasoned pros alike. Try these helpful techniques to make recipes in "Apple-icious!"

THE NEW BLACK

HARVEST DRINKS

SWISS CHARD

TEST KITCHEN TIP

PEANUT BUTTER

AVOCADO SCOOP

Mac 'n' Cheese

Jazz up the ultimate comfort food.

I Did It!