June 2007

Between friends

When I was a kid, the highlight of my summer was spending a week at my grandparents' North Carolina farm. For the entire week, I'd hang around the yard doing country-girl things like climbing trees or shelling peas on the front porch.

HOW TO LOSE A POUND

We asked you to tell us about your favorite room, and you told us--it's about the people, hobbies, and things you love...

...MY SEWING ROOM. A large window faces a private wooded backyard, and in that room I am totally relaxed and free.

Be in Better Homes and Gardens magazine!

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOME?

A WINNING COMBINATION

FREE GARDEN PLANS

Recycled Chic

'Tis the season to get creative with castoffs unearthed during spring cleaning and summer scavenging.

Pretty Slick

Old-fashioned oilcloth makes the perfect outdoor table cover. And you don't have to sew a stitch.

Wicker Picker-Uppers

Summer seats need a pep talk? Paint and pillows encourage this classic to shine anew.

Q: SUMMER SPRUCE-UPS

Q: SUMMER SPRUCE-UPS We asked interior designers around the country: What's your favorite way to get a home ready for warmer weather?

Seeing the White

With a white-on-white scheme, an old boathouse emerges as a beach cottage that's easy on the eyes-- and mind.

CHEAP CHIC

PEPPY RUG

FLAG DAY

COVER UP

SURF'S UP!

Blueprint for Style

Shades and patterns of indigo, mixed against a white background, make this combo living and dining room feel cool, crisp, and comfortable.

Hidden in Plain Sight

A tricky layout put this bathroom at the master suite entrance. Attractive fixtures and a clean furnished look keep the spaces harmonious.

Sofa Strategies

Furniture mavens Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams share their shopping savvy.

Guest Appearance

This guest room suffered from a serious case of cast-off blues. In a two-stage makeover, designer Grant K. Gibson transforms it into a cozy and super-functional space that may have visitors overstaying their welcome.

Solving Spaces

Every room has little trouble spots. In this living room, it's the dark and awkwardly placed fireplace. Designer Laurie Smith, best known for her room-transforming powers on Trading Spaces, sheds some light.

Squeeze Play

A young couple shapes an 850-square-foot house to meet all their living and storage needs.

Shades of Pink

Treasure Nest

"This sunroom is our sanctuary. It's a quiet place to sit, a gathering spot for guests, and a bright space for the girls to play."

Order by the Yard

These storage solutions put garden tools in place and garden style in your garage. Dig in here for how to do it yourself.

10 Easy Ways to Go Green

Small actions can create big change-- especially when it comes to the environment. Here are 10 no- or low-cost ways to lessen your impact on the planet, create a healthier house and garden, and even fatten your wallet.

Second Nature

How one family made living green their daily routine.

Behind the Walls of a Green House

The Frantz family may live in a 100-year-old Victorian, but they've modified both house and habits to save energy.

Their Level Best

A sun-loving couple turns a steep slope into a stylish terrace to indulge their love of the outdoors.

Front & Center

An Atlanta gardener trades a dull front yard for a cottage garden that spills over with color and scent.

High Standards

Elevate your garden style with shrubs trained to stand tall.

Stream Come True

A stream meanders and splashes through a narrow side yard, turning an awkward space into a sanctuary.

Patio Panache

Enjoy indoor comfort and style in the open air with the latest outdoor furnishings.

Just Add Water

Make this simple water garden in an afternoon.

Inspiring Nature

No-Fuss Sunny Garden

HERBS AT HAND

TIME FOR A TRIM

PUT THE HOE DOWN

BRING ON THE BLOOMS

STAND TALL

FEATS OF CLAY

THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN

Picture-Perfect Summer

Cool ways you and your family can make the most of each moment and have your best summer ever.

Let's Make a Deal

By doing your homework and brushing up on negotiating skills, you can get a good deal on a new home right now.

Call of the Wild

Kids spend way too much time indoors. Get them outside and expose them to the wonders of nature-- starting in your own backyard.

Never Be Late Again

Tap the power of punctual thinking: From this moment forward, be on time for all your appointments.

Thrill of the Hunt

Find that special item-- or just a great deal-- at the summer's hottest flea markets and antiques shows.

At home with the past

FROM THE GROUND UP, A NEWLY BUILT FARMHOUSE EMBODIES OLD-WORLD CHARM INSIDE AND OUT.

The Sweet Life

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE PRAEDS, WHO HAPPILY SPEND EVENINGS TOGETHER IN A HOUSE REMODELED TO FIT THEIR FAMILY.

Rooms to grow

ONCE UNRULY AND NEGLECTED, A NEW YORK GARDEN GETS A CLASSY MAKEOVER.

MAIN SQUEEZE

ALONG COMES MARY...

PARSLEY

DIVA'S DRESSING

FAIR FARE

Lemonade

Get creative with your basic lemonade: Add fruits, juices, herbs, and spices.

Q: I've been hearing about alli, the new nonprescription weight-loss drug. What can you tell me about it?

Don't Let Summer Bug You

Save yourself a lot of itching with the right insect repellent.

Hats On for Summer

A Sense of Silence

Your world can be a place of peace if you let it.

I Did It!