July 2010

BETWEEN FRIENDS

According to an old adage, the best things in life are free. That can be argued, I suppose, but midsummer has a way of convincing me that it just might be true. On any weekend in most any hometown, you can spread out a blanket in a park and hear live music for no more than the cost of the lemonade you pack in the cooler.

WIN $5,000 and a place of honor in Better Homes and Gardens

REVIVE YOUR ROOMS ON A BUDGET ... AND MORE!

Win a Dream Room Makeover Worth $25,000

IDEAS FOR LIVING WELL

Qa: How can I get ants to march away from my picnic?...

INDISPENSABLE: CHIC SHADES

Picnic perfect

You bring the food; we packed in the bargains and fun finds for a primo day in the park.

TV to go

Look, Mom, no rabbit ears! Mini mobile TVs tune in favorite shows even when you hit the road.

Patriot games

Whether a parade, a picnic, or fireworks are in your plans, celebrate the 4th in style with our star-spangled ideas.

FUN HOUSE

FUN HOUSE WITH ITS CASUAL DECOR AND LOW-KEY ATTITUDE (JUST HELP YOURSELF!), THIS HOME IS ALL ABOUT GOOD TIMES WITH GOOD FRIENDS.

Nautical blues

Nautical blues can be crisp and cle&r or as moody as the rolling seas.

Playing for keeps

A New Jersey couple intent on flipping an old home unexpectedly winds up flipping for it.

Picture-perfect for less

Don't let a small budget keep you from decorating! Designer Grant K. Gibson woke up this blah room for less than $350.

33 ways to get a great deal

Are you a coupon clipper? Web surfer? Sale chaser? Our tips and strategies will help you make smart buys for your home, no matter how you like to shop.

Sweet equity

Sweet equity WITH MORE CREATIVITY THAN CASH, A NEWLYWED COUPLE TURNS A QUIRKY LITTLE COTTAGE INTO A HOME THAT FEELS JUST RIGHT.

All of the above

A modest ranch gains upper-level bedrooms, a classic color scheme, and the prettiest porch on the block.

Upgrade an attic with Danny Lipford

If your house is feeling a bit cramped, you might want to try looking up. Converting an attic into finished rooms (like the project on page 75 is often the least expensive way to add living space to your home and provides a high return on your investment should you decide to sell.

IN THE GARDEN

Weatherproof Cushions

Tropical reign

Tropical reign Coleus, an amazingly adaptable foliage plant that now shines in sun and shade, rules when summer spools up the heat and humidity.

Remake the grade

Tired of mowing an ugly strip of grass, a couple looks for a way out-- and discovers a love of gardening.

Dirt-cheap tools

4 ways to be thrifty in the garden

THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN

Garden smarts

STYLISH LABELS

300 gallons

Hot new coneflower

Curves Ahead

Rose-colored view

Blow green

DOWNLOADABLE GARDEN GUIDE

Qa: I have a sunny rock garden where stonecrop grows better than anything else I've tried. Now that I've found the right plant, how can I make it spread quickly without having to buy new plants?...

Green tomatoes

Site-seeing

Five-alarm flavor!

United we play

Make it all for one and all for fun with these get-the-gang-together summer party ideas.

Month of sundaes

Mind your own beezus

The motherboard a million women strong

HIRE ED

CYBER-TEEN ANGST

SWEET SCIENCE

I did it!