between friends
f
rom time to time, people
ask me how we find all
the inspiring homes and
gardens we feature each
month. The answer is that
we go
looking
for them,
with the help of more than
50 field editors across the country.
Located in large and small cities, these
resourceful journalists are our eyes and
ears for finding real-life homes filled with
useful ideas, practical solutions, and great
individual style. They walk the home tours,
network with shop owners and design
pros, and follow tips to find houses that
have great stories to tell. With a digital
camera and a laptop computer, a field
editor can scout a home in the morning
and have photos and notes to us by the
afternoon. The best day of my work week
is Wednesday, when I join our editors to
“tour” the scouted homes and select
those well photograph.
Some of these homes were pulled
together with the help of an architect or
interior designer, others by homeowners
with a knack for design. But the bottom line
is that each home we feature has to bring
you refreshing, relatable ideas and smart
lessons to build on. After all, reading this
magazine isn’t just about peeking in on
someone else’s life—it’s about finding
ideas and answers for your own home
and aspirations.
T h e s im p le s t s o lu t io n s a r e s o m e t im e s
t h e m o s t in s p ir in g — a n d t h e b e s t o n e s
c o m e f r o m r e a l- life h o m e s .
D
With that in mind, this August issue
brings extra emphasis on realistic solutions
for every budget. For example, we love the
budget-friendly decorating ideas in the
1,400-square-foot Minnesota bungalow of
Kathryn and David Strand,
page35.
Both
retired teachers, the Strands created a
delightful, comfortable home through
light renovations and an easy flow of color
—proving that the simplest solutions are
sometimes the most inspiring.
Similarly, we’re amazed by Russ Cletta
and his inventive backyard landscape-
fenced, decked, planted, and furnished
for about $3,000,page
69.
And equally
impressed by Sandra Johnson’s remake
of an average kitchen, where asave-and-
splurge approach yielded a sunny, serene
space with multiple functions,
page 50.
Sharing the successes of real-life
renovators like these is the best way I
know to keep
Better Homes and Gardens
the
relevant, inspiring, actionable magazine
you’ve told us it is. So, here’s a big “thank
you” to all the homeowners who generously
allow us to share their homes with you—
and to our field team that finds them.
You’re the best.
Gayle Goodson Butler,
Editor in Chief
REAL
SOLUTIONS
Look for
this symbol
throughout the
issue for real
solutions—large
or small—that
give you extra
style and space
for your money.
Do you have a
smart real-Sfe
solution to share?
Whether if s a
‘«splurge” or a
“save,” send it
to me at the
address below.
E-MAIL US [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE BHG.corryservice WRITE US 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
8
AUGUST
2008
BETTER HO MES AND GARDENS
