letters

BETWEEN

FRIENDS

his issue, I’ve

invited some friends

onto the editor’s

page. Meet a few of

the winning

entrants,

right

,

from our recent

Home Improvement Challenge.

Their smart, inspiring projects

make up a big portion of this

September issue (See “The Best

Moves,”

page

75).

And in my book, every one of

them has earned an Editor’s title

in her or his own right. Like an

editor, each started with a vision

they wanted to fulfill. Like an

editor, each brought that vision to

life through dozens or hundreds of

decisions, balancing wishes and

dollars, vetting details, and pulling

together elements in a coherent

and thoughtful way.

And in the end, each of our

winners got what every home

improver (and editor) wants:

a result in which the whole is

more than the sum of its parts—and

where part of the pleasure comes

from sharing the result

with others. I know you’ll enjoy

seeing their beautiful spaces

and hearing how they navigated

the renovation process.

Improving a home is one of

the purest forms of reinvention,

a hands-on way of shaping

where

we live to better support

how

we

live. Cheers to our winners for

taking the challenge—and thanks

to the thousands more of you

who participated in our contest.

As always, you dazzled us.

Gayle Goodson Butler,

Editor in Chief

Winners, top to

bottom:

Ann Steenwyk, James Little, Meg Kopald,

Dana Liston and David Ellis, Pam Schulz

and Clark Dikeman, Jackie Kalin

.

:

S a y I t

O u t L o u d

Go to

w w w . b h g . c o m /

r e a d e r p a n e !

to join our

Reader Panel. Your good

ideas and opinions will

help us plan useful issues.

Y o u r G r e e n e s t

S e a s o n E v e r

That's what 8 7% of you

predicted when we asked

about your plans for an eco-

friendly summer. Meet a

green champion, p. 706.

r B

T

H o w a re

bSU m il?

A small reinvention of a

space can make life easier or

better. What’s the best move

you’ve made recently?

LETTERS & COM M ENTS BHGEditongmeredith.com SUBSCRIPTION HELP BHG.corryservice WRITE 1716 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023

l6 SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS