Howdy, hudee, here’s a great gift idea: A reissue of the 1961 classic, Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book: How to Plan Colors and Furnishings That Reflect the Personality of Your Family. At 432 pages, it delivers a lotta bang for your buck, too. Thanks to Heather for this tip! She found her copy at Costco, and also spotted it >> on Amazon here. << Note, I earn a small commission if you click through and buy anything from Amazon links. More info on this hours-of-fun reading:
From the Amazon description:
Take a walk down memory lane with this 1950s decorating classic, re-released for a whole new generation
The year is 1956….And during this boom period, grateful young families thrilled to find themselves homeowners after the uncertainty of the Great Depression followed by a second Great War. Those empty rooms needed filling in order to make the house a home, and homeowners turned to the iconic Better Homes and Gardens brand.
Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, the first edition of a title that would spawn ten editions over the years, became the new home bible for injecting class, style (and the occasional misguided cowboy wallpaper) into American homes. While exploring numerous styles, the main theme of the book is the on-trend mid-century modern sensibility, a style as appropriate today as it was six decades ago when the book was initially released.
Filled with hundreds of full-color period photos, dozens of adorable illustrations, and decorating tips and tricks that are both helpful and nostalgic, the book remains a fun classic. With this welcome hardcover release, reproduced exactly as it looked and read in the 1950s, everything old is new again.
Again, ya can nab it >> on Amazon here or via the widget below << or like Heather, maybe a store locally.
Mary Stutzman says
My Aunt Marion is one of the featured designers on page 305! Never knew this about her until I found a copy on eBay. I have this great promo photo of her that I would post if I could figure out how!
Felicia Alexander says
Mary, you can contact Pam via the “Contact” link at the very bottom of the page. If she’s interested, she’ll send you an email address where you can send her your photo.
Susan Halla says
I collect these – I have three versions of this book (1956, 1961 and 1968) and I have two versions of the BHG Handyman’s Book (1957 and 1970). I’m always on the lookout….
tammyCA says
Cool..I found a 1961 copy from a thrift store a few years ago (same cover)..love the vintage home decor books.
Chad says
In a perverse way, I’d be particularly interested to see the tips this book has for dealing with pre-1940 houses.
Susan Doucleff says
I have my mother’s original copy. A treasured possession.
Mary Elizabeth says
Wow! I won’t be buying this because my husband came home from a solo trip to Costco and said, “Don’t buy yourself ANYTHING between now and Christmas.” So I’m thinking he saw the book and picked it up already. And probably a new attachment of some sort for my KitchenAid stand mixer.
Heidi says
I was a little surprised to see this at first. Then I remembered, when I was a very small child, they issued reprints of the 1912 Sears-Roebuck catalog. It’s disconcerting to realize that 1961 is now just as distant in time as 1912 when I was little.
Nancy says
They made reprints for even earlier. I remember thinking how the one from the 1890’s told about as much about the time as any history book. To this day I cringe at the idea of stainless steel cutlery not existing, and of mattresses being made of horsehair. *shudders*
Heidi E. says
The one that got me was the arsenic baked into little cookies for your complexion. What could possibly go wrong? 0-0
Pam Kueber says
wha!?
Heidi E. says
It was an actual Victorian beauty practice! Small doses of arsenic for the complexion, both because pallor was fashionable, and also because arsenic kills bacteria as well as it kills bigger things, so it was actually effective against some cases of acne, if you want to risk dying to get rid of zits( I suppose some adolescents would understand that to this day). And Sears-Roebuck sold boxes of pretty little shortbread cookies with a pre-measured dose in them…
Liz says
Oooo – is there a 40’s version?? I need to redo my kitchen and am looking for ideas!!!
Allison says
Liz, try checking Ebay for 1940s Better Homes and Gardens. They are expensive if you buy a single issue but can be found occasionally in lots that cost less.
I have been collecting mid century BHG for a long time; its really getting silly how many I have. In fact, you can contact me through my website (click my name) if you would like some of my post-war issues. War-time decorating was about making do with the little that was available from before the war, so not as useful.
Steve H says
I think I have to get this. I have an early 70’s edition, which may be psychedelic mind-fry to some, but I absolutely adore it.
Debbie in Portland says
Can’t wait to see the eyeroll when my 22-year-old son sees THIS on my Christmas list! 🙂