Anyone can make stylish cushions, bolsters, and accent pillows at a fraction of the cost of decorator versions with more than 20 inspirational designs in Waverly (R) at Home: Pillows, published by Meredith (R) Books.

Now it's easy to create a perfect, stylish space for entertaining and relaxing. Playing House is the bible for the girl who knows she has an aspiring domestic goddess inside her but doesn't know how to make those impulses meet reality. Page after page of advice on cooking, decorating, cleaning, and entertaining will provide you with everything you need to turn your bachelorette pad into a welcoming, cozy haven, including a stress-free formula for making any room look elegant and inviting for little money and minimal effort; tips on transforming an apartment filled with mismatching furniture into a well-choreographed pad; time-saving strategies for dinner parties that can be prepared 80 percent in advance and on a tight budget; advice on making a bedroom that looks like a sanctuary rather than a dorm room; and more!

Featuring the budget-friendly tips and advice of top interior designers, chefs, and event planners, Playing House will help you achieve blissful domesticity with minimum fuss and maximum fun.

Plumbing: Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced Projects is a comprehensive how-to book that explains the plumbing system from start to finish. It prepares the reader to handle any plumbing task in the home. Readers find detailed background information from an expert in the field plus scores of how-to projects, including replacing a faucet washer, installing a water softener, and everything in-between. Readers learn not only how to plan and complete each project, but also how to spot and improve outdated or dangerous techniques and materials in their home's plumbing system. The author emphasizes doing things correctly, and all the projects use only code-compliant techniques.

Master plumber Peter Hemp explains in step-by-step sequence how to create (for both new and remodeled homes) plumbing systems that function efficiently and withstand the rigors of time. For both homeowners and professionals, he shows how to design, size, and install pipes using a variety of standard materials and tools. “No-nonsense, in-depth explanations and marvelously clear illustrations.” — Booklist

This is more for people building a house than those remodeling one, but its no-nonsense, in-depth explanations and marvelously clear illustrations make it a worthwhile reference for anyone facing an expedition into the crazy world of domestic plumbing. Like any really good book, it broaches some controversy: Hemp apparently doesn't go along with the idea that fluoridated water is likely to bond with elements of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and pose a health risk. But he isn't going to tell you what to do, merely how to do whatever it is you want to do. He mentions the controversy, but he describes in some detail several kinds of pipes for every application. Showing keen appreciation of where real power in the construction universe lies, he notes that local governing bodies are the ultimate arbiters of plumbing morality, so check with them before proceeding. Creating your own plumbing system is a daunting task. Those who are game will want to have Hemp, or at least his book, at their side. Mike Tribby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.