cover image Home Almanac: Everything You Need to Care for Your Home

Home Almanac: Everything You Need to Care for Your Home

. Welcome Books, $24.95 (239pp) ISBN 978-1-932183-26-9

This classy resource could be the only book readers need to guide them through all the aspects of living at home: cleaning, organizing, design, improvements, maintenance, repairs, entertaining and etiquette. It's at once inspiring and practical, with its advice on how to light an entryway, clean the glass of a picture frame, inspect a roof to assess damage, register for a wedding, store family keepsakes, unclog the bathtub, write thank-you notes and more. The vintage-looking illustrations of a woman's manicured hand adjusting a freezer's temperature and a Victorian-era girl sweeping through a room with a burst of fresh air lend the book a timeless feel. However, the editors' recommendations are quite current; they provide information on conserving energy and suggest Web sites to visit for further information on everything from getting a mortgage to decorating the home. Budget-conscious yet elegant, this book will undoubtedly help overwhelmed readers enjoy their homes and would make a splendid house-warming gift for anyone moving into a new abode. 150 color illus.