Housewarming gift basket idea

Summer coolers

Scoop up to easy ideas to refresh your home for summer. From a palette as cool as this season's sorbets, pick your favorite flavor and dive in to a new look.

A CLEAN LOOK FOR HAND TOWELS

Monogram jacquard-weave hand towels. It's a cooler alternative to the fussier linen towels no one touches for tear of wrinkling. Virginia Cravens, one of our photo stylists, gives them as baby gifts to new mothers. Easy to wash, they are snappier than the usual baby baubles.

BATHED IN BEAUTY

Treat yourself to an assortment of bath embellishments in a basket. Aloe vera products take the heat out of sun-stressed skin. Pick up tired feet with a peppermint foot moisturizer; store in the fridge for an extra tingle. Drop an Effervescents ball in your tub; it's like an aromatic Alka-Seltzer.

FLIGHT OF FANCY

We made a one-of-a-kind curtain rod out of an old double bed railing from a flea market. If you can't find an old piece, visit a home center and look for balusters or banister pieces in the wood department. Paint and, if an aged look is desired, rub with umber craft paint and lightly take finish off in areas for a weathered appearance. For a simple curtain, we hung waffleweave kitchen towels with ribbon. Whimsical ceramic dragonflies act as finials.

NOTE FROM SUMMER

Purchase unfinished wooden bulletin boards available at home centers and hardware stores. Paint each one in a summer-friendly color. We chose (from left) Chambray 2, Sky Blue 2, and Lilac 2, all by Laura Ashley Paints. Finish with a chrome floral hook for keys. Tip: Make a colorful focal point by grouping them together.

BUTTON UP

AN EASY LOOK

Light up your bath with this fun idea. Purchase three column candles in different heights; place on a plate. Add a handful of buttons around the candles for a carefree summer look. Note: If you have small children, substitute votive candles in complementary colors, in place of the buttons.

BOWL OVER GUESTS

Make your own Ice Follies in August. Take chilled fruit in an ice bowl to a new neighbor or bring out an artful presentation at your supper club. It's easy: You'll need one large and one small plastic bowl, edible fresh flower petals, mint leaves, and distilled water. Center small bowl in large bowl. Line large bowl and space between bowls with flower petals and mint leaves. Add distilled water to top of large bowl. Place in freezer overnight. Once water is completely frozen, loosen the small bowl by filling it with warm water. Then run warm water over the larger bowl, and slip it off. Fill with chilled fruit and serve immediately.

BE-RIBBONED LINENS

Pillowcases make a great wedding or housewarming gift. Personalize them with a quick-sew ribbon border. Stitch a ribbon border around each case opening. For a standard pillowcase, you'll need 40 inches of ribbon to cover both sides. For washing ease, choose a flatfaced, opaque ribbon.

TUCK AWAY

A LAVENDER SACHET

Wrap a touch of Provence in a sachet. Fold a linen napkin in half to make a triangle. Cut across top fold as if cutting open pita bread. Fold back cut edge (wrong side) about 1/2 inch (for ribbon), and sew. Align halves, and starting about 1 inch from the napkin's bottom edge, stitch open edges together. Fill pouch with dried lavender. Thread thin silk ribbon through. Pull ribbons together and tie in bow.

TRAY CHIC

Need a tray to carry those icy drinks? Start with a ready-made picture frame. Paint as desired. (We used Jade Bath #1213 satin by Laura Ashley.) Insert a collage of favorite photos of your family's summer vacation. Screw in glass drawer pulls at either end. SHOW OFF

YOUR TREASURES

Summer's the season to pull out your favorite light linens tucked away in a closet. Hang fresh, clean linens on an old ladder kept propped against a wall. Tip: If ladder will stay there year-round, secure to wall with mounting brackets available at your hardware store.

SUMMER COOLERS

Pages 150-152: Linen kitchen towels are available from Christine's (R), Mountain Brook, Alabama, (205) 871-8297; green glass pulls used on tray and chrome flower hook on bulletin board are available from Restoration Hardware (R,O), call 1-800-762-1005 or visit the Web site at www.restorationhard ware.com for a free catalog and store location information; ceramic dragonfly finials are available from Sweet Peas (R), Homewood, Alabama, (205) 8793839; linen napkins are available from Horchow Collection Fine Linens (O), 1-800-825-8255, free catalog; Laura Ashley paint is available at most Lowe's.