A Gracious Welcome: Etiquette and Ideas for Entertaining Houseguests

To help tame whatever butterflies nervous hosts feel before the guests arrive, former Martha Stewart Living editor Nebens suggests an exhaustive list of practical preparations, from designing original invitations to outfitting a guest bedroom.

Many of the author's suggestions--like greeting your guest with a hearty welcome--are basic tenets of politesse that need repeating only for those who have never looked forward to hosting a parent, friend or colleague. However, Nebens does offer several creative, crafty strategies to make the visit special, like personalizing towels with rickrack when hosting large groups, planning easy meals and snacks, and readying the house for children or less-spry seniors. Inspiring but sometimes impractical, this compendium of hosting advice is most useful for those with adequate prep time, entertainment funds and artistic vision.

40 color photographs.