Open Houses Strut Your Stuff With Pride

• Keep the affair a home-spun one. Avoid catered foods when possible. Don't rent props and decorations; make them yourself.

• Lighting can be very important. After the tours are completed, turn off the fluorescent lights and use incandescents. A few strings of white "Christmas" lights and a dozen inexpensive glass candle holders have given us many years of ambient lighting, undoubtedly improving the taste of the food.