When I first got married, we lived in an 800 sq. ft. campus apartment with no drawers in the kitchen, cement block walls, and dust-colored modular furniture. I put some red pillows on the thing that looked like a couch, hung up a picture of cows, and that was it. There was really no helping that place.
Then we moved into our first house. A rental in the country. I think I have repressed the memory of the 4 months we spent there. It involved orange water, slugs in the cupboards, a swarm of bees on the side of the house, and cans and cans and cans of bug spray.....
BUT THEN--we moved into a decent place, and my love affair with interior design began. I was finishing up design school at the time and was in heaven having a place of my own to practice on. My first attempts involved hunter green sponge paint and plaid furniture (the picture of the cows re-appeared too), but as my tastes evolved---so did my home. It was soon done in soothing neutrals with accents of olive green. More texture than pattern. Very Frasier-esque. That place-- done 10 years ago-- would still look stylish today. And whom did I have to thank for helping me to develop my eye?
My good friends: The Design Magazines.
They came to visit every month. I loved settling in when it was quiet--curling up on the couch with some jazz music on the stereo and the latest issue in my hands. I was familiar with their styles and their layouts. I ripped pages from some, and kept whole issues of others. They really were like friends.
And now--they're being killed off one by one.
My favorite got knocked off years ago. See the room designed by Christopher Coleman on the front of this one? I have this issue in my collection and STILL want a room just like it....
My favorite got knocked off years ago. See the room designed by Christopher Coleman on the front of this one? I have this issue in my collection and STILL want a room just like it....
My next favorite got killed off in December...... such a shame! It was a great read--
I'm not sure when this one went out as I wasn't a subscriber, but I noticed it wasn't around to read in the check out line anymore--
Been reading this one since 1995--it's dead now too...
I NEVER thought this one would die, but just received notice that my last issue was--in fact-- my very, very last issue.
I suppose some funerals are in order--but I'm too busy standing guard over Better Homes and Gardens, Traditional Home, and Sunset right now. I mean--the senseless killing has to stop SOMEWHERE! Barack Obama: Save the design magazines! Don't they deserve a bail out too?
***Tell me--did your favorite friend get killed off?***
35 comments:
Oh I SO feel you on this topic!
My home would be NOTHING creative if not for some DIY inspiration! though I've never subscribed...more like borrowed cast offs from friends.
My favorites were the up and comers that may not be going anywhere nowadays....and their names are slipping my mind....ARG I've failed them in my lack of commitment....Budget Living? There was an adorable, funky, young one...help me out JP!
I usually get my magazines from the library, but Country Home was a favorite of mine. I have noticed that Martha's Living has shrunk, as has Real Simple - another favorite. I am hoping that House Beautiful and Country Living don't succumb. It's strange how they're all folding. Maybe it's some vast conspiracy? But, I know Obama will save them, right? ;)
I am also standing guard over BH&G as well at Country Living. Cottage Living was the most depressing, but I also loved Home Companion by Mary Engelbreit - R.I.P.
How will America decorate from now on? Will we be left with HGTV and Trading Spaces?
I currently get Domino Magazine. It's alright but nothing like the classics.
Country Home and Cottage Living...seriously this is really sad stuff. I got the notices just recently as well, terrible news I tell ya.
I have LOTS of magazines in my home (mainly b/c my mom gives me her leftovers) and I love them all.
Sad times girl. Uck.
I love Cottage Home and Country Living. Now I am sad. :( What is the world coming to??
Lisa Q
Cottage Living was my very favorite. BHG has been my tried and true friend for years as has Sunset. I'm hoping for the best for those. The good news is that I've hoarded these magazines for years and have stacks of them in my office.
When this whole economic nightmare is over, there will be a need for new and creative magazines. Perhaps you should start thinking about that, my creative and talented friend (who could end up in LA eventually)? :)
SO sad, I am just sick about it. I too am holding on to BH&G with a death grip. I noticed Southern Living has substantially shrunk. What is a girl to do without magazines!!! I agree, someone has to stop the madness!!
Yes, I was sad to see HOME go, too. I still get Real Simple, and hopefully that's not going anywhere.
wedogmama--
I have a feeling you're thinking about Blueprint (?). A young, fresh, funky upstart from Martha Stewart magazines. Don't know if it will make it or not!
WHAT???!!! Country Home and Cottage Living are no more?! That just makes me sick! Yes, they deserve a bailout! What will happen to us?
you will have to start a mag jennifer (smile)--- that would rock the casa.
I have never really read design magazines - sure, I have skimmed them at the check out line, but never owned them.
It's sad that they are all disappearing though
I know!!! And Mary Engelbreit, Domino and Cottage Living. So sad!
I hope things are going better!
XOXOOXX
Jen
print media is dying: and FAST.
we (here in colorado) just lost the oldest run newspaper in the state last week. The Rocky Mountain Nes was shut down....and one of our representativeis in congress/senate (don't remember which) had the GALL to say that it was a good thing.....me, i'm not so sure.
i like a good magazine---there is just something about ripping out the designs you like and saving them in a folder. but funny thing about that (and i was just talking about this with some friends) -- not only do i have a "file" of decorating ideas. but i now have a file on my hard drive of decorating ideas b/c i get e-mails from BH&G all the time....what is this world coming too (i think that they have all been duped by being too "green" so their stopping publications so that they don't lieave a bigger carbon footprint....yadda, yadda, yadda!)
I'll stand with you. Add Southern Living to the "must protect" list.
I think I'm going to email BH&G RIGHT NOW and ask them if they're going to fold. Seriously--what are we going to do without design magazines? Maybe their downfall was letting people look at all their stuff online for free.
OR, too many people are into the smut magazines. Seriously--I'm not interested in other people's cleavage and how much they paid for it. Or the 5001 ways that are really all the same to lose tummy fat.
I wish I could say that reading design magazines made me better at decorating, too, but I think it made me WORSE. I just don't seem to get it. Or how to buy things and redesign a room with a $2 budget.
My Real Simple has become "real small" and that is sad. when I read that the Denver Post (I think) was closing its doors, it hit home. My dad used to work for the parent company of that group and the one thing that I could always count on was the smell of newspaper print and the smear of ink on the bathroom sink. What is this world coming to now that we're all huddled around the computer for our news and inspiration?
My Domino is gone:( I'll be pouring over my back issues for years and lamenting their demise. The hardest part is that these mags, which have gotten me through a lot of tough design times, are not being replaced. There will always be a hole in my heart for my lovely Domino.
I read about Country Home closing a couple months ago on Danny Seo's blog and was so sad! It was a favorite of mine for years. That same day I learned the Simple Scrapbooks was closing and also our local paper - ugh!
So how do you feel about getting a different magazine in the place of Country Home - I think it is Family Circle? - Is that even within the decorating realm? I wish we had a different choice for a replacement to carry out our subscriptions...
not that I read it anymore, but I heard that Seventeen magazine is gone. now THAT'S weird! kind of a staple of teen mags it always seemed to me. I know I used to love reading it at friend's houses. my mom would never let that crap in the house ;)
i'm sorry for your loss :(
I LOVED Cottage Living -finally, a design magazine that fit my taste. Sunset is no replacement for me!
I'm just glad I kept all my backcopies...
I love my Better Homes and Gardens. I hope it never, ever dies!
I lamented the day of my birth when Cottage Living sent me the "buh-bye" letter. A little part of my heart died with its demise.
I'm feeling your pain about Country Home. I normally tear my magazines apart but this is one that I always left intact. Whatever you have left on your subscription will go toward BH&G magazines so at least we still have that. My other one that JUST got cancelled is Simple Scrapbooks, and I just got a subscription in December!! GRRRR...
I don't post often...well ever...but I want you to know that I love your blog. I've been going back and reading all of your old posts. I linked you on my blog roll!
I was a Mary Engelbreit fan for the longest time and kept EVERY issue since 1995 or 1997 can't remember when I started.
But yes, it too just ended:
Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine is no longer published. The Dec/Jan 2009 issue was its last.
So so sad :(
And don't forget Domino... it was recently murdered as well. So sad (*sigh*).
Those are all great. I subscribed to Home--it featured my favorite HGTV designer--Candice Olsen. I still have Sunset, House Beautiful, Veranda, Better Homes and Gardens and Domino (Which apparently has been axed?!). Veranda is my favorite. If you don't read that one you should pick it up. So sad. I have to guard them from my husband as well who constantly threatens to cancel them as a waste of time and money!
Ok sooo I have to admit I am a VERY frugal gal and I bought decor mags like most girls picked up Cosmo or Vogue!!! Just a wonderful guilty pleasure for me!! I can't believe Country Home and Cottage Living are gone!! Super Sad!
Tracey
Oh no! I know how much you love these! I wonder why they are stopping them? It seems like many ladies (and I'm sure some men too) enjoyed them.
I love my magazines too! I hope the remaining ones can absorb the readership of the failed mags to survive. If not, maybe Michelle will have the President's ear on this issue!
I love magazines! Too sad that so many are folding.
yes, lots of my favs are gone...but honestly....the hefty cover prices had stopped me fromy buying....my magazine addiction has been replaced by blogs!
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