Kit Davey, Interior Designer
18 Years in business - Over 2,600 homes transformed!
Tips From Kit - November 2002
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Magazines for Design Ideas
By Kit Davey
Interior design magazines are one of the best sources for fresh ideas. But with so many publications on the newsstand, and with so many depicting unlivable, expensive or otherwise impractical designs, how do you decide which magazines to purchase or subscribe to?
Home and garden magazines seem to be roughly divided into three categories:
"Dream and drool" fantasy magazines, such as Interior Design, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Metropolitan Home. Those who wish to know how the other half lives, want to know more about East Coast lifestyles and new ways to spend lots of money, will enjoy browsing through these glossy, "does-anyone-really-live-that-way?" publications.
Even though they are a little too-chic-for-words, this category of magazines offers mind-broadening examples of architecture and interior design. Creative applications of unusual building and finish materials fill their glitzy pages, along with unique color combinations, and examples of homes which pull off the eclectic look with panache.
Practical, informal, how-to magazines for the average home dweller, such as Home, Better Homes and Gardens, American HomeStyle and Gardening, Country Living and quarterly publications (available only on the newsstand) like Weekend Decorating Projects, Window & Wall Ideas, and Kitchens & Baths.
For the cost-conscious, do-it-yourself home decorator, this type of magazine is brimming with ideas. The featured homes look like people actually live in them, accessories are clever and easy to copy and step-by-step craft projects abound. Valuable information about products, home maintenance, and reasonable examples of remodeling projects fill their pages.
In between (ultrachic and how-to) magazines such as Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living and Southern Living.
These publications are filled with examples of formally and stunningly appointed homes (sort of like Breuner's or Ethan Allen ads) but offer few practical, down-to-earth projects for the frugal decorator. Occasionally, I spot a smart accessorizing idea, but on the following page an essay on porcelain oyster trays of the 18th century slaps me in the face.
Inexpensive Sources
The dollars start adding up when you subscribe to too many magazines. Try
these alternatives:
Avoid buying singles from the newsstand (except for quarterlies not available by subscription). A year's subscription can save you 40 to 60% off the newsstand price.
Check out an arm load of magazines for free from your local library.
Buy magazines at garage sales and flea markets---copies sell for 10 to 50 cents each.
Share a subscription with a friend---when you're finished reading this month's Sunset, trade it for your friend's copy of Home.
If you work in a school system or are a student you can receive discounted subscriptions from NEA (1-800-YOUR-MAG).
Other ways to use your magazines:
Tear out articles of interest and create resource files for future reference.
Assemble a "wish book" or collage of rooms and accessories that appeal to you. Your collection of images will help make your decorating dreams come true.
Please help our environment: recycle, sell at your next garage sale or deliver your magazines to a nursing home or hospital waiting room.
(c) 2002
Kit Davey is a Redwood City-based interior designer specializing in redecorating using what you already have. You can reach her by calling (650)367-7370 or by writing her at KitDavey@aol.com. Visit her website at www.AFreshLook.net.
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