Last week I shared a few inspiring blogs, designers and books. I meant to include magazines that consistently spark DIY decorating ideas in my head but, somehow, the week ended abruptly. In the words of my two-year-old, “Sorry ’bout dat.” I simply cannot leave out glossies. I get so excited when new issues arrive in the mail and can’t wait until the kiddos are in bed at night, so I can devour them {the mags not the kiddos}. Here are a few glossies that we refer to time and time again when making our house a home.
Better Homes & Gardens – No surprise here. This magazine has and will be around for ages. It appeals to designers and everyday homebodies alike including articles on decor, food, family life and gardening. I especially like the “I Did It!” page at the end of every issue featuring a homeowner who took the renovation or redecoration of their space into their own hands to save money and create something unique. BHG is a great source for DIYers, homemakers and people with careers that don’t necessarily relate to design. Total motivation.
{Happy Saint Patty’s Day! You like my censored address label?}
House Beautiful – Oh, House Beautiful, how you get me dreaming. Unless I win the lottery {which isn’t likely to happen since I don’t play}, I’ll probably never own anything ever shown in the pages of this high-end glossy. And that’s just fine with me. So what does HB do for me? Instead of getting pouty about all the stuff I’ll never have, I study this glossy page for page taking cues from the pros, dumbing it down and putting my own spin on things. It’s a great source for color schemes, room moods and furniture placement. I especially enjoy the house tours which include an interview with the interior designer. They always talk about the shortcomings of the space and how they ‘fixed’ it. There are usually a few tricks I learn and take away from reading the designer interviews.
Flor – I guess technically this is a catalog. But it’s one that I’m always surprised by. Who knew a carpet tile product catalog could be so inspiring?! The styling, vignettes and colors are creative and part of the not-so-overexposed side of design. I love finding inspiration from unexpected sources!
The Family Handyman – This is for all you{r} Handy Hubby’s out there! Mine included. I can’t lie. I don’t read this magazine but Handy Hubby does and loves it. He’s found countless little DIY tips along with ideas for making large scale projects easier and more doable in this glossy. {Can I call a handyman magazine ‘glossy?’} And since Handy Hubby is half of the team over here, the information given in this magazine ends up in the designing aspects of our home at some point. What usually happens is I get a crazy idea for a decor project and Handy Hubby says something like, “Oh, I could use the {insert applicable product, tool or method here} like I saw in Family Handyman!” Then he refers to the mag for advice and resources. It’s a great way to get my better half involved in and excited about home decor and home improvement.
Lonny Magazine – This FREE online glossy {that can be printed for a price if you’d like} is simply scrumptious. It’s pretty evident that it was founded by a designer and photographer duo. The images offer inspiration galore and focus on independent thinking and individual style. I like different. Lonny is a great way to expose yourself to new design ideas that are a spin-off of the traditional.
Those are the glossies that get my wheels turning when I’m contemplating design in my own home. I try not to copy what I see but, rather, change it up into something I can afford and/or DIY. If these subscriptions are too pricey for you add ‘em to your birthday or Christmas wish list…that’s what I do. You can always check out each mag’s website {as linked above} at no cost for just as much inspiration. Again, as with inspirational books, I would encourage you to read the material offered in these mags – not just peruse the images. There’s so much info in the text. Check out the back of magazines for paint, furniture and accessory resources…very helpful if you find something you really like.
You may have noticed that all of the images I showed above aren’t from current issues. There’s a reason. They’re some of my favorite issues. Once I finish an issue, I make a cut-throat decision to keep it {or a page or two from it} or get rid of it. I just don’t have the space to keep every single issue I read. If it’s a particularly inspiring issue, I’ll find a place for it on my bookshelf. If not, I’ll usually tear out a page that I want keep for future reference then pass the rest of the magazine on to a friend/family member or toss it in the recycling bin. It keeps me and my inspiration folder focused.
Here are a few other glossies that I regularly receive or sometimes buy and find helpful:
What are some of your favorite go-to magazines or catalogs?
images: 1-4) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 5) Lonny Magazine
DIY, inspiration