I miss the good old days when I used to look forward to opening my mailbox to see what was waiting for me inside. Not anymore – it seems that junk mail has taken over.I’m a subscriber to almost everything design related but over the last few years little by little my favorites close-up shop, and I get the dreaded notice that something else will be coming in its place. When Domino left my mailbox - real tears. House & Garden – I used to see it on my Mom’s coffee table growing up – shocked. Magazines are my guilty pleasure. I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
This started a whole new pattern of going to the newsstand and the book store searching for something new, mainly foreign titles. This is not a bad thing as I have found many new ones I like, but it is bad for my wallet - these are expensive and sometimes I can’t read a thing on the page. But still they are well worth it to me. There’s something about seeing the photos on glossy paper…
With all the HGTV and DIY programs out there, how could magazines not be thriving? There are so many trashy magazines that seem to stay in business. But like good television being replaced by reality TV, shelter magazines also seem to be fading away.
Still I’m truly thankful for the ones that keep coming, and hope that one day new ones will magically appear. I’m also happy with all the many blogs out there for design, entertaining, and fashion – so many great sources of inspiration and so many yet unknown.
Lonny Magazine is a new online magazine that I love. If you have not seen it, check it out. Beautiful, well thought out, and truly different. Not in my mailbox, but still something wonderful to look forward to…
http://www.lonnymag.com/
4 comments:
I used to buy a lot of magazines but over time, as the price went up, I stopped buying them. I used to love to stop and pick up a great magazine. Over time, blogs took over. I found that where I used to pay $6-$10 for a magazine, I can get the same eye candy on blogs for free. There is so much talent out there, and not just on design blogs, but on a lot of blogs that it's hard to keep up. And there are many more that are unknown.
Now, you can visit any of the blogs, see beautiful things, save them to your hard drive and have the equivalent (almost) of a magazine.
I still don't think the internet can replace some of the magazines, Veranda being my favorite. I just love the jewelry in there and all of the other design but if I am going to spend money on a magazine, it really needs to be good. Blogs have raised the bar. The design in the magazine needs to be what I want to see and I need more than one or two photos for $10 to make me want to read more. With blogs, I don't have to choose.
Finally, the writing needs to improve. Maybe that's not the right word but when you read blogs, there is a conversation there-you get to know the author and the style they present is "precisely" what you like. With a magazine, you may not know the author so it's easier to feel connected to the blogger. The only one there is a conversation with is the editor.
I too love magazines. I have a really hard time parting with them. Thankfully, one of my neighbors collects them for her church, so it makes it a little easier for me to 'let go'. I love the internet sites, but there is just something about having that magazine at arms reach. I have them next to my chair in the living room, on my bedside table, and of course in the restroom. Ha, ha. I will give up food before I would give up magazines.
I agree, I love the magazines but in a small nyc apt, it pains me to have to periodically discard my periodicals. It is nice, as Dream Mom points out, to be able to save favorite images to your hard drive, but the Luddite in me still finds enormous pleasure going through my files filled with glossy tear sheets for ideas.
I do happen to be lucky enough to have access to the ultimate source for inspiration: just a few floors away at any given time, I'm spoiled with first-hand peeks at Kelly's current renovations! Right now, I'm loving the magic unfolding on the second floor...
I hate parting with mine too because of space isues, so I regift them to my doorman who also loves design. I tend to bring him piles at a time and feel happy that they are being enjoyed yet again. I credit magazines with my interest in design early on, as I remember fanning them out on my Mother's coffee table growing up. I love that I can find new products and see other designer's projects. I especially like the Q & A format that House Beautiful uses, as I feel I learn more about the process and what went into a room. And lastly, the pictures - I have seen firsthand how long it takes to set-up a shot, and on my own I cannot capture the essence of a room the way a professional does - another true talent, and a costly one at that.
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