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Say It Ain't So...Are Home Shelter Magazines the New Dinosaurs?

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To follow up on my most recent blog, "How Are Your Favorite Home Retailers Doing? Must-Read Articles," this New York Times' article, "The Meltdown in Home Furnishings" lists troubled home furnishings retailers who are struggling in this economy, as well as many much loved "shelter" magazines:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/garden/29industry.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Due to the faltering economy and shrinking advertising dollars, the past several months have seen several home design magazines close up shop, to include:

The 106 year-old House and Garden, Home, Blueprint, O at Home, Cottage Living, Country Home, and most recently Domino.

At a personal level shelter magazines have been so important to me through the years as sources of inspiration, aspiration and upcoming design trends. I have folders and notebooks filled with pictures clipped over the years, kept to inform future projects. Some designers' works I've collected as if I were in a movie star fan club. (Don't forget those shelter magazines also elevated the careers of many successful designers.) Sifting through several of these notebooks before our move last summer I felt like I was traveling through a time capsule of dreams deferred (and sometimes realized), representing my own evolving design interests. And for years my Interior Design clients have shared similar magazine clippings with me, helping to crystallize a focus for their design plans.

I fear that some of my favorite magazines may be next in line for troubles (as well as those who write and publish for them), and send them my very best wishes.

Do you have favorite magazines that have particularly inspired you through the years? Which would you truly miss if they were no longer here? Are there past shelter magazines that you continue to miss? What other sources of design inspiration do you use in their place (blogs, etc.)?

**UPDATE**

2/5/2008 - This morning I just posted a follow-up blog about the cancellation of Domino magazine, from a recent New York Times article. Check it out at Domino Effect - NYT Reports Fans Mourning Demise of Magazine.

Thanks for your interest!

Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Home Stager Marin

Leslie Olson - ASID, RESA

Leslie Olson Interiors Marin County, CA www.leslieolsoninteriors.com leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com 415.233.2633

Posted by Leslie Olson - Home Staging and Interior Design - Marin County CA on 02/01/2009 03:35 PM

Comments (20)

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20 Comments on Say It Ain't So...Are Home Shelter Magazines the New Dinosaurs?

FEB

Leslie ~ I had heard about Domino, but not the others you list. I have always liked the Better Homes & Gardens publications Decorating, Beautiful Homes. I also like Traditional Home, and I think I would miss them. I sometimes take pictures out and every once in awhile there is an issue so good I keep the whole magazine, which is usually then tabbed with little post-its.

Thanks for your response, Kathy! I know what you mean about a magazine tabbed with post-its. In our household I often fold down the top corner of a page I like in a magazine (something I'd never do in a book -- isn't it funny how we make these rules for ourselves?!). We finally decided that when my husband finds something he particularly likes, he'll fold the bottom corner of the page so that he can find it to show me later!

I also love the BH&G special interest mgazines (Decorating, Before and Afters, Beautiful Homes, etc.) as well as House Beautiful. I will really miss Domino and hope none of the others goes away.

My favorite is Traditional Home. I love the beautiful photos and the timeless designs. I also save these year after year and refer back to them often. Another favorite is Decorating, as already mentioned by others. Much like Traditional Home but more affordable and accessable design.

HI Leslie, It is sad to hear that so many design magazines are folding. We all look for inspiration in our monthly magazines.

Here in Canada Style at Home is an easy foramt magazine which lists where to buy the stock in Canada. A huge bonus as we do not have the same stores as the U.S.

You can check it out on line at

styleathome.ca

Will your favourites remain on line to save costs?

I look forward to receiving House Beautiful and Metropolitan Home every month and have for years. I miss Domino.

Just this past week Domino sent me a subscription application. I've never heard about it... was excited about the teaser they sent.......and now you are telling me it's going away.

Can't win.

Seems like the internet is putting a lot of business out of business.

As a Californian, I'm surprised you didn't mention "Sunset" magazine, while not specifically a design magazine, it always lent design elements to its publications.

Southern Living is a good one, and here in North Carolina, we have two excellent magazines: Our State, and Signature (owned by Our State).

I hope those aren't headng the way of the dinosaur...

Metropolitan Home and Dwell and Interior Design magazines are my faves. Can't get through a month without them! For sheer outrageousness, I also like Objekt. It is my goal to get into one of these magazines. I will do it ... I will do it ... I will do it! I cannot imagine a day when online sources replace the actual glossy paper magazines. Yes, I am curled up in bed here at the moment with my laptop ... and I can print up the photos of cool things I find ... but it just isn't the same as turning those cool, smooth beautiful pages, and the satisfying sound of rrrrrrriiiiiiiiPPP! when I pull out a page I love.

FEB

Anne and Diana -- Looks like magazines are sources of inspiration for you as well! I also have a hard time letting go of particular shelter magazines that I love, and always have a slippery stack of my favorites next to my bed. Of course I never seem to have enough time to read them all before the next issue comes in!

Michelle -- That's great that Canada Style at Home lists resources as well -- I think that's one reason that Domino struck a chord with people in the U.S. Thanks for the link! I'm not sure about the discontinued magazines maintaining a presence online after the magazine has folded...but I'm doubtful.

Cathy - Yes, I've been a very long and devoted subscriber to Metropolitan Home -- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they live through this economic downturn. Definitely a favorite of mine. Doesn't House Beautiful have that monthly article listing prominent designers' favorite paint colors for particular rooms and applications? I think I have some of those pages saved through the years...

Virginia -- Isn't that timing ironic? I understand that Domino's last issue will be the March one. Maybe you can find it on the newsstand.

Andrew -- Thanks for your contributions! Actually I only listed magazines in the post that have already been discontinued (surely Sunset isn't included in that???). But you bring up a great point -- there are some wonderful regional publications that should be commended as well. My mom and aunt were always big Southern Living fans (being from Texas), and somewhere I have several annual Southern Living cookbooks that they've given me! One of my favorite city-based magazines is the excellent Tribeza magazine in Austin. Beautifully produced and truly reflects the vibe of the town. You're right, let's hope the regional magazines continue to thrive!

Pangaea -- You and I are right "on the same page!" (GROAN) Two subscriptions that have been consistent for me through the years have always been Elle Decor and Metropolitan Home, and Dwell has risen to that status in recent years. Like you, I can bookmark internet interiors on my computer til the cows come home, but it's absolutely not the same as the indulgence (and tangible nature) of the glossy pages of a magazine. And yes as designers it's always tantalizing to dream of being published in our favorite magazines... Keep up your excellent work, Pangaea, find out what it takes to submit it to the publication that best reflects your style and you may very well be gracing their pages soon! (Or hey, why not the cover too?) We'll be rooting for you!

I have many subscriptions but end up buying others in line at the stores as well. I love going throught them and keep a lot - time to start weeding, though.

Oh Kathleen...I feel your pain! Before we moved I could be accused of turning into one of those poor old souls found buried in a fortress of stacked magazines, unable to give up my collection. I've gotten better about that -- sometimes we have to practice what we preach to our staging clients!

FEB

I love to read a design magazine while I hang out. I always flip through them when I go to the beach, or just relax on my deck. When I finish a magazine I tear out my favorite rooms, and I sort and save them in folders titled "window treatments" "bathrooms" etc., etc. When I need a little inspiration for a project. I pull out my messy old files and usually find something to excite me. From time to time as I am flipping through them, I purge those pages that look dated and tired.

If my favorite magazines, such as Metropolitan Home, and Elle Decor no longer exist what new ideas will fill my folders? I really hope my favorite magazines stay alive, because I really don't want to give up my relaxing habit, and I need those beautiful and fresh ideas for inspiration.

Interesting since I subscribe and have already paid for 3 of those...I wonder what is going to happen?

FEB

Kay -- that sounds delicious, doesn't it? I feel more serene just reading your comments! That's great that you're organized with your clippings too, so that you can access examples when you need them. I'd very much miss Met Home and Elle Decor too -- let's hope they'll be okay!

Cindy -- To be honest I don't really know. I think we're all in uncharted waters right now!

You can't take a laptop to the beach, and those big hardcover design books are just too heavy for a beach bag! I NEED my magazines.

Absolutely, Kay! And don't forget the delicious pleasure of opening a new shelter magazine as you settle into a flight (and I don't mean the airline publication).

By the way this morning I just posted a follow-up blog about the cancellation of Domino magazine, from a recent New York Times article. Check it out at Domino Effect - NYT Reports Fans Mourning Demise of Magazine.

Like Michelle Finnamore, my favourtie is Style at Home, but I almost always pick up the latest issue of BHG's Before & After. I'm trying to cut down on my magazines! Too many of my bookshelves are filled with them!

FEB

I'm pretty bummed about Domino, but I just subscribed to Metropolitan Home, so maybe it will help fill the void. I also LOVE House Beautiful.

Vivian -- I know what you mean about those collections of magazines. At some point I decided to keep only one year's worth of each magazine at a time, storing them in some magazine caddies. It works pretty well as long as I remember to file the ones I've read from the stack on my coffee table. But it forces me to discard the older ones too.

Jennifer -- glad your still subscribing, I'm sure the magazines appreciate that as they struggle with shrinking ad dollars.

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