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Home Decorating

Favorite books/magazines?

15 years ago

I'm looking for inspirations...looking for ideas...so I sit here wondering what books or magazines I should be checking out. What are some of your favorites?

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Comments (19)

kats
15 years ago
I know this was a topic on one of GW's forums here recently but I couldn't find it with a quick search.
My favorite is Phoenix H & G but since I live in California it's been hard to find. After loving the magazine for 2 years now I finally bought a subscription and can't wait to start getting it here at home.

Phoenix H&G
jroseco
15 years ago
I love Romantic Homes magazine. I can almost always find something I'd like to try...even if it's a tiny detail. It's "eye candy" that I love to browse through again and again. Downside...hard to part with!
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I don't necessarily have one simple favorite, but there are some I find more useful than others. My favorite regional magazine is Texas Gardener. Yes, I know we are in Oklahoma, but this is a superb magazine. I read it for many years before moving here and didn't stop reading it just because we moved here. It is published by the same parent company that published the best vegetable gardening book I've ever read...The Vegetable Book: The Texan's Guide to Gardening by Dr. Sam Cotner. I also read Neil Sperry's Gardens magazine when I lived in Texas but haven't kept up with it here....Texas Gardener is available in stores near me but I'd have to subscribe to Neil's and I just never 'get around to' doing that. I've read Oklahoma Gardening from the state-by-state gardening empire and it is OK, but I don't like it as much as I like Texas Gardener. Many years ago, I read all of them....Fine Gardening, Horticulture, the National Gardening Association's magazine (athough I can't remember the name of it now), Country Gardens, Kitchen Gardener or Kitchen Gardening (now defunct, it was published by the same folks who publish Fine Gardening), Organic Gardening (now a mere shadow of its once superb self, I'm sad to say) and Garden Gate as well as various other ones published seasonally by Better Homes and Gardens, like their annual Rose specialty mag or their annual Perennial one or whatever. That was long ago, and I don't read as many of those as I used to. Since moving to the country and getting more and more into growing crops as opposed to ornamentals, and having animals and many other country interests, my reading interests have changed. Now I am more likely to read Hobby Farm, Hobby Farm Home, Mother Earth News, Grit, Countryside and Urban Farm. Of all these, my favorite is Urban Farm, which is brand new. I enjoyed the premiere issue and an anxiously awaiting the second issue although I don't even know if they have a target date for the second issue. I think it is published by the same folks who brought us Hobby Farm and Hobby Farm Home, and they started out slow but gained readers quickly and began to appear more often....quarterly now I think. For sheer beauty and inspiration, I enjoy Birds and Blooms magazine which features not only birds and blooms, but lots of butterflies and moths as well. I think you have to find the magazine that best suits your interests. If you are more into ornamentals, you might like Fine Gardening the most of all. Or, if you're looking for practical ways to beautify your landscape, Garden Gate is top-notch. If you're into homesteading, it has to be Countryside and if you are into homesteading and ecology, it has to be Mother Earth News. Another fine publication that seldom gets mentioned in these discussions is Green Prints, which is a magazine of little stories and tales more like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. It is superb, but I don't recall that is has any hands-on stuff...more inspiration and heart-warming stuff. I used to buy it occasionally when I lived in Fort Worth, but haven't seen it on the newstands here. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Gardener
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postum
15 years ago
2 oldy-but-goodies:
"Use What You Have Decorating" by Lauri Ward and
"A Pattern Language: towns, buildings, construction" by Christopher Alexander.
Definitely NOT eye candy, but very inspiring, I think.
meg711
15 years ago
Amy,

You coming west anytime soon? I have stacks of magazines: AD, Traditional Home, Southern Accents, (or is it Southern Living), Veranda, some additional odds and ends. I'm very attached to them so you could only borrow them--unless I get over my magazine addiction in the near future.

Let me know.
amycj
Original Author
15 years ago
meg711, I won't be 'out west' until late August, you're kind of offer 'lending' me your favorites. :) I've jotted down the names and will be checking them out next time I'm at the library/bookstore/grocery store. Thanks to all for the different titles. I just need some help ~ some inspiration.
allison0704
15 years ago
Southern Accents and Southern Living are two different magazine. Southern Living has travel, gardening and food. Southern Accents is only homes and are all high quality.

Southern Accents
Veranda
Beautiful Homes by BH&G
The English Home

...there is another one, quarterly I believe, that I enjoy. I'll have to find one upstairs and post later.
lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
Mags: Phoenix Home & Garden
Architectual Digest
newdawn1895
15 years ago
Country Home
Southern Living (sometimes)
Cottage Living

Go to T.J.Maxx and sometimes they have hard cover books on decorating for five to seven bucks. I have bought books there that look good displayed. Decorating and cooking. I wouldn't take fifty bucks for my Martha Stewart book, New Old House. I payed $15.00 for it.

I love a deal!
newdawn1895
15 years ago
Does anyone know where you can find european magazines in Birmingham, Alabama? I would love to find some french decorating magazines.

....Jane
susanlynn2012
15 years ago
Traditional Home is my favorite magazine with very beautiful stylish pictures.
allison0704
15 years ago
Jane, Have you looked at Barnes and Noble at the Summit? Also, across the main road at the Summit, Joe Muggs has several B&N doesn't have.
allison0704
15 years ago
Beautiful Southern Homes - a BH&G special publication is always a nice magazine. I've even ordered back copies.

Jane, also check in Books & Company if you're ever at Brookwood Mall...although I think B&N and Joe Muggs have better selections.
newdawn1895
15 years ago
Thanks Allison I will check out Joe Muggs when I go over to The Summit.

I rarely go to Brookwood anymore, except I love that restaurant over there called, Brio.

I would like to see Beautiful Southern Homes as well.

Thanks Again...
teacats
15 years ago
Depends on your decor style:

But here's my list:

Veranda
Southern Accents
Traditional Home
Country Home
Country Living
House Beautiful
Better Homes & Gardens

Plus various special publications by Meredith Publications (they publish monthlies and then put special larger "magazine/softcover decor books" together for a specific market -- like French Country or Beautiful Southern Homes etc.)

Plus I read the English decor magazines at Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Jan
amck2
15 years ago
I enjoy "House Beautiful" and "Cottage Living" for inspiration. They provide the eye candy I crave for my style of decorating and generally have a couple good articles that teach me something new about fabrics, furnishings, construction, gardening/landscaping, etc. Love seeing either one in the mailbox!
allison0704
15 years ago
JANE,

I was at Barnes and Noble at the Summit yesterday. They had a couple of French magazines along with their regulars (American and British).
Valerie Noronha
15 years ago
I was just about to start a thread on good decorating magazines so this is very timely. My DS's school is kicking off their annual magazine drive so do keep the suggestions coming.
rebelblossom
15 years ago
My Favorites are:

Canadian Home and Country
Country Home
Style At Home
Country Living
Victoria
Better Homes and Gardens

My problem is that i seem to hold onto all of them! One of these days i have to start a decorating file and start clipping! :)

Happy Browsing
Laurie
patricianat
15 years ago
New Dawn, I get them at Joe Muggs (BAM) and B&N in MGM. I subscribe to what used to be English ? homes & gardens ? and is now something like English Living. They change it from time to time but it is mostly english homes with beautiful venues. It is about the same size at Fine Gardening magazine and has the same slick cover on it. Probably the same company. :)

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