2004_10_10_chair.jpgHoliday? It's awful quiet in Tribeca this morning. Sort of makes you wonder how many people really are working today. At any rate, for those of you behind their computers, we want to just have a little rant about all the HOME DESIGN sections that we've been thinking about all weekend.

What is going on?

The New York Observer had an insert on Friday called The Home Observer, The New York Times put out another Capital "T" Style Magazine, which looks ready to give Fashions of the Times a run for its money, Time Out New York dumped its Home Design Issue onto newstands, and even The New Yorker reportedly weighed in last week with home design in it's issue.

In the 60's, 70's and 80's America learned to cook as we slowly opened up our hearts and minds to the skill, passion and sophistication of French cooking (and then other types). Restaurants, books and stores sprung up as our interest in good cooking increased, leading to ubiquitous institutions like Zagat's Restaurant Guide, Williams-Sonoma, and countless French cooking schools. Before WW II this would have been unheard of as Americans gobbled down burgers and coke and gave no thought to snails and fettucini.

Is this now happening in the furniture and design world?

Are Americans - and that means ALL of us, not just us snotty urbanites on the coasts - ready to talk about chairs and rugs? Are we ready to pay more for adventurous and sophisticated home furnishings? Is home design entering a golden age?

We think the answer is yes, and as this sleeping giant wakes, we will enjoy the ride. MGR