Here in the Standard office we've spent the last week surmising that the legalization of gay marriage in New York is going to result in some incredibly fabulous weddings! Let's celebrate by indulging in a little wedding for pretend couple, Matt and Max, in our head.
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In case you haven't noticed, the past few years have elevated charcoal tones to their well-deserved rank on the color wheel—it is fair to say that charcoal is The New Neutral. To thank for this ascension, we have the economy, the war and a bunch of other ho-hum relics from the Bush years. As the world becomes a brighter place again we actually won't be straying away from our love of the dreary...we'll just be having more fun with it. More

It's true. Our 2007 spending habits are long-confirmed dead. But while we may not be marching down Melrose with armloads of shopping bags, we are opening our wallets and becoming more carefree. As we begin to spend again, I predict that we are going to discover that the next "it" luxury items will be cleverly disguised as things we need...

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I am thrilled to begin sharing trend-predictions with you—something we do in Newsreel Trend Predictor, which is a regular section of Standard. Not to toot our own horn, but we are pretty good at it. What happens in the world very much affects what happens in design—and we truly enjoy sharing these connections so you can buy with confidence, knowing what trends will be long-lasting (so you can buy well and buy once) and what will just be a flash-in-the-pan! Let's jump right in with a two major influences that we're talking about in the current issue of the magazine.

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Just last week a friend and I visited a large greenhouse to stock up on last-minute herbs for the growing season. As we walked the aisles, I felt more than a little guilty, if not mischievous, about the number of times I whispered to put a plant back since I already had it and would happily give her a cutting. When you’re stocking a garden for the growing season, every $3 and $4 savings really adds up quickly! More

There's an unsung category of home technologies: consumer medical devices. Whether it be a digital thermometer, blood pressure monitor or one of the myriad of other technologies that keep us happier and healthier between doctor visits, medical devices are common but normally not praised or discussed because of their personal nature. But what if medical concerns are a regular part of your life? More

Name: Sara Ost
Online Home: EcoSalon

My Green Resolution: Oh, my little abode, how perfectly green you are. Why, just look: 1) You are small. Tiny, in fact. A glorified studio in San Francisco by the bay, you have little more than a fireplace and the kitchen is practically a closet (which certainly keeps your owner from shopping too much)… More

Name: Erin Lundeen
Online Home: Fig+Sage

My Green Resolution: As the year winds down and we ramp up for another I'm reminded just how time races by without stopping to consult me. There is no greater reminder of this than my children. To look at photos of them one year ago amazes me. Oftentimes after they go to bed and our home is quiet I'll spot their shoes out of the corner of my eye and wonder exactly when they got so big… More

Name: Kelly LaPlante
Online Home: Standard Magazine

My Green Resolution: Recently, in the spirit of adventure and perhaps just because it was time for a change, I bought a darling place in Austin, Texas and moved away from Los Angeles. Before the move, I did a lot of thinking about what I wanted the design of this house to say about me. On the one hand, I am beginning an exciting new chapter in Texas—I want my decor to reflect and honor this change in my life. On the other hand, the style I’ve developed for myself over the span of my career is also very important to me. More