I know everyone likes to say Dwell isn't like it use to be, that it's lost it's initial freshness, but I have to say I still really enjoy the magazine as a whole. In the March issue they cover modern living on a budget, point and shoot digital camera reviews, solar power now, and an editor's note from [fairly] new editor-in-chief Sam Grawe about moving to Dwell's new diggs.
The cover article A lot for a Little covers an Austin couple in search of the $100,000 home. I get a little jaded at these 100k home stories. As any single person living in Southern California, I'm sure we've all dreamed of owning our own place. 100k I would be able to pull off, 400k as a single person I definitely can't swing and we all know buying a piece of property here will put you over the 100k mark to begin with... so forgive me if I can't be really happy for them.
The home's story was a good one though as well as the builder/architects vision of affordable modern housing and their use of city construction loans and city programs for low- to moderate incomes. I especially like the use of "skating doors" which the architect made
"from one-and-a half-by-one-and-a-half welded steel angle frames and two-by-fours. She had holes drilled through the steel, then fastened the wood to the frame with drywall screws. Skateboard wheels roll the doors along the tracks"
There are a handful of other articles that are worth noting "Four Houses and a Future" a follow up article about Beat Schenk and Chaewon Kim's building of two homes. Their rotating, wood exterior structure is stunning and worth the magazine's price just to see. As DIY'ers their courage to learn and build is inspiring. "Labor of Loved Ones" has great use of windows and another DIY story to drool over among others in the March issue.
I have to admit, some months Dwell disappoints me but March's issue is chock full of gems. Could it be the new fearless leader or beginners luck? Time will tell.
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
Dwell truly rocked it this month. They usually feature gorgeous homes built on the coasts that are in the high 7 to low 8 figure range. I still laugh at all these people who brag about how they saved money on a 2 million dollar house by adding IKEA cabinets or furniture to it. (I lived in the Bay Area for 8 years, so I know California real estate.)
For the record, I live in Austin. 100k for a NEW house and land that close to town is a hard thing to accomplish. It's fairly easy in the rural areas around the city. However, it's not that easy even in the closer suburbs. The couple was fortunate enough to get a really good loan from the city plus get free (or quasi-free) advice/planning from architects as well as free labor from skilled tradesman.
Building on a site normally requires oodles and oodles of cash. They were an unusual case. That's why they made the cover.
That finished house is worth $250-$300k now!
I loved the other stories in this issue about modern living outside the coasts in what LA/NYC people refer to as flyover country. I especially liked that they featured my hometown of Baton Rouge. However, that house they covered w/ ivy that touches the soil screams future termite/insect problem in the near future.
with you all the way...a great month for Dwell!
Always a treat...
Huh. I've been really, really bored with Dwell, but I'll give the new issue a chance.
I dig Dwell magazine as well. I don't understand why some people hammer it at all.....
Myself, I can't figure out what a multi-page article on digital cameras was doing in Dwell. What does that have to do with the magazine's mission? Seems like they were hurting for content. And am I the only one who thought that the cinder-block wall and concrete floor house in Austin was terribly ugly?