Fresh, innovative, contemporary, definitely modern. Thats how VP and Editor in Chief Donna Warner describes living the Met Home way. She also says modern does not mean minimal, that Christmas comes in August, and to those in the know, its called a book, not a magazine. Who knew?
And turns out you can judge a book by its cover. Well, when the book is the September Met Home, you can. It says Renovate! and thats exactly whats happened inside. The front of book has been totally retooled, and Donna takes us through the highlights...
The new section, *Word, is easier for busy readers to tackle, has content regularly dedicated to sustainable design, and will give High/Low fans reason to celebrate monthly.
Donna also talks about why theres no longer a real need for a return to Apartment Living (Met Homes origin) but why youll find its soul in every issue, and how you can get real-life ideas from the grandest of spaces (if you look close enough). Shes also very candid about how Met Home does (or doesnt) cater to its advertisers.
Lovely on the outside, a deep and heartfelt commitment to the world and world of design on the inside. Turns out Ms. Warner and the book she runs have a lot in common.
Hopefully, well get another guided tour when the Met Home small space issue hits the stands
She also answered the AT Top:
1. Whats the smallest home youve ever lived in?
My first apartment in New York Im not sure how many square feet it was, but I would guess it was 650-700 square feet. It was a very small one bedroom.
2. Whats the last thing you bought for your own home?
I put a new carpet/stair runner on my stairs and I wrote about it on the Editors page!
3. If you had to furnish one room in your own home from scratch all from one source, what would it be?
I cant answer that! Im a HUGE mixer so I plead the fifth!
4. Whats your favorite spot in your own home?
My kitchen. Or maybe my barn I have horses.
5. How often do you cook?
We dont eat out during the week, and even on the weekends we eat at home so cooking could be buying a roasted chicken and putting stuff with it, but every night, either my husband or I put some kind of a meal like that on the table.
6. What's the one thing you couldnt live without?
My family.
7. Where should people splurge in their homes?
I think it depends upon what you love good upholstery is a good thing to splurge on, but if you happen to fall in love with this antique, and you just cant live without it, it can make your room, so that too.
8. What designer do you admire?
Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, hes doing a line of furniture for us, and Ive also used him in my own home and hes wonderful, and hes just such a nice human being and architects, I also admire Jean Nouvel. I just think his work is just fabulous.
9. What makes a home comfortable?
The people who live there and some horses, and dogs!
- Patrick (the other one)
(Pic of Donna: Antoine Bootz)
Put online by:
Maxwell,
I've been reading Met Home for a long time and always get so excited whenever Ms. Warner mentions her barn renovation. Please ask her to give us a tour! Thank you.
view peggy's profile
Patrick -
Great job! You are a born interviewer.
She seemed really down to earth - So not the Miranda Priestly design stereotype. Was that your impression as well?
view David n DC's profile
Thanks for posting this! I read my Mom's Apartment Life as a kid (and still have a few issues) and have such great memories of reading Donna's editorial page... I have been a subscriber to Met Home for most of the past 20 years...
Thanks Patrick for such an enjoyable interview!
view Devyn's profile
David n DC--
Thank you! I am having a blast doing these (thanks, Maxwell!)
She was just lovely. I could have gone another hour! Very pleasant, very down to earth, but with a total "glamorous ease" if there is such a thing.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
totally agree with Ms. Warner -- my house is not a home without dogs.
view RJD's profile
Patrick, that was so insightful. Thank you.
view janeymac's profile