apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I like Domino for it's approachable interiors--more real than dwell "not that there's anything wrong with that"

I do the same "juggle the shelter mags" routine as you. I'll probably get heckled by the crowd for this one, but I'm loving Domino right now. Although it is clearly consumerism-oriented (as it's arranged like a fashion magazine--very "buy this now!"), it has all of the above qualities you note. It has a very good "source" section, there's always a DIY project or two, the homes are beautiful--even if not my taste, I can appreciate the styling, and there is always the "history of a furniture piece" section that I find fascinating. One of the first shelter mags where I've actually gone out and bought something I've seen in the pages (several lamps I've seen, actually). Good luck with your quest!

Domino to me has become much better in the past year - the rooms and products featured are much more accessible.

There are also two Canadian magazines that are great Style at Home and Canadian House & Home. Both have websites and I think are available in the US.

I think Dwell has changed a little recently, towards its original roots. I'm giving it another chance (despite Aliison'd selection in the color contest). I like MetHome the best, mainly bc they have lots of pictures. To quote Malibu Stacy: Math is hard; let's go shopping!

I have to say I'm surprisingly impressed with "Blueprint" - it got more dogeared than any magazine I can recall in recent months. I have to echo the "Domino" recommendation, too - and really have enjoyed House & Garden, Met Home and Elle Decor along the way... but I confess none of them so much that I feel the need to subscribe. For what it's worth, though, magazine subscriptions are great holiday gift ideas - why not ask for a few of the recommendations you get here, and report back to us in a few months? :)

I prefer my shelter mags to have less asvertiser-driven copy and to have more than products to buy. Dwell has always ticked me off (as a consumer and a member of the media) because it plugs its advertisers in a very overt way. At least Domino is up front about that fact that it is all about where to buy stuff - but I want a mag that gives me ideas that I can scrounge up on my own. ReadyMade is fun but doesn't have so much on the decorating end. So I'm still looking, too.

Another vote for domino. But do be careful when subscribing - at least with online subscription, you're automatically enrolled for 'automatic resubscribe' - at the end of your year, they'll recharge your credit card and renew for you. I had to call to cancel this - there's not an option to decline when you subscribe. But other than that, a great magazine.

Apartment Therapy should be a magaine.

I often tire of home magazines as well. I love Metropolitan Home, but often feel sad everything is so expensive. I prefer the UK edition of Elle and the Australian Vogue Living, but same dilemma.

Dwell didn't satisfy me for long. It is like a huge tease. I am incredibly interested in green architecture, sustainable living and modern prefab homes. They show really cool homes, but have you noticed how their photography is so poor? I really feel cheated when I read it, I feel like I am always trying to peer around a corner to actually see a home.

I love Domino's approach to democratic decorating, but find it too commercial.

So, perhaps you need to start your own magazine. I'd be interested in such a venture.

I used to get Living Etc. It's British, so everything is priced in pounds and you get to marvel at all the great high quality yet small appliances they have and we do not. Actually, I found that so frustrating. (My kingdom for a small-footprint Bosch refrigerator! Why are american fridges shaped like giant food mausoleums?) Living etc. is trophy-ish, but small space tropy-ish, since they do not have McMansions the way we do. Anyway, it, too, has strayed from its more modest roots, but I still like it quite a bit, and I have gotten some good design ideas from it.

i'm going to let my Dwell subscription expire. it's not the magazine it promised to be when they started.

domino is just a giant catalog with little to recommend it.

metropolitan home is probably the best of the consumer magazines.

but frankly, there ain't much out there worth subscribing to either from a consumer standpoint or a professional standpoint, if you want what you've outlined.

I've just discovered Domino, so I was pleased to see the other positive comments about it. I enjoy (sporadically) the "all new" House Beautiful (which really does seem somewhat improved from its low point of the last year or two), House & Garden and Elle Decor to drool over(very high end, expensive houses, but always a few I really love), and occasionally Natural Home and Green Living (or is it Green Design?), which feature eco-friendly products and more thoughtful articles about how we live.

P.S. I do NOT subscribe to any of these; I get them out of the library or browse through them at Barnes & Noble! And buy occasional copies as a treat.

Living Etc is my current fave, although the subscription price doesn't seem to give you a break over the newstand price. It's knocked Dwell off the top for me. Dwell has become difficult to get through--I have several issues that I haven't finished yet. Too academic and preachy.

I love, 'Living, Etc.' I think Joanne's list is a pretty apt description of the magazine. It's the only magazine I save back-issues of. I also like the Australian magazine, 'Inside Out.' As for American magazines, I think Domino is the best out there right now. I did like the short-lived, 'Inspired Home,' from Taunton Press.

Met Home is the best of the lot for consistency. When I find it at the office (for free) I enjoy Sunset, if only because westerners seem so much more open to modern houses; and also double as a decent food magazine.

Can't stand Domino.

I like Metropolis. It has great articles, but you'll find it lacking in the practical advice area. Somehow Blueprint and Domino both seem really shallow to me. Domino is unabashedly about shopping and I can't fault it for that. It's just not what I'm interested in. I used to buy or subscribe to so many shelter mags and now I just look at websites and blogs to find what I like.

I say Living, Etc. too ... although it was a lot easier to love when I actually lived over on that side of the pond and could actually go buy the stuff in it, but I still pick it up for excellent ideas, etc. For example, the English are so much braver with interior color ... I've seen a lot of neat things done in some of the homes that I wouldn't have thought of/been brave enough to try without seeing how well it comes out.

I like ReadyMade too for DIY.

I love Domino, even though I rarely use it as a buying guide. I keep the old issues for reference and inspiration. To me, their approach is very similar to Apartment Therapy and other good design blogs--current and sophisticated, but not snobby. Dwell I find boring. Blueprint has potential. The layout is beautiful but it's more of a woman's lifestyle magazine than a shelter magazine--think Real Simple, just a little more stylish.

My sister got me a subscription to "Cottage Living" and I really like it. There's a whole cottage culture which is different than "country": valuing small spaces, simplicity, green living---very apartment therapy. I also like that they have articles about historic cottage and bungalow communities, preservation, etc.

Another vote for Domino from me, and Dwell leaves me chilly.

I am loving both Domino and Blueprint. Great ideas and not too much trophy home envy.

This Old House magazine. I don't have a subscription, but my Father-in-law has one and I read it when I visit the out-laws. I think it incorporates a lot of the above description of an ideal home magazine. Good luck with your search.

The only magazine I look forward to is World of Interiors but that has really none of the features that you want. It's just the best tho and must be mentioned.

If I see it, I pick up that magazine Renovation Something. I'm not sure of the title and I think it only comes out quarterly. Lots of before and afters and they actually tell you how much was spent on a project which I find very helpful!

sorry peoples!

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm certainly going to look at several of these (including the ones I don't think I'm going to like).

But really in an ideal world, we'd do our own magazine. Perhaps that will be my project when I retire!

Joanne

Renovation Style is what you're thinking of. I have also liked Old House Interiors, a more "authentic" form of TOH.

i've been a huge fan of MetHome and it probably is a great magazine but in the last one year,i've noticed them going away from modern architecture...the homes are still amazing,just not as modern as what they used to feature,but otherwise it pretty much has all the essentials of a fun magazine.

ive subscibed to Dwell,....still to recieve the first issue.

I subscribe to a LOT of shelter and design mags for work. One I have always kept and loved is Sunset Magazine. For those of you east of the Rockies, some of the articles might not be as appropriate because most of their travel and gardening pieces are region specific. But their home design and cooking articles should appeal to almost anyone.

I love that the projects they feature look completely attainable for the average person...but are beautiful enough to inspire you. Click on my name for a link to their site.

HG (formerly House & Garden) has maintained its quality over the years. There was a brief hiatus about 10 years ago.

I always look forward to getting Domino and agree with Carrie's assessment.

I somehow get a "professional discount" for Architectural Digest, and am happy with it. World of Interiors is great (I've saved every one I've ever had) and Elle Decor is one I buy occasionally.

I do love World of Interiors, too! Everything looks lived in, often by eccentric, interesting people. None of the luxe-but-sterile presentations often seen in Architectural Digest.

Elle Decor, House & Garden, Domino and Sunset. Totally love that someone said Sunset. In the Northwest, it's such a good practical monthly to suggest good design, good architects, authoritative yard and gardening tips, and also good weekend travel tips for all of the west coast.

Met Home used to be "Apartment Life" magazine. There was a time in 1999/2000-ish when MH still featured some apartments and small interiors. Last year, though, they really hit bottom with their super-spare interiors that the magazine lost its heart, I think.

People think Domino is a catalog. It is and that is actually quite a convenience. Aren't people always asking on this site, "What's that paint color? Where'd you get that rad table?" Aside from that nice feature (listing where they heck you can get that accessibly-priced item) I enjoy that they feature real people and their homes. I like reading about non-designers who've put together chic rooms. I think it's both inspiring and realistic.

Oh, and I also second that vote for Canadian House & Home. Supergood mag.

Did anyone see the recent Vogue Living that hit the newsstands? What did you think? Am I the only one who wonders why a magazine with such a great name to trade on has such messy layout and busy type? Oy.

Country Home is a great publication, and it has a focus on country-modern rather than country-crafty. Don't let the tukey-on-the-festively-decorated-table covers fool you - there is way more cozy, livable modern inside. My mom stopped her subscription because she thought it was too modern!

Don't get it confused with Country Living, which is more on the down-home side.

I also agree with Tara - Cottage Living is fabulous! Again, it's country with a warm, modern twist.

BTW - I wish I could limit myself to one magazine subscription. I currently have Martha, Blueprint, Cottage Living, Country Home, Domino and I'm sure there is another. And I work in the serials dept of an architecture and design library. I heart magazines too much.

I feel the same way about Dwell.

My absolute favorite is Elle Decoration/UK. It was originally launched by Ilse Crawford and has remained amazing. Domino is also good, most of the other American ones are too slick and the interiors tend to look too impersonally 'perfect' for my taste.

although it isn't a home mag per se, the one I find useful is Real Simple. One disclaimer- I work for Time Inc! But of all the freebies that I get around here, that's the one with good home decorating ideas and ways to simplify. Very chick-oriented, tho!

Another vote for Canadian House & Home, by far.

Country Home (this magazine jumps to the top of the pile in Autumn/holiday season for me) if only for the monthly essay by Karen Weir-Jimerson, but it is also truly a beautiful mag.

House & Garden if only for the "bookends" of Dominique Browning and Mayer Rus. Dominique usually prompts a tear or two, Mayer ALWYAS gets at least one out-loud laugh/snort, although this month's ode to his dog closed the issue for me with a tear as well.

And House Beautiful has done a MAJOR turnaround under the guidance of Stephen Drucker, with a great monthly feature about paint colors, btw, among other great articles/features.

And finally, don't turn up your nose at Home. It, too, has gotten great over the past few years.

I want to love Domino, I do. But still soooo girly.

Although not monthly, I've really loved O at Home and the home edition of InStyle.

Real Simple + Coastal Living = happy me

ps- they're both free... I work for one of the media monsters.... not sure what I'd read if I was paying.....

poplife

joanne, i subscribe to house & garden domino, blueprint, and elle decor, but i regularly find inspiration in world of interiors, the casa vogue supplement to italian vogue, and of course books on home design. i regularly visit barnes & noble and check the new home design books. it's great to have a large collection of these books at home and leaf through them at different times.
patrick( the other one ), there is a little girly in everyone, embrace the domino.

I love Livingetc. It's my absolutely favorite, though the stories are not worth a sh---. But I love the style. I've said this a zillion times. I like Domino too, but I couldn't stand this month's. It was really really really bad. I am a bit worried about domino, though. It's getting a bit real simplish. Lets pray I am just imagining. I just discovered Elle Decoration/uk and love it. If it's possible for you to pick up ast month's issue - with the bedroom on the front- run and get it. my goodness.

My overall favorite for just beautiful & creative interior shots is French AD (although my French is tres ugly so I understand practically 'nil). The mag is filled with a lot of variety & consistent inspiration. The German & Italian AD's consistently disappoint. And the US AD is just sucks.

I really agree with Peggy & K's vote for Elle Decor UK. It's a little dumbed downed for the brit supermarket consumer, but gosh! It's pretty snazzy with a very creative 7 fun dose of variety.

And, although I've been annoyed with Wallpaper* since Tyler Brule left forever ago, I keep on buying that damn magazine. I promised myself I would quit & eBay the whole lot once the 100th issue comes out. We'll see ... They somehow still put out a good issue every so often.

Also, Brule's new mag comes out early this next year ... hmmm. I smell a new bad habit for myself in the mix.

I like O at Home. Practical, sometimes charmingly quirky (or at least out of the ordinary), grounded (as in, not *way* out of reach of us normal folks), not condescending, not hoity-toity.

Great topic! My favorite magazines are:

World of Interiors
Elle Decoration - France
Marie Claire Maison
Art & Decoration
Domino

Never liked Dwell....Elle Decoration UK was amazing when Ilse Crawford was still there...I wish she'd start another mag!

Does anybody miss NEST Magazine? Do you remember the one with the cat sandboxes lining the floor around somebody's bed with the scratchy, shiny paper for the cat litter - and that was their cover?

I vote for Domino as a great resource catalogue and for being fun.
Sunset Magazine (Does the east coast need a Sunrise?) works as an Everyman's Dwell. Good stuff in there.
Dwell is just Dull.
I don't subscribe to any magazine with "House" or "Home" in their titles anymore. The rest I have about three go-through's patience and then I start ripping out pages worth keeping. I keep these together in a big binder to look at forever and ever. Wierd but always satisfying to moi.

And I agree with Ralph that Apartment Therapy should be a contender in this field.

Connie in Pasadena

Joanne,

Here's one no one has said yet: British Ideal Home (available at Borders). It's a bit more traditional than Living, Etc., but still has plenty of current, trendy stuff. It's also very "of the people" -- tons of profiles of regular home owners and their products in each issue -- so I think it might suit you. Also, the products they feature are usually pretty reasonable priced (even with the horrid U.S. dollar exchange rate). The only problem is that not all of the products they feature are available here in the states.

My favorites: Christie's Great Estates and Sotheby's Important Homes You Can't Afford. Also, Jersey Coastal Living.

OMG!! Lucy, I was just about to write "British Ideal Home" when I saw your post above. I'm in love with this mag. It's just so great. People talking about the renos they did and what they wish they knew before they started and what they had done differently, and it makes it all seem so realistic. I just started reading it a few months ago and have bought it every month since then. At borders or Barnes& Nobles. They DO have a couple of boring profiles this month, though, but don't let that sway you

My votes:

Domino
Canadian House & Home
Maison Francaise
O

I see that another "Suzy" has started posting, so from now on, I'll go by "Downeast Suzy."

Living Etc
Space
Poplife
ATOMIC RANCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Modernism
Metropolis

living etc... #1
this old house...we go way back, to bob vila
natural home...save our planet
home power...save my money i spend on energy
fine homebuilding
inspired house...r.i.p.
bhg's do it yourself...it's quaterly
blueprint
britsh inspired house
homes of color

hey i spnd quality time in borders and barnes and noble.

GREAT post. I have let my Dwell subscription go because it very quickly lost its resonance with me. I love Domnino because of its ghetto Elle Decor appeal. I cxan flip through the pages of Domino and actually have the ability to acquire the beautriful things I see in the pages.

Grand Designs
Inside Out (the one published by Sunday Times)

Both UK, so not sure of availability/price where you are, but both have good architectural and eco sides to them as well as just 'Here stuff you can buy'.

Ah, one of my fav topics. I'm really a magazine-a-holic and it makes me feel better to see that I'm not the only one.

I used to adore Dwell as well, but I let my subscription lapse last year. I love Domino, but I'm in their target demo (or just slightly older). Their column on the evolution of a particular piece of furniture is interesting and many of the items or ideas featured are still attainable on a smaller budget. Living, Etc looks like a great mag, but it would frustrate me to no end to find items that I like, but were unavailable in the US.

One thing that I have noticed with newer magazines in general (Dwell, Lucky, etc) is that they tend to start out featuring less expensive pieces & ideas. Unfortunately, the attainable feel of each is lost in direct proportion to its growth in circulation.

I vote for
Domino (subscriber)
In Style Home (less, now.. it used to be dogeared all over the place)
occasionlly O Home but I primarily like it for the Nate Berkus re-dos
Restoration Style (only comes out quarterly..dont subscribe but buy at B&N)

OK, I really want to check out these UK magazines now...

We keep our subscription to Metropolitan Home for some reason. It's just such eye candy. I like their High/Low feature, or whatever it's called (that's a Met. Home feature, right?). The "budget" versions of rooms are still well above my range most of the time, but at least they're trying to show that it is possible to find lower-cost alternatives.

I bought one copy of Dwell to take on a train ride. It was OK, but I never felt compelled to buy it again. **shrug**

The one I really love is a home decor/organization mag I bought at a Japanese book store. I'm not really sure what it's called, though, since the text is all Japanese. It's full of before/after shots of rooms, lots of DIY, and storage solutions, many of them improvised (bookcases made of bricks and boards, wine crates turned into rolling storage, etc). The homes are all rather modest, not high end at all, and there's no attempt to completely do away with the clutter of everyday life. I'm sure a lot of people on this site would find the rooms way too cluttered, but I like seeing a magazine that shows people's stuff.

a little bit off the original question, but can i just say i'm AMAZED that there isn't a magazine addressing the myriad (and very different) needs of apartment dwellers. there are sooo many challenges with renting and/or living within a true small space (<1000sf) that the magazine would literally write itself. in the mean time though, the following have clearly struck a chord with me during the past 7 or 8 years:

living etc
elle decoration
met home
metropolis
natural home
dwell

i second an apartment therapy magazine. seriously. the resources are already here: interesting "subjects," writers, editors, branch offices, photographers, great ideas, etc.

would just need to work out the distribution.

maxwell, how can we get this rolling?

i agree about vogue living! the layout is messy and the content is pretentious and not even cool.

i wish ilse crawford would come start another magazine - elle decor uk was the greatest when she was there.
k

The best shelter mag out there? This Old House. Seriously, check it out. Lots of great DIY tips -- everything from how to find an honest contractor to how to install radiant heat flooring. My favorite article: How to restore a vintage stove.

I've just recently stumbled across Western Interiors and Design. I was extremely hesitant because the name didn't quite do it for me, but there was something about the aesthetic on the front cover that made me take a closer look.

I now find that I rather enjoy it.
http://www.westernid.com/

But just as everyone else - Domino is great to cut to pieces and use for inspirational story boards.

I used to love elle decor UK--and this was post-crawford--but I haven't been buying it recently, because it's becoming boring, predictable, and high-end, less funky, less interesting personal stories with the pix, and way more producty. I too wish Ilse Crawford would start another one. (Maxwell, where's our interview with Ilse?) I'd love to see all the early mags from when she launched it.

I guess a lot of mags start out good and then go bad, like many things.

I always like the spirit and even the advertising tone (techy, bloggy) of ReadyMade and I check it out now and then. But, it's way too hands-on crafty for me. I just don't go there--I can't even get my home repairs done. I'm usually looking for more passive shelter porn in my decor mags. And, of course, ReadyMade is not focussed on shelter specifically.

I agree with others: where's the mags devoted to apartments and small spaces? When I see any mag that has a small space or apartment feature or article, I will always take a look.

World of Interiors!
except it's expensive as a UK publication

Readymade is so hit or miss. Some of their DIY projects are cool - even if they're not my style, but some are just plain absurd.

The cover of the last issue was a giant rotating open faced sunroom. Think a garden shed with the front & side walls, and half the roof missing. The cover also featured two uber-styling hipsters with a can of paint. a) no hipster I know can afford a house with a yard big enough to build a rotating sunroom, and b) why not just save some money and put lawn chairs out? Right? and...y'know.. TURN them to face the sun. Oy!

(sorry...its been bottled up since the issue came out :)

I'd just say dont bother with a subscription: go to B&N once a month and pick out whichever mag is most interesting!

Subscribe to: ReadyMade, Blueprint, Domino

I work in a design reference library so whenever Living Ect. and Elle Decoratation (UK) come in I just photocopy my favorite parts.

I never miss
* Domino (subscription)
* Living Etc. (would like to subscribe)
* Canadian House & Home (would like to subscribe - putting it on my Xmas list)

Almost never miss:
* Cottage Living (I really got into this past spring & now have all my sister's back-issues); for reason I passed on current issue
* Renovation Home (quarterly)

I also still like, but buy no more than half the issues put out per year
* Met Home (but didn't renew subscription a couple of years ago)
* Elle Decor (same deal as Met Home re: subscription)
* House Beautiful
* House & Garden


I do like the couple issues of Style at Home (Canada) - picked up on trips there. Can't find in NYC.
Also like Australian Vogue Living & British House & Garden, but I don't want to subscribe and it's way too pricey to pick up regularly.

I did enjoy a couple of issues of Traditional Home this year - although it's not my style, it seemed like there were making fresher, less stuffy - so I like some of the mix... will keep my eye on it.
Also liked a couple of issues of Western Interiors this year and have one copy of PopLife that I love (with AT:LA's Turquoise!)

I used to like Home but have now gone off it.

Based on AT readers' recos, I will definietly take a second look at This Old House and World of Interiors.

Gretchen - am I ever with you on the kitchen appliances.
Oh how I wish for the countertop-height fridges and freezers my UK and Irish friends have.

Isn't is ridick that we in the US have to choose between the "Food Mausoleum" (love that) and the Dormroom Beer Fridge?

As to this fun topic of magazine juggling:
Do we get tired of a particular mag's schtick or do they evolve out from under us? Hmmm.

I was an early adoptor of Living, Etc , have stolen ideas from them and keep back issues.

Alas, they do seem to have moved away from some of their charm and shed their egalitarianism.
Anyone else miss DIY Dad?
Also, the day in the life features with timelines were cool.
Frinstance, a perfectly regular couple of modest means would put together a stylish dinner party for friends " 3pm wash the courgettes.." right through to the next morning's hangover-busting breakfast.

Living Etc was also so very Conran's and Ikea that I thought they might be a house mag .

Funnily enough, Domino has some of that old Living Etc freshness and creative use of humble things.

I too enjoy Ready Made for the DIY but it does skew a bit too young sometimes.
Their vibe is great, I like the music reviews. They have a bit of the Sassy thing going on. A big yay to that.

Atomic Ranch? Great idea; love that they tend toward Real Places; LOVE that they aren't snooty about nicks and dings and provenance.
A big minus is their customer service. Rude-city.
(I think they have hired an outside subscription service so perhaps that aspect is improving. )

Wish Dwell could get a bit more human scaled.
I love the eco-porn but...
Organic Home and Garden has its merits.


Thanks for all of these suggestions.
How great that we can toss off these titles without fear of being flamed!
I'll be picking up Sunset and This Old House for my next plane trip.

Canadian House and Home features real homes of real people (usually Canadians). The style is all over the map. Sometimes more modern spaces are featured and they are usually really inspiring. But there is also lots of country/traditional/"slick condo" style mixed in there too. Homes are often but not always huge. Lots of affordable ideas as it's not uncommon to see IKEA mixed in with more expensive/personal furnishings.

I have loved Elle Decoration UK in the past, less so lately (didn't realize that the editor had changed).

Dwell doesn't have enough real home interiors to interest me.

I do like Sunset since I first saw it twenty years ago. I'd say it is more of a lifestyle magazine with a strong home compoment that a fairly pure home magazine. It has info on things like local hikes in the bay area along with homes. If I lived in the western U.S., I would subscribe to it.

Unfashionably, I still subscribe to Dwell. It's a reasonable home magazine for the $10/year subscription I have.

i recently glanced through a UK magazine Wallpaper* at a doctor's office. it looked pretty interesting, though expensive. Anyone has opinions on it?

i currently subscribe to MetHome and just signed up for Domino.

FYI- you can buy magazine subscriptions on Ebay for VERY cheap. I always do and have not had any problems. Then you don't get stuck with the automatic renewal problem.

The only two "home" related magazines I subscribe to are This Old House and Sunset. Sunset always has lots of design stuff in it and TOH fills the gap on how to actually do things.

I usually get my magazine subscriptions (such as my current Dwell) by trading in frequent flyer miles for them. I periodically get these offers by mail. However, there's a site (I haven't tried it yet) where you can trade in frequent flyer miles for various things -- if anyone tries this out, please report back:

http://www.milepoint.com/mall/magazine.asp

I am always anxious for the arrival of my "Residential Architecture" magazine. It is a free publication to industry readers. The letters from the editor are insightful and thought provoking. They give equal concentration to the architect and the completed projects. Even though it is a free pub, you don't have anymore advertising than the typical Dwell issues.

Several people have mentioned wishing they could get UK items they see in UK design magazines. I have ordered items several times for this very reason, in each case from a merchant who happened to have a website, and had no problems. I've done all the discussion and ordering via email (I always contact them by email to discuss first, so I can be sure there is someone attentive at the other end, and that they are willing to ship to the US.) The only drawback is the shipping costs, which are not bad for small or lightweight items, but I wouldn't get an appliance or large furniture! If you got some friends together who all wanted things from the same merchant, you could split the shipping cost a bit that way. I've ordered small items like books and DVDs from France and Germany the same way, with no problems.

Re small spaces: one magazine, I believe House Beautiful, used to devote every January issue to small spaces. I saved a few of these issues, I liked them so much, but they trended worser and smaller each year. Then they got a new editor and tipped towards southern mansions, and the small space issue was canned. I was SO disappointed. But now that they're All New with a new editor, maybe the small space issue will return!

This has been a fun thread; glad I'm not the only house-porn reader out there! I agree that magazines change and lose their initial inspiration; that's one reason I don't subscribe. Better to buy the issue that appeals to you each month.

Allow me to spend a moment defending Dwell! I've found that they're moving away from interior design issues and towards larger housing issues in general (such as those addressed in Metropolis). I think this makes sense seeing as they're really trying to address sustainability with more depth, but it also means turning off those who are really just looking for interiors, etc. (Hence the Dwell-bashing here at AT)

I have never subscribed to decorating magazines because several issues are are always duds. So I used to leaf through stuff at the newsagent and buy whatever appealed.

Part of the deal (with myself) in quitting the job from hell was cutting back expenses. Broadband = essential; magazines = disposable.

My library subscribes to the utterly vile, stifling Architectural Digest; and a number of Australian magazines. I borrow them, scan the bits I like into the computer, catalogue them - and instant decor file.

The internet - esp AT and its links, & NYTimes - provide lots of info. The money I'd spend on seeing the same stuff over & over (and frankly guys, I've been doing this stuff for 30 years) I spend on ebay or buying lovely books on making & doing.

At a certain point you know what you like (in my case, anything that doesn't increase housework), don't give a rats arse whether anyone likes it too, and just need to know about new products & processes. Once you take a needs not wants based view of your home your atttidue changes.

BTW the one thing I love about AT is seeing the homes of real people not nouveau riche wankers who want people to envy them.

Check out your local library!

I'm such a junkie for Shelter-Porn. I subscribe to just about anything and everything out there, but am especially loving Domino, House and Garden, Atomic Ranch, Met Home (have loved that mag for years and years), Dwell, Elle Decor, Modernism, and Sunset. I used to love Wallpaper, but it hasn't really done it for me since the old editor left. I still love Interior Design as well for some of the most inspiring photography and projects out there. Certain issues, are really geared towards the industry, but others are quite accessible. I am surprised that I have enjoyed Blueprint, and dare I say it..Martha...over the last couple of issues. I have even started cutting out pages from these mags and putting them in designated holiday folders at home with ideas for Halloween, Thanksgiving etc. Is that sick? At least it's organized. Good luck with the magazine search!

I'll have to agree with the majority of the responses. Domino is a pretty good magazine for the everyday consumer/interior design/house enthusiast. It's defiantly geared towards consumers but looks it items more in towards the average person instead of the high-end "only for the rich and famous persons." Locally I've enjoyed some of the local publications like NW homes or even Metropolis for commercial architecture but like Dwell it's becoming more advertisement than content.

I like domino, its has great ideas but sometimes can be a little expensive. You should try Atomic Ranch... is great and approchable and its full of great/fun ideas fro real people with real homes.

The reason Dwell is such a let down is because as it moved to sustainability it moved to Hummer and other ads that are complete condradictions to sustaining our planet.

I still miss Budget Living!

*** Elle Decoration U.K. Edition ***

I love Elle Decor, Domino, the 1st edition of Blueprint (the 2nd was enjoyable, but not as good). Met Home and House Beautiful are also getting more interesting, imo. I find Dwell incredibly boring, and I can't put my finger on exactly why. Oddly enough, I just subscribed to Cottage Living. The name is a little offputting, but I discovered it in my doctor's office, and actually really like it, though the decor tends to be more traditional than my taste. It is beautifully done, though, and has some interesting travel pieces as well.

BTW, Vogue Living was a huge disappointment. For foreign mags, the UK Elle Decoration and Living Etc. are good.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Azure. It's sort of the Canadian version of Metropolis, if Metropolis didn't so frequently suck. It covers more design and residential architechture than Metropolis too.

I'll, I believe, third This Old House. I understand that if you're looking for beautiful photos, it's probably not your spot, but as far as making changes to your home that are feasible, it is often right on the money. I particularly appreciate the smaller how-tos (clean paint off old hardware in a crock pot, hang a door straight, etc.). And it may be a recent trend, but they spend a fair amount of time talking green - one of the last few issues was almost entirely devoted to green issues, in fact, with most of the focus on extensive remodeling or new construction, but some great ideas for use in a relatively stable home.

I gave up on Dwell after it started morphing into Wallpaper*-lite. I still love Wallpaper for the fantasy of it. I also subcribe to Surface, which is similar but US based.
Recently, though, I discovered a great, not-too-slick, approachable, reader and budget friendly publication called Living Etc. out of the UK. On their website you can see an entire sample issue. Take a look, you might get hooked like I did.
cheers!
C

You can buy Living Etc and British Ideal Home at B&N or Borders, but I'm thinking about getting a subscription so I don't have to track it down every month(which is what I've been doing) and it's a bit cheaper 30-35% off. Click my name for link to subscription page. And no, i don't work for the publisher :)

Gave up on Dwell.

Keeping Metropolis, though.

Good reading. Still large(ish) format.

The magazine I really like is O'Reilly's MAKE.

What I'd like to see is a house-version of MAKE. I'm not interested in starting from scratch - I want to hack the house I already have!

Elle Decoration UK

and

Case da Abitare, out of Milan.
It's pricey but so worth it. See a cover sample at this link:

http://www.sassmags.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=2

Be careful with Domino. I got their supposedly no strings attached free trial issue and then they literally started harassing me and telling me that they would ruin my credit if I didn't pay for the subscription that according to them I promised to sign up for by getting that one trial copy. Bad business.

I agree with the above that Ideal Home is the way to go. I went to B&N and bought approximately 10 home magazines a month over the summer (took a bus for my internship) and by the far the only one that I actually READ instead of just looked at the pictures and captions was British Ideal Home. I can find stuff in there that I can afford, even as a student and the stories are relatable.

I wanted to like Domino, but found it way to female-centric (at least the issues I looked at). My favorites are still Metro Home, Dwell and the best by far, Atomic Ranch.

"Living, etc. "
It's British and very expensive to get a subscription to but Barnes & Noble carries it at about 50% off the subscription price. It's well worth the $4 more than Dwell or Met Home (which I let my subscription run out on... so tired of the same boring Manhattan apts. or mid-century desert dwelling). Living, etc. also tell you where you can buy all of the items or items similar to them. They also have a good mix of modern/antique/ and the costs of the home renovations. I look forward to it every month and save all the back copies. I'm also losing patience with Dwell... it's less about the homes and more about transportation, overly expensive furniture, and other various articles that just aren't that interesting. Pick up a copy of Living, etc. you will not be disappointed.

I don't believe anybody mentioned "T", the NY Times Sunday supplement which alternates as a shelter, women's fashion, men's fashion and travel (am I missing anything) mag. The shelter issues have been quite good, featuring a really wide array of interiors, designers, architects, etc. Probably doesn't meet all the criteria mentioned but very good at what it does.

All Condy Nasty magazines suck - except for The New Yorker. I just bought the newest issue of Domino for the first time, because of this post. Terrible typography, questionable photo editing and design, and a distastefully consumerist bent. Fashion and Art have their crappy printed matter - but also some good. I'm afraid there is no good in the shelter category - so I'll stick with this blog, and others like it. Thanks Apartment Therapy!

I feel so arrogant for thinking I would learn nothing from this thread. I am planning my next trip to the magazine shop now!

1. Domino- great ideas, fun and fashiony to read.
2. Coastal living- great airy, casual,inspiring.
3. Cottage living- casual, comfy, familyish, beach housey decor.
4. Living etc (British)- tons of ideas, lots of articles, big colorful pages. a little expensive in the US but one issue could last you months!

While we are talking about subscriptions, most magazines let you send a gift subscription to yourself. It is a handy way to get around the perpetual automatic subscription renewals, which I detest on principle!

I've mourned the passing of Apartment Life for decades. It addressed my low-budget, interesting small space problems in a way I could use my minimal DIY skills to best advantage.

Wow guys- as a shelter-porn junkie, it's good to have new things to check out...Fortunately,there's a bookstore near me that unloads back issues at 40% off! As many have mentioned, Elle Decor UK and World of Interiors are usually solid. And I second the sentiments of the reader who misses Nest. I hoard my old back-issues. It wasn't the most accessible magazine, but really ,really interesting.

"Apartment Therapy should be a magaine."

I second that, and not just for flatterly. I understand the aspirational aspect of these home magazines. I pick up an issue here or there of all of them, Dwell, Architectural Digest, WallPaper, Surface, Domus, Architectural Record, New York Home, Modern, Abitare, even Elle Decor. I use to subscribe to Architecture magazine (which I see is now gone) and I still subscribe to Metropolis, though it can be hit or miss sometimes.

What is great about Apartment Therapy is that it shows "real" apartments. The glossies give nice ideas, but are only realistic for people in 7+ figure incomes. They've all turned into versions of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous', instead of realistic and achievable good living through design.

George wrote:
"I wanted to like Domino, but found it way to female-centric (at least the issues I looked at). My favorites are still Metro Home, Dwell and the best by far, Atomic Ranch."

Thanks for turning me on to this one.

I forgot about Metropolitan Home, and I've picked up a couple of issues of "Space" which I really enjoyed.

I've seen Azure and Blueprint, but have yet to pick up a copy. There is also an Italian magazine that a friend loaned me, that also covers a lot of comercial work and industrial design that I'm drawing a blank on the name.

Domino does nothing for me at all. Totally boring.

Real Simple is OK.

I used to buy canadian house and home - but after a while you realize it's always the same type of house, just slightly tweaked. Bugs me because I'm a designer and all people want are these pseudo-traditional houses - very little imagination (at least in toronto).

used to love vogue living (australia) and metropolitan home - but they have been going more traditional lately.

I like "Interior Design" magazine. It's more of a trade mag and covers commercial projects aswell, but you'll find really interesting interiors in this magazine that you don't see elsewhere, because they are done by real interior designers (not decorators who call themselves designers) and architects so the quality is very good.

m

I think Dwell has definitely slipped, but am hopeful the new head (who has been an editor since the early days) will bring it back. I have one of those "renew and get a free guest subscription" cards from Dwell. If anyone reads down this far in the postings and would like to try Dwell for free, I'm happy to sign you up - just click my name and email me. Always a good thing to share design...
p.s. in case you can't read it, it is andra at hip dash housewares dot com

I would second the vote for the Bitish Elle Decor (Elle Decoration) --- the spaces are smaller, the solutions more creative, and the wry writing can't be beat. It's expensive, but SO worth it.

I must disagree with you all on one recent point: I am absolutely mourning the change in editorship at the once great style bible Elle Decor UK. I've been following the magazine rabidly for the last seven years and I can honestly say that Michelle Ogundehin is far and away the worst editor they've ever had. She's just awful. What once had the best of all worlds: approachability, use, intelligence, thoughtfulness, inspiration, beauty, vision, audacity, humor: now is lacking in all regards. Ms. O is merely mimicking uninspired 6th-generation cookie-cutter retreds of the wonderful editor before her, Rachel Loos. All I've seen for the last half year straight are an arrogant and lazy talking down to the readership, telling us that we should bow down to bloodless homage after bloodless homage to admittedly great mid-century modern designers, but designers whom we are now all very familiar with (Alvar Aalto, anyone?). This is all deeply depressingly contrasted with half-formed photo shoots of what look like third world falling down tin shacks or product shots that would be better suited to a police lineup. (If you don't believe me, flip over to March 07's completely retarded feature "Beautiful Basics: 57 Things Every Home Should Have". Did they even bother with a stylist for that one?) I like to call what the magazine's become of late "crack-den/3rd world poverty chic".
I dearly wish Ms. O knew how to incorporate elements of downtown with uptown in a more sophisticated way. Lately downtown and uptown apparently aren't on speaking terms with the mag. Gone is the usefulness, beauty, sly subversive winks/cheekiness and light touch of yore. (Speaking of usefulness, what happened to the "Get the Look" section? How the hell are we supposed to translate any of this into our real-world lives? Of course keep in mind that I don't want to translate anything they've shot for the last six months, as it would involve slapping a lean-to tin shack up in the living room and waiting for the UN peacekeepers to throw me my weekly ration of rice from an idling flatbed truck.)

Lately I feel the color schemes they are pushing are also completely hideous, unforgivably ugly combinations (Sage (gang)green and egg yolk yellow, anyone?).

I do agree with you all that Domino is absolutely brilliant, has not a whit of arrogance, and is such a fun, upbeat place to find inspiration. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would much prefer a more conventional but incredibly useful and inspiring mag like Domino over what's become that clueless, bipolar, slumming rich kid mag Elle Decor UK any day.

i am looking to build a shade structure for over my concrete slab.
metal/concrete?
studs? with what crossing over them for shade.
id appreciate any ideas.
i am in new mexico and i thank any one out there for any info or ideas...
thanks