Happy New Year! I spent a relaxing day working from home, cleaning, and reading design mags - or SHELTER magazines, as they are more formally known. A shelter magazine by definition is one that tailors to the home and garden - giving the everyday man access to the wealthy and their accoutrements at home. If you could walk into my house right now - you would see tidy STACKS - by my side of the bed, on both bedsides in our guest room, in the closet in our hallway, all over the living room, and all along the floor in my closet.
It is very sad to witness the few faves that have recently folded, specifically House and Garden. I still cannot believe it! A quote from the LA Times: Reader loyalty isn’t the cause. House & Garden had a circulation of almost 1 million when it folded. The blame, experts say, lies in the extent to which the home-fashion-lifestyle category has become overcrowded with titles, and design information has spread to newspapers, TV, radio and websites. Too many players are competing for too few advertising dollars – a problem that is expected only to worsen if the housing slump and tightened credit markets result in fewer homes bought, remodeled or redecorated. And, of course, a nod to the condition of our economy:
Whereas House & Garden’s mantra was “the well-lived life,” Dwell’s message is “bringing good design to everyone.” The latter magazine is adding articles about how houses and products are made.
With families losing money left and right, people are not as concerned with expensive ornamentation - (as that would be too lavish and superfluous for such trying times), but the average American is more intrigued by comfort and how they can achieve the "look for less." After all, the word SHELTER alone denotes security, contentment, and coziness....
With families losing money left and right, people are not as concerned with expensive ornamentation - (as that would be too lavish and superfluous for such trying times), but the average American is more intrigued by comfort and how they can achieve the "look for less." After all, the word SHELTER alone denotes security, contentment, and coziness....
Which is exactly why I hope that the rumors of Domino going down are completely false. It is a magazine that readers can relate to - with many "DIY" articles and hundreds of resources exposed, it would be a shame for the common design-hungry guy and gal to see it go.
Go and buy a subsription today! With trying times ahead nothing sounds better than to stay at home, (save money) curl up with a great shelter mag, and fantasize about the dream house or apartment that you'll be able to afford when the market comes back around. Alas, here's to, CHEERS! to getting creative in2009!!
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