I enjoy watching home decorating shows and specials. It's fun to see before and after pictures and to watch home owners and decorators meeting on common ground to create a home that reflects function while reflecting comfort and personality. I thought that
Traditional Home Magazine might offer additional insight into the aspects of home decorating that appeal to me.
Description This magazine is printed on quality paper and presents an image that shouts "keep me". It's constructed from nice weight paper with beautiful color photography throughout the publication. The issues vary in length from about 160 to 224 pages.
The Table of Contents is divided into several sections. "Features" usually lists six to eight main articles. "Marketplace" shares product discoveries and an area titled "What's New, What's Next". The "Departments" section covers a lot of turf, everything from eco-friendly information to cooking and garden design. There is also a reference along the bottom of the page to visit their website for additional blogs, design tips, and recipes.
As you can imagine, this magazine is loaded with advertising. Sometimes it is difficult to discern the articles from the ads. Advertisements include a wide variety of products: primarily home decorating, appliances, food and beverage, travel, makeup, clothing.
At the back of each issue is an area that lists products and items featured within the magazine. Each item is given a number, and on a postcard included in the publication, you can circle the numbers that interest you to receive additional information. The card is postage paid, too, so requesting the literature is free.
My Experiences I had hoped this magazine would offer me more inspiration and insight into design that it does. I receive the issues with high hopes only to leaf through them with minimal interest. Then I bring the magazines into work to share with others. These magazines are received with idle interest, but no one embraces them.
The photography is gorgeous. Rooms are presented in beautiful color pictures. Products are artfully arranged to attract the eye, and photos are included to highlight feature articles as well as smaller pieces. Plenty of pictures throughout the publication are skillfully rendered. But the magazine tends to leave me cold rather than inspired. The rooms are too perfect. Where is the lived in, comfortable look of a real home? I can't imagine myself being comfortable in the rooms pictured.
More successful inspiration is found in the few outdoor photographs. The gardens are lovely as are the spreads featuring home exteriors. I feel I can walk into those photographs and appreciate the yards, complete with their waterfall and pool/pond landscaping. The gardens are inviting, but not enough information is provided about the plantings.
The feature articles, as a rule, do not interest me. Occasionally one will pull me in, but for the most part I find the writing does not engage. The articles cover a variety of home decorating venues and offer some fun slants. For instance, I enjoy the pieces about decoration from different eras, and articles that include landscape decorating. However, these pieces do not include enough nitty-gritty detail for me. The personal pieces about home owners can also be a window into the history behind a home and its design, which can be enlightening.
There is also a cooking section, and while the section appears long ... it is misleading. The layout makes the section appeared filled with information. Only one recipe is featured in each issue. I have a couple of issues beside me, and the recipes are Pineapple and Chocolate Empanadas, and Tuscan Pork.
I am intrigued by eco-friendly information. I like knowing what products are natural and good not only for our environment but for the people living in a home environment. Traditional Home Magazine includes information on natural materials and products made from those materials. Sometimes a specific designer/manufacturer is featured, and other times an area of the house is highlighted (such as bedrooms). Website addresses are given for the various products mentioned.
Note: This magazine is not a craft or how-to magazine. Though home furnishings are featured (designer material), and art objects are often highlighted ... this publication is all about the finished home result and not about the intricate steps that put it together.
Subscribing This magazine only offers eight issues a year. A recent subscription offer includes 2 years for the price of one at $24.00.
Summary While sometimes this
Traditional Home Magazine and I just don't connect, there are a few redeeming features. However, no matter how I look at this magazine, it will never be a favorite. Guess I'll have to stick with the Home & Garden television channel and their never-ending array of home decorating series.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
Ladies' Home Journal Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine (recipes) Simple & Delicious Magazine (recipes) Threads Magazine Quilter Magazine Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Magazine Copyright 2008 Dawn L. Stewart
MagazineLand. com
SpeedyMags.com
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