Magazine Subscriptions Blog

The magazine House Beautiful could never be said to be down-to-earth, but sometimes “heavenly” is a better accolade. When it comes to feeding our nesting urge with larger than life possibilities, and awakening our imaginations with new trends, classic old ideas, and more, House Beautiful fits the bill. As in most home and garden magazines, the photography is fresh and elegant. Often even the advertisements contain great or just plain amusing decorating ideas, such as the star-and-moon painted staircase advertising Sherwin-Williams paints in past issue. Columns full of vibrant ideas and valuable information include “Style Beat,” “News,” which illustrated and discussed some contemporary Native American art that I’ll try to see, and “Scrapbook,” which featured clever ideas using paint (also in the same issue).

”A Thoughts of Home” in a later issue tells of a woman’s need to move away from a historic, registered house because of divorce, and another talks of abandoned houses and their pull on the imagination. Every single one is a tribute to the editor of this feature, and never are emotions overwrought or cheap. Each story is honest, with true-life situations, and all beautifully written.

The July 2007 issue featured nine idea-filled kitchens, and an article on how to decorate using color with confidence, both of which I found helpful. My rooms may never look as elegant as House Beautiful’s, but they do an excellent job of showcasing fine traditional or avant-garde design and decorating ideas. You may not have their budget, but they’re not so far out of touch they you can’t emulate their ideas. For example, although I don’t have their wonderful assortment of picnic baskets to arrange as they did them in the Kitchen issue, their picture gave me an idea for arranging my own extensive basket collection in a simpler, homey way.

And it looks excellent, now, stacked with separators on a corner of their kitchen instead of piled here and there with no rhyme or reason. House Beautiful seems to have recognized the cozier, homier look most Americans prefer, and are often including an almost country look in an occasional review. If you are trying to locate a current copy in a local public or school library, you may not have much difficulty. It is a common magazine in waiting rooms and reception areas because it is so univerally loved. We have no problem subscriptions through our magazine subscription service - whether it is for a new, renewal or even gift subscription - and it is no surprise. that’s all. Maybe it’s because we offer cheap discount prices or maybe it is just what it is.