Updating For Survival

Eddie Ross wrote about Country Living magazine the other day.
As one magazine folds after the other, we revisit some old favorites again, maybe ones that we had "shelved" for awhile in lieu of maybe more exciting magazines.
As the last ones standing magazines like Country Living and Better Homes and Gardens are kind of stepping up and updating their editorial content. They're getting hipper, and more sophisticated. After all there's the Domino demographic out there. Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Architectural Digest need to stay on their toes, and not rely on a comfortable formula.


Anyhoo, in my craving to hold a magazine, I picked on BHG offering. They do alot of these quarterly offerings, and some of them are starting to look pretty good. The BHG web site is another thing, and could stand a re-vamp (hint hint).

One thing I hate to do is scan photos. I'm spoiled by point and click sites, and Google Images. But there was no way to navigate the BHG site and find these photos for you. I also struggle with photo quality. On my Mac everything looks great. On my crap PC at work, the images look bad (all of your images look bad on that PC). Uneven image quality is something bloggers deal with, unless of course you spend alot of time getting and using high quality photos, or keep them postage stamp size. Frankly as fast as a blog post gets old, I don't have the inclination to do much more. I try my best, but sometimes that best is crappy.

I chose this editorial from this BHG because it has so many elements we all enjoy. It's the home of Sarah and Peter Anderson, an 1820's New Hampshire clapboard. It's the house Sarah grew up in, which she has made her own by creating a modern home using hand-me-downs, smart buys, and elbow grease.

I'm still a sucker for peeling paint and tat. And for sea grass and sisal. And for vintage and antique.
The one major thing that caught my eye, is that the house has no curtains! Privacy may not be an issue, but what about hot sun in the summer time, and cold air in the New Hampshire winter coming in. Also night time makes un-curtained windows read like black holes.

All the objects we love are here: A Mora clock, a column, a bust, apothecary jars, sweet paintings, white slipcovers, chandeliers, old mirrors, pretty fabrics...

The kitchen looks great too. I like this hutch shelf thingee sitting on top of the counter. And the beams throughout the house are intriguing. Are they original?


Of course the outdoor spaces are staged perfectly too for the short summer season.
You notice the numbers on the pages - that's because this magazine has 100 ideas. I've shown you 67 - 76. Pick this issue up if you want to see more.

PS Please share your EASY tech tips for better photos and scanning.