Holiday? It's awful quiet in Tribeca this morning. Sort of makes you wonder how many people really are working today. At any rate, for those of you behind their computers, we want to just have a little rant about all the HOME DESIGN sections that we've been thinking about all weekend.
What is going on?
The New York Observer had an insert on Friday called The Home Observer, The New York Times put out another Capital "T" Style Magazine, which looks ready to give Fashions of the Times a run for its money, Time Out New York dumped its Home Design Issue onto newstands, and even The New Yorker reportedly weighed in last week with home design in it's issue.
In the 60's, 70's and 80's America learned to cook as we slowly opened up our hearts and minds to the skill, passion and sophistication of French cooking (and then other types). Restaurants, books and stores sprung up as our interest in good cooking increased, leading to ubiquitous institutions like Zagat's Restaurant Guide, Williams-Sonoma, and countless French cooking schools. Before WW II this would have been unheard of as Americans gobbled down burgers and coke and gave no thought to snails and fettucini.
Is this now happening in the furniture and design world?
Are Americans - and that means ALL of us, not just us snotty urbanites on the coasts - ready to talk about chairs and rugs? Are we ready to pay more for adventurous and sophisticated home furnishings? Is home design entering a golden age?
We think the answer is yes, and as this sleeping giant wakes, we will enjoy the ride. MGR
Don't get your hopes up.
This is all advertising driven. Circulation at nearly all newspapers and many magazines is down and falling, and EVERYONE -- The New Yorker included, is trying to increase their advertising sales by creating editorial that's advertiser-friendly -- that means decor issues, fashion issues, etc, regardless of what your original mission might have been.
good point...however, it has to appeal to readers as well as advertisers....
The thing I'm curious about is why all these decor issues are appearing this week? Can someone in the know shed some light on the timing?
i feel home design/decor has hit an all time high with media fueling the fire. before, shelter-themed shows were aired pretty much on cable or PBS and now everyone's in on it including major television networks (abc's extreme makeover: home edition).
with all media, it may be ad driven, but it would not be so widespread (24 hour networks -- discovery home, hgtv, style network, fineliving, etc.) if the content was not desirable.
the more you delve into the world of home design, the more you learn. even if it starts with the purchase of one high end rug, couch, or table. maybe that knowledge will stop the tearing down of bungalows and the construction of mcmansions. DWR has helped spread the word, making fine modern furnishings accessible to all. bad or good? possibly bad for upping the prices on collectibles, but good for educating the masses.
i do believe america is ready to upgrade. so many americans took advantage of the low mortgage interest rates and purchased homes by the millions. with the current state of affairs, we're spending more time in the comfort our homes. why not pay more attention to it?
the fine shelter title, dwell magazine now has it's own television program on the fine living network. that's media crossing more mediums. i'm stoked for more content. and i think others are too. cheers.