Architectural Digest Magazine Subscription

I think I learned to read at my grandmother's house browsing her periodicals. I certainly learned a lot about the world outside my neighborhood, and one of the best magazines for this was, and is, Architectural Digest. I still subscribe today, partly out of respect for the great photography that is in the magazine, but also for the opportunity to see how another half lives. Let's face it, I can't afford the buying trips to Europe yet, and even if I could, I'm not sure I would with a two year old around, but I can dream.

The photography of the homes is spectacular. The interiors are creatively lighted so as to draw out even the smallest details in the room. Articles cover travel, and real estate, and to some degree architecture, but the main focus is on interior design, and the interiors are splendid. I may not be able to afford an Interior Designer, or even half of the fabrics and materials gathered in a given room, but the themes and color schemes are free, there for the taking. Why not look at different styles of decorating, and different color designs, and then come up with something a little more in reach?

One other thing that I like are the advertisements. They are upscale, but you can often find an otherwise obscure piece of equipment, or furniture advertised, and the ads themselves can spark a bit of creativity when decorating your home. One thing that I don't really like though is the focus on "homes of the stars" type articles. If I wanted that, I would go to Hollywood, but I guess it sells magazines. For me, I just enjoy good photography, and good design, and Architectural Digest has always been an inspiration to me in both those areas, for those reasons alone, I will probably always be a loyal subscriber.