Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful April 2011

Home Beautiful Apr 2011 - cover

Well another mag hit the news stands today & from the look of things, this makes the third issue of Home Beautiful that has made a sneaky peek post without me actually reviewing the magazine. I promise sincerely to get my act together & post about this one before the week is out.

To be honest I haven't even cracked the cover yet as I'm busy scanning pics & organising my post for the Belle Apr/May 2011 review. It is such a big issue, that I may actually have to make it at least a two if not three part post.

This lack of organisation for my blog is a reflection of my current state. Too many things to do & not enough time! Look out for my Belle Apr/May 2011 part one post later today or very early tomorrow (AESDT)

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K who suspects she now has tendonitis from pinning too much on Pinterest & also from trying to hold the magazine face down on the scanner without it moving]

Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful Feb 2011

Home Beautiful Feb 2011 - cover

Another Aus interiors magazine hit the news stands today. Home Beautiful for February 2011 features a summer coastal look (surprise, surprise, surprise as Gomer Pyle would say) on its' cover & to be honest I don't expect great variety in theme on interiors covers for the Summer months. More pics to follow soon.

I forgot to mention that I have enabled a new comment system that allows me & any other commenter to reply directly to any comments within the thread rather than at the end. It does involve any commenters entering an email address, but that information is not published anywhere. I understand that it takes a little more of your time to comment now, but I think the flow of comments will be easier to read. I appreciate your understanding.

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful Dec 2010

Home Beautiful Dec 2010 - cover

Yes, yet another magazine landed in my letter box today. I am feeling overwhelmed. I'm yet to finish perusing the magazines from my previous sneaky peak posts & now also realise that I haven't posted a pic of Inside Out's Christmas issue. I'm such a bad blogger!

My newest distraction this week has been me joining Pinterest. I am addicted. Let me know if any of you are also on Pinterest. I love sharing inspirational images this way - so quick & easy.

Now, back to this month's cover of Home Beautiful. Unfortunately my scanner isn't reproducing the cover how I wanted it to. The black Home Beautiful masthead, "to cherish" & "150+" are actually a deep red foil - absolutely stunning & perfect for a Christmas issue.

OK, now my promise to you all. Come hell or high water, I WILL post a review of at least one of the magazines by midnight Wednesday (AEST).

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned & uploaded by Sandy K]

Home Beautiful Nov 2010 Issue

Home Beautiful (AUS) Nov 2010

Okay, forgive my absence last week, I know not what happened. Well, yes actually I do. Procrastination + exhaustion = no blog posts. Pure & simple.

Anyhow, I hope to remedy that by overloading you with images from the latest issue of Home Beautiful. This issue celebrates 85 years of Home Beautiful (AUS) without an overload of nostalgia. The celebration is quiet & reflective rather than a boring reminiscence that other magazines seem to do. There is look back at '85 years of iconic design' highlighting the best rather than the worst of the past eight decades. It's an issue that is also a celebration of Australia without resorting to stereotypes or kitschness.

All the houses featured are Australian. Whilst they each have their merits, one in particular stood out for me in regard to both its' location & aesthetics. I have featured this house further down in this post.

I included the below pic mainly for the 'Australia Type Map' print in Duck Egg Blue from Bold & Noble, the beautiful 'Hepsi' overdyed rug from Loom Rugs & for the 'Hankie Flower round cushion in Mushroom from Lisa Stickley. I wouldn't mind any of these at all! (a little hint for Christmas if any family members are reading)

The next pic is a collage of three pics from the same home in Melbourne's east. Click on the image for a better look.

I love origami & the beauty of the origami balls below is enhanced by the use of pages from  old school textbooks & children's story books to give an ethereal feel.

The below pic features designs by talented Australian artisans both past & present. The left picture showcases Grant Featherston's 'B230 Contour' chair, Bison ceramics, 'Sas Lena' felt rug by Bholu & 'Block 2' floor light by Henry Pilcher who I also mentioned in this post about Home Beautiful's October issue. The right picture features artworks from Udessi, Yellow Diva 'MSI' daybed, Mark Tuckey 'Jack Pine' side table, 'Campfire' table by Tomek Archer & a fabulous Florence Broadhurst by Signature Prints 'Honeycomb' rug from Cadrys.

This issue also features Home Beautiful's Product of the Year Awards 2010. Below is a collage of the winners & finalists in the following categories: walls & floors, outdoor living, textiles & lighting.

It was fantastic to see Mokum take out the textiles category for their 'Moderne' collection which I featured in this post.  The lighting finalists were all amazing. I found it hard to pick clear winner in my mind as all the designs were exceptional. I found the walls& floors category exciting as the overall winner was a product I was unfamiliar with - Laminex 'Metaline' splashback. The Laminex 'Metaline' splashback is a metal surface finished with resilient high-gloss paint. The overall look is that of toughened glass, but is obviously more cost-effective. The surface is not only heat & water resistant, but is also flame-retardant. It is easily cut to suit  any configuration & simple to install. Looks like a brilliant product for those who wish to achieve a high end look without spending a motza.

Also in the collage is the furniture design firm Zuster. Zuster has been a long time favourite of mine. The firm comprises four sisters & their father. The designs of Zuster are exquisite both in terms of craftsmanship & style.

Please click on the pic to get a better look at all the fabulous products.

Now, we come to the pick of the houses in this issue. This home is located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland. After spending 15 years in  Hong Kong, this family of four decided to relocate back to Australia for a more relaxed way of life. Owner Phillipa,  designed the home & her previous work as a spa designer for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group led to her clear vision for the home. Although a resort type ambience is reflected in the design, this home is still personal in feel as it contains many fabulous pieces from the family's 15 years spent in Hong Kong. Phillipa's experience as a spa designer is nowhere more evident than in the luxuriance of the bathrooms & pool.

I really don't know how the family lives with that view. Hideous isn't it?

The fabulous work of Brisbane- based ceramicist Kim Wallace is also highlighted in this issue. Kim is the founder of Udessi, an online gallery & retailer of independent Australian art, craft & design. Kim also writes the Udessi blog.

 The issue is full of so much more, including kitchen essentials from seven amazing Aussie chefs/cooks one of whom is the sensational Maggie Beer, Australia's top native plants from Jamie Durie, a large story on home makeovers & mouthwatering food ideas. Speaking of which I'll leave you with two quintessential Aussie favourites: A pav & lamingtons!

This issue is on news stands now.

Sandy K

[all above images impatiently scanned & collated by Sandy K, click on a pic for a better look]

Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful Nov 2010

Home Beautiful (AUS) Nov 2010 - cover

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Home Beautiful Oct 2010 Issue

Home Beautiful (AUS) Oct 2010

This issue hit news stands today. I received my issue last Friday, but unfortunately have not had the time to review & post as I worked the weekend & have come down with a dreaded sinus infection (occupational hazard).

Anyhow, this issue was not a great one for me with respect to the homes featured. Don't get me wrong, all the homes featured are very nice but the are just lacking the overall 'wow' factor in my opinion. The homes' architecture seems to outshine their interiors. Only a couple of the homes had elements that had me thinking they were nice, but not spectacular. Most of the homes featured lacked colour & seemed a bit banal.

I did find some aspects of the magazine I liked this month. Some individual products featured caught my eye as did articles like the one featuring Jennifer Jones, the designer behind the eponymous have you met miss jones lifestyle label.

jennifer jones profile (pictures only)

Especially loving the pendant light, tea towel & cushions.

Thought this was interesting. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I do appreciate it nonetheless. Check out more wall sized wallpaper images by Eijffinger.

a collage of pages 38 & 40

Page 38 features 25 year old designer Henry Pilcher. His 'Block 2' lights can be seen in the above pic, top left hand side. This is a designer to watch with his 'Block 2' lights being stocked by Anibou, the high-end retailer of "exceptionally well designed & made, local & international furniture'.

Page 40 showcases the winners of the VIVID (Vibrant Visions in Design) awards from the Furnitex furniture trade fair.

Quite like the flooring.

Liking the pop of colour on the bedhead from the contrasting turquoise buttons. Also liking the side table.

A guest bedroom from one the homes featured this month. The wallpaper is a standout for me in the homes featured this month.

As you can tell from this post, I was hard pressed to find images from this month's issue that I loved enough to share with you all. I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. It's good one month, great the next & so-so the one after.

Looking forward to better things next month.

Sandy K

[above images impatiently scanned by SandyK]

Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful Oct 2010

Home Beautiful (AUS) Oct 2010 - cover

Sandy K
[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Home Beautiful Sep 2010 Issue

Home Beautiful Sep 2010

Well, the September 2010 issue of Home Beautiful certainly is a great one.

The fresh cover & the homes featured truly invoke a Spring/Summer atmosphere. What a great read on this glorious August day which I hope was very much a preview of the weather we can expect in the coming months.

Here's a few pics from the issue:

This issue also features heavily on floral inspirations in wallpaper, textiles & decorative wares. Other articles of note include: 

• the latest in bathroom vanities, storage in the bathroom & new materials
• a homewares shop called Mr Sparrow in Subiaco, Western Australia
• a roundup of the best BBQs on the market just in time for our alfresco dining season
• a spotlight profile on author, blogger & stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk (see her blog here)
• a garden feature on Australian natives. This article showcases Melburnian landscape designer Jim Fogarty's 'Great Southern Land' garden which took out the 'Best Design' prize at the prestigious World Garden Competition recently held at the Hamanako Garden Park in Japan's Hamamatsu City

It's a great issue, absolutely full of inspiration for the warmer months ahead.

Home Beautiful Sep 2010 issue hits news stands on Monday 9th August 2010.

Sandy K

[all above images impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Magazine Sneaky Peek - Home Beautiful Sep 2010

Home Beautiful Sep 2010 - cover

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]