House Beautiful--My "Dream" Magazine

As stated in my title, I call House Beautiful my dream magazine. Within the pages I see pictures of what I someday dream my own home will look like. The photographs are beautiful. The magazine gives you lots of great decorating ideas. My daughters and I pour over the issues time and time again in dreamland.

House Beautiful is loaded with advertisements. Even some of the ads will give you good ideas. The advertisements aren't all for furniture and stores, but also for household items such as cat litter, cereal, cleaning aids, even cars.

I am looking at the August 2001 issue in front of me. This issue is specializing in "Cool Decorating". As with most magazines,once you get past the advertisements), you start out by learning who the contributing editors are for this issue. You then find the feedback page where subscribers and readers have written in about previous issues.

The first article is a feature called Charlotte's Web. It's only one page but on on this page you find many websites listed. This month it's based on creating your own poolside paradise.

This month's antiques articles is entitled "Gone Fishing". Here I learned about antique fish services. These wouldn't be my style even if I had the money to purchase them, but the article was interesting all the same.

Next I find 25 pages of my "dream". These pages cover every room in the house in several different style of homes. My favorite in this section is an 1880's home that a family has restored.

Once I'm done dreaming there, House Beautiful takes me on to dream about my yard. This article is entitled "Fresh Geometry", and of course is way above my reach. Oh how I can only dream of having a yard this large! The article shows a layout of the yard which includes the terrace, trees, pools, flowers, vegetables and the pavilion.

There is a section dedicated to Master Bathrooms. I'm stuck in dreamland once again. There are three master baths shown and then it goes on to 6 pages of bathroom accessories.

House Beautiful also features recipes. This month's recipes are based on seafood. Anyone who knows me knows that this month's recipes don't interest me at all. I don't care for seafood.

House Beautiful has a newsstand price of $3.50. Inside the magazine you will read that subscription rates are $19.97 for one year and $37.97 for 2 years. Canada residents and all other countries must add $16 for each year. You may send payment to Joan Harris, Customer Service Dept., House Beautiful, PO Box 7174, Red Oak, IA, 51591. You may also call (515)282-1508 or visit their website at http://ccare.hearstmags.com. The subscription cards inside the magazine let you order for the same yearly price of $19.97 or to take a better deal at $33.97 for 2 years.

Will I resubscribe? No, I won't. My sole intention was just to have the magazine to dream with, of which I do very well. When my subscription is over the 12 magazines that I will have will be plenty for me to look back on for ideas.

If you don't wish to subscribe, I would recommend that you pick up an issue from the newsstand when you see a cover that interests you. You can also check your local library for past issues if you are looking for something is particular for your own home.