Dwell

This magazine has great photos, and as an aficionado of mid-century modern I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame. But, if you want to actually apply any of these ideas to your own house, don't hold your breath--unless you have $150K to plunk down. The featured houses are all either custom built new homes, or incredibly expensive redesigns. I actually got pretty excited the first few issues, with all the possibilities, until I mentioned some of the materials to my architect friends. Yes, the Nanowall is great, but it is $30K for a SLIDING DOOR.

I have begun to find the magazine frustrating to read, simply because they dangle these amazing homes in front of me with no real hope of my ever approximating any of them in real life.

I was hoping for a magazine that is far more practical.

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)Here is a magazine that focuses on modern design and clean-line architecture without the trendy vibe that makes a competitor like "Wallpaper" an expensive, hit-or-miss read. What I like most about "Dwell" is its consistency in presenting interesting designs from around the world that look quite livable and fashionable at the same time. Even the advertisements are quite compatible to the flow of the magazine, so much so that they often look like they are part of the editorial. There is a very useful "Marketplace" section at the end that tells you where to get a lot of the art, furniture and accessories complementary to the designs presented. I have often used these helpful listings to find some interesting things for my own place.

This magazine is definitely geared toward the urban loft dweller, but I like how they highlight homes with families in mind as well. Individual issues are often focused on either geographic or utility-related themes, thus keeping a library mandatory for future reference. The photography is superb. If you are tired of design magazines that seem to be talking specifically to designers, this is a great, reasonably priced alternative for people who simply appreciate great design. Highly recommended.

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Don't get me wrong, I like Dwell. I think the magazine has a lot of great content, but the problem is that most of the time the stuff presented is super expensive.

I suggest using it for ideas, emulating them with your own creativity. :)

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"Creativity is like life insurance. If you are creative, you are never afraid, because you can design yourself out of any situation." ~Li Edelkoort

If you are interested in items like the Nissan Actic Concept Car (that has a matching trailer) or you want to discover new modern options for your bathroom, kitchen or garden, this magazine delivers.

DWELL has a variety of articles to interest the casual decorator or the seriously focused chef. For example, the April/May 2004 issue had articles on:

Home Cooking a contractor and his three sons design a home with the kitchen at the heart of the home.

Cutting It Up A downtown Los Angeles loft gets a makeover.

Stainless Chef Designer John Picard finds a sanctuary with a high-tech steam oven and a hand-carved tub.

Victorian Revival A San Franscico couple is the inspiration for a dramatic culinary renovations.

Trend Diva Jane Szita talks about nesting and nihilism.

Other interesting articles include information on houses that become art, short reviews for books on subjects such as living in a small space.

I was intrigued by the house designed with mostly windows on page 45 and high tech enthusiasts will also love features for speakers or CD changers which are most modern.

Well, until I can afford a 9,500 buck oven, I'll keep reading and dreaming. The library in the April/May issue is to die for! Big windows and shelves galore.

Dwell is a magazine designed to inspire and inspire it did! Even some of the text is in color. The Marketplace section gives you a wealth of sources to encourage you to start on your own dream design, house or otherwise. The sourcing section also provides page by page information on sources.

~The Rebecca Review

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My mailbox overflows with magazines and among the themes, home and homerelated topics are the most common. Dwell Magazine ranks as one of the better home magazines I read each month and it is one of only a few publications that I will return to throughout the month for entertainment and other purposes.

What makes Dwell a unique publication is its dedication to more interesting and unusual home remodeling and rebuilding ideas. Other modern home magazines exist, but Dwell Magazine takes the idea of modern to a slightly different level than other, similar publications. With Dwell Magazine, the reader is presented with unusual homes, both on the exterior and interior, and many of them are certainly eyecatching, if nothing else. This magazine is all about homes that offer distinction and some of the design ideas are very interesting and will stick with you for a long time.

Probably the most unique fact about Dwell Magazine is that, while it focuses on unusual and creative home design, it manages to maintain a level of livability. Other magazines that focus on unusual thingswhether it's the home or something elseoften take the weirdness factor to the extreme and they end up alienating most readers. But Dwell Magazine avoids making this mistake. The ideas it presents are unusual and creative, but still within the boundaries of taste and practicality.

Magazines usually offer articles that cover a large range of topics each month, but one other interesting aspect of Dwell Magazine is that each magazine is based on a specific theme. This theme is clearly spelled out on the front cover, directly under the magazine's name, in bold letters. This is nice because you already have a good idea what to expect when you open the pages of any issue. The featured articles for the month will stick to the main theme for that particular issue.

Dwell Magazine is one of hundreds of publications that focus on the home, but it easily stands out in the pack and I rank it among my favorites in this genre. I'm not into home design on a do-it-yourself level, but I do like to look at homes and the rooms within homes and I am always open to new ideas. Dwell Magazine offers plenty of creative ideas every month and it's a good magazine to consult for home makeover plans.

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