This is my 200th post. It's been a lot of fun blogging and I am, more or less, sticking with my original intent: to keep in the habit of writing, and to take more photographs. Thank you so much to everyone who reads this. It means so much to me to get your comments.
I bought the final issue of H&G this morning. I am looking forward to spending some time reading every word of it. Style Court and her great eye managed to spot a copy of "I Married Adventure" in Aerin Lauder's bedroom.
A lot of us have commented on the demise of H&G. I was a fan of the magazine and was a subscriber before I moved to Wales. In a comment on Mrs. Blandings, I said that it represented a middle ground. I got hit hard for that comment by Anon, who said, "This so called "middle ground" is the death of good taste. "High brow" is the whole point! We must look at and understand "the best" in order to educate our eyes so that we can create something great of our own." That got me thinking about what the best actually is. There's a huge difference between the best and the best I can afford. I liked H&G because it had some incredible interiors that I loved to see, but it also featured items that were more affordable than most of the things in Archictectural Digest. I would love the Asprey calfskin photo album featured in the H&G article on Aerin Lauder, but at $425, it's just not in my budget. But the lovely little blue and white bowls shown just above it are affordable at $18 to $20 each. 
Well of COURSE going for the best isn't preferable to going for what is best for YOU! I would agree.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 200th post! I figured it would have been more.
Happy 200th!!! Keep it up, yours is one of the few blogs I actually enjoy reading and don't just skim!
ReplyDeleteShame on him! I am with you, though.
ReplyDeleteThe best does not necessarily mean the most expensive, just as rich does not necessarily mean posh.
right on sista- glad to hear it
ReplyDeleteI went to Cantler's yesterday. Have a bunch of pictures of course.
ReplyDeleteStill full. They had to wheel me onto the plane with the luggage. :)
Congrats on the 200! And I totally agree. Taste and refinement has nothing (well almost) to do with number of dollars spent! As a matter of fact, the greatest and oldest families have always "reused and recycled" and always included items in their homes that have meaning, whether expensive or not. Some of the most interesting things in an interior are the ones that have a story, not necessarily a pedigree.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement - "I'd rather settle for the best for me." Just because you pay a lot for something doesn't automatically qualify it as "high brow". I enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!!! I love your take on this and agree 100% - but I think you can take that 'high browness' and make it your own to fit on your budget -it's all just idea fodder..
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! You know how I feel, as I responded already. You are one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, CONGRATS on turning 200. Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, you are right. "High Brow" is a nice little escape, but the "best" things in life are free.
I agree with you that I need to educate my tastes and cultivate a taste for nice things. Not because it's they are best. But it's important to conisder the quality of workmanship/craftsmanship, the items' lines, materials used, design etc...these things tend to define what is the best or high quality.
ReplyDeleteI'd go even further and state it's just like learning to buy good clothes. If you want to buy well made garments, you have to go to the stores that sell them and try them on. I have to know what both good cashmere and cheap cashmere feels like, so that you know what the better quality things feel like and how they appear, drape and wear. Then when you've educated your 'eye' and touch, you can sift through the detris and find those gems.
Most people simply can't afford the items in these magazines, but God it's fun to look/drool.
For me, it's important to edit my belongings, and decide what is important, what do I need most. Then I spend my money on the highest quality items that I know I can live with for a long, long time. If I buy an item that fits my style and it's well made it I know it will last it's a bargin no matter what the price, but I still have to factor the price into my decision to buy it. I think everyone does.
As far as folks who post anon. Well if they are serious they use their names/blogs if not- take the comments for what they are worth-zip.
I think Oscar Wilde said that a cynic was the person who knew the price of everything and the value of nothing...sounds like something your anon would say.
Congratulations on 200 posts. That's quite a milestone.
ReplyDeleteApparently I've been living in an information vacuum as of late because House and Garden's closing was news to me. I've always considered it to be House Beautiful's smarter and better looking twin and I'm puzzled that House Beautiful appears to be the more successful of the two.
sadly, I could point the finger at three of four of my designer friends as possibly making that statement, but all would have signed their names. The point is, (this gets my back up) that middle ground is most of us reading these blogs. How many times have you gone into a very wealthy person's home and seen that it was "done", but had absolutely no soul of the owners. Sister Parish catered to the highbrow clientele, but she knew the common denominator whether rich or not was butts in comfortable seats...if it's not comfortable and if you are afraid to have your white lab run through it, it's a setpiece. Very good post. I enjoyed this very much. Give them hell.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 200th post ! ...its always fun visiting here :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 200th post! (Thanks for the shout out too.)
ReplyDeleteI think House of Beauty and Culture summed it up perfectly, and I agree the range of objects you just mentioned in that Lauder post are an example of what H & G was doing well.
Also, Fairfax, knowing where you work and thinking about kids in foster care, I'm tempted to say some people need a little perspective. But it is possible Anonymous meant "high brow" in terms of educating one's eye rather than money.
ReplyDeleteWow 200!!!!!! Congratulations, what a fabulous feat. You should be very, very proud.
ReplyDeleteJOni
I forgot to say...the little blue bowls are cool! And, happy 200th post. I love your blog.
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