While I’m always inspired by magazines, I tend to hold onto them for a while and then drop them off in recycling or pass them along to someone else after a time. Fresh inspiration comes in and there is only so much room for magazines that I’m not likely to revisit as a resource. But, there is one magazine in particular that has managed to stay in my stash for almost 20 years. Every time I sort through my magazines and books, I make sure this one is clearly set aside and saved. I actually thought I misplaced it last year and I started hunting for a replacement., but I found my original copy. Whew! The issue that has offered timeless inspiration to me was the September 2002 issue of Better Home & Gardens. And, even more specifically, the article on the Swedish-style home of the Carlsons.
This article was like a pebble dropped in a pond that radiated ripples that lapped onto the shore for two decades.
Of course, the blues in the home are what caught my eye, but I also loved the handpainted details, the detailed trim work, the touches of personalization, and the checked fabrics. I actually painted versions of the handpainted details on the walls of our first two homes.
I can see how the color palette influenced the colors I designed for the MMS Milk Paint line…
And how echoes of this style made it into my decorating, painting, and furniture makeovers over the years.
hand-painted guest room bed tutorial
…and even in my recent paper designs…
…and the things I feel drawn to knit and sew…
tips for knitting Selbu mittens
But, I’ve also realized that the reason why I loved the home in that article so much is that it was an echo of my childhood dollhouse furniture…
Isn’t it interesting how seemingly inconsequential things can end up influencing your style, tastes, and aesthetic throughout your entire life? I didn’t even pick out this dollhouse furniture. My mom gave it to me as a Christmas present. I didn’t know dollhouse furniture and one magazine article would continue to show up in little hints while customizing our home, painting furniture, designing patterns, sewing, and knitting.
Influence is such a nuanced, unpredictable thing.
What are the little things that have influenced your style?
I can’t believe this but I remember that same issue as well! I was struck by the details and it reminded me of the paintings of Carl Larsson’s interiors, which I love.
I love Carl Larson paintings! Maybe Marion could dabble in some of that similar artistic style….
I’ve been to Carl Larsson’s house in Sweden a number of times.. It’s one of my very favorite places.. His house and gardens are just like his paintings.. If you every get a chance to go you won’t be disappointed..
I love the colors and pretty much all you do too .. now I know where your influence is from..
Ingrid
Those pictures seem familiar. I wonder if Victoria Magazine also ran a feature on this home?
I remember you saying, Marian, that you look at old magazines for inspiration and that the timeless features jump out at you. I have found this to be true, as well. I have old magazines that I still enjoy thumbing through (mostly Victoria, but there are a few others) and I’ve learned to look deeper into the pictures that speak to me to analyze what I really like about them.
I have an issue of House Beautiful from ? 1989? which I purchased at an airport gift shop when we had a long layover. I had never even heard of the magazine! But the blue and white living room on the front cover caught my eye, and I’ve been a Blue and White fan ever since! Who knew that one little purchase would influence my whole aesthetic? And yes, I still have the magazine 🙂
I was influenced by my grandmother and mother and their decorating style which included antiques, family heirlooms, quilts. Their homes had creamy white walls adorned with (framed) handstitched (embroidered + needlepoint) pieces – mostly florals. My great-grandparents came to the US from England so there was a leaning to English style.
I have kept many magazines and need to let some go! My very favorite is the first premier issue of Victoria which I had but it was lost to a couple of moves. Thankfully the internet is there for us and I was able to get the exact same magazine in pristine condition for about $4.00! I have a book called Swedish Style Creating the Look, by Katrin Cargill that I would be happy to send to you, you’ve given me so much through your blog! Just email me where I should send it! Sandi
I no longer get magazines by subscription because I find I cannot part with them! They turn into clutter. I have tried tearing articles and creating files never to be seen again. I finally threw all the files away after looking in them one more time. I love to look at other people’s magazines!
My grandmother had a set of Blue and White Blue Willow dishes which I always loved. Another family member inherited them so I bought my own. This led to a lot of blue and white dishes and several blue and white kitchens. I had gotten a formica and chrome kitchen table but it was grey. I laminated blue and white gingham onto the top of it and it lasted for many years.
I find blue very soothing to look at…like the sky or water. I also think it never goes out of style. I don’t have a blue and white kitchen now but I do have a blue/yellow/white guest room. I smile when I go into that room to make it ready for guests.
For me it was Country Living Magazine under Sarah Grey Miller. The style of the magazine became more eclectic which I love, less chickens and cows. Once the magazine left New York it wasn’t the same.
Lol! I saved that article!
A used book of Carl Larson’s art with an inscription “For Grandma Helga on her 90th birthday” caught my eye over 20 years ago. It then led me to save every copy of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion. Kitty Bartholomew was a big influence and then led me to your site when you were still painting furniture for other people in your Pennsylvania basement.
I have all of the Home Companion issues as well! Still not sure why I saved them other than remembering how enchanted I was when each new issue arrived. My favorite magazine at the moment is the UK Country Homes and Interiors which is a big influence on me. But the subscription is frightfully expensive so I go through older issues every once in a while (from B&N).
Where are the lights from?
Thank You for helping me to let go of all these back issues of magazines I keep. I subscribe to about a dz magazines now and since I’ve been retired that is half of what I previously subscribed to with all the trades. So after reading this blog I have decided to just let go. But I do save most instructional issues by Stampington. My favorites are Country Home, Victoria, Cottage Journal, and all those titles published by Stampington which are so expensive.
Yes, I keep specific issues and I do keep some magazines like Where Women Create since they are expensive and are a resource I do go back to again and again.
Where Women Create by Jo Packham is no longer published by
Stampington.Jo went with an Ottawa Canada publisher. Wonder what happened with the relationship with Stampington ?
I agree. A must keep as Where Women Create is an incredible resource and inspiration. Women are so willing to share with each other. I do not have a subscription as I have met so many wonderful women while buying the quarterly issue at Barnes & Noble. Like the interior designer from out of town that shared so much with me about her business and what they look for in furniture. It’s just fun how this magazine brings women together in unsuspecting ways.
I really miss and am now feeling nostalgic about 20 years ago Better Homes and Gardens!
I can relate. I remember being inspired by Katrin Cargill. I still have her book on making curtains. (Which Is excellent).
I saved that article as well! I wonder how many of us have saved the same articles over the years. 🙂
For me it was Country Home and Country Living. I still have many of the 1980’s on (we have a huge cellar) that I keep organized by month so I can haul out on a timely basis when I need. Funny how dark the photography was back then.
I have kept an April 1996 House Beautiful magazine because it featured a Heywood-Wakefield desk the company was reissuing for $2495.00. Many years before, my husband had purchased the original for me at a household sale to use as a sewing desk for $40.00. It is beautifully made of solid birch but every time we move, the movers cringe.
Did you watch the show Firefly? Kaylee (the engineer) had painted the inside of the starship in all sorts of designs like the Carlson’s house. ((Don’t watch the show with your kids without previewing it. Along with the fantastic cast of interesting characters and an interesting plotline, there’s occasional gratuitous scenes and some inappropriate conversation.))
I too loved that house. You may already be aware of the book Swedish Interiors by Rhoda Eleish & Edie Van Breems. I believe the house is one of the homes in that book. Another great book on Swediah style is Swedish Countey Interiors by the same authors.
I have saved some issues of the British Country Living magazine. We used to have a bookstore here locally where I could purchase it. Now have to wait to get to city and even there it is spotty.
I, too, am one who immediately thought of Carl Larsson’s art. I used to always buy Christmas cards that featured his paintings, although I haven’t been able to find any in recent years, sadly. As to the magazine you treasure, I remember that one as well. Up until I moved from Southern California to Oregon, I was a magazine hoarder. When I was getting ready to move I looked at my magazine boxes and said, “Enough is enough.” However, I still regret giving them all to Goodwill. The only ones I kept were Early American and my Victorias. As to being influenced by things from ones childhood, I think that is a valid assumption — happy memories carry over into adulthood. Especially colors and scents that influence us. Thanks for reminding me.
I find Carl Larsson cards sold through Al Johnson’s Swedish restaurant on line shop. When the pandemic started, they really pushed on line sales, and I think it is such a wonderful restaurant, I made it a point to purchase what I could from them.
April 1996. Better Homes and gardens. A tiny cottage home decorated by Tirzah and Dick Wanskass. I loved it and felt validated. I was surrounded by people buying big fancy dark furniture. Nobody I personally knew like the scrubbed pine, slightly worn look. The Tirzah home as I called it was just what I liked and still do.