... a grey walls and white doors/trim/accents--the house has a wonderful contemporary feel
587892
I finally had my ranch-style house repainted (after many years) and now--with a grey walls and white doors/trim/accents--the house has a wonderful contemporary feel. Looked all over (local and online) for a unique, contemporary porch light. Pretty frustrated after hours and hours of hunting until I found this one on Amazon. It is BEAUTIFUL, solid, well-packed for shipment, and is the perfect solution for the entry to our home. It's not cheap, but Amazon had the best price I could find and, for the quality, it was worth every penny. I would order it again in a heartbeat.
741923
As a design enthusiast, and enamoured of black and white rooms for their crisp clarity and peacefulness, this book really attracted me.  Most desirable of all, for me, are subtle neutrals with occasional pops or splashes of color... and they were there.  These rooms are full of personal detail, collections, views, and the how-tos of melding the black, white, shades of gray and beige together, usually with tons of texture.  Unlike many design books, these don't have a particular point of view, because they comprise the work of many designers.  It's also interesting to view what makes a room interesting and work without recourse to color.  Loved the book.  Well written, too, which is important to me, and great photography.
3255777
the white background helps create a brighter atmosphere in the bathroom --- plus we have a tree theme thru the house !
81225
House Beautiful is fresh, smart and attractively laid out.  It straddles the line between design and practicality.  It takes over where Domino left off and is a new incarnation of House & Garden.  It has none of the haughtiness of AD or monotony of Veranda, nor is it a crafty BH&G.  It does not espouse a traditional, country or contemporary lifestyle, instead each issue runs the gamut of style.  Their interiors articles feature homes that combine design genres and display an individualistic flair, yet there is such a livability to every home featured.  To me, that is the essence of home design.

The interiors feature stories are written in question/answer format.  No thesaurus worth of adjectives to describe what is featured in the photographs.  They let the designers speak to the interiors, the process, their inspirations and the clients wants and needs.  Simple, direct.  The layouts highlight the photographs, full size, double page spreads, large format and they portray a variety of rooms throughout the house not just a select few.  I find it much more interesting to see how all of the rooms relate to one another and how they translate a design vision throughout.

This is a rather long review because I simply love this magazine and hope people will give it a try.  So many design magazines have folded in recent years, I want HB to stay.  For those who complain about the number of ads, seriously?  ALL magazines are loaded with ads, thats how they pay for all of those glossy pages  The cost of your subscription doesnt even cover postage and handling. (Note: I don't work for publishers or an ad agency, this is just how it works.)

Some of the other features that I find make it something to look forward to every issue:

1. A kitchen and also a bath of the month feature.  Most design pubs have one issue where they might focus on these rooms or more commonly, they are just one tiny image amongst all of the other lavish photos.  HB provides reference information for some of the highlights in these rooms.  Not the reference where you have to look for the two-point type in the back of the magazine only to find that its To the Trade Only, but actual shopping reference for the average consumer.
2. Other notable regular columns included in every issue: The Best! dedicated to presenting new products via large format images with minimal copy; a color report with designer recommendations as to use and complementary colors; plus a column each for new wallpaper, fabrics and rugs.  Ive been introduced to so many products I wouldnt have normally been privy to and that are normally only accessible to interior designers.
3. A new design book is also highlighted every issuenot the postage stamp image with press release blurban actual review/synopsis to peak your interest.
4. Tablescape.  So often neglected, inspirations for luxurious table settings.  Not the too-cutesy or holiday themed table, but the make every day special because you used distinctive items of exceptional quality.

Im not quite sure when House Beautiful was revamped, but Im happy I gave it another try years after letting my subscription lapse.  I thought I had outgrown it, gave it as a housewarming gift subscription, thumbed through it at giftees home and decided to order my own subscription.  I look forward to every issue and even though I subscribe to numerous design and fashion magazines, this is the one stacked in my library for future reference.
427490
LOVE LOVE LOVE - I am in LOVE. They look great against our gray walls and really make the room come together! I cant wait to do the next room!
3186849
This is my new favorite shelter book.  The photos are lovely, and I particularly enjoyed her chapter breakdowns and discussion of styles such as eclectic English, classic English and so on. Most of the homes are very layered visually, with creative use of color and textiles(not just white on white here), many are in the country.  They generally have great charm or architectural detail to begin with, although the ways they are decorated varies considerably. There is not much in the way of pure modernism, and also little of the aristocratic design of Haute Britain, although more than a few of these "cottages" of course are owned by decorators, antiques dealers, or other people with a professional interest in a beautiful home. I have not seen these homes in other books, and the book is generous on photographs. If you liked the Taschen Country Homes books, you will want this.
575716
We just started using our new set. So far so good! I love the creamy off-white color. They feel very earthy, without being as heavy as most ceramic settings. I love the way the designers made them feel both vintage and contemporary at the same time. Happy with this purchase!
1477584
Despite additions such as "feature walls" in purple and the like, many show homes still feel more like mausoleums. If you would like to build a house that has character and yet retains all the comforts of home,  then this book is for you. This book is about the way in which we live in  spaces and how to make those spaces work for us.
This is the first house  book I have seen for a long time where even just flicking through the  pictures I was saying "yes, yes, yes! That's what I want!". Even  though many of the photos are of the same houses, because the flow of the  houses is different, it is fascinating to look at all of the different  viewpoints.
This book makes an excellent companion to Use what You Have  Decorating and the Healthy House books. A great springboard for ideas and a  must read if you wish to create a house that you love to live in.
4952770
I just moved down town, to very spacious abode, elegant and structurally beautiful. I have more than enough space to decorate and give my home that glowing look, to create a soothing ambience.
  A friend recommended this book to me and have not been disappointed by how much i'lld gain from its content. It provides, very unique designs, refreshing ways to decorate my home into an uplifting elegance at a very minimal expense at my own taste.
4297954
Great new contemporary look for a dated bathroom at a great price
3969227
A great value for a relatively simple installation that will bring an attractive accent to any home.  I chose to spraypaint before assembly and installation to give a white matte finish but I would have been satisfied regardless.
1128227
We ordered this for our bedroom, just to display some small items on our very plain walls. We have a contemporary home, so there is room for some accents and this is perfect. They are clean, not too big, but very classy so you won't get sick of the design.
3979999
door is as expected and color is contemporary.
3723449
Perfect contrast for the white cabinets in our recently renovated kitchen.
1443548
This rug is SO PRETTY. It's hard to get a picture that does it justice because it has a slight sheen that tends to reflect light, but it it beautiful subtle creams and grays that really tie my room together. The gray floral pattern is raised, so the rug has a really lovely texture that works incredibly well with the versatile neutral colors. I feel like I could place this rug in literally any room of the house, and it would look amazing. I've included a pic of it in my tiny living room; it really gives the room a luxurious, comfy feel.
1526120
This canvas pack is honestly amazing. I bought this since we needed to fill some spaces on the kitchen/dining room wall. I have to say they look great and give the area a different look. It's great how the images project this feeling of calmness and positive vibes in the morning. Whenever I'm getting ready for my day and I'm having breakfast I sit in a way so that I directly face the canvas. I love how sophisticated they make the kitchen look but also how much more enjoyable they make my morning coffee. I'd recommend.
524698
I'm glad I purchased this and have no regrets -- the primary motivation was simply to provide the ability to add (2) additional rooms.  It also makes an already attractive house even more imposing and distinctive.

That said, while the Victorian house indeed fits well atop the extra floor, mine is not completely level so I had to place a shim at both the bottom of the extension and the original house.  The large exterior staircase is a separate piece so it needs to be removed and placed elsewhere when opening the hinged front panels -- not a big deal, I suppose, but as such it's always cast to the side during play.  Finally, the front door on this as well as the main house doesn't have anything to hold it shut.  I hadn't noticed it or would've seen it as anything of consequence until my kid became frustrated (Why won't the door stay shut, Daddy!!!).  I remedied by gluing a small, thin square of magnet to the interior door jam and pushing in a flat metal thumbtack in the door edge.  You don't see either the tack or magnet when the door is closed since the door is wider than the jamb to prevent it from swinging out.