My qi must be totally out of balance. 

First, I missed out on this tiny table at the Baker sale.  I almost posted about it as my "wish list" item for the sale; I've been coveting it for years and just can't justify paying full price.  Melanie from Charlotte (the purchaser of the table), if you read my blog, consider this a virtual "begging and pleading" for you to change your mind and sell me the table! 

Then I received in today's mail a cutting of a chocolate brown Sunbrella velvet to approve ... but the color of the cutting is way different than the memo sample I got from the showroom.  Even my 3 1/2 year old twins said that they weren't the same color.  Bummer!  Of course, I'm thankful that I have the cutting and can refuse to approve the release of the 20 yards (that are already paid for), but I'm disappointed that I won't have the fabric in a timely fashion. 

Now, I find out that - as part of Hachette Filipappi Media U.S.'s strategy to focus its resources in the shelter category on Elle Decor - Metropolitan Home and its website will close after the December issue.  Read the NYT article here.  I have countless tear pages from Metropolitan Home, including a 2002 article featuring one of my all-time favorite homes, the Washington, D.C. home of Darryl Carter ... who happens to be one of my all-time favorite designers.  Heck, with Metropolitan Home folding and my subscription to Architectural Digest expiring, I barely have anything to read any more!  Big sigh.     

I'm making an acupuncture appointment stat.               

I get my inspiration from just about anywhere - one of my favorite color schemes right now was inspired by a 2007 Christmas card - but shelter magazines (industry-speak for interior design mags) are absolutely invaluable.  I use them not only for inspiration, but also as a tool to discover what styles my clients are drawn to.  Obviously, magazines also help you to refine your eye, stay on top of the trends, discover new products and enjoy the work of other designers.  The only thing I don't like about shelter magazines is that I haven't come up with a good way to organize them!   For an organization nut like me, that is really saying something ... but there is just too much in each magazine that I find valuable.  Anyway, here's a list of my favorites and what I like about them.  Hopefully this will help you to discover a new favorite! 

Metropolitan Home -- The homes featured in this magazine are usually very modern, but I love them!   It might not be a look that is right for you in its entirely, but you'd be surprised at the different modern things that you can successfully incorporate into a not-so-modern decor.  

Elle Decor -- Still modern, but not quite as starkly modern as Metropolitan Home.  To me, the interiors featured in this magazine are much more eclectic.  

Traditional Home -- Don't be surprised that many of the houses in this magazine are not nearly as traditional as the name would imply.  Most of them are more "transitional" than what I consider super-traditional, although you definitely won't find the modern homes featured in Metropolitan Home.   

House Beautiful -- I really love this magazine.  It seems more accessible than some of the others.

Domino -- This magazine focuses on good, accessible design with a youthful, off-beat edge ... at least that's the best way I can think of to describe it.   Definitely high-low mixing at its finest.  I like their new book as well.  

There are lots of ideas and some great photos in there, although if you are a design pro, some of the info will be more than a bit basic.  You can take a virtual "flip" through the book on the Domino website.

Architectural Digest -- Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with Architectural Digest.  I just don't find most of their articles relevant to what I do on a daily basis ... and frankly the magazine just bores me.  But you can't deny that they feature some stunning homes ... and you can occasionally find some great things flipping through the pages.  A Decorators Walk by F. Schumacher fabric featured in Architectural Digest was the inspiration for my twin boys' nursery!  But that's the only thing out of AD that I've actually used ...    

Anyway, if you haven't read some of these magazines, check them out!