For over 30 years I have been getting Country Living Magazine and I can truly say it was the biggest influence in my decorating style in my kitchen...I loved everything I use to see in it..All the olden antiques with the great patina of age and just the warm come in and have a cup of coffee with me feeling it use to have...
I also am a copy cat and would copy so many things from this magazine...
Like all these wonderful wooden kitchen gadgets...(picture country living 1988)
some of mine wooden kitchen gadgets
I seen this milk glass lamp and just knew I had to find one for my kitchen...
Mine is a triple angle lamp that came out of a railroad cart...
Loved this stove so I was on the hunt for one for my kitchen...
Mine
Blue Willow sighs...
another hunt to add to my kitchen...
after seeing lace curtains in kitchen cabinets I copied that also...
source: Country Living 1989
After 30+ years Country Living has changed their format!! There is not one page in this new format that makes me want to just sit have a cup of coffee and devoured each and everything in it...
The new format so reminds me of 1001 Decorating ideas for over $100.00...I know change is good for everyone..But if it's not broke why fix it ???
This is the new Country Living style....I think this will be the last year I renew my subscription the last 2 issues I have tossed in my thrash...Country Living I have had an affair with you for over 30 years..But it's time we end it...I guess your ready for a CHANGE and I'm not...
But I'm so glad I saved my 30+ years of back issues...OK Country Living I'll get off my antique milk stool now !!
Do you ever fall in love with a magazine only to see it change..Oh and not to pick only on Country Living..But Romantic Homes has also jumped on the No Romance bandwagon now sighs...Another one I tossed in the thrash. I think I'll save my money and stick with blogs...Maybe editors should look to bloggers to see what's Hot !!!
Until next time from my mountain to yours,
Hugs and smiles Gloria
33 comments:
I so agree with you! I don't think I will renew any of my magazines this year. But girl if you have not got Flea Market style yet go find one it is really good, it took me three days to read it for front to back. Have a great day, Vicky
Gloria no wonder your kitchen felt like something right out of Country Living! Tou have all the same stuff! I do know what you mean. I wasn't one bit happy with the last two Romantic Homes mags. Like you in the recycle they went *sighs*. Southern Accents was my favorite magazine....so of course it got disco'd. The only one I really look forward to anymore is Romantic Country Homes. Vanna
I have to say mom...I do agree too! I don't have as many saved as you do....but I did save some...and I agree...the old way was much better...so...now..I will use your house as my inspiration!
love love love you!
Use to love this magazine but i stopped many years ago when i felt was more advertisements then wonderful pictures to look at, i know i have yrs and yrs of magazines boxed up in basement....i miss a good country decorating magazine, i do get Country Sampler which i do enjoy.
Gloria..I've been taking that magazine for the same length of time. Sometimes I think I think something and you say it! LOL
Your home is amazing...and now I know part of the reason. That magazine and your determination to make it gorgeous...and the results are amazingly beautiful.
Like a fantastic novel that I read over and over...I never get tired of seeing your pretties...LOVE THOSE CLOSEUPS!!
Hugs,
Mona
I know you'll miss your country living as I have looked at it many times on line.
Country style will always be IN . so you just keep decorating like you always have and your home will remain beautiful..
Country sampler is a beautiful magazine.. you might really enjoy it.
xoxoxo
Sonny
I've been having this same conversation with my co-worker! Ever since the last editor moved on Country Living has suffered! I too have subscribed for decades and wonder if I'll renew, it's so disappointing:@(
I stuck with them from the beginning too, Gloria. Loved it! I kept lots of issues. Somewhere around here, there is one from
1981. If you were to see our house at the farm you would think you had walked right into an issue of CL, right up to grapevine and baskets hanging from the "kitchen" ceiling. Loved that publication so very much.
BUT, when that first "new" issue arrived, I decided not to renew, this year. It is not like it used to be and not in a good way. I know the cost of publishing is expensive, but I never saw such a flimsy magazine in my life! Just so very disappointed in the quality as well as the content.
I am considering ordering the British Country Living. It is a pretty book, though not quite like the old American version. Well thought out and beautifully published. I've been picking up copies at Barnes and Noble, along with copies of The English Home. J even enjoys looking through that one.
CL has lost another "valued" reader.
I loved this post. Always a joy to see your home!!
I guess I haven't been looking at it long enough to see a huge change. They are all full of adds on every other page now. I agree with Pat, I love the British version. It is wonderful!
Good Morning Gloria,
Oh I so agree! I didn't renew my subscription last year for the very same reason. I used to love it and now it doesn't even resemble country at all~
It's sterile and the colors are yucky and just pretty poor quality overall!
Anyhoo, I love your home and I love seeing the pics!
It's like my Country Living Magazine only at Gloria's place!
Hugs friend,
Cindy
yes,I agree! My March issue of Country Living was a disappointment.
I don't think the new looks country at all. I've always loved the country look and have much of it in my home. Simple is better! I get most of my ideas now from blogs so I don't get too many magazines but I'm sad to see this one change. As always your home is lovely and interesting!
Morning girl...ohhhhh how I love it when you show pics of your kitchen!!!! That is my all time favorite room in your house...alllll those TREASURES!!!!!!! I LOVE IT! Girl I dropped my subscription last year when I first started seeing the change...I collected Country Almanac for years and they changed and I still collect Country Sampler but their Home Tour edition this year was alitle disappointing and most magazines these days are turning into advertising books with a couple of pictures throwed in! We can find more inspiration in blogland than in our magazines these days...so you just keep showing us those gorgeous treasures so we can copy yours lol I Love you so sis...have a great day....Picket
I do not subscribe to any magazines so I can not comment on the changes. I will continue to visit your blog because I love seeing the antiques and the way you decorate you beautiful home. Have a beautiful and blessed day. Madeline
I agree with you. I too am going to stop my subscription. I also don't like the big format...no way they fit in a magazine keeper....whatever I guess!!
I am with you on this. I use to decorate country/primitive and loved that magazine. Eventually stopped subscribing, then started up again a couple of years ago and it is not getting renewed, along with some other magazines.
Hi Gloria,
I know what you mean. I saw the mag at the grocery store and picked it up and put it down, not the same for sure. I have been noticing in one of my favorite mags, there has been way to much advertising, I don't think I'm going to renew it next year.
Have a sweet day and hugs, Elizabeth
Ms. Gloria, I can not believe we are on the same wave length. What they call country today is so sad. I have worked all my life not to look poor. The houses they show in the new country living magazine look like the shacks we had on the farm for the workers to stay in when they came to help put up the crops. We put all our left over stuff in them and my mom made them look somewhat nice with feed store sack curtains and sheets for slip covers. I love real counrty, like you have, I want to get in there and shop. But the new country, should be called poor and poud of it. Rust and chipped paint and torn fabric can only go so far. What's up with that.What does a dress form or a lamp shade wire have to do with country??? Are they trying to say country people are poor and we want to look like them????I say bring back the real country. Love your post. Mr. Richard at My Old Historic House
I SO agree with you GLoria, I started reading Country Mag in the early 80's and I LOVED it.. but I don't anymore. I quit Romanic home and Romantic Country in January. But that being said...I don't think you need a magazine to inspire yourself, you got it goin on girl!
Hugs, Lisa
I agree Gloria! I stopped reading Country Living a few years ago, you get to almost the end of the magazine before the first house picture, then there are only a few pages and the country has changed to where it isn't even country! Country Home and Cottage Living were far superior to CL and they are gone, go figure!! I subscribe to Country Sampler now, it's MUCH better than it used to be with loads of pictures of homes. I'm gonna try and find Flea Market Style like Vicky has suggested.
Hope you're having a great week sweetie! (((HUGS))) to ya! xoxoxo
Thank you Gloria, you are so right! I quit subscribing to Country Living a few years ago... I don't even pick them up and thumb through them at the grocery store anymore. There nothing worthwhile in them. Same thing with Romantic Homes... I quit that subscription too. Nothing resonates or seems to inspire like they use to. Instead I go to the blogs for inspiration (your's being one of several blogs I enjoy and get inspiration from)! I too saved my old Country Living magazines and once in awhile, I make a strong pot of coffee and pull them down off the shelf and enjoy reading them all over again!
Gloria I so agree with you. I stopped taking Country Living last year. I do still have a few other magazines I get but am seriously considering just letting the subscriptions run out and not renew. THere are way to many advertisements compared to content in many and seem to get much more inspiration form the blogs I visit so why pay? (I know call me cheap!)
Always love looking at your beautiful home for inspiration!
bee blessed
mary
Hello Gloria,
I agree about the changes in Country Living Magazine and no longer subscribe. I have actually found more insiration in blogs over the past year than I have in any magazine.
Hugs,
Tracy
Dear Gloria,
I'm so sorry for your loss! Yes, it is a loss...I know I felt that a long time ago with Romantic Homes. I knew I no longer cared for it's new format. I dont like change..but we lose..the change will take over and a new group of followers will keep them going.
I dont like to compromise and new idea's are just that..this is just my own opinion and magazine that change will one day be sorry they did..If it aint broken..dont change it..
Another good one bite's the dust!
Years ago I bought Country Living all the time. I gave it up when I got away from "Country" decorating. I hadn't seen a copy in many years until a few months ago. I was really surprised at the change. For me, it works because I don't have all those wonderful pieces that you decorate with...I can see why if you loved the old version that you wouldn't enjoy this one!
Hi Sis...
Just thought I'd stop by to say hi and see what you've been up to! It's kind of late and couldn't sleep...so I'm reading my blogs! Hehe! Well sweet friend, I have never subscribed to Country Living. Just picked up a few mags here and there. I don't know...just have never had many mag. subscriptions. This year I have broke a record and get Romantic Homes and Victoria. I just bought the English version of Country Living from Barnes and Noble a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed it but I wouldn't call it country exactly! It really is so sad when they changed something that so many enjoyed...guess they feel like they need to keep up with the times? I don't know! Now sweet Sis...your fabulous kitchen looks like it came right out of a Country Living magazine!!! Like I've said before...I could just sit for hours in your kitchen and be sooo entertained! You really do have the most awesome antique pieces! Ohhh...and I DO love your pretty lace curtains that you have in your glass cabinets!!! I was also "eyeing" that round wooden box that sits under your crock full of rolling pins! What kind of a box it that and what was that used for? Love, love, LOVE it!!!
Well Sis...hope that all is going well for you and Lenny! Hey, did you get to keep little Landen last weekend? I'll talk to you later, Darlin'!
Love ya,
Chari
Oh, Gloria! You are so right! I dropped my subscription to Southeren Living...and I had been a fan for many years! A look at blogs would give them a clue! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie
I so agree with you! I have recently rediscovered Country Living magazine and love it. It's really a favorite of mine. Your kitchen is fabulous.
Oh yeah, thanks to you I'll be singing this country song all day! :)
Donna
Country Living Mag. has always had way too much advertising and too little pictures. The paper it is printed on is so cheesy that (unlike the old days) it is hard to cut out and save in a notebook for future browsing. I have moved on to Flea Market Mag. & Flea Market Gardening Mag. and love them.
I just love being inspired by decorating magazines and have also gotten a lot of my ideas from them. But lately...my ideas have come from other bloggers! lol As you say, they should definitely look up us bloggers, we'd show them how to decorate! hehe Love all of your kitchen finds and especially love the idea of those lace curtains inside the hutch shelves...brilliant. Oh yes, I have seen magazines change their format and ruin it all:-( xoxo
Gloria you were cool before they even said the word cool!~ That was back in the 80's I think:) I only order mags once in a while through my sons school fundraiser..but I have not even done that all year. I read too many blogs for inspiration. XO I always enjoy my visits Gloria.
Amen! I didnt know what happened . i stopped my subscription last year , too modern for me. I get Country Sampler magazine , love it too.
Glad to hear I am not the only one who was dispappointed with the last issue. I renewed because of a deal. The editor needs to get a grip on what people want. Maybe look out there at blog land??? I first found "beautiul things" blogs while living overseas. Those were the search words and a whole new world opened up for me! I found the beauty and creative inspiration that I normally got from magazines and was so missing. Blogs saved me! Now I only look at magazines over coffee in the bookstore. I buy an issue now and then if it is fabulous!
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