house beautiful

I really enjoy House Beautiful magazine. My mother-in-law got me hooked when she gave me a stack of her old issues last year. Many of the rooms are not my style, but I nonetheless find it fascinating to read the interviews with the designers, to hear about the thinking behind their design choices.

My all-time favorite room in the magazine (so far), has been this family room designed by Robert Stilin, which was featured in the February 2009 "Makeovers" issue:

As with many of the other things in his portfolio, I love the use of natural fabrics, the calming colors, and the way he combines clean and contemporary lines with cozy and classic elements. There's nothing pretentious about this room. And doesn't it just make you want to curl up on the couch under a soft blanket and take a nap?