Bear-Hill Interiors

Get ready for Rue

2010-09-07T12:05:06Z

We are excited about the September 16^th premiere date of what will the toast of the design blogging community, Rue Magazine. Following suit of the online hit sensation Lonny, Rue Magazine is the latest proof of the all powerful internet. This online shelter “magazine” is brought to you by the creative minds of design bloggers Crystal Gentilello, Anne Sage, Alain Kaczmarski, and Caitlin Flemming.

Crystal Gentilello shares the magazine’s dynamics with Casasugar.

Anne (cofounder, executive editor) is the most brilliant writer I’ve ever known and has a knack for producing the most stunning shoots I’ve ever seen. Alaina (managing editor) has an incredible editorial instinct, vast knowledge of magazines, and a common-sense way about getting to the heart of the matter. And Caitlin’s (market editor) eye for picking up on trends before they happen and bringing them together in a way that really tells a story is uncanny.

A look at Rue Magazine

What do you think of the influx of online shelter magazines?

The Oval Office gets a face lift

2010-09-02T15:13:47Z

It’s almost been two years, but President Obama has finally got his Oval Office makeover. While the First Family vacationed in Martha’s Vineyard, designer Michael Smith came in and redecorated the famous office. It would seem that President Obama choose comfort over the more traditional style of the past Oval Offices. Red, white and blue have been replaced by the three B’s- brown, beige and blue.

Other changes include new striped wallpaper, plush leather sofas, reupholstered chairs and my personal favorite, the custom made rug that features quotes from famous Americans such as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Like Congress, the design community remains split on their views of the makeover. Michael Boodro from Elle Décor says “These sofas look like you could have a lot of long talks… They’re good for diplomacy. And that coffee table — it looks sturdier. You could put your feet up. I mean, I’m not sure anyone ever gets too comfortable in the Oval Office, other than the president, but this looks like an effort to put people at ease.”

Margaret Russell, the new editor in chief of Architectural Digest said “The room seems very American. And it looks like such a mix of classic and contemporary, with a laid-back elegance. Those sofas are plush, but not fancy, not fussy. It looks like a lot of work gets done in there. It’s elegant, and it’s also appropriate. It feels humanized.”

What do you think?

President Obama can't wait to get rid of the old furniture. / © Reuters

President Obama's Oval Office is decorated with neutral tones. / © Reuters

President Obama opts for a more relaxed look. / © Rex

Round Three of Shelter Magazine Shake-Ups

2010-08-26T15:07:30Z

We promise this is the last shelter magazine shake-up we will be reporting on for awhile; at least we hope it is. We mentioned in an earlier post that one of our favorite publication’s Veranda was getting the design expertise of former editor at Domino, Dara Caponigro, who debuted her talent as Editor-in-Chief earlier this month, but now it seems Veranda is also getting a new publisher.

Taking affect next month, Jennifer Levene-Bruno, formerly Associate Publisher at House Beautiful, will be the new Publisher of Veranda magazine. Jennifer succeeds the magazine’s founding Publisher Sims Bray, Jr, who will remain on as a consultant to the magazine until the end of the year. Jennifer Levene-Bruno helped House Beautiful become Advertising Age’s “Magazine A-list” and increased ad pages and revenue in her four years there.

“Jennifer is a natural leader and her experience in this business is unparalleled,” said Michael A. Clinton, president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines. “Her energy and determination combined with Editor in Chief Dara Caponigro’s impeccable eye for design and sense of style will continue to elevate the brand within the category.”

Bray recently told Min Online that “I was privileged to have been a part of Veranda all these years, and I wish Jen the best of luck in the future,”

We can’t wait to see what this dynamic duo does at Veranda! What do you think?