I Can't Believe It's Been Ten Years!

More than ten years ago, at the age of 24, I made the commitment to finally subscribe to Martha Stewart Living, a magazine I had been buying at the newsstand nearly every month since my first days in college. It was May, 2002, when I finally made the decision to subscribe and Martha was on the cusp of a truly difficult period in her life. I felt that my subscription might mean something, that it might show at least a modicum of support for a woman whose business and publications I had admired for years and who was going through so much unnecessary turmoil. So, I signed the cheque, sent in my subscription card and waited anxiously for my first addressed issue to arrive. When the June 2002 issue arrived in my mailbox, I was thrilled. I knew then that I would archive these magazines and invested in numerous magazine holders to prepare. (The image below shows only a quarter of my collection of Martha Stewart Living magazines.) 

 

The day that issue arrived I felt like I was part of a bigger family of like-minded individuals who wanted and needed the same things that I did, who enjoyed the same activities and had an interest in learning. I felt like part of a community of readers and connected very strongly to the magazine's message - that household management could be an elevated form of duty, filled with creativity and enjoyment and information.

Over the last ten years, so much has happened in my relationship with the Martha Stewart brand that I can scarcely keep track of it all. I wrote voiciferously for SaveMartha.com during Martha's trial and subsequent incarceration, partnering with John Small (the site's founder) on ideas and strategies to keep Martha's good name alive. I subsequently subscribed to each of her new magazines (Everyday Food in 2004, Martha Stewart Kids in 2005, Blueprint in 2006) and watched her TV show regularly. When Martha was free, I started this blog with the hopes of broadening Martha's inspiring content through my own lens. I watched the premier of her new show and the year after that found myself in the third row in the studio audience, meeting Martha for the first time the day after at the Good Things event at the Manhattan piers. Four years later, I was a guest on the show, chatting with the woman who had created something I so admired and who had unwittingly shared such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration in my life. This was a dream come true.

 

I am reflecting on all of this today because I received a wonderful surprise in the mail this afternoon: a free one-year subscription to Martha Stewart Living with the renewal of my current subscription and a free Martha Stewart calendar. Special perks, it would seem, for someone who has subscribed to the magazine for ten years without interruption. I can't believe it's been ten years! Here's to another ten! Thank you, Martha.

Martha's "Autumn Woods" Rugs at Macy's

Periodically, I like to scour the Macy's website for some new favourites from the Martha Stewart Collection, not just to showcase here but also to imagine how and where I would use them in my own home. Yesterday I discovered these beautiful area rugs, part of Martha's "Autumn Woods" collection, which are hand tufted in India. Made of long wool fibres, the pile is almost an inch think, yet the delicate leaf-and-vine patterns are still beautifully rendered. What I love most are the colours - from cool to warm, you can make these rugs work in any living space in your home. Click here to learn more.

A Dreamy Modern Farmhouse

Yesterday, I made the half-hour trek to Oakville from Toronto with a friend of mine to visit the Princess Margaret Lottery Showhome. The $4.3-million house is one of several prizes to be won in support of Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital and it is quite the prize, indeed! Designed by architect Ray Murakami and House & Home magazine publisher Lynda Reeves, the 4000 square-foot house sits on a half-acre lot in a beautiful Oakville neighbourhood, just minutes from the town's historic Lakeshore Road. The house was designed to be a modern interpretation of a traditional Ontario farmhouse with prairie design principles (clean lines, durable materials) guiding much of the architectural layout and facade. Below are some photographs from my tour.

A beautiful, soft-gray limestone mixes with vertical wood siding stained a deeper shade of gray to create a monochromatic effect that is anything but boring. The metal roof by Vicwest adds a third layer of texture to the exterior. Landscaping was done by Ron Holbrook, designed to be simple but formal.

The exterior of the house was intentionally designed to look as though it has been added on to, with contrasting materials and intricate angles, unified and subdued by the neutral colour palette. 

My friend Winnie, above, was impressed by the drapery by Kravet, which was hung with the stripes traveling horizontally to contrast the soaring height of the great room. (Below is the view of the great room from the upper hallway.) The enormous limestone fireplace is impressive but simple. Furniture by Ralph Lauren Home. Table by Michel Zelnik.

Our guide for the tour was House & Home magazine editor Mark Challen, shown here in the beautiful kitchen, which features an AGA stove, an enormous marble island and no upper cabinetry to keep the room feeling fresh, bright and modern. What I also loved is that the appliances were kept nearly entirely out of sight. Built into the island are refrigerator drawers by Jenn-Air, a microwave drawer, dishwasher and a wine fridge - all kept out of view. A larger, Fhiaba refrigerator is located not far off in the adjacent servery, hidden behind cabinetry veneer by Rettie Restoration. 

Among the best features of the home are the windows by Dundas Woodwindows and Specialties. I love how geometrically simple they are, allowing the light to pour in. The oak hardwood floors throughout the home were stained a pale, milky tone to keep everything feeling light and clean.

The master ensuite bathroom was very dramatic with ceramic tile cut in long, wood-like lengths to keep harmony with the rest of the flooring in the home. Marble tile on the walls, a glass shower and frosted-glass toilet enclosure reveal how every detail was considered in this home. And how about that tub!

Even the utility areas of the home were inviting and filled with design details. The laundry room, on the left, was located in the finished basement. The room doubles as a craft and sewing room. On the right is the dressing room in the walk-in-closet of the master bedroom, with custom shelving and a bench for seating.

The Return Of The Beekman Boys!

Tonight marks the television return of the Beekman Boys! Season two of their hit show "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" which originally aired on Planet Green will now air on The Cooking Channel, starting tonight. If the show is a hit, The Cooking Channel may produce a third season of the show, so please tune in to watch. You can also catch Brent and Josh on season 21 of The Amazing Race, which premiers Sunday, September 30th on CBS at 8 pm. 'The Boys' will be competing against 10 other teams to win $2-million - a prize that increased this season from $1-million - as they journey across three continents, nine countries and covering more than 25,000 miles. I can't wait to watch!

Josh and Brent continue to inspire us with their pursuit of self-sustained living and brand development at their beautiful farm in Sharon Springs, New York. The Beekman mansion is shown above. They are still touring the country to promote their wonderful Beekman 1802 line of goat-milk soaps, cheeses, books and preserves and recently rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange! They also recently hosted the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival, a celebration they devised a few years ago to help put their beloved town on the map and foster a sense of community. I have always loved and admired what they've done and I couldn't be happier about their return to television!

By the way, I write a weekly column on their website called Five Beautiful Things. Please check it out each Thursday night! 

Martha Discusses Philanthropy

Martha recently attended the innaugural Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy and sat down with Moira Forbes, President and Publisher of Forbes Woman, to discuss what philanthropy means to her. Martha outlines some of the causes that are close to her heart, particularly how best to care for a rapidly-aging American population. Please watch the video below for Martha's thoughtful insights:

The October Issue

The editors have given us two covers for the October issue of Martha Stewart Living this year. The image on the left is what you'll find on newsstands and on the iPad version of the magazine. The image on the right was sent to subscribers only. (I much prefer the newsstand cover!) Inside the magazine, there is wonderful content, including Jude's first birthday party (Martha's granddaughter), a Halloween fun house with make-up tips, costume ideas and decoration how-tos, gorgeous autumn arrangements, hearty homecooked dinners, a lesson on heirloom apples, a tailgate party at a horse-race meeting in New Jersey and a Chicago collector's eclectic home. This is a good issue!

The Cooking School Episodes, Week by Week

It's less than a month away before we can tune into PBS to watch the first episode of Martha Stewart's Cooking School, her new weekly television show, which debuts on the weekend of October 6th. (Mark your calendars!) Each episode is a half-hour in length and focuses on a different theme: eggs, sauces, butchering, steaming, etc. There will be 13 episodes in total, airing Saturdays and repeating on Sundays. Below is the "cirriculum" - a week-by-week list of what we'll be learning. Sharpen your pencils and whet your appetites, my fellow classmates! (Click here to watch a preview of Martha Stewart's Cooking School.)

EPISODE 1
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 6/7: EGGS
Want to know how to cook the perfect soft- or hard-cooked egg? Or the fluffiest scramble? Martha shares these and other secrets as she teaches viewers all they need to know about eggs, the world’s most versatile protein. Whether you like your egg over easy or sunny-side up, Martha shows you how to prepare them properly every time, with easy-to-master techniques and tips. You’ll learn a clever method for frying eggs, a surefire omelet recipe, and the key to a foolproof frittata.

EPISODE 2
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 13/14: SAUCES
Join Martha as she teaches the classic sauces everyone should know how to make: hollandaise, béchamel, beurre blanc, and marinara. Each of these easy, adaptable recipes offers a culinary lesson in flavor-building techniques, so viewers can learn to create other sauces in the same family. Martha begins with two different methods for preparing hollandaise sauce, a delicious accompaniment to steamed asparagus and eggs Benedict. A creamy béchamel sauce becomes the basis for a grown-up take on macaroni and cheese. Martha serves the French sauce beurre blanc over steamed lobsters. Finally, she prepares a quick, fresh-tasting, better-than-anything-from-a-jar marinara sauce using only four ingredients.

EPISODE 3
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 20/21: VEGETABLES
Everyone knows the importance of eating vegetables, but many home cooks avoid cooking them simply because they don’t know how. They want to add more vegetables to their diets but lack an understanding of the basic techniques. In this episode, Martha shares her favorite methods for preparing vegetables so that they retain their delicious flavors, bright colors, and nutritional properties. She offers viewers her approach to the wonderful world of cooking vegetables with quick, easy-to-follow recipes and tips. Viewers will learn how to make very simple vegetable side dishes including both corn on the cob and Mexican corn, sautéed broccoli rabe, acorn squash, brown sugar–glazed carrots, sautéed sugar snap peas and shelled peas with mint, and lemony kale salad.

EPISODE 4
WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 27/28: STOCKS
Making stock is an exercise in building flavors and, as such, is one of the first lessons in any culinary course. Having a steady supply of homemade stock in the freezer will elevate anyone’s home cooking. In this episode, Martha shares recipes and techniques for the three most common stocks—chicken (including a time-saving pressure-cooker version), beef, and vegetable—as well as useful cooking and storage tips.

EPISODE 5
WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 3/4: BUTCHERING
Fifth-generation New York City butcher Evan Lobel joins Martha for a master class on meat. Together, they teach viewers how to choose and cook the best cuts of meat, from tender to lean. Not only will this episode make you a better cook, but it will save you money as well. After all, buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself is much more economical than buying chicken parts. Martha and Evan demonstrate some of the most useful butchering techniques, including cutting up a whole chicken, butterflying a leg of lamb, butchering a beef tenderloin, and making medallions from a pork loin.

EPISODE 6
WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 10/11: RICE
If you have rice in your pantry, you’re well on your way to a great meal—something you have in common with home cooks around the globe. Martha offers a lesson on the world’s most common grain, starting with a perfect pot of fluffy white rice, which you can incorporate into a main course or serve as an accompaniment to a host of other dishes. From there, she’ll show you her tried-and-true techniques for flavorful pilaf, risotto, and Thai fried rice.

EPISODE 7
WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 17/18: DRESSINGS AND EMULSIONS
Homemade dressings far outshine any store-bought varieties, and Martha will show you how easy it is to make your own. She starts the lesson with a delicious shallot vinaigrette prepared two ways: whisked directly in the bottom of a salad bowl and shaken in a small jar. She also makes a creamy blue cheese dressing—just the thing for drizzling onto a wedge of iceberg lettuce. And did you know that you can make your own mayonnaise, too? Follow Martha’s step-by-step instructions, then use it to prepare the most delectable BLT.

EPISODE 8
WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 24/25: STEAMING
Steaming is one of the fastest and healthiest ways to cook—and it’s not just for vegetables. In this lesson, Martha demonstrates a variety of steaming techniques and tools that allow you to make complete meals in just minutes. She’ll show you how to cook chicken breasts in parchment paper for moist, flavorful meat, as well as how to clean and steam mussels. And if you’ve never used a bamboo steamer before, you’ll become a convert after watching Martha use one to prepare steamed salmon and peas simultaneously for a quick and easy dinner.

EPISODE 9
WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 1/2: ROASTING
This episode is devoted to roasting, a straightforward and adaptable technique that also works well for meat, fish, and chicken. Martha’s roast chicken showcases the benefits of this method, with a crisp exterior and moist interior. Because roasting so beautifully concentrates the flavors of the ingredients, it’s also well suited to vegetables, and Martha includes a recipe for a delicious roasted root vegetable salad. Finally, she prepares a show-stopping dish fit for any holiday table: a green peppercorn-crusted roast tenderloin of beef.

EPISODE 10
WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 8/9: BRAISING
Braising is a busy cook’s best friend, and here’s why: With little hands-on time and no special equipment, this “low-and-slow” method produces hearty, consistently flavorful main courses and side dishes that belie their ease. It’s also a great way to cook lean, inexpensive cuts of meat. In this episode, Martha shows you which cuts are ideal for braising and the best ways to cook them, sharing recipes for classic pot roast, braised cabbage with apples, and pulled pork sandwiches.

EPISODE 11
WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 15/16: POACHING
Because poached meats are moist and tender yet still mild in flavor, they work well as the basis for numerous salads, soups, and light suppers. They’re also famously low in fat. Martha begins this lesson by showing how one of the most healthful and versatile preparations—simply poached chicken breast—can be incorporated into all-American chicken salad sandwiches as well as a Cobb salad. Martha also shares recipes and techniques for poached salmon steaks, and last she reveals the secret to poaching eggs.

EPISODE 12
WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 22/23: FRYING
The very best fried foods are golden brown on the outside and deliciously tender within—never greasy or soggy. Yet frying on the stove top is a technique that can elude even the most ambitious home cook. In this episode, Martha offers lessons in how to deep-fry and pan-fry to perfection at home in your own kitchen. Recipes and step-by-step techniques include French fries, pan-fried chicken (a Southern favorite marinated in buttermilk before coating), and Japanese tempura vegetables with dipping sauces. She shares lots of tips for keeping foods crisp without allowing them to absorb excess oil.

EPISODE 13
WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 29/30: PAN SEARING
In this episode, Martha demonstrates how to pan-sear, a technique that produces consistently satisfying—and quick—meats and fish. Pan searing involves browning food quickly over high heat so it develops a nice crust and locks in the flavor and juiciness. Martha shares her technique for pan-seared scallops with lemon-caper sauce. She also offers recipes for crisp-skinned salmon fillet, pan-seared steak with mustard-cream sauce, and Muscovy duck breasts with a port-wine reduction.

Stephen Earl's Kitchen Renovation

One of my favourite former editors of Martha Stewart Living magazine is Stephen Earl. Stephen was the style director for many years and left Martha Stewart in 2003 to become the Senior Vice President of Home Design at Ralph Lauren. Stephen's pieces in the magazine were always among my favourite, as were his contributions to the television show. With Martha's little bees working hard to expand digital access to their backlog of television footage, I decided to blog about one of my favourite "Stephen Moments" on Martha's old television program and its companion piece in the magazine: the renovation of Stephen's kitchen in the 1843 Greek Revival home he was living in at the time in Maplewood, New Jersey. I love the architecture of the space, the arches, classic lines and updated-country warmth. I love the colours and the mix of rustic with new. CLICK HERE TO WATCH the video of Stephen's kitchen transformation. Below are some of the photographs by Matt Ducklo from the September 2002 issue of Martha Stewart Living, which featured an article on the renovation and design process.

MSL Expands Digital Video Partnerships

As part of its strategy to expand its content business to better produce and offer its valuable how-to information across a variety of platforms, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. today announced several new relationships that will put its content in easier reach of consumers.

Beginning today, full episodes of MSLO’s popular content will be available for the first time online on Hulu and Hulu Plus. Other MSLO short-form video content will be distributed to an audience of 52.9 million viewers via The AOL On Network, which includes the AOL On video hub, AOL’s owned and operated properties and publisher partners. In addition, MSLO has engaged Fullscreen, Inc. to help optimize and manage its video content on YouTube and build its audience.

The new agreements reflect MSLO’s larger strategy to redefine its video business by providing content across multiple platforms, especially online. MSLO’s video business encompasses over 15,000 how-to videos featuring such talent as Martha Stewart, Chef Emeril Lagasse and Lucinda Scala Quinn, the star of the Mad Hungry TV series and Executive Editorial Director of Food and Entertaining at MSLO.

An increasing amount of short-form, high-quality video will be accessible via a new video hub on marthastewart.com and other digital platforms. The company recently introduced a new daily video series, Everyday Food with Sarah Carey, a companion to the popular print and tablet magazine Everyday Food; the videos can be found on marthastewart.com and on the Everyday Food channel on YouTube, and consumers can subscribe to receive the free daily video newsletter directly to their inbox. The Everyday Food videos are the first in what is expected to be an expansive library of new, digital original “how-to” video clips from MSLO.

MSLO’s President and Chief Executive Officer Lisa Gersh said: “Viewers are consuming media on an increasing number of screens and that’s why we are tapping our strong competency for producing quality, how-to video content by expanding our presence across multiple platforms. We’re also putting resources into connecting audiences who are hungry for do-it-yourself guidance with our expertise. We want to provide the most relevant, high-quality answers to their questions about a range of lifestyle subjects: from how to cook your Thanksgiving turkey and decorate for the holidays to planting bulbs for your garden and advice on home decor.”

The Martha Stewart Network on Hulu and Hulu Plus will include curated content from the company’s vast video library, launching today with three different programs–From Martha’s Kitchen, Emeril’s Table, and DIY Crafts–with plans to add additional content in October and throughout the year. In addition to shows from the Martha Stewart catalog, viewers will be able to access seasonal content in categories such as Halloween Celebrations, Holiday Celebrations, and Weddings Celebrations.

Under The AOL On Network agreement, MSLO will provide the platform with short-form video segments of archived content. Additional premium content, which will be sold by MSLO’s ad sales team, will be rolled out following the launch. Fullscreen, Inc. will focus on extending the reach and awareness of MSLO programming on YouTube while also working with MSLO to build a Martha Stewart Network on YouTube.

New Martha Stewart Glass Paint Line

The innovators and pioneers at Martha Stewart's Crafts Department have come up with a new line of paints and silkscreen adhesives designed specificially for glass and ceramics. All are permanent and all paints are dishwasher safe. And folks, these ones are really spectacular! I've already had enthusiastic and excited emails from fans letting me know about this line. Jim, a Martha Moments reader, says he is already planning to use these paints for some of his holiday decorations. Below is information about the new paint line from The Crafts Dept. Blog and some photographs of some of the projects you can try. The new line of Martha Stewart Glass Paint has hit the shelves at Michaels.

What makes this line so special is the introduction of new finishes that are a perfect complement to your glass projects. They are offering glitter, opaque, metallic, transparent, and translucent paints. The transparent and translucent frost paints are great because unlike opaque paints they still allow light to pass through the glass. This makes them perfect for votives, glass ornaments, and all other glassware. Here are a couple projects they created while playing around with the paint.

The translucent frost paint creates this lovely, subtle, frosted effect for your glassware. You can use our patterning tape to create stripes or punched contact paper circles for polka dots!

This marbled glass was created with the Transparent Liquid Fill paint (available in stores starting October 1st). Check back in with The Crafts Dept. for a tutorial and how-to instructions.

Another incredible tool that they are introducing with this line are adhesive silkscreens. Both re-positionable and reusable they are designed to help you create incredibly detailed artwork with the paints. Here is a peek at a few of the projects you can achieve:

Martha Stewart lace silkscreen on glass jewelry boxes. It’s so quick and easy!

Martha Stewart butterfly silkscreens create a butterfly effect.

These vessels were painted first on the OUTSIDE of the bottles, then painted with the Martha Stewart doily silkscreens. The effect is dreamy!

Decorative Picture Nails

More than a century ago, picture nails were used in some households for hanging frames and propping up the bottom edges of mirrors. But these specialized pieces of hardware were never especially popular, and they seem to have survived only in small numbers. Most collectors believe decorative picture nails evolved from coat hooks in the late eighteenth century. Most of the examples that survive today are from the nineteenth century, usually about an inch in diameter, made of creamy white porcelain, pressed glass or stamped brass.

 

In the September 2000 issue of Martha Stewart Living the editors created a beautiful editorial feature showcasing these antique examples mixed with their more current cousins, curtain tiebacks. The editors suggest using curtain tiebacks as decorative picture nails since they are often larger and easier to find today, including the antique examples, which are less expensive. I love these photographs by William Abramowicz. They reinforce what Martha has always taught: that the everyday objects we live with and admire are often works of art themselves, that rethinking and re-imagining an object's purpose can yield striking results. 

Spanning the nineteenth century, a group of stamped-brass and gilt-on-brass tiebacks includes one with thistles (bottom right in the top frame), circa 1815. Another with a foil-backed pressed glass center is from the 1840s. The tieback at the bottom is one from Martha's collection.

The nine roundels in the frame above are made of pressed glass, embellished with touches of coloured paint on the inside, filled with poured plaster and ringed in brass or nickel. The nail head at the top is made of amber glass.

A mix of curtain tiebacks and vintage picutre nails finds harmony in this monochrome vignette of cool blues and rich creams. Porcelain and pressed-glass with brass and nickel accents impart sophistication. (And I love the wallpaper with its subtle nail print!)

American Made: Don't Forget To Vote!

Tis the season to cast your vote! Americans can start practicing their voting skills before heading to the booths on November 6th by selecting their favourite finalist in Martha Stewart's American Made Awards contest. (People living outside the U.S. can vote, too, by the way.) CLICK HERE to review the finalists and make your selection for the Audience Choice Award. Ten American makers will be honoured by Martha Stewart Living at a special event held at Grand Central Terminal in New York City on October 17th and 18th, where there will be talks, workshops, demos and a special café. You can help select the eleventh winner! (Only one vote per person. Voting ends September 24th.)



The Fall Issue of Sweet Paul: Out Now!

Paul Lowe, founder and editor of one of Sweet Paul magazine, contacted me yesterday, urging me to let the good readers of Martha Moments know that his fall issue is now online! Sweet Paul is one of my favourite magazines, and has been since last year when a friend of mine introduced me to it. Martha Stewart fans will love Sweet Paul, not only for the recipes and craft ideas, but also for the beautiful photography, design, typography and all that other good stuff that makes a magazine worth reading. The fall issue is all about warm and delicious comfort foods, woodsy crafts, Halloween ideas and more! You can read it online here. Limited edition print copies of the magazine are available at Anthropologie stores in the U.S. and Canada and select stockists worldwide.

Looking Back to Move Forward: Vol. 9 (September)

In her letter to readers in the March, 2012, issue of the magazine, Martha Stewart Living editor-in-chief Pilar Guzman makes an intriguing comment about looking back to former issues of the magazine in order to move forward. She writes: "...we will feature images on this page that inspire us from the magazine's archives. Sometimes it's important to look back in order to move forward." As a longtime subscriber, I felt like playing along! I'll be raiding the archives each month to showcase my favourite issue. Here is my selection for September.

MY FAVOURITE SEPTEMBER ISSUE: 1999
The September issue of Martha Stewart Living has always been counted among my top three best issues of the year for that magazine. Its focus on decorating is the hook and the pages, filled with sumptuous photographs of beautiful rooms, inspire me to tweak my own humble surroundings to make them a little nicer, a little more special. One of the most classic September issues of Martha Stewart Living is the 1999 issue. Its main feature is the redecoration of Turkey Hill, Martha's former home in Connecticut. Photographs of the home are gorgeously lit, warm with gilt and pine. The essence of Martha's decorating style is perfectly captured and the hallmarks of her taste are perfectly portrayed: patina, neutrals, a mix of old and new. Also in this issue are the homes of two longtime Living editors: Margaret Roach's Victorian cottage and Gael Towey's Manhattan duplex. Both are gorgeous examples of interior design filtered through a personal vision. For Margaret, it's her love of red and green, nature and whimsy. For Gael, it's clean lines and pared-down city chic. I will go so far to say that any fan of Martha's who does not have this issue really should track it down. You can order it here if you don't have it. For the analysis of Turkey Hill alone it is worth it. Below are some photographic highlights from the issue.

RUNNERS UP: Below are runners up for my favourite September issue. (From left to right: 2000, 2001, 2002) It was very difficult to choose this month! In each issue below, there is a true commitment to the theme at hand: decorating. Other core-content areas are here but are kept to a minimum. The 2000 issue showcases the interiors of Skylands to great effect. The 2001 issue explores Martha's guest apartment at Turkey Hill and the 2002 issue is a must for its how-to and DIY lessons, from murals to kitchen renovations.