Rubie Green Turned Magazine

Image: Lonny, Fall 2009 Premiere Issue, p. 79

So, I don't know that any of you actually ever click the links to the right of these posts, but the designer of Rubie Green, one of my favorite visual inspirations, is now the proud editor of an up-and-coming design mag. The magazine, which hit no newsstands but rather computer screens around the country, as an online-only publication, is something to look into if you're even the slightest connoisseur of design.

Says the introduction to the magazine, "We believe that good design and affordable design can coexist and that true inspiration can be found in the teeniest of homes or in the grandest of spaces." This mantra is translated into the pages that follow. Lonny invites readers into the wonderful world of reupholstered antiques, bold patterns, and unique fashionable finds. It is a place where 800 dollar sweaters co-exist alongside fifteen dollar knickknacks, expressing a true appreciation for good design at any price point. Meanwhile, Lonny also encourages readers to find ways to turn old into new-with a fresh coat of paint, a new fabric, or a few choice trend accessories. Readers can make good design their own, even on a shoestring budget, making this mag much more than a lust-driver for bigger, better, fancier.

Image: Lonny, Fall 2009 Premiere Issue, p. 134

This online glossy with a punch takes the concept of design and looks at it more holistically than most niche design mags, some of which are admittedly personal faves. On one page you may find an eco-friendly bicycling solution and information about the burlap dutzi rescue bag, a creation meant to help people in the Yucatan; and on another you may tumble across the eye-catching frocks of Doucette Duvall. The idea is to incorporate all types of design (with a particular emphasis on shelter) that can add vibrance, meaning, and utility to people's daily lives.

A few mouse clicks later, and i'm totally hooked. This magazine fills a void created by recently-demised Domino Mag, a place where readers could find high style decorating ideas that wouldn't break the bank, and visual stimulation aplenty. But Lonny definitely has its own viewpoint, and its own edge, boasting selections and ideas that express the creativity and interests of its contributors, such as newly-cast editor Michelle Adams. Formerly market editor at Domino, Adams has a penchant for showcasing interesting details and unique finds. Her first Lonny issue definitely brings it with a bang, not only hosting an array of uniquities, but also reminding readers that design is for both sexes, not just the ladies. For example, pages 83-102 provide a tour of a neutral-toned modern style New York bachelor pad with steel blue and orange accents. This at-times androgynous angle might very well seem like a gaffe to the Anthropologie wearing femmes of the planet, and from a profit perspective it might make sense to just cater to overzealous shopaholic females (pardon the bitterness), but that's not what this magazine is about.

Get ready, because this is just the sort of thing designers and the consumer market need to kick-start things after well over a year of treacherous markets, cautioned spending, and fearful financial outlooks. The idea is simple: don't go blow the bank to get something you love; find your style at the high-brow spots and then make it your own. Good style takes time, it takes cultivation, just like a good relationship does. Sure most of us can't afford an interior designer or stylist, but that doesn't mean we can't dress in clothes that flatter, and outfit our homes in pieces we love that express who we are. We can all afford to take the time to create beauty in the world around us and present ourselves in a thoughtfully crafted sort of way. It just takes a bit of patience, research and planning. Cheers to Lonny, you've captured my attention.

To see more, check out Lonny's premiere issue for free online at http://www.lonnymag.com/