Home and Ideas (Homes and Ideas)

Member Name: polydeuces

Product:	Homes and Ideas
Date:	09/08/08 (4 review reads)
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Among the plethora of magazines which can show you wonderful homes there are few that seem to have their feet placed on the firm wood flooring they all seem to recommend. All too often the rooms have been transformed not so much by good ideas as by good money. Frankly if we all had that much money all our houses would look that good. Well, probably no.

There are other ingredients needed to improve your home. Time is one obviously but there is little that can be done about the number of hours in a day. You do also need a few good ideas, a bit of know-how and a degree of confidence. Magazines which show schemes and plans way beyond our budget may make good reading but probably do little for your house or for that matter for you.
Homes & Ideas is better than the others because it shows simple achievable little jobs which can improve the look and functionality of your home. It also ensures the tasks can be done without a woodworking or sewing GCSE and without the need for a budget of 100s of £s.

There are real homes shown with the emphasis on real and on home. I know they will have been tidied up and presented at their best but they do look like someone lives there. The homes in some similar magazines look like they exist only in 2 dimensions.
The emphasis in much of the magazine is on transforming and improving. It tells you that the basic things you have are good but if they are looking a bit tired don't throw them out give them a fresh look.
The magazine does also have articles on gardening and even on food and again the approach is sensible and simple. There are a few competitions and a few reader offers and a page where queries are answered.

Homes and Ideas is a well thought out magazine obviously written with enthusiasm and knowledge. It is not excessively prissy but not like a leaden diy magazine either. It strikes a good balance and has enough in each issue to easily save the £2.10 cost.

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