Blue Peter for grown ups (Inspirations)

Member Name: zusy

Product:	Inspirations
Date:	23/11/00 (635 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Full of brilliant ideas, make-it-yourself projects and interesting articles

Disadvantages: I’ve had to wade through many other inferior magazines to find this one. Well, as they say: You have to kiss a lot of frogs…

Having read several home magazines lately, I was dubious to say the least as to the quality of this one. They seem to be an endless patronising parade of plastic people in phony poses (try saying that really quickly!). However, I’m happy to report that this is the best of the crop, and I will definitely be buying it again.

Yes, it did have a freebie (stamping kit and silver paint) – those who’ve read other magazine reviews by me may notice my predilection for free stuff… I know it’s sad and I should know better, but I am transported back to the days when Jackie magazine for Girls would have a free awful lipstick or flimsy bracelet glued to the front…it didn’t matter what it was, it was free and it was mine!

Except it wasn’t really free, you had to pay for the magazine…but I digress…

Anyway, back to the review…

Inspirations For Your Home is a monthly magazine dedicated to showing the reader how to recreate the things they see in the photo shoots. Instead of a heart-attack inducing price and the name of some obscure and snobby shop by the side of an item, there are detailed instructions for making it yourself at the back of the magazine.

The projects are labeled as to their difficulty or otherwise, so people of all accomplishments may try their hand at something. Even me! And I’m cack-handed at the best of times. The instructions are clearly laid out, with patterns or stencils you can photocopy and enlarge to size.

In the current (December 2000) issue the things you can make range from a velvet bag, a Bohemian-style bed throw, baroque candle holders and MDF radiator covers; to card trees, rustic style plastered walls and willow chandeliers decorated with chillies!

Everything you see in the magazine that has a little ‘m’ symbol beside it means there are detailed instructions, but even those things that don’t have in
structions are useful. The magazine is called ‘Inspirations’ and that is exactly what it offers the reader – I was bursting with ideas by the time I’d finished reading.

Thank goodness for a magazine that actually bothers to come up with innovative ideas about decorating. They manage to incorporate a number of styles into their pages, and never look dated, dull or naff. A triumph in the home magazines world!

There are some excellent articles, too – I was fascinated by the detailed piece about Christmas customs of the past. It was well researched and a welcome break from the “Your home will never be as lovely as ours” type features in other magazines.

There’s a good mix of projects – long-term DIY ideas and quick, cheap ideas according to how much time you have on your hands. One article shows how to transform a room for Christmas if you have 2 hours/ 4 hours or 6 hours to spare.

Another very useful feature was testing those design kits you can get – make your own stained glass, candles, pottery or whatever… They tested for ease of use, value for money, the amount of materials you get in the kit and how clear the instructions were to follow. Invaluable advice if you’re thinking of buying one as gift or for yourself.

The free gift of the stamping set had several pages dedicated to using it – obvious ideas like making your own cards and wrapping paper, but inventive ones, too, such as making a cardboard wreath by using the holly stamp as a stencil and gluing the cut-outs to a circle.

This issue had a very useful feature on Christmas gift ideas – things I may actually be able to afford, for a change! I also enjoyed the pieces about other people’s homes. I never thought I’d be saying that, having read such glossy dross in other magazines; but the homes featured are very imaginatively decorated and gave me lots more ideas.


Overall, this is a well thought-out magazine that is actually worth keeping. Imagine that! I love the way they mix classic and contemporary design (a look I’m trying to achieve in my own new home) and how you can adapt the projects to suit your own tastes.

Other home magazines should take note – Inspirations does not need to patronise their readership, nor does it show-off Stepford Wives on a pedestal to which we are all supposed to aspire.

I think this magazine represents excellent value for money. I’ve been looking at design and DIY books that don’t cover half of the projects featured in this one issue, yet cost over 14 quid!

Goodbye sticky backed plastic and egg boxes, hello Medium Density Fibre board and velvety material…

Summary: