best of the magazines: may 2014

where is the month of may going? i was very proactive this month in starting my "best of the magazines" post. i was at the library in late april pouring over the stack with coffee and loving so many new pieces and designs it was giving me blogging ADD. my problem came in actually writing the article: almost none of the spaces i truly loved were yet published on the magazines' websites. and because taking bad iphone shots of the pages just doesn't really help anyone, i decided to shelve the post and come back to it.

yesterday was may 18th and i went back to it. and guess what, june issues are here! ah!

so, before it's too late, may magazine love: go!

i'm beginning with the unpossibly beautiful may 2014 elle decor, "fresh visions" issue. i was completely lost in this magazine (in a good way), and read it for almost an hour before even getting to the main house features!

from the madrid apartment of luis bustamante:

a library with high gloss ceilings, polished sconces, and a ladder that might as well be artwork.

from the home of musician jonny buckland:

a classically styled bath with herringbone floors, a black tub, waterworks fittings, and a vintage globe light.

from a converted barn in the english countryside, home of zara chancellor and charles mcintyre:

by now you know i'm a sucker for converted barns, and for doors that are really glass walls and open to views like this:

*sigh*

from architectural digest, may 2014, "a fine romance" issue:

the exterior of a 300-year-old english country estate, in burley on the hill:

the exterior and gardens of another spectacular estate, musician ned lambton's tuscan villa:

the drawing room and master bedroom of a veere grenney-designed london rowhouse: 

lastly, i was completely taken by this photo of artist marc quinn, in his studio. the painting, flesh painting (on fat and lean), is both beautiful and creepy; at first glance you think it is a painting of flowers and then you look closer and...no, no it is not flowers.

on that note, ready to move on?

from house beautiful, may 2014, "create your dream home" issue:

the light, white bedroom of brooke davenport.

quick aside: at this point i opened the canadian magazine house & home, a new title to our library. by far, it was my favorite magazine this month, as every article was drool-worthy. i am sure they're there, but i don't see any of the spaces from the print issue readily available on their website. so for now, trust me and go grab the may issue and a coffee. you will love it.

from country living, may 2014, "cheery and bright" issue:

first of all, i noticed a little DIY that i couldn't wait to do when i got home:

next, there was the charming lake house of julie devito butler:

and a creative retreat purchased and designed by two friends, patti callahan henry and sandee oliver bartkowski:

i have to admit i'm super jealous! wouldn't it be fun to design a beautiful retreat for creative work alongside your bestie??

i grabbed the conde nast traveler, may 2014 "hot list" issue from the shelf for one reason only: sara mueller made it look like a must-read on instagram. i was glad i did though, as their round-up of the 'best new hotels in the world' was like, jaw-dropping! 

for instance, the nizuc resort & spa, cancun:

others looked enticingly cozy, like the wild rabbit, cotswolds, england:

or modern and cool, like the ace hotel, los angeles:

the whole issue gave me a major case of wanderlust.

and since we're in the travel section, i'd like to pause here and give the award for best magazine cover of the month to travel and leisure magazine. 

our final magazine is the dwell, may 2014, "modern today" issue. 

it featured a delightful beach property on the el salvador coast by architect jose roberto paredes:

how incredible would it be to hang out in a space like this??

thank you, as always, for reading and for joining me as i combed through this month's design magazines. it's really fun to have people to share and enjoy things like this with, and i'm so glad you're here. i'd love to hear your favorites!