Kitchen and Bath Ideas: Mag Worth Checking Out

Fitzpatrick-Since I'm a member of the American Society of Interior Designer and the National Kitchen and Bath Association, I receive scads of free magazines and discounts on many others. My litmus test for a great design periodical is, “Would I pay retail price for this subscription?”

In the veritable ocean of kitchen and bath mags out there, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications’ Kitchen and Bath Ideas, (you can buy it at www.bhg.com) is one of the best on the market, and one I will not be without.

Features that make this magazine so appealing:

1. Really good projects in a range of styles and prices.

2. Floorplans! I find it frustrating to read about a project and try to determine from the text where the refrigerator is.

3. Terrific one-page, photo-heavy/text-scarce features on new trends, products, ideas, solutions.

4.Great “Spotlight” issues. September/October is all about storage. Hooray!

5. It’s the official consumer publication of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and slanted toward kitchen and bath designers and their clients. The best and newest products are featured and the slant is professional and consumer- friendly.

Did I also mention that it’s a bi-monthly publication? I adore magazines that arrive every two months. It gives me time to savor them (and rip them to shreds and file the pages in my idea files) and they don’t pile up and cause Periodical Guilt.