Inspiration on the Skirted Roundtable This Week!

The latest trend in magazines is online publishing.   Even trendier is starting your own online magazine – no paper issues, just digital issues.   Fueled by all the print magazines that have folded during this economic downturn, everybody it seems is taking the plunge to digital.     Some of the new online-only magazines are just a few pages long with not much content or effort put into them, while others rival the best of the print versions.   Armed with professional photographers and stylists, these editors fly from coast to coast taking pictures of unique houses and shops. On the whole, the digital versions are hipper and fresher than most print magazines and target the X and Y generations.   Most appealing is their immediacy and clickable links, along with being environmentally friendly.   The first big online splash was made by Lonny, which was favorably compared to domino magazine. Last year, Twitter was busy spreading the word about a new online magazine’s release: RUE.   And soon, another promising blogger driven magazine, Houston –based High Gloss, will be released.

Singer Alison Sudol is featured on this Rue’s cover this month.

The newest mag, Rue, is just three issues old. It is filled with page after page of décor and fashion.   The editors of Rue are keenly tech savvy: they used social networking to spread the word and their first issue was a smash hit.   There were so many subscribers they were able to attract high class advertisers.    Last week, we welcomed the two founders of Rue to the Skirted Roundtable.   These girls are driven, smart, energetic and talented.   They are going places and so is Rue.   Their zest is infectious.   If you are stuck in a rut or bored or just listless, listen to these two for some much needed stimulation. I felt like an old, worthless slug after talking with them!   The third issue of Rue has just arrived this week and it is filled with story after story; the issue is impressively huge at 267 pages!    How they put this together and kept up their daily blogs, I will never understand!    Here are a few of my favorite photos from the new Rue:

My favorite story is about Brooke Giannetti from Velvet and Linen. Here, in a picture from Brooke and Steve’s shop Giannetti Home, is a chair from their furniture line which Steve and Brooke design. I LOVE, LOVE this chair!!!!!! Velvet and Linen is one of my favorite blogs, a daily must for me.

Another great story centers around entertainer and photo stylist’s Annette Joseph’s aesthetic. Loved this tablescape in her Atlanta home.

Tarama Kaye-Honey’s house is innovative and fresh.   Cute dog!

It’s not all about house décor in Rue. There’s a lot of fashion.   Beautiful photograph.

Another favorite story is about Susanna Salk’s lakeside house. Here, her breakfast room caught my eye with that great island and orange and white upholstered furniture.

I love Susanna’s kitchen with its Shaws sink and marble countertops.

Her bedroom is casual trendy.   Love the headboard and the long console doubling as a desk.

The two founders of Rue, Crystal Gentilello and Anne Sage, were both bloggers when they decided to launch Rue. They had never even met face-to-face until several weeks into their partnership.    A true story of the new century, it’s all about high tech and social networking. To listen to this inspiring interview, go HERE. To read the latest Rue, go HERE.