You know those days when nothing seems interesting? Just totally uninspired and blah. Easy to feel irritating, right? If you look at the internet (like you’re doing now) everything and everyone is supposed to be motivating and inspiring 24/7. It’s insufferable sometimes. We tell young creatives to learn to be inspired by LIFE MAN, cause the more places you can find LIFE the better. But do you like, buy it at a store? Does it come from Snapchat? Is it in my genes? How do you get from point zero to idea? Stubbornness was the answer today. I forced myself to find something at home. I sat on the floor in front of a bookshelf and didn’t move until something sparked. My hand eventually found this vintage Abitare issue from 1997. How is this even in my house and I didn’t know? My apartment and home office are a decent size, at least by city standards, but still there aren’t that many spots things can hide. How much is right under our noses!
Anyway. This magazine?! Gorgeous Italian design magazine, Abitare? I’m happy I know you now even if you are no longer in print. I don’t even mind that much of it is in Italian, which I don’t read. The ads are all hilariously 90s and the actual editorial content is still STUNNING. Here’s some of my favorite spreads and photos.
I clearly have a thing for libraries and this one is no exception! Multi-tiers of books! Spiral staircase and skylights. Okay. Sure. Have at it.
This desk/workspace! Parquet floors and that wall art!! I love it when people straight paint the walls in a bold way. Not something you see every day since it’s certainly not everyone’s style or interest, but damn, it’s for sure mine. And if it’s yours too, please can I come over? I’ll bring the strawberry rhubarb crisp I’m going to make tonight.
Gray paper text section in the middle breaks up the flow well and color blocked text catches the eye. I’ve always loved when paper changes inside a publication.
This one for this great geometric mosaic in all my favorite colors. This cobalt blue appears in many places in the magazine and it’s great. Feels Mediterranean, cool, happy.
This is an architect designed flat, which explains the mix of textures and materials. How fun is that sculptural built in? And painting those flea market chairs helps unify their different styles. Oh, and there’s that blue again.
Holy moly, isn’t this place the literal definition of swank? DAMN GINA. I’ve never seen a staircase quite like this before. I also love the mix of eras with the furniture and décor, always nice to see things from different times go well together. And it looks like the second level is full of plants and greenery. Because of course.
And here’s the last index page. Total graphic designer geek fest right here. Clearly someone who cares about type did this layout and hoo lands, did they ever. Large oversized letterforms, ftw.
If you know about Abitare, tell me! How did and what made you like it? Photos to share?!
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