In 2007 I had an opportunity to work with the team from HFM US to build and launch the first home design web portal of it's kind, PointClickHome.com. This website serves as the online home of the design magazines, ELLE DECOR and Metropolitan Home.
Anne E. Collins was also part of the initial launch team and is currently the executive online editor of the website. Her responsibilities as the online curator of two revered design brands is enormous and straddling both print and web properties requires a unique skill set that few editors can adjust to. We asked Anne a few questions about working in the shelter magazine industry as well as her insights into luxury design.
CH: You've worked in both print and online for stalwarts in the home decor magazines industry. Can you share your background and what it takes to be successful in your role as an online editor?
AC: I always knew I wanted to work in magazines so my sophomore year of at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA., I took an internship at the region's lifestyle magazine. From that semester on I always tried to work in print of some kind--a literary journal, an events magazine, and a weekly newspaper when I studied abroad in Spain. Though the sad truth when I got to New York was that no one wanted to hire you unless you had "New York experience," so I was back to the drawing board with another internship, but fortunate enough to get one with In Style magazine.
It is funny how quickly you can get on a track; I worked in In Style's home design department basically packing boxes but that little home mention on my resume started getting me interviews at shelter books. Soon after, I took a job at House Beautiful and have been happily working in home design ever since. I adore this category and while I love writing and editing as a craft I probably wouldn't have thrived or enjoyed myself as much at a lifestyle or fashion magazine; it's the subject that keeps me ticking.
So that is one part of being a so-called successful online editor--passion for the topic.
Since moving to LA from NYC last year I thought I'd be doing a lot more surfing. It hasn't worked out like that. As soon as the water got warm the waves went flat. I guess that's par for the course in Southern California. Even if I don't hit the beach as often as I'd like, I can still live vicariously through those that do and my favorite surfing blog is El Porto Fridays. Despite the name they surf almost daily and upload pics, video, board reviews and surf spot reports.
Recently they shared a how-to for building a vertical surfboard storage rack. This is the easiest way to store your quiver especially if you have more than 3 boards.
This project is also cheap and only requires a 2x4, wood dowels, wood screws and padding.
There are many ways to find home improvement advice. The most popular have always been books, magazines, tv and now blogs. Well these guys saw an opportunity to share their knowledge and opinions on home improvement via a podcast which is an audio episode you can download and listen to on your computer or personal listening device (iPod). We like the fact they aren't pros but two guys who are passionate about DIY, personable and can explain problems in layman's terms.
This interview unveils The Handyguys as they share the secrets to the success of their podcast, popular DIY topics and how easy it is for you to ask The Handyguys a home improvement question.
CH: Who are the handy guys behind "The Handyguys Podcast"?
HGP: The Handyguys are Brian Peppel and Paul Shane, two avid DIYers, not professional contractors. We have been doing large and small projects around the home for ourselves and others for the past 25 years, and we still have all of our fingers and toes.
CH: Why did you decide to focus on a podcast instead of just starting another home improvement blog (like we need anymore)? Do you guys have previous media training? The podcast sounds slick and well produced.
HGP: There is an overwhelming number of home improvement blogs, websites and forums online already. However, DIY forums and blog posts can be a bit impersonal, as can the so-called experts in discussion groups who often bully folks who are just trying to learn. We wanted to establish an audio DIY site with a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere.
In our day-to-day life, we often found ourselves being go-to guys for home improvement questions from other DIYers. A podcast provided a great outlet for us to share our experiences and relay our desire to help others. We love to chat about projects and help people out no matter their skill or background. Many home improvement podcasts are just re-purposed radio shows. If you want to get the weather and traffic with your home improvement podcast, subscribe to them. If you want a home improvement podcast that is produced specifically for the medium, then we are the only game in town.
As far as the podcast and website production, we are DIYers too. We studied, learned and implemented. We both have technical backgrounds in I.T. Brian has more of a sales and business background, whereas Paul is more of a technologist. Both Handyguys have lots of public speaking experience so they are not afraid to speak into a microphone.
We've profiled a few of our favorite iPhone Apps for DIY and great ones keep on coming!
As of today, here's a complete list of our favorites.
1. Knot Guide - A must have for the boy scout within.
2. The Stanley Level - Is that a level in your pocket?
3. The Handyman App - Calculate paint, flooring, wallpaper and more.
4. ID Wood - Empower yourself at the lumber yard or flooring shop. Our review
5. Converter - Ultimate unit conversions
Houseblogs is back with a new contest just for house bloggers!
Up for grabs - three $300 AMEX gift cards to use at a local True Value store.
Here's how to participate:
We want to share one of our favorite new houseblogs, San Fran Vic. The homeowners have chronicled the ongoing restoration of their 1890's Victorian home in San Francisco.
They've done amazing work so far and we are particularly stricken by their staircase renovation which they've laid out in 7 blog posts. Not so much a renovation but more of a recreation as the banister was completely gone and in it's place was a dividing wall which needed to be demo'd before any work could begin. The finished product shown above looks great and we'll continue to check on on their work and so should you.
San Fran Vic
This week Bettina Kowalewski released her book Bed in a Tree and Other Amazing Hotels From Around the World.
We found the Dog Park Inn Bed & Breakfast to be one of the most unique spots she had selected to be in her book. Guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog's decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle.
Roundup of Tweets from the @Charles_Hudson Twitter account.
@OldHouseWeb Roofing for Historic Buildings....A history.... http://bit.ly/2jEwAm
@remodeling From our Solar Blog U.S. Energy Use Drops in 2008: Overall, Americans are using less energy. .. http://bit.ly/gsNQl
@younghouselove Giveaways are usual over right now, but this week's $500 Lowe's gift card gets an extra day. You've got 'til 8pm Thurs! http://su.pr/1Tm2I0
@bhghome 15 ways to make a small #kitchen look and feel larger: http://bit.ly/4sJV7l
RT this post @HomeSavvi by noon PDT 9/25 for a chance to win a $25 Crate & Barrel gift card- US only http://bit.ly/2ve7fo
@materialicious Luxury Villa in Switzerland http://bit.ly/u0WpR
To design your own sleek modern kitchen there are more options than IKEA or spending big bucks on a designer. Henrybuilt from Seattle has launched a new line of modular kitchens called Viola Park.
The goal of the company is to simplify the process of buying a kitchen, making great design more accessible for the do-it-yourself renovator. The official site went live this weekend and includes a configuration tool that provides kitchen layouts based on a simple series of questions about a customer's particular space and appliance locations. Pricing for any option chosen is immediately presented within the configuration tool.
Need more help choosing a kitchen layout?
November 2, 2009 | Comments ()
