EDITOR'S LETTER

I don't know about you, but January is a month that invigorates me. We want to move away from the last few months of holiday (and political) hysteria and wipe the slate clean. It's also a time that compels me to take a good, hard look at my home. With all the holiday decorations neatly stored away, the house always seems at its barest and, as a result, shows its true colors—its strongest and weakest areas. While some people cringe and immediately think that their decor needs a complete overhaul, I am not willing to throw it all away. I see this as an opportunity to edit.

It was exactly this time last year that I looked at my new living room with a very critical eye. It looked bare and, frankly, boring. I decided to move a few pieces around to change the room's perspective. When I stepped back, I noticed a rather large area of the floor that created a gap in the center of the room, giving the space a hallway-like feel. I placed a chair and an ottoman in this area but it still seemed to need an anchor. I remembered that I had toted a beautiful patchwork cowhide rug back from Argentina—I loved it at first sight in Buenos Aires, but had second thoughts about it when I finally brought it home. It is certainly a one-of-a-kind piece, but I always felt it looked too modern next to my furniture. So I put it away knowing I would find a use for it at some point. To my delight, it filled the space perfectly, adding just the right punch and connecting the two areas of the room with an unexpected sophistication.

We all crave change and perhaps are most open to it at the beginning of a new year. This January, in particular, offers immense promise even despite the uncertainties of the economy. So instead of "out with the old, in with the new," let's proceed with a spirit of innovation using the resources we have, exploring new trends and adorning empty spaces with pieces that really mean something. And that's a lesson for our homes—and our country.

D.J. Carey
Editor in Chief
dj.carey@candgpublications.com

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