Ed’s letter After 14 years with Home Beautiful, Sarah bids farewell
NEXT STEPS
Many years ago, I read some great advice in this very magazine about how to find your dream home, which I’ve been following closely: make up a list of the things you simply cannot live without, and then wait until a property comes along that checks every box. Easy, right? The obvious inclusions are the location and price range, but after that, there are many variables. For me, a north-facing backyard and the opportunity to update (not renovate – yet). For my husband, a pool and some serious wardrobe space (yep, he has more clothes than me). And for the kids, an area for them to play and a potential future teen retreat.
When you’ve got your checklist sorted – and the more specific it is, the better – it makes editing down the many available homes so much simpler. Instead of chasing your tail all over town every Saturday, there might only be one new listing to see. The key is patience, and if you can master that, you’re golden. For us, it meant that there were really only two potential properties during a period of about six months. The first helped us set our budget, and the second – is now ours! It’s with great excitement that I start saving the pages of HB with fresh eyes, as my family embarks upon the next stage of our lives in our new home. It feels auspicious that this issue – months in the making, just like every issue – is, in fact, our dream home special, which is all about creating a home that works for your circumstances. Find inspiration from 159.
It’s with mixed emotions that I write this letter, as it’s actually my final editor’s letter. I’ve decided to move on from Home Beautiful, which really has been my second home, and the team – my HB family for so many years. I will miss you all. But now I get to enjoy this incredible magazine from the other side – as a home renovator, decorator and reader. And that’s something to be excited about! Special note: As Home Beautiful goes to press, the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying. We at HB wish every Australian safety and good health, and know in this time, we will look out for each other.