Good magazine but too many advertisments

I have had a subscription to this magazine for about three years and I have really enjoyed it. Although most of the time I mainly look at the pictures I have found that when I do read the articles they are quite informative. They offer sections such as: historic architecture (usuallly famed homes or architects are featured), Designers at Large (the design world favorite sources), celebrity and designers homes, and Estates for Sale (estates around the world for sale for high prices.) Like I mentioned in the title to this review there are quite a few advertisments but they are all for well known companies and most of them are very well done and interesting. (What magazine dosen't have thousands of advertisements =). This magazine proves to be quite the resouce for anyone interested in interior design and it usually has the most up to date designs and designers reviewed in it.

Try 'Architecture' and 'Dwell' Instead

'Architectural Digest' has changed over the years to become fussier and more lifestyle oriented than substantial architecture and design commentary. I still have a subscription, but intend to allow it to lapse when it expires for three primary reasons:

1) The magazine is huge and cumbersome, largely due to the massive quantity of advertisements;
2) The magazine exclusively highlights gazillion dollar homes, that only are a factor for celebrities;
3) Stylistically, the magazine seems stuck in a rut of cluttered end tables and credenzas, overstuffed pillows, and no space on a wall unoccupied by a huge, gold, gilded framed picture from eighteenth century France.

I don't like clutter, and I don't like being ornate to make a house look rich. That's why I no longer think this is a magazine that I really need. For me I will read 'Architecture' for serious architectural commentary, and 'Dwell' for reasonable (and financially attainable) interior design commentary. Thanks, but no thanks.

great stuff

I always enjoy flipping through Architectural Digest, even though I am by no means one who is in the know when it comes to architecture or interior design. The pictures are high quality and range from the ultra modern to Old World classical to American traditional. The celebrity features are always interesting to take a look at, and I especially enjoyed the March 2004 one on George Lucas's Skywalker ranch.