• by Erik Sass , May 28, 2009

Dwell, an independently published shelter title, unveiled a new special-interest publication about creative home design titled Make It Yours. The publishers hope the new brand extension will fill a previously unmet demand for do-it-yourself design in its particular style, strengthening its connection with Dwell readers. The book-magazine will be available on newsstands for three months beginning Sept. 22, and will be promoted with special displays in Barnes & Noble, Borders, Whole Foods, Lowe's and 400 airport news locations, among other locations.

The book-magazine features the same elegant interior and exterior photography found in the magazine, which targets younger, design-conscious homeowners with fresh, forward-thinking shelter aesthetics. Text and photographs guide readers through DIY projects large and small, presenting hundreds of home design tips, makeover ideas and decorating strategies.

Design suggestions, organized around photos from the Dwell archive, are divided into categories including kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, living rooms and home offices. Dwell Editor in Chief Sam McGraw said the ideas were chosen for "sustainability, cost-efficiency and style savvy," in cooperation with featured architects and designers. Make It Yours also presents shopping suggestions for products featured in various projects.

The inspiration for the publication comes partly from the heavy traffic on Dwell's Web site, where visitors have shown a particular desire for home-improvement projects they can execute themselves. Michela O'Connor Abrams, the president and publisher of Dwell, explained: "With Make It Yours, Dwell provides a targeted resource designed to help our audience understand their choices and narrow down their design options in a hands-on format."

Get Married Says, Get Married!

Banking on women's enthusiasm for all things wedding-related, a new, free bridal magazine is being launched by Get Married, a multichannel wedding planning resource with platforms online and on television. With a circulation of 300,000 at launch, the first issue of the free, 8.5-x-10-inch glossy is scheduled to debut in October. The publishers describe it as a "new shopping and trend guide for the savvy bride." The print publication will complement Get Married's Lifetime television show of the same name, and its Web site Getmarried.com. Stacie Francombe, founder and president of Get Married and GetMarried.com, explained: "Get Married magazine rounds out our truly integrated approach to wedding planning, and will continue to capture the excitement of brides who watch, surf and read their way through designing every moment of their wedding celebration." The magazine's editorial team will be led by executive editor Stephanie Davis, formerly the editor of skirt!, and GetMarried Editor in Chief Jill Meister.

BHG Gets Fresh Look

Better Homes and Gardens is getting a makeover beginning with its June issue, on newsstands now. The revamp, led by Editor in Chief Gayle Butler, makes the magazine, lighter, brighter, and easier to navigate. It also introduces a new front-of-book section, "Fresh," with an editorial focus on new, modern design and homemaking strategies that aim to appeal to younger women. Fresh includes content areas like Fresh Now, with timely things to do or try each month, Fresh Living, with seasonal ideas for entertaining, Fresh Tech, highlighting consumer and home tech products, and Fresh Finds, showcasing seasonal home products. The new BHG also features enhanced health coverage and new design treatments for signature fonts, visuals, and icons.

Player Joins Afar

Donna Player has joined travel mag Afar as its East Coast and Midwest sales director. Previously, Player served as sales development director at Hearst's Veranda magazine; before that she also spent seven years at American Express Publishing's Departures. Scheduled to debut in August, Afar is the flagship publication of a media company dedicated to bringing together experiential travelers from around the globe.