Good Things or Rip-Offs

Have you checked out the new Martha Stewart Living magazine?

I usually don't pick it up, but this issue is full of "good things," to quote Martha. I think the big title "Love Your Home: Style Ideas for Every Room of the House" was a clue I might like it more than her usual issues (which are often just too crafty for me making me feel inadequate - who needs that?).

Oh, sure there are crafty DIY things in there, like these cute monogrammed headboards:

I, of course, while liking the headboards mainly think, "I love that lamp." Then, "cute dog." The takeaway here - while I can appreciate a good DIY, I'm not going to tackle most of them. Sad but true. I just like to study the styling and interiors. I know my place and I'm comfortable in it. Another cute photo from this story about monograms:

Sorry for the quality, I snapped this with my camera.

Doesn't this remind you of a Miles Redd room? Not totally, but the saturated tones and painted shelves are reminiscent of him, I thought. No big deal. Everyone does this look now, and I still love it. However, they even used Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue (and not a Martha color like they do in most of the spreads) like Miles did in this rather famous room featured in House Beautiful in 2009 . . .

But then, I almost gasped when I saw another photo in a feature they did on spiffing up interior doors (also another very Miles Redd thing to do). Check out this photo from MSL:

Sorry, once again, for my photo.

And now a photo from the Miles Redd-designed apartment in House Beautiful (same apartment featured above): 

Um, pretty clear they copied this entire concept. Miles' doors were covered in green leather, while Martha's doors were simply painted, but the brass upholstery tacks, hallway wallcovering, zigzag floor covering, and DeGournay-esque wallpaper (or treatment) in the adjoining room are all extremely similar. I understand that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but couldn't they have at least credited Miles Redd or asked permission to use his photo as a reference ("how to create this look on a budget" kind of thing)? I realize there's no such thing as an original idea, but this seems like a pretty blatant rip-off to me.

Don't get me wrong, there are some great ideas and eye candy in this Martha Stewart Living. And they, of course, do a great job of educating you on how to do these decorative treatments yourself, I just wish they were a little more original or honest in their presentation.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a little like creative plagiarism?

Sources: Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful

You have read this articleHouse Beautiful / Martha Stewart Living with the title Good Things or Rip-Offs. You can bookmark this page URL http://ethiopiaawatch.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-things-or-rip-offs.html. Thanks!

Write by: AN - Thursday, August 25, 2011