HELLO, JANUARY ISSUE!

Just wanted to let you know that the new issue of Rue is live! And the theme -- small spaces --might be my favorite one yet (though our International issue from last July is a formidable contender). Hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think!

Love these girls so much. With a year under our belt and starting to operate like a well oiled machine, we're growing so close as a team. From the laughs to the tears, from the early morning starts to the late nights at the office, from the girl talk to the serious talk, I couldn't image doing it without these girls.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy creating it. And stay tuned for some Rue outtakes from the issue on the blog tomorrow!

*image via Trent Bailey for Rue Magazine

A MASSIVE GIVEAWAY: RUE PLAYS SANTA!

You didn't think we could publish a holiday issue without leaving you with a few presents, did you? It is the holiday season after all and nothing makes us happier than gift giving! Plus, we've got a lot to be grateful for over at Rue and this is our way of thanking you! the. best. readers. ever.

So, we've rounded up a grand prize package with over $2,000 (!!!) in amazing products just for you! One lucky reader will win all 15 of these fabulous gifts from our sponsors! And in true Rue fashion, we've got you covered in every department!

*DwellStudio Tubular Burst Object ($373); Crate & Barrel Nord Vase ($149); CB2 Ernest White Bar Cart ($149)

*QSW Left Bank Puffy Coat ($164) ; Glamorously Gray & Golden necklace by Elva Fields ($198 one of a kind, not sold online)

*DwellStudio Draper Stripe Ash Duvet Set ($280); Perricone MD hypoallergenic line ($277 total value); Molton Brown hand wash and lotion ($50); GHD scarlet collection limited edition flat iron ($225)

* Chronicle Books Lifestyle Roundup: Decorate ($35); The Liberty Book of Home Sewing ($28); Lotta Jansdotter Open Studios ($25); It's Lonely in the Modern World ($20); Nomad ($40)

Entering is easy, here's the scoop: Head to the holiday issue right here, turn to page 76, and tell me in the comments section below what room in the Captain Fairfield Inn you would most like to spend an afternoon. Easy, huh?

And guess what, you can enter up to four times, once on each of the four Rue editors' blogs to up your chances.

So head over and visit Cassandra, Bri, and Anne and enter again and again! Oh and if you're on twitter, tweet for ONE extra entry this phrase: "I wanna win the $2k @RueMagazine holiday giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/76u2dd9"

Easy as pie, right? Our winner will be chosen Wednesday, December 21st at 10am PST (US only).

Good luck and happy holidays!

xx

Crystal

RUE'S HOLIDAY ISSUE IS HERE!!!

May we present, our most festive and sparkly issue yet...

In case you didn't hear, Rue's holiday issue dropped yesterday on virtual newsstands and the response makes our hearts melt with excitement and gratitude!

My favorites this issue? Our Dolly Parton inspired cover story is definitely at the top of the list. The talented Ms. Sage must have been feeling a bit nostalgic so she reached into the past to produce this one...and she kicked it out of the park, as usual (click here for outtakes and inspiration).

And then, there's our very own Bri Emery's downtown LA loft. Our Art Director is pretty much the coolest person I know and I think you'll agree, her home is just as stylish, fun, and colorful as she is!

And what would a holiday issue be without the gift guides. Our market editor, Cassandra killed it this issue. We've got something for every style, budget, and loved one in your life so hurry over and happy reading!

*images: Dolly via Lara Rossignol; Bri's Loft via Bonnie Tasang

LIGHTING LOVE

Aren't these Harry Weese chandeliers fun? They're a bit Gothic and remind me of something you'd see in a haunted house, which is why I love them. They're totally unexpected and fun.

*photography by Manny Rodriguez & Emily Johnston Anderson for Rue Magazine

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUE!

Thirty-eight hours of being awake later, I'm finally home to let you know our anniversary issue is live! I couldn't be more proud of the Rue team or grateful to our loyal readers, contributors, and advertisers!

Hope you enjoy!

*photography by emily johnston anderson

RUE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE PREVIEW!

With Rue's anniversary issue just weeks away - October 4th is the big day! - we just couldn't contain our excitement. So we decided to put together a little preview to whet your appetite. Click here for an exclusive first look at the Manhattan pad of Sabrina Soto, Target Style Expert for Home and HGTV designer, and more!

*image via Emily Johnston Anderson

GIVE ME MOORE

Kelley Moore's Seattle office is a sophisticated and eclectic mix of repurposed rafters, exposed brick, and chic furniture pieces that create a look I'm feeling very inspired by.

The ideas and creativity must be endless working from an office like this! Someday I'd love a similar space for the Rue team. I just love all that glitz and glam!

*photography by Jose Mandojana for Rue Magazine

RUE MAGAZINE WEBSITE FACELIFT!

With Rue's 1st birthday just around the corner (September is the big month!), we decided to give her a little facelift! The look is a bit more grown up and sophisticated...it's amazing what a bit of black can do! Just a glimpse of more changes to come, we hope you like the new look!

ANNOUNCING RUE ISSUE SIX

I'm so excited to announce that Rue Issue 6 is live! I just got back from a 40 hour, whirlwind trip to LA where Anne, Cassie, Bri, and I met up to put the final touches on the issue. We had a blast staying up all night (listening to old school TLC, SWV, and Boyz II Men no less!) and putting together what we feel is our strongest issue yet!

And I'm also proud to say that not a single home tour is from the U.S.! We really wanted to shine the spotlight on international design with this travel issue and worked hard to bring you inspiration from all over the world! Here's a look at some favorite shots from each of our 5 home tours:

Mexico.

Sweden.

Singapore.

Iceland.

Brazil.

A big, heartfelt thank you to all the people who helped make this issue happen. Hope you enjoy it!

*images via Jose Villa, Emily Anderson, Alexander Pihl, Scott A. Woodward, Emily Anderson, Woodnote Photography

DOUBLE TAKE

I'd never wear this, but there's something I love about it. Perhaps it's the way it reminds me of Bailey's bathroom...with all that whimsy and fun!

*fashion: unknown; interiors: Emily Anderson for Rue Magazine

RUE'S TUMBLING...AND PINNING TOO!

Yesterday, we launched the Rue Tumblr and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Last week, the very kind people at Tumblr made themselves available to me for a tutorial and walked me through all the amazing features and benefits of their platform. It basically cuts down the "blog to post" time, which this busy girl loves. Since it's intended more for visuals and less for text, I'm thinking it might be my personal solution for this blog too. Who knows, next time you head to Plush Palate, you might find a Tumblr instead!

And, we also launched the Rue Pinterest yesterday too. Are you guys already on Pinterest? If not, beware, it's addictive! Finally a way to save and store all your images in one amazing place. We uploaded the entire Rue Photo Gallery onto our Pinterest account, so we hope you'll now have an easier time finding (and repinning!) your favorite images from the pages of Rue.

Hope you enjoy both!

WORKSPACE BLISS

While the Rue office is currently under construction and getting all spruced up for its big debut, I'm daydreaming of bright white workspaces, lots of organization, and inspiration boards galore. Don't you just love the desks of bash, please, Katie Ermilio, and Zinke Design?

*photography by: image 1, Laure Joliet; image 2, Jamie Beck; image 3, Emily Anderson. All for Rue Magazine

RUE MAGAZINE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES!

I am definitely having one of those pinch me moments - Rue's in the New York Times today!!!

A huge thanks to the paper and the wonderful reporter, Steven Kurutz for the incredible opportunity. And a big congrats to our friends at Matchbook, High Gloss, and Lonny for being there with us!

If anything, this is a testament to the power of YOU...our loyal readers, supporters, and fans. We couldn't (nor would we want to!) do it without you.

If you'd like to read the article, head to your local newsstand, or click here to access it through the NYT website. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the write-up!

xo,

Crystal

ANNOUNCING RUE ISSUE 5!

Rue Issue 5 is officially live! Thank you so much for the support...I hope you enjoy! And before I head off to bed ;) here's a sampling of some of my favorite shots from the issue!

xo,

Crystal

*images via Elizabeth Messina, Emily Gilbert, and Emily Anderson for Rue Magazine

RUE ISSUE 5 SNEAK PEAK WITH THE NOVOGRATZ'S!

I first fell in love with Bob and Cortney Novogratz (and their drop dead gorgeous children) when they had a show over on Bravo. Besides loving their larger than life design aesthetic, I quite fell in love with how sweet they were with each other. So to have them in Rue's upcoming 5th issue is quite an honor! The new issue goes live next Monday and today we're sharing a little sneak peek with you over on CasaSugar. I hope you like it!

*image by Emily Anderson for Rue Magazine

HOMES OF RUE: TREND ALERT

One of my favorite parts of creating Rue is when we start to get home tour images back from photographers. I love looking at the different features as a whole and seeing if I can spot any themes or trends happening in decor across the country. Here's a look at what I'm spotting:

So, apparently if you own a giraffe, you're totally on trend :)

*images by Teri Lyn Fisher, Emily Anderson, and Ore Studio

WHY I LOVE BAILEY

Judging from buzz on twitter, Bailey's home is a clear favorite in the new issue of Rue...and rightfully so! Each time I go back and look at the images, I find a new detail to smile over. I just adore Bailey's sense of humor and creativity. Here are a few quirky things I love most:

Hilarious monkey portrait in the dining room. Who does that?

More funny art in the bedroom. Delightfully unexpected.

A painting over a window in the bathroom. Why not?

Handguns. Enough said.

Stuffed sheep in the living room? Totally normal.

Dog wallpaper in the bathroom. Brilliant.

Proudly sporting a Britney Spears poster in the closet. That's my girl!

Us girls having way too much fun in Bailey's house last summer. Yes, please!

*images: Emily Anderson Photography for Rue Magazine