One of the first “shelter” magazines I subscribed to as newly-married homeowner was House Beautiful. About the same time we purchased our first home JoAnn Barwick was brought on board as Editor of House Beautiful.
Isn't this a welcoming entrance?
Wikipedia says: House Beautiful is an interior decorating magazine that focuses on decorating and the domestic arts. First published in 1896, it is currently published by the Hearst Corporation, who purchased it in 1934. It is the oldest still-published magazine in what is known by publishers as the “shelter magazine” genre.
It was launched in the UK in 1989, targeting Middle England. Is that anything like “middle earth”? 🙂
I was very sad when JoAnn Barwick left the magazine in 1991…I felt like a good friend had moved away and I would miss her musings and insights into hearth and home and all that accompanies that. Those of us who share this passion for home I believe we get attached to those who share our love!
The other favorite I enjoyed during those Barwick years with House Beautiful was a feature that was always on the very back page of the magazine called “From Thornhill Farm” written by Dee Hardie. Dee’s images and words about life on a farm were wonderful. She and her husband, Tom, had 4 adult children (although I believe during her time with HB she lost one of her sons) but she shared the joy of children (and eventually grand children), gardening, cooking and family life with such enthusiasm it was like a breath of fresh air each month.
It was a happy surprise when I opened the July/August 2010 issue of Traditional Home to see a wonderful cottage owned by my “friend” JoAnn Barwick and her husband Fred. Her style preference has always been Swedish (she has published a couple of books featuring this style of décor) although she is of Norwegian descent. As you can see in the images, she keeps her rooms simple, understated even, but always warm and welcoming.
All images from July/August Traditional Home magazine.
Garden, Home & Party 
Cathy Womack said:
What a beautiful website. I am searching for current information on Dee Hardie…….I treasured her columns and only today reread many of the former issues of “House Beautiful” which I have in my magazine archive……Can you assist in my search? Thank you,
Karen said:
Hi Cathy,
I haven’t heard anything recent but several years ago read that she was retired and still going strong. I used to have her address and the times I ordered her books her husband, Tom, always sent a handwritten note of thanks for the order. I would love to know what you find out. Her writing truly made me feel as though we were friends! I hope she is happy and healthy.
Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. I hope you’ll come back again soon. 🙂
Karen
Laura McCabe said:
If you would like to contact me, I could provide some information on Mrs. Hardie.
Karen said:
Laura,
I hope you will share some of what you may know about Thornhill Farm and Dee Hardie.
Thanks so much for contacting me.
Karen
Dottie Monta said:
As a young wife and mother, I learned much from Mrs. Hardie. I would like to know that she is well, happy, and continuing to enjoy life!
Karen B. said:
Hi Dottie,
I’ve tried to find out where she might be but there is nothing on the internet past sometime in the late nineties. I admired her as well. When I ordered her book her husband actually called our home to see how we liked it. The pair were so kind and generous of spirit.
Thanks for stopping by, if you find out any news, I’d love to hear.
xo,
Karen
Diane Mellenger said:
I worked for a library in the 70’s and 80″s and I always read Dee Hardie’s columns
in the House Beautiful magazine.
I found a book of hers and I am interested to know if she is still alive. My library here on Vancouver Island has the book “Vews from Thornhill.”
I was wondering if she is still alive.
Karen B. said:
Hi Diane,
When I posted that piece, some weeks later a woman emailed me that she had grown up near the Hardie’s. It’s been awhile but I believe Dee did pass away. I think her husband, Tom passed earlier and then her health began to decline. the woman had very complimentary things to say about Dee. I told her I had ordered both of her books and that her husband who shipped them for her always included a personal note. I loved reading about life on Thornhill Farm.
Thank you for stopping by my site. There is a second book I believe Amazon sells through it’s used book vendors.
Karen
Judy Anderson said:
I learned that Tom Hardee passed away in 2007 but found nothing on Dee. I, too, read her columns and I own both of her books: HOLLYHOCKS, LAMBS AND OTHER PASSIONS and VIEWS FROM THORNHILL. I think of them often and wonder what has become of her and the house she wrote about in “Thornhill”–would love to know. Judy
Karen B. said:
Hi Judy,
I heard from someone who read this post that Dee was in an assisted living home. The woman who emailed had actually stumbled upon my post via Google. She and her family grew up in the same little town where Thornhill Farm was. Her parents know the Hardie’s. Her writing was so comforting, I loved reading her column each month and the books were wonderful.
Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
Mimi said:
I loved her too… And saved some of her essays. I especially remember one she wrote about her beloved dining room table. It was an inspiration for the one I came to own.
Marion Mahoney said:
Hello – I stumbled upon your website in trying to discover whether Dee Hardie is still living. Like you, I loved her articles written from Thornhill, and recently purchased from Amazon “Hollyhocks,Lambs, and Other Passions” (which I’m presently reading).
JoAnn Barwick, whom you also mentioned, seemed a “friend” to me also. We either spoke on the phone once, or possibly corresponded briefly. I loved her as editor of HB!
At that time, our family lived in Southborough, Massachusetts on an acre of land (that town, considered most English in New England) is still lovely – what appear to be lakes and rivers are actually parts of Boston’s reservoir system.
One Christmas, an HB decorator scoured Ms. Barwick’s land for holiday greenery and even her tree. I was so inspired that I went out, finding much on our property and along the reservoir, only to get a terrible case of poison ivy!
However, I still have those clippings, and also the ones of a Thornhill Christmas!
Best wishes!
Marion Mahoney
Karen B. said:
Hi Marion,
What a fun chance meeting. Kindred spirits regarding House Beautiful when JoAnn Barwick was at the helm. I spoke on the phone, years ago (when ordering Dee Hardie’s first book) to Tom Hardie, he was so gracious. A very fun and enthusiastic man. Your area sounds lovely. I’ve only been to Massachusetts once, but it felt like home. I remember telling my husband that I thought maybe I was stolen from the hospital I was born in in MA and brought to California! 🙂
On the poison ivy ordeal, I recently went on a hike in one of our area’s natural parks and the guide said that even where there are no leaves on the poison ivy (winter months) it can be just as easy to pick up the oils, which is where the poison is.
Thank you for taking the time to drop by. I enjoyed the bits you shared.
Enjoy your weekend.
Karen
laney said:
…i always wanted to grow up to be dee hardie…blessings laney
Karen B. said:
Laney,
Me too, farm and all. I loved her knot garden, planted with carefully selected hybrid roses. She was a great story teller and she drew so many of us into her wonderful story.
Karen
Paul said:
I thought your readers would like to know that Mrs. Hardie died on December 5. See the following link from the Baltimore Sun for a great story on her life:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-dee-hardie-20151208-story.html
Karen B. said:
Paul,
Thank you so much for letting me (and my readers) know. I loved Dee Hardie’s column and when I ordered her first book, her husband, Tom, wrote such a sweet note. I didn’t know them personally but felt as though they were special by their stories of life on Thornhill Farm.
Karen
Dottie monta said:
I’m sorry to read of her passing. Her columns were inspiring and instructive to this young bride, and I cherish her books. A real lady with flair and whimsy and fun in her spirit, and wisdom and beauty in her observations.
Karen B. said:
Dottie,
I too felt I learned from her columns. Today, as a grandmother, I remember the things she did when she had grandchildren.
Karen
Mimi said:
I loved her columns and admired her wit, her style, really everything about her. Thank you so much for sending this to me. Mimi Clement
Karen B. said:
Mimi, I agree, she was such an inspirational person. She lived a good life. Karen
On Thu, Dec 31, 2015 at 6:51 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
>