Welcome

Home is where the heart is. This issue marks my three-year anniversary with Columbia Home & Lifestyle. It’s a great job; I love helping the community by highlighting the philanthropies, arts and people who are near and dear to the hearts of Columbia women. We’ve had some glorious houses featured in the magazine during the years, and I know from reader feedback how much you enjoy these glimpses into the homes and lives of your neighbors. This issue, we’re doing something a little unusual — we’re featuring my home. The house is interesting not because I live in it but because of its history. And why feature it now? We just completed a renovation, and my husband and I are proud to showcase the work, goods and services of many local companies.

We’ve really put the “home” in Home and Lifestyle for this issue. In addition to our Home Tour, we’re featuring a Before & After. Thank you to the Floyds for opening their family-friendly home to us. Most of you are familiar with Habitat for Humanity. What you might not know is that it is celebrating its 100th home in Boone County, and we’re bringing you some of the dedicated Columbians behind that effort. We also have an interesting article on everything you need to know about flooring but were afraid to ask, plus a Shop Local featuring Salsa Gardens to spice up your decorating ideas.

My family lives in a log cabin (as you’ll see), but our lifestyle is not old-fashioned. I seem to remember my childhood as a simpler, quieter time than that of today’s children. Didn’t we start school after Labor Day? And weren’t summers filled with swimming, biking and reruns of Gilligan’s Island? As a mother, I was intrigued enough by the schedules of today’s children to ask Nancy Yang to explore family life in Columbia. What is gained and what is lost by rigorous extracurricular schedules? And because we’re talking about students, we’ve thrown in some study tips for kids and a product Hit List for the back-to-school crowd.

So, welcome to my home and to my “home away from home,” Columbia Home & Lifestyle.

Christina George

Publisher