Editorial Review

A lavishly illustrated personal tour of the great star's homes and collections.

For nearly five decades Barbra Streisand has been one of the singular figures in American entertainment. From the cabaret to the Broadway stage, from television and film stardom to her acclaimed work as a director, from the recording studio to the concert hall, she has demonstrated that the extraordinary voice that launched her career was only one of her remarkable gifts.

Now, in her first book, Barbra Streisand reveals another aspect of her talent: the taste and style that have inspired her beautiful homes and collections. My Passion for Design focuses on the architecture and construction of her newest homes, the dream refuge that she has longed for since the days when she shared a small Brooklyn apartment with her mother, brother, and grandparents. A culmination and reflection of Streisand's love of American architecture and design between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, the book contains many of her own photographs of the rooms she has decorated, the furniture and art she has collected, and the ravishing gardens she has planted on her land on the California coast. In addition to glimpses of her homes, Barbra shares memories of her childhood, the development of her sense of style, and what collecting has come to mean to her. My Passion for Design is a rare and intimate private tour into the world of one of our most beloved stars. It will be welcomed by her many fans and all lovers of the great achievements of American design. ... Read more

Reviews

Great photos & interesting journey, November 17, 2010

From reading the book, I get a clearer picture of the woman behind the unsurpassed talent. It's that thorniness in her character about having things be absolutely right. Perfect. That's the driving force in her success. And she does address this quest for perfection in the book many times, both the positive side and the annoying side. I get the feeling that this incredible eye for detail causes much internal turmoil and is a doubled edge sword of sorts. Through the book, one can appreciate the style, the taste and creative vision... I'm crazy for the millhouse with waterwheel by a stream... the grounds are breathtaking! Organic gardens, chickens with pale green eggs and more roses than the Rose Parade!!
My favorite photo in the book is of her sitting room/office... dead flowers on the coffee table... papers stacked up on the desk... real life. Just like the rest of us.

Delightful book of Design, November 17, 2010
As many long time Streisand fans and followers know, Barbra has collected art pieces,furniture & has had an eye for antiques,design and creativity from the beginning (about 50 years of collecting). I am glad a book of her recent efforts mixed with some treasures from the past have been put together in a nice book as such.I am just about done reading the entire book and I would recomend this for any fan of Barbra or anyone interested in design, antiques and style. A +

Beautiful Book, November 16, 2010
This book came this morning and I've already devoured it. The time, thought, and patience (not to mention money) that went into the building of this compound is staggering. A beautiful book with interesting and insightful text. A great Christmas gift with beautiful photography and great color.

Of course, a must-have for Streisand fans.

Beautifully made catalogue/book - not so much the house itself, December 4, 2010
I looked through this the other week and I must agree with others that it is a beautifully laid out and designed BOOK - good quality paper, easy to read layout, in depth essays on the designs etc. But from a design point of view this house is not anything terribly ground breaking, exciting, interesting, or revolutionary. I found the decor cluttered and the spaces of the house claustrophobic, certain features of the house (wine cellar, 'shops', guest house and so on) boring and gaudy, and the whole thing a rather New Englandy-Funny Girl mess. It seems like what Ms Streisand was going for was a palatial, Cape Cod cottagey barn xanadu compound. She has not succeeded (no one ever will with that combo). If she's happy with her home - then I am happy for her. But this is not a design cornerstone, revelation, or epic. It is however - Original.

Her Passions proceeds to charity, November 17, 2010
Yes, this book is a little pricey, but most of the proceeds are being donated for "Women's Heart Health" She was interviewed yesterday on Oprah and stated that she wants to raise 5 million and will "match" the 5 million. The name of the hospital she is working with directly escapes me but she has made women's heart health her personal mission because so many women die of heart disease. A great book on Barbra's passion for a great cause!

What a beautiful book!, November 22, 2010
I received my book today and am so impressed with it from start to finish! I am so glad that I ignored the negative (hateful & jealous) remarks because this book is definetly for those who are interested in design and home decorating with beauty. It inspires great initiative for you to take what you like and apply it to your own decor (only using a lesser monetary scale of course). As a project, Barbra's book reflects her perfection shown in gorgeous photos and indepth commentaries! I am truly glad that I made this purchase and if you love beautiful designs/decorating, you will too. I love it!

BARBRA'S MAGICAL WORLD....., November 16, 2010
The "SO- CALLED" book review by PJ Samith (one star) sounds more like a personal attack on Streisand more than a book review. How can you review the book if you didn't buy it or read it? Sad really. Since I have bought the book, and read almost half of it today, I think I'll rebut your review and give the book 5 stars. My only complaint is that a
couple pictures have a pixellated look to them. Other than that, Streisand's attention to detail is amazing, and her taste impeccable. Getting a glimpse inside the worlds greatest star's world is worth the price alone. Barbra's writing feels like she is speaking right to the reader, telling you her personal stories and filling you in on all that it took to create this magical place. BRAVO Barbra!

SIDE NOTE: MR. SAMITH....WITH ALL RESPECT, I was there in the stadium at Madison Square Garden the night of the "outburst". People payed good money to hear Streisand, Not it listen to some blow hard Republican shouting stuff from the stands. Mis. Streisand did the right thing telling him to "SHUT THE ____ UP!" She also said she would give him his money back if he wasn't happy. The thunderous applause that night showed that 98% of the audience think she did the right thing. So please don't blame that event for your review. Thank you!

Wonderful ! This book is great, November 16, 2010
I'm so proud of this woman. To come from a poor childhood and become such a great success, she deserves everything life has to offer! yes there are many haters out there, but this comes from jealousy of things that we ourselves wish we had and sadly are without much to offer to society but bitterness, and at those people I simply "chuckle" Bless you Barbra and thanks for such a beautiful book.

The Proceeds of this book go directly to charity!, December 16, 2010
I'm ordering this today. I have seens countless images of it on Oprah and GMA. Why would Barbra Streisand produce a book on design? Well, why not? Should she just stick to singing and acting? The woman has talent and she decided, after discovering the Heart Disease kills more women than all cancers combined, to use this book to raise money ( all proceeds go to her charity) and help rather than be silent. If this raises awareness and helps women in need like your Mothers, daughter etc., I hope she writes another book.

So much talent, PLUS such fabulous design!, November 16, 2010
I was fortunate enough to tour Ms. Streisand's magnificent architectural masterpiece in the Malibu Canyon compound that she created, and then donated to the Nature Conservancy, and I was amazed and inspired, and never forgot it. So when I heard about the book she has written on design, I bought it immediately. What a delight to turn the pages and be transported into a dream world that ordinarily only Hollywood and smoke and mirrors could create. But Barbra did it! She made it real! What a heaven on earth she has created for her and her family and friends. How fortunate they are to live there and experience it, and how lucky we are to be able to savor it vicariously in the delicious pages of her book. Bravo Barbra for the book, and the home! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Domino: The Book of Decorating cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders' secrets from today's premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual. The editors take readers room by room, tapping the best ideas from domino magazine and culling insights from their own experiences. With an eye to making design accessible and exciting, this book demystifies the decorating process and provides the tools for making spaces that are personal, functional and fabulous. ... Read more

Reviews

well, it IS what you love about Domino...but nothing new, October 22, 2008

Great for Beginners and Young Folks!, October 22, 2008

Brilliant!, October 3, 2008
More often that not decorating books are just eye candy; after read them once you are satisfied but done. This is NOT the case with domino's first book. The domino team has managed to create a book that you will keep reading it again and again. It is simply brilliant!

Even though I have kept every issue of domino and go through them regularly, the book's format allows for a deeper approach to domino's mission. They have really worked hard to make the book into a usable tool. With more than just pretty pictures and stories, this book provides a framework for how to think about putting together a room (and yes their is new content).

I am only disappointed in two ways: 1, I wish the book referenced the issue each in which each room originally appeared and/or provided information about the products in each room. Perhaps there was not enough space, but access to information is one of my favorite parts of domino's monthly. 2, They also overlooked closets as room. And lets face it they have featured some stunning closets over the past few years.

Buy this book, you will NOT regret it!!!

Delightful Design!, October 2, 2008
Unlike the previous reviewer, I adore my new Domino book. First of all, the compact size is perfect for throwing in your bag when you decide to hit the shops and boutiques. You can pull it out and it lays flat easily; the sections are divided into easy to read and easy to access room-by-room descriptions that make referencing easy. Each section starts with layout, then design, then accessories and tips and in true Domino fashion, the tone is casual, friendly and accessible. There's nothing snotty or stuck up about Domino, which is one reason I love it. Second, I'm glad they used material from past issues. I certainly don't have the room to save all my magazines! For those unacquainted with the Domino magazine ethos - green, friendly, idiosyncratic and affordable design for all - this is a great intro to the monthly features and to home design itself. I think the thing i love most is the subtitle: "a room by room guide to creating a home that makes you happy" which, in these volatile, dangerous, lean economic and political times, is especially meaningful.

How To Be Your Own Decorator, October 10, 2008
Domino Magazine came on the scene in 2005 just three short years ago. It melded fashion and decor and immediately energized the shelter magazine market, appealing to 20 to 40 year olds, and finding an even wider Baby Boom audience. Its hip and refreshing "how to" attitude to creating your own pretty decor soundly resonated.
Even the professional designers presented had a homey approach using revamped flea market finds, big box store items, and their own personal products.
It provided a "power to the people" approach. Everyone can shop at a flea market, Target, CB2, or eBay, etc. The message is: Everyone has access to a happy looking and pretty home.
Domino The Book Of Decorating is written by the magazine's editors, and it continues the grass roots philosophy of the magazine, using their own homes and thought processes and sources as examples.
The book is written is a fun and breezy manner, and it reminds me of another book: Decorating Is Fun! by Dorothy Draper. This 1939 (!) classic has recently been reissued, and it's enduring advice is timeless and current. I think DTBOD has the same appeal and chance to become a classic of it's time (and possibly a candidate for a nostalgic re-issue 50 years from now).
The book is published without a dust jacket, a compact volume, very beefy and satisfying in the hand. It reminds me of a text book, and indeed it could be considered as such for anyone who loves decor, whether you are the home decorator, layman, or professional.
So do buy this enjoyable book, and get happy being your own decorator!
If you are lucky enough to be able to hire a professional (and please do!), this book will help you understand the nuts and bolts of decorating, and allow you be a proactive participant in this fun and exciting process.

Guide to modern eclectic style, November 11, 2008

A Few Good Ideas, October 23, 2008

This Isn't Your Mama's Decorating Book!, October 20, 2008

For a Limited Audience, October 14, 2008
If you are a twenty-something, single, career woman in New York City -- or just wish you were -- this will be a valuable decorating book for you. If not, the direction of the book will be less than satisfying. Recommended only for those who are familiar with the magazine and crave more.

Grown-Ups Live Here, March 22, 2010
My husband and I were tired of living like grad students, so I bought this book. I never read the magazine and knew NOTHING about decorating. Somehow, after flipping through it a few times, I felt confident to attack the apartment. One month later, we now live like adults, and I love coming home to our organized home with real furniture. I found the book so accessible and sensible in terms of costs (no telling me to drop a couple grand on an armchair or whatever... unless I want to) and effort (no one suggesting I retile my own floor).

I can't speak for people who already know what they're doing in terms of interior design, but for a novice like me, this book has been worth every penny. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Finest Rooms in America: 50 Influential Interiors from the 18th Century to the Present is a selection by Thomas Jayne, one of America’s best decorators and scholars of American design. It is a definitive record of the finest American interior design with an authoritative text and  luxuriant color photography. The book includes a complete cross section of extant rooms covering a broad range of American periods and styles, beginning with the Tea Room at Jefferson’s Monticello and continuing to the present, concluding with Albert Hadley’s modern sitting room.

The rooms range from the opulent to rustic; they are traditional and modern and span the breadth of the country. Among those featured are the dressing room at Vizcaya in Miami, the living room at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, the dining room at the Saarinen House at Cranbrook Michigan, and the living room by Frances Elkins at Casa Amesti in Monterey, California. Prominent contemporary designers include Bunny Williams, John Saladino and Albert Hadley. Many of the rooms have never been published before and some are cherished classics.
 
Jayne’s engaging and erudite text places each room in context, identifying the elements that contribute to its success. Within the text he presents the idea that refinement is not about expense but about thought. This book ‘s  correct unique record make it a must-have volume for everyone interested in quality, American design and interior decoration. ... Read more

Reviews

The Finest Rooms in America, November 22, 2010
Discernment is becoming a lost art, but in The Finest Rooms in America (The Monacelli Press), by Thomas Jayne with Anne Walker, you are in the hands of a master. In fact, with its effortless sweep from the 18th century to the present day, I can't think of anyone else working in the field of decoration today who could have pulled it off. You will never look at a room, a piece of furniture, or a color in the same way again. My takeaway? Edit, edit, edit. (Full disclosure: I am mentioned in the book's acknowledgments, along with other writers and editors, but I was not involved in the project.)

The Finest Rooms in America, November 10, 2010
"... just as in my parents' house, rooms that are small and not expensive can also be among the finest." The author's words are both democratic and provocative.
The reader will become involved with this book firstly curious to see which rooms are chosen then wondering how and why they were chosen and ultimately understanding what makes a room fine, wonderful, etc. Do we agree with the author or disagree with his choices? 50 is just a number. The real take away will be your own enriched ideas for quality, proportions, style, design, livability. The book is the author's invitation to go on this intellectual journey. His creative process is contagious. Of course, it can be easier to look back historically and all agree on what has staying power and remains pleasing to most but, challenging to assign that same title to rooms made in our lifetime. The 50 rooms reveal the author's bold goal realized and invite us to ponder number 51, 52, etc, as well as our own rooms. "The Finest..." provides beautiful food for thought.
Mindy Papp Durham

The Finest Rooms - a celebration of American decoration, November 16, 2010
I love this book -- it is a very democratic view of American decoration. Rooms large and small, humble and grand have a place here ... very inspiring.

Pilar Viladas of the New York Times gave a good summary:

[...]

Immortalizing Influential Iconic Rooms, December 1, 2010
In answering the intriguing question, "What is American design?" author/designer/historian Thomas Jayne has assembled 50 of the most influential rooms in America's design history. The rooms in this book immortalize the best of American decoration from the 18th century to the present.

Opening with the totally fetching tea room at Monticello, which looks as stylish and inviting today as when Thomas Jefferson sipped tea there, this book helps you realize Jefferson was America's first interior decorator. What great company for designers to keep! Jefferson sets a standard for other decorators to follow. The book walks us through America's decorative history through the next 49 rooms of diverse styles and regions including Mark Twain's library and ends appropriately in Albert Hadley's sitting room. Author Jayne says if one element characterizes American interior decoration, it's comfort. And Hadley, like the other designers in the book, understands comfort. It's fun to just study the rooms, get ideas for your home, and think about which ones you'd most want to move into. I'm still making up my mind.

"Each room absolutely expresses the decade in which it was created," says Jayne. What is interesting, however, is the rooms don't look dated, but have a timeless quality. Most of them could appear in a shelter magazine today. You'll enjoy the sheer versatility and overall attractiveness of these rooms. Accompanying the pictures of the rooms is Jayne's entertaining and educational text. We hope that Jayne succumbs to curating some of the rooms which didn't make it into this first volume for a second volume of America's next most 50 influential rooms. In the meantime, we've got this delicious book to study. It would make a fabulous holiday gift for yourself or anyone who loves interior design. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Whether you inhabit a studio or a sprawling house with one challenging space, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, co-founder of the most popular interior design website, Apartment Therapy, will help you transform tiny into totally fabulous.
 
According to Maxwell, size constraints can actually unlock your design creativity and allow you to focus on what’s essential. In this vibrant book, he shares forty small, cool spaces that will change your thinking forever.
 
These apartments and houses demonstrate hundreds of inventive solutions for creating more space in your home, and for making it more comfortable. Leading us through entrances, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and kids’ rooms, Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces is brimming with ingenious tips and ideas, such as:
 
•   Shifting the sense of scale through contrasting colors
•   Adding airiness by using transparent collections
•   Utilizing the area under a loft bed for a kitchen and mini-bar
•   Tucking an office with chic vintage doors into an unused bedroom corner
 
In each dwelling Maxwell points out what makes the layout work and what adds style. Most of the “therapy” involves minor tweaks that can be accomplished on a limited budget, such as dividing a room with sheer curtains, turning a door into a desk, or disguising electrical boxes with art displays. An extensive resource guide, including Maxwell’s favorite websites for buying desks, open storage solutions, and much more, will help you turn even the tiniest residence into a place you are always happy to come home to. 
  ... Read more

Reviews

Review by [...]., June 21, 2010
I just did not get it. Take a moment to look at my review...I flip through the pages. Form your own opinion by watching the video :)

~XOXO~

It's (not) related, July 5, 2010
Decorating books could be divided between the ones that instruct, and the ones that display. Terence Conran began a different way of discussing how people live in spaces, and AT has been different in that it shows how people live in apartments -- which aren't just small spaces. They are, by definition, smaller parts of a whole space -- a building, a street, a neighborhood, a city. AT led the way for thinking about functional living in apartments - and the entire line of 'landing strip' furniture now available would seem to be their doing.

This book, Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces, unfortunately, doesn't do that -- it shows little snippets and still lifes organized by room (bed, bath, living, etc.) without showing floorplans, and entire spaces. (With the possible exception of the G-R storage space outside the door to their apartment which mentions how they keep the space neat in deference to their neighbors.)Its more decorating porn than erotica: it shows you what someone else does, with no way to draw on those ideas -- rather than excite your own senses about what's possible for you and your space.


For example, the old Gillingham-Ryan pad (as shown in "Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions") was an object lesson in so many ways: rethink materials for their function, not purpose; expand one area (kitchen) and minimize another (lr) - but together, the sum is greater than the parts. In the bedroom, you need a place to sleep, and a place to store things -- but you don't necessarily need space to walk around.


It's unfortunate -- for all that AT has to say about living in (relatively) small spaces that this book misses the point. Much of what it DOES offer is said elsewhere, and often: get rid of clutter (your stuff)/hide wires/ light colors expand and dark colors. Really: do we need a book to tell us that mirrors can enlarge space?

It's too bad, because, for me, the previous book is a bible: it shows complete apartments, describes who lives there, shows floor plans, etc. The Small Cool contest as shown on AT's website did that, as well. But this book is like too many others: great photos filling lots of pages, and little more.

Usual AT publication, May 27, 2010
Gorgeous pictures, of course, as with all AT books. Also as with all AT books, a tad too light on pics of overall setups and arrangments. I'm not against knick knack collections, as they do help complete certain styles of rooms, but I don't go to the AT website, or buy the AT books, to see closeups of other people's knick knacks. I'm there for ideas for solutions that other people have come up with, such as how to make a daybed serve as a couch in the living room...how to decorate a quirky alcove...innovative storage solutions, and so on. i'd prefer if AT would put out more "how this was done" step by step explanations, and more diagrams of some of the great ideas others have come up with. But I also realize that part of AT is showcasing not just other people's creative ideas, but their personal spaces, thus the closeups and detail shots of the people's personal items. I'm not as cranky about all of this as I sound - it's just that AT is a fabulous resource for small space solutions, and I personally would prefer more info and diagrams, etc., because I am constantly in search of exactly that. I appreciate the fact that others are willing to showcase their homes in the first place, because in my opinion, there's not a website out there that is better for getting help and ideas for small space living than AT.

Small Space Style, May 31, 2010
If you've just moved into an apartment or small home where space is a consideration, this book is well-organized by room to give you tips on how to maximize your space in stylish and inventive ways.

From entrances to bedrooms to kitchens to baths, it has real life examples of what innovative individuals have done to find extra storage and living space in limited quarters. The styles featured tend to be young/urban/eclectic and contemporary but the same principles can apply to European and American country/cottage styles. It's perfect for those who like to buy second-hand, antique and flea market styles.

It's a great introductory book if you've just moved into a small space and want inspiration on how to utilize the space effectively while making it comfortable, welcoming and putting your own personal style stamp on it. If you go to apartment therapy's blog website, you can preview pages of the book there to see if the book is to your liking. If you like the apartment therapy blogs and other apartment therapy books, you should enjoy this book for small space ideas. It's a great resource for ideas--such as the loft over the kitchen/eating area featured on the cover--that should spark a few of your own ideas.

Space Conversion, June 11, 2010
I have a 1150 sq ft condo and I have 8 bookshelves for my books and files and the overflow is is all on the floor. The pictures of all of the wall shelfs in the book gave me the idea tha one more giant book shelf would take care of my storage problem until I can get some custom made shelving made.

Little Space? Here Are Some Big Ideas., June 10, 2010
My husband and I moved to a small rurual home after living large in a big suburban home for many years. Holy cow! It was really hard to cope with a 1200' downsize. This book, although written with apartment living in mind, lent some excellent ideas about arranging furniture, displaying art and precious family items--and all important, storage. This book is more useful than the "not so large home" books, which are often about homes that are really quite spacious. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In her most personal book, Carolyne Roehm shares her lifelong love of classical architecture and design, graciously inviting us into her favorite spaces in three remarkable homes: her own dazzling Manhattan prewar duplex, her antique-filled Colonial-era stone house in Connecticut, and a special friend’s Aspen residence evocative of eighteenth-century Sweden. Each is an architectural showpiece as well as a superlative example of her polished style: never fussy, always graceful and enticing.
 
Even as a young design assistant to Oscar de la Renta, Carolyne Roehm was a devotee of the eternal virtues of artistry. Now, having lived in several residences, she has gathered her knowledge, enthusiasms, and extraordinary collections to make these three homes quintessential examples of the Roehm style. Each is individual—yet all showcase her classical leanings and devotion to the beauty and grace of authentic craftsmanship. The New York apartment, with its selection of antique busts and objects and superlative artwork and furnishings; the stunning double-height great room, beautifully finished in handcrafted neoclassical details, that forms the heart of her Connecticut residence; Aspen’s colorful, abundant interiors, light-flooded from 78 windows—all express the special, satisfying harmony that can exist between timeless architecture and the artisan’s atelier.
 
With more than 300 intimate and evocative photographs of these classical splendors, A Passion for Interiors is a masterwork—rich with stylish inspirations for tailor-made décor. Oprah Winfrey admits, “Whenever I’m having a stressful day, I just want to open up Carolyne Roehm’s books, look at beautiful things, and dream.” Indeed, there is plenty to dream about in this extraordinary book. ... Read more

Reviews

"Enlivened with a dash of glamour--the result can be magical.", November 16, 2010
In her own words designer Carolyne Roehm takes you on a tour through three of her design projects: her New York apartment, her Georgian home in Connecticut and a ski lodge in Aspen. Her red bedroom in Connecticut is on the cover of this book. Roehm describes what she loves in design: "classical details...supported by decor that is livable as well as lovely--and enlivened with a dash of glamour--the result can be magical."

Classical details she loves include: columns & pillars, a mix of period style furniture, canopied and four-poster beds, chinoiserie, large mirrors, chandeliers & sconces, leopard prints, paintings & sculpture, old books, blue & white china, and vibrant jewel colors. If you love these elements, you should enjoy this book. Roehm makes the case that classic design is stylish AND modern. She quotes her art professor: "You have to understand: Picasso could draw as well as Michelangelo." The fact that classic elements have been passed down through the ages to thrive in the present day make them deeply modern. They're timeless.

So what does her combination of classic and modern look like? Her New York apartment radiates glamor. Her aim is a style that is "reassuring rather than intimidating". She wants you to be able to picture Myrna Loy, the 1930's actress, elegantly descending the staircase. However, Roehm claims, "I am as down-home a woman as you're likely to meet--I've cleaned up after more dogs I'll bet than any human being in history--but I do love glamour!" While it's hard to imagine her dogs, who clearly aren't intimidated by classicism, having the complete run of these rooms, you can see her emphasis on comfortable fabric-driven design in her pale blue bedroom and creamy, dreamy guestroom. Her master bath has an Edwardian feel "which brings out my Winston Churchill side," she jokes. (For an amusing Winston Churchill bathroom story see the end of this review.)

If Myrna Loy and Churchill inspire Roehm's glamorous New York apartment, Jane Austen's and Charlotte Bronte's heroines would be comfortable in her Connecticut home. This 1765 Georgian home was designed to resemble a British estate. Her famous blue and white bedroom here had to be redecorated (those dogs!) and she chose a "gutsy" red. Her red bed with feathered crown is a reproduction from a London antiques shop. Among her guest rooms, the Chinese Room is decorated "en suite" in a fetching yellow print with stripes and leopard spots and is juxtaposed winsomely with black chinoiserie furniture. "En suite" style, in which every fabric is the same in a room, is a classic style that is most successfully used in a bedroom, says my designer friend Georgette. This is my favorite room in the book.

Roehm explains her love for using classical historical styles by quoting anthropologist Margaret Mead's admonishment, "Don't forget your grandmothers!" Her appreciation for grandmothers and their style is remembered with affection in these unforgettable rooms. If you love the cover of this book, as I do, you'll love touring the interiors inside with Lady Carolyne. Even Jane and Charlotte would approve.

(Amusing Winston Churchill anecdote: "The Labourite Clement Attlee was at the urinal in the men's room of the House of Commons. Churchill came in and, seeing Attlee, moved away. "Feeling standoffish today, are we, Winston?" Churchill replied: "That's right. Every time you see something big, you want to nationalize it." True story from p. 12 of Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship.)

Great addition to a design library!, November 21, 2010
Captivating!
Finally a book about interior design of timeless elegance.
Stunning photographs of finished interiors.
Not surprised that Carolyne Roehm will design every room to be unique, charming and chic.
This is without a doubt a five star book.
Thank you for sharing you style!

Brava!

A winner from a design veteran, November 19, 2010
I have read all of Carolyne Roehm's books and treasure them. This new book caught me by surprise as it was unheralded (in my part of the world, anyway) and I simply happened upon it due to an Amazon recommendation. The book deserves to get a lot of attention because it is thoughtful and beautiful. The photography is spectacular- a Roehm trademark-- and the attention to detail is considerable. The reader learns a great deal about this captivating woman through the text and the photos of her own interiors. She does not dumb down her circumstances or tastes-- which in and of itself is refreshing. Treat yourself to this book. It's a keeper.

A Celebration of Great Architecture, Old World Craft and Design Details!, November 18, 2010
Carolyne Roehm's 10th book, "A Passion for Interiors" is a true celebration not only of classical design but of the artisans, craftspeople, architects, faux painters, woodworkers and more who dedicate their lives to designing and creating the magnificent deatils which make Carolyne's Interiors in NYC, Weatherstone and for her friend in Aspen so truly spectacular!!! Roehm has clearly studied the great old masters of architecture, art and design and from them derives her inspiration for the interiors she has created with love, passion and a great respect!!
Brava! I cannot wait for the 11th!

Creepy Perfection, December 6, 2010
In my first read through of this book I was enthralled. The visual perfectionist in me gorged on the symmetry, high celings, gilt touches, blue and white porcelain, marble statues and fabulous oil paintings throughout. The fabrics are sumptuous, and the colors divine. The classic lines and decor are incomparable. But... as I paged through the book a few more times over the weeks to get my visual fix after, say, a hectic day at the office or stressful nighttime routine with my 2 small kids, I began to get kinda freaked out. The interiors are TOO perfect. They're unsettling, in fact. There are no traces of human life - no photos of people, nothing out of place, nothing left on the floor, peeking out of a corner or thrown together in a moment of inspiration. There are no photos of any closets, kitchens or bathrooms - places where people live, eat, get messy and enjoy life. Nothing odd, daring, or whimsical exists in these rooms that would give you a clue as to the person living inside the house. Even the bedrooms have been scrubbed clean of any true personality - like every other room they are excruciatingly correct and absolutely spotless... and totally freaky. Does Ms. Roehm have kids? Friends? Lovers? Hobbies? Can she cook? What does she do in her spare time besides oversee the polishing of the floors and marble figures? I know Wikipedia could answer these questions, but shouldn't pictures of one's home(s) do so as well? Oddly enough, this book ended up stacked next to a book I have on the Frick collection, and as it turns out they are perfect partners.

A Passion for Carolyne, November 16, 2010
Unfortunately, I can't afford to hire Carolyne Roehm as my designer, so I've got the next best thing! This book oozes style and I can't wait to add Carolyne's style to my home. Money well spent.

Beautiful Book., December 9, 2010
What a beautiful book!
Carolyne Roehm has such an innate sense of style and design. Her appreciation of true craftsmanship and fine artistry is evident in each of her homes and to me that is truly inspirational. The ease in which she mixes neoclassical architecture with her love of sumptuous fabric is so wonderfully warm and inviting. The photography is remarkable and this book is a joy to read.
Thank you Carolyne Roehm for allowing us a "peek" into your world of classical beauty.

Beautiful, Engaging & Scholarly, December 8, 2010
Carolyne's inspired odyssey through the decorative arts comes to life in this personal, detailed, guided tour of three residences that she has completed in recent years.

The brilliant, always relevant and beautifully articulated scholarly references that inspire Carolyne are uniquely and most "passionately" well rendered in the dazzling photographs and illustrations in her just published book, "A Passion for Interiors: A Private Tour".

The breathtaking images and the book's sublime art direction might be more than enough to distinguish it from all the other books on interiors that have been published in the last couple of years. For this same reason, the book is also more accessible and better suited for a broader group of readers. The layered complexity of Carolyne's well mastered knowledge and how she adopts it into these residences is enlightening and central to this book's great impact. With her humble acknowledgement of her many great teachers, Carolyne now gently assumes this role herself in the lives of her many acolytes -- among which I am proud to be counted.

Thanks to Carolyne's light handed grace, the book is never mired in tedious detail or clouded with over-crowded, static imagery. Instead, the readers glide through the many rooms and the different locations as they follow Carolyne and as they hear her voice on this personal, guided tour.

While "Passion" provides the academic substance of multiple decorative art seminars, it is the most irresistible for the guilty pleasures that flow from its big, bright, glossy pages.

Nice but not my favorite, December 9, 2010
Am a fan of Caroly Roehm. She is a superb tastemaker and I have really enjoyed and own all of her books. This one, while it has some beautiful photos, overall was a little disappointing. I cannot stand pictures, that take up an entire page, lets say of a closeup of a flower. This is not what I am wanting when I buy one of her books, if I wanted that I would a photography book. Overall though its a pretty book, just wish I bought it on sale instead of full price! ... Read more

Editorial Review

An intimate and revealing collection of photographs of astonishingly beautiful, iconic, and undiscovered mid-century interiors. Among significant mid-century interiors, none are more celebrated yet underpublished as the homes created by architects and interior designers for themselves. This collection of newly commissioned photographs presents the most compelling homes by influential mid-century designers, such as Russel Wright, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eva Zeisel, among others. Intimate as well as revelatory, Williamson’s photographs show these creative homes as they were lived in by their designers: Walter Gropius’s historic Bauhaus home in Massachusetts; Albert Frey’s floating modernist aerie on a Palm Springs rock outcropping; Wharton Esherick’s completely handmade Pennsylvania house, from the organic handcarved staircase to the iconic furniture. Personal and breathtaking by turn—these homes are exemplary studies of domestic modernism at its warmest and most creative. ... Read more

Reviews

Simple and Beautiful, November 5, 2010
I must say I disagree with the previous reviewer. Out of focus? The photographs I'm looking at have an artistry to them that goes beyond the clinical maximization of detail. I'd say she does a great job of capturing the mood of these personal spaces. Some of these homes and the rooms in them have been lived in and lovingly looked after for 40 years and more by their owners. They aren't showrooms. They have worn edges and faded colors in places, which makes them just that much more appealing to my mind. The diffuse natural lighting she's using I find to be a perfect fit to this subject. Some of the shots are just gorgeous and the book has page after page of them, many in full-page format.

I'm just glad someone has taken the time to create a record of these spaces at this phase of their existence. They very well may be gone (at least in non-museum form) in not too many more years. Definitely one of the better books of this type I've come across, and one I'm extremely happy to have added to my library.

Making Photography Interesting, November 7, 2010
This is a beautiful book with a fascinating premise; a look at the inside of artists' homes and work spaces. My experience is limited to seeing and enjoying photography in museum exhibits, usually by well known artists, but this new book has opened my eyes to the possibilities of modern photography and the interesting stories which lie behind the pictures. Leslie Williamson has a bright future ahead of her and we can take "Handcrafted Modern: At Home with Mid-century Designers" in hand to peruse at our leisure and for much personal pleasure.

Handcrafted Modern, November 19, 2010
Well written text. Great photos of wonderful mid century modern homes. All the artists own! Like walking into a museum.

an intimate and beautiful glimpse, December 12, 2010


Many of the artists/architects/designers whose homes are the subjects of this book, had never before allowed someone to capture (let alone publish) their home or such details of them. They chose to let Leslie Williamson inside to see how they actually live/lived. As I savored this book, I enjoyed thinking about why. Why her? Certainly, it wasn't because she's a disinterested photojournalist or architectural photographer. I've googled around and seen some of her other work--a photojournalist or architectural photographer she is not. She's a fine-art photographer.

I think that they saw, as I do, that she's a very thorough, thoughtful and appreciative artist who, if given a chance, might reveal a bit more to the world about what their own work means. They wanted to be seen by HER. I am glad for that.

The act of choosing her subjects, courting them and then deciding how to photograph their homes is an artistic act. Some of the images are poetic. Others are down right funny. All of them are beautiful and do justice to their subject.

execution poor, October 28, 2010
Nice idea but poorly executed. The author, a self described "artist" and "photographer" is not very skilled; many pictures have out of focus areas that a professional would have in focus. The text, only one page for each of a dozen plus American designers, is not analytical, but voyeuristic. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Her other books are great....this one so-so, October 15, 2010
Like other reviewers, I love Bunny Williams. She is one of the best interior designers out there...a respite from retro-chic, domino style. However, this book was a big disappointment. The photography is jarring and haphazard. I know it was meant to represent a scrapbook, but the small squares were a big distraction. She does provide some good hints...but these are available in her other books. I do not think this book is worth the investment and am wondering who was her advisor on layout. Still a fan, though! (Just not of the book...)

How to Have a Well-lived and Well-loved Stylish Home, October 15, 2010
How many of us would love to follow around a favorite aunt in her home who happens to be one of the U.S.'s premier interior designers--like Bunny--while she drops her design pearls of wisdom for us to catch and record? That's what the experience of reading this book feels like. Since Bunny can't adopt all of us, she compiled the precious design insights that over 30 years of designing and living in beautiful rooms has taught her.

In SCRAPBOOK FOR LIVING, Bunny's emphasis is on living: how to create rooms that are beautiful AND livable. If you've seen rooms decorated by Bunny Williams--especially her own homes--you know they combine style with livability. They're homey. They're rooms where dogs are allowed on the furniture--but they still look great in magazines. Bunny shares the inside details of how she accomplishes this.

Bunny stresses function in this book--how to make rooms work in an attractive way. There's tips for every room--from mudrooms, to living rooms and libraries, to project rooms, to bedrooms and baths. Covering A to Z design topics such as selecting chairs to bringing a home to life with flowers, scents, art and fireplaces, Bunny teaches the essentials of comfort. It's the gems she shares along the way--any place you want a window and don't have one, put a mirror--that make this book invaluable. Another favorite tip is take a camera with you and photograph what you love for your own design scrapbooks. It's intriguing to read what inspires Bunny, including her nine favorite design books and design resources. Bunny says when she sees a home full of books, she knows the owners are likely to be interesting. This book's pictures are MORE about illustrating the ideas in it--less about seeing all the beautiful rooms she has decorated. Her other books Bunny Williams' Point of View: Three Decades of Decorating Elegant and Comfortable Houses and An Affair with a House do that.

What I loved about this book is it provides a personal look at how a top designer, savvy entrepreneur, wife, mother, dog-lover who loves to travel, entertain, read, and learn lives in her homes. What are her priorities in combining beauty and function?

In writing classes, you learn the ABCD elements of fiction books: Action, Background, Character and Dialogue. There's a fifth element in books, I've realized, and that's the personality/character of the author which can't help but leak through. Likable, nice authors write likable books which touch your heart. You hear people who have met Bunny say how darn likable she is; reading her books is heart-warming. You can almost hear her: "honey, after polishing the silver, keep it in an airtight bag...my favorite fragrances for rooms are....you can use the seating fabric in a room to create a matching dog-bed the dogs will want to be on...." Priceless and personal tidbits for well-lived and well-loved lives & homes fill this scrapbook for living.

Pamela, October 16, 2010
Bunny Williams creates beautiful spaces and has previously published a wonderful book (Point of View) which I highly recommend. I was intrigued when I saw she had published another book "Scrapbook for Living." After spending time reading it I found a lot of good information and helpful guidance that could have been put in a much smaller book. What I found so bothersome were the pages dedicated to what I call a "maze-montage" of the same photograph which left me with a headache. The art direction of photography has fallen short from her earlier publishing endeavor.

Infinite Information, October 19, 2010
Bravo Bunny--I have read "Scrapbook For Living" and my head is spinning with obtainable information.This book must be put next to your bed and not just flipped through-it must be read. It is not just a coffeetable book but a textbook.It goes quickly but has infinite information that all of us are hungry for.
Bunny shares her knowledge like no one else. Whether it is her lecture at a function or her beautiful books-starting with one of my favorites,"On Garden Style", she gives concrete information that we can all use-not just information that we can only dream about.Her knowledge is based on tried and true facts. This book is proof of that."Scrapbook For Living" is not written by someone being "coy" that gives you part of the information you need and you have to figure out the rest.It is written by someone trying to help every reader achieve their dream home no matter what the size or location.
I love the photography in this book. It is interesting and unique as it should be. It catches the attention and holds it through the last page.
I can hardly wait to rearrange my linen closet using her suggestions-Brilliant

A lovely special book, December 15, 2010
Bunny Williams' SCRAPBOOK FOR LIVING is a wonderful beautiful reference book on how to make one's life, one's home the best possible comfortable splendid world, both aesthetically and practically. It should be on everyone's bookshelf or coffee table. In Bunny Williams' very sure handed and thorough way, she enlightens how to optimize that which we cherish. Her splendid text is complemented by some truly amazing photography. The photographer, Amy Archer, not only photographs rooms but also details upon details within a room and creates what she calls 'Place Portraits'. They are grid shaped four across four and when one looks at them, the full effect of the total that one sees is greater than any of the lovely details within. It is an extraordinary way to visually communicate, a dining room, or chairs, or bookshelves, each and every subject that Bunny talks about. They are breathtakingly beautiful and by themselves, would look great mounted on a wall as a work of art. If there are horse whispers in this world that can divine the secret of horses, these two ladies are house whispers who can divine the secrets of own homes and way of life. As one leafs through the pages, it becomes readily apparent that the collaboration between these two gifted ladies is akin to composing a classic appealing resonating song or a musical score. Ms. Williams is the pitch perfect lyricist and Ms. Archer contributes the wondrous music with her great photography which is, indeed, art. It is a book one will treasure and return to over and over and each time be greatly rewarded.

bunny williams' scrapbook for living, November 23, 2010
Bunny Williams is the best!*! I have read this fine book line by line and refer to it often for guidance while decorating my home. It is filled with sticky notes so I can locate Ms. Williams most thoughtful ideas quickly.

Ms. Williams has wonderful ideas on every decorating subject. I am proud to own this book!*!

Scrapbook for Living - Details that Make a Difference, November 21, 2010
Please make sure that you do not overlook one of the most unique and helpful design books recently published. If you were commissioned, as photographer Amy Archer
most likely was, to visit homes designed by Bunny Williams, and asked to focus on all the small moments in the homes that give them character and soul, she has triumphed. Archer's poetic style of imagery compliments Williams' eye for design and detail, and the combination of the two points of view are magic. Amy Archer shows you small stunning bits of a space and Bunny Williams tells you how and why those elements add up to what makes a comfortable, personal, well organized house. For anyone starting their first home, or for those simply passionate about rethinking or refining an existing one - this book is a treasure.

Disappointed in Scrapebook!, October 15, 2010
Ii adore Bunny Williams! but, bought this book and was so disappointed, I sent it back. Thought most of the photography, especially the filler repeated over and over again snapshots, not to Bunny's top notch design ethic.

Disappointing, December 28, 2010
As much as I respect Bunny Williams as a designer/decorator, this book was a joke. The cover looks promising, but photos of her interiors might as well have been left out, as the "collage" motif presented throughout the book would have been much more effective had she used 1 or 2 good photos instead of 20 or so pics of this corner or that chair leg. The photos didn't even have much to do with the content of the book. Nothing that would inspire. The advice for how to live in one's home, such as making sure you have a box of tissue next to a guest bed or using a large vase for an umbrella stand by the door, might be applicable for an 18 year old living on his/her own for the first time, but for those already familiar with basic house necessities (such as using a basket to store wood by the fireplace, another pearl of wisdom I paid $40 for) this was worthless. You're better off getting a copy of The Domino Book of Decorating.

Bunny is no Martha Stewart, November 25, 2010
I am a big fan of Bunny Williams but Bunny Williams' Scrapbook for Living is a huge disappointment. The pictures are numerous but much
too small to be enjoyed. The text is preachy and the housekeeping tips she offers should be left to Martha Stewart. The housekeeping is
Home Economics 1-A for junior high school students. Bunny should stick to her field of expertise, interior design. I'm sorry I spent my
hard earned money for this book. I feel cheated. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

The first book to survey the work of this iconic designer, known for her serene "new American classic" look. One of today’s most influential designers, Victoria Hagan exploded onto the scene in 1988 when New York magazine devoted the cover of its design issue to one of her rooms. Since then she has become renowned for her intelligent integration of architectural and interior design, her refined use of materials, her sophisticated color palette, and her strong silhouettes. Always looking to the view, Hagan effortlessly makes a close connection of interior spaces to the surrounding landscape. The houses profiled—ranging from elegant urban residences to casual weekend retreats—reveal Hagan’s unerring attention to what Proust called "the unexpected detail," which makes her interiors beautiful as well as timeless. Throughout, Hagan discourses on the spirit of cherished objects—a print of birds in flight, a vintage star-shaped mirror, or a chair with an unusual silhouette—that add soul and modernity. With stunning photography and personal insights into Hagan’s design philosophy, Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits is an artful and inspiring collection of this design superstar’s oeuvre. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For all those who choose to live "imperfectly" with the messy things they love, this book shows how to do so creatively, happily, and with considerable style ideas from leading designers. A beautiful and inspiring volume, A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life focuses on living well with everything that makes a house a home. If you have been influenced by the picturesquely cluttered studios of Pablo Picasso or Alexander Calder, or by the art- and book-filled house of Vanessa Bell, this unique style book will stimulate you with its creative ideas.This volume explores how real-life tastemakers (photographers, textile designers, fashion designers, writers, artists) integrate their life and interiors to live well with their passions, histories, conveniences, and inconveniences. In inspiring essays, Mary Randolph Carter muses on such key housekeeping concerns as clutter versus mess; open windows; and unmade beds. Combining practical tips with liberating philosophy—"Don’t scrub the soul out of your home"; "Make room for what you love"—this volume celebrates living beautifully and happily, not messily. Lavishly illustrated with intimate photographs of different living spaces, Carter exalts in the beauty of imperfection and in living perfectly in our "imperfect" homes. Life isn’t perfect—why should your house be? ... Read more

Editorial Review

At an early age, Alexa Hampton learned the language of good design, the vocabulary to speak it, and the elements that define it. As the daughter of interior design legend Mark Hampton, she traveled the world by her father’s side, touring the great architectural landmarks and discovering beauty, training her eye.

Now one of America’s most influential designers herself, Alexa Hampton provides a tour of stunning residences from her own portfolio.

Eighteen classic spaces illustrate in rich detail the elements that govern cultivated design—contrast, proportion, color, and balance. Among the residences are a landmark 1912 McKim, Mead & White restoration on Fifth Avenue in New York City; an eclectic house by the sea layered in textures, patterns, and colors; a contemporary apartment distinguished by simple geometry and clean lines; and Hampton’s own apartment, filled with an exquisite collection of architectural elements.

Hampton also explains how she tailored each space to meet her clients’ needs while retaining a timeless aesthetic, and she provides design expertise on everything from fabric schemes to the particulars of paint. From a French neoclassical tour de force of architec-ture, artwork, and design to a Queen Anne summer cottage furnished to showcase the house’s graceful nineteenth-century dimensions, the spaces here speak the language of design—a language that, under Hampton’s tutelage, anyone can master.
  ... Read more

Reviews

Very Helpful for the Clueless!, February 25, 2009
I can only speak on behalf of myself, who is a completely clueless when it comes to decorating a home! I have always lived with others in apartments or school dorms, so I never had a say on home decor. Now, in the process of buying my first home, I am completely lost as to how to decorate it and what to buy! I love entertaining and I love having visitors over. I love color and I love beautiful furniture... if it wasnt for this book, I'm sure I would have gotten tons of different focal points and tons of splashes of color (I was color deprived when I was young!). This book helps you organize your thoughts mentally, and helps when you are starting off with a clean canvas. I say it's helpful for the clueless because it is of tremendous help to me (very clueless!). I'm not sure how helpful it will be if you already have ideas about home decorating! It's also pretty modern (I'm 24) if that is the direction you are looking towards.

The last section is also really cool! It has a floor grid and cut-out furniture pieces and a checklist that I can't wait to play around with!

Wonderful, create tips for those that like to "invent", September 3, 2008
I purchased this book because I wanted some unique ideas in an easy to read format and sure enough, this is what I was given!!! I love it!!! It is FULL of pictures which makes it easy for my husband to flip through and say like it/hate it....and that brings a huge grin to my face ;-) Oh, we relocate every three to four years (nope, not a military family) and we ALWAYS have new places and spaces. This gives great advice on using what you have and really adding speacial pieces.

a supremely useful book on home decoration and design, May 26, 2009
This book is perfect for the beginning home owner or renter who doesn't know where to begin in making decisions about how to decorate their home.
The book has material you can't find elsewhere on layout, types of sofas, chairs, beds, rooms etc. The rooms are contemporary, up-to-date and fresh. The book has useful charts and questionnaires which will help the reader in decision-making and it's very clear and easy to read. A wonderful springboard to begin to articulate your personal style. I teach a class on interior design through continuing education and find the book very useful for students as an introduction to a complex subject like interior design.

Great Basic Design Book, October 31, 2008
I really enjoyed looking through this book. I haven't read the whole thing though but what I have read is great! It gives great tips, pictures, a nice reference in back of the book, and some color schemes. This is a great book for just getting started with decorating, or if you would like some fresh ideas.

the nest home design rocks, January 25, 2009
I am totally into home design and watch as many shows as possible on HGTV. I also love [..]. This book proves to be the perfect combination of the two. The pages are well designed and easy to follow. The tips are great and I think anyone who is into home design will like this book.

Good buy for new homeowners!, June 28, 2009
We're purchasing our first home and I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of designing every room from scratch but this wonderful book inspired me to embrace the entire project, including painting walls. It's elementary, the Nest Home appears to be geared toward newly marrieds, but for those like me who need a refresher on the basics, this works!

LOVE this book, April 6, 2010
This book has helped me so much. I made use of the lists they provide for you in the back and when I went shopping for a room in my house, I had my list ready to go and picked everything out. It was so helpful. I love all the ideas and WOW, it is SO easy to read and easy to follow. This book has great tips along the sides of the pages and explains everything so easily, and it's easy on your eyes. The font and the way they designed the book layout is great, like I said, easy to read and understand. Very modern ideas that I love. Plus it's a pretty book to put on display. I can't say enought about this, I would recommend this to anyone who wants an easy read for fresh and modern approaches to interior design.

Great contemporary design ideas, ideal for beginners, July 4, 2010
I bought this book a few days ago, and I have hardly been able to put it down since. I'm fairly new to decorating; I'm a beginning grad student renting a small single-family home. This book is by no means a complete reference guide to home decorating, but it has plenty of inspiring design ideas (LOTS of full-page photos) and basic information (e.g., types of carpet/furniture/lighting, how to arrange furniture and decorations, etc). These ideas can be incorporated into just about any design plan and any budget. However, it really is more of an idea/inspiration book and NOT a step-by-step guide to anything.

The book is organized into four main functional areas of the home ("live" = living room, "eat" = kitchen, "sleep" = bedroom, "stash" = closet/office organization), and it has a short planning and reference section at the end. This book is ideal for young decorators, and I believe it's actually intended for young newlyweds in particular (hence "The Nest" affiliation). Most of the designs feature contemporary style (think ikea), so keep that in mind.

Overall, a great book to get you started. I recommend it to all the twenty- and thirty-somethings out there looking to establish a sense of contemporary style in their homes.

Like It , Like it, May 2, 2010
With so many design books on the market, it is difficult to find one where you put many post it notes.
This is one I enjoy and like and will keep in my collection.

Very informative, October 26, 2010
As someone who knows very little about decorating and style, I found this book to be very inspirational and helpful. I consider it a must have. It covers furniture and art arranging, how to set a table, items to keep in a bar, explores color and creative storage ideas, just to name a few.
I love this book.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Leading interior designer and owner of Hollyhock, Los Angeles’s renowned antiques and decorative arts mecca, Suzanne Rheinstein is known for her relaxed, elegant style. Style maker and interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein has a keen appreciation for special luxuries. She is a master at taking an eclectic mix of furnishings from the past and arranging them in a fresh, inspiring way. Elegant simplicity and attention to detail are the hallmarks of her look. A timeless quality pervades every room she designs. Rheinstein feels that how you live your life every day is much more important than getting your house together for a special occasion. Beautifully photographed, this inspiring volume shows examples of her work, ranging from a brick farmhouse in the Virginia countryside and a sophisticated rustic getaway overlooking the Big Wood River in Sun Valley to a year-round shingled residence on the beach in Newport Bay, as well as her own homes—a gracious Georgian Revival in Los Angeles and a New York City prewar pied-à-terre. They exemplify her talent for creating attractive homes that make living and entertaining extremely pleasurable. ... Read more

Reviews

Past Perfect for Today's Homes, October 23, 2010
In her own words interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein takes you on a personal tour through six of her design projects including two of her own homes: her L.A. home and her New York City pied-a-terre. The living room of her NYC pied-a-terre is featured on the cover of this book. Rheinstein describes what she loves most in design: "fewer but better things, painted surfaces, a mixture of furniture styles, a personal art collection and attention to comfort, colors, textures, details and light."

If you like these elements, you'll love this book. The designer makes the case that if you buy and keep fewer and better one-of-a-kind pieces, you can decorate around them. You may change colors and fabrics etc. throughout the years, but the essential beauty and quality is always there. It's like these choice pieces are the characters in the play who always have starring roles in your homes and something to say--the scenery revolves around them. The beautiful and interesting rooms featured in this book support this philosophy.

The projects showcased in this book are diverse. In addition to the New York apartment, there is a Georgian Revival house, a horse country estate in Virginia, a Sun Valley Idaho mountain home, a seaside home in Newport Bay and a Florida cottage. Rheinstein takes you leisurely through each home and explains the design choices in her own words so it's a fun tour. She is very knowledgeable about design history, and there's many references to styles and well-known designers. She mixes Gustavian with Edwardian with Regency with ease and has an educated eye. Rheinstein owns a shop called Hollyhock in California and designs fabric for Lee Joffa. Some of her fabrics are used in the rooms in this book.

I love her quote by Joan Didion: "Every day is all there is." Rheinstein encourages you to use and enjoy the best every day. At the end of the book, she generously lists her design inspirations in Europe and the United States, her favorite design books in her library and her sources for her work.

"All design is opinion," she quotes her friend, and fellow designer, William Yeoward. We're delighted to see and hear her opinion on design in this beautifully unique book. If you love the cover, as I do, you'll love touring the rooms inside with her as your personal and companionable guide.

Dreamy, October 22, 2010
The most gorgeous, dreamy and inspiring book out this fall.
I love every page, every detail.

Like a deep sigh, November 18, 2010
I am a big fan of Ms Rheinstein's work as displayed in the pages of high end shelter magazines, so I was looking forward to her book. Each page is like a soft sigh: dreamy, ethereal, romantic, but also lacking in energy, newness and spark. Each decor seems a bit the same, relying heavily on 18th century predominantly French antiques. The tones are muted and somewhat dusty, and one is left wondering if she is afraid of color. Sepia, grey and faded gilt, while beautiful and successful in moderation, seem to predominate and come together in a blur without a distinct focus. One is left yearning for some unexpected juxtaposition, some pizzazz, while still remaining in the world of antiques, but this book sends the message that old is old and new is new and never the two shall meet. I much prefer Michael Smith and Suzanne Kasler. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Reviews

Fun Behind-the-Scenes View of New York Parties, November 10, 2010
If you've wondered what it would be like to plan or attend a party in a great location like New York, with a generous budget, and florists, chefs, and caterers at your disposal, this book shows you. What is refreshing about this book, its take-away message seems to be do whatever you want. Don't stress to impress. Mix high and low budget items, express your own personality and priorities.

It takes you behind the scenes with photos of 15 New York parties. It features holiday parties to Sunday brunches to a Hunt breakfast to parties in the Hamptons--then you see how the parties turn out once the guests arrive. Hosts of the parties include such style-makers as Tory Burch, fashion designers Michael Kors and Zang Toi, and interior designer Jaimie Drake. The book showcases centerpieces, silver and dishes used, menus from appetizers to desserts, wine and beverages served, music played and entertainment offered. A sampling of tips from this book:

*Guests like to recognize the food they're eating--it's okay to offer classic, simple food. (Michael Kors)
*Use one scent throughout the house & have food for every diet (Jaimie Drake)
*Ask someone to bring a new face--strangers make conversation fun. (Zang Toi)
*Have guests describe a book, art or experience they relished--email them to attendees.
*Seat all the bores at one table--just kidding--the author said this is an adage NOT to follow. Besides, who can be boring at parties like these?

Although each party featured is unique, there was a consensus on offering healthy food, have diverse guests, you can mix high and low items such as Crate & Barrel glass with Baccarat crystal, and it is okay to cater the event or get take-out. Michael Kors recommends asking restaurants to make a dish you'd like to serve, even if the dish isn't on their menu. The book isn't intimidating, but suggests possibilities.

There are close-up photos of appetizers, dishes, centerpieces, and table settings. Favorite photos include: chocolate mice with gilded tails, cakes which resemble gift boxes, and Tory Burch's gold mugs for coffee. Author Jamee Gregory said she is inspired by Henry James' quote: "To be a person on whom nothing is lost." This beautifully-crafted book allows you to be that in the intimate views of these fabulous and fun New York parties.

Terrific Photos, November 10, 2010
Beautifully photographed in locations not seen anywhere else. A great peak at New Yorkers at their best.

Invited Views, November 10, 2010
Jamee Gregory is a delightful writer, I enjoyed reading her descriptions as much as I did viewing the photos. Fabulous! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Mark has done it again!, March 2, 2010
The Big Ass Book of Home Decor is finally out and I now know what I will be doing the next few weeks in my spare time. I am redoing our basement and I am going to "borrow" many of the ideas that the Big Ass Book has thrown out for me. In addition to refreshing my old lamps I am also tackling some old tables as well as some second hand plates that will most likely adorn the wall above the bar. The best thing about this book is that when people see the things I've made I literally have to pull the book out and show them that I did in fact make it myself. Super cool book, super cool ideas.

Another Big Ass Success!, March 1, 2010
Once you 'look inside' the Big Ass Book of Home Decor and you already own the 'Big Ass Book of Crafts' you might think its not much different. You would be completely wrong! There are a few new takes on crafts formerly introduced in the Big Ass Book of Crafts but the new techniques are inspiring! You can apply these projects in so many different ways it also acts as a resource book! More than anything Mark has some amazing new ideas and crafts that will have you thinking 'why didn't I think of that?' and 'I have all the stuff to do this right now!' He also ups the ante on the difficulty for those who think some of the previous projects weren't challenging enough. Again, with projects from beginnger, intermediate to professional there are projects for everyone! Step-by-step instructions with easy to find (and affordable) supplies make this and BABOC a crafters MUST HAVE. I highly recommend this book for all crafters or as a gift for a crafty friend! Brava Mark!

Montano is the Robin Hood of Creativity, March 19, 2010
Using inexpensive (critical to most artists), everyday items, Montano teaches readers to transform the ordinary into the ordinary. What one might see in avante garde boutiques for thousands of dollars, Montano teaches even the most novice crafter to do the same for the price of a fast food meal. This is one of the few craft books that comes out of the Amazon box to my passenger seat for a drive to my nearest hobby or home improvement store...or even the dollar store! There are projects in the book that can be completed with hands on material, too. Regardless, unlike many home art books, Montano's is relevent! I love my well-worn "The Big Ass Book of Crafts" but "The Big Ass Book of Home Decor" is as AT LEAST as amazing. Love the book. Buying his "pre-Bigg Ass" books right now. :)

Mark Montano RAWKS again!, April 10, 2010
Ok, I have always loved crafts, from scrapbooking to crochet to painting (or attempting to), but no book EVER that I have purchased for ideas or inspiration has EVER had the kind of projects that to me were not only totally FABULOUS in their look but also, and most importantly to me, actually "do-able" for the average person. I mean there are tons of "How to" books out there but you seriously need an art degree or a friend who is a carpenter to figure out how to actually make something, well anything that you would show to your friends!

Mark makes sense out of things that most people would overlook in their everyday lives. I have always envied that in people and am SO HAPPY someone finally has all the ideas in a book so all I have to do is copy! Copy and improvise because this book makes my creative juices start to flow just looking through it. I started wondering what other things that I normally overlook could become something useful or fun in my home. Mark is the magician, this is just his book of magic tricks and the secrets behind them. FABULOUS!

If you love to create unique, gorgeous things (with some fun, silly things thrown in) for your home, not to mention just reading the book is fun because of Mark's great sense of humor which had me laughing way more than once, you have to get this and ALL of Mark's books. He is the best that I have seen so far, and I have been looking a long time! Happy crafting!

Not Impressed, October 25, 2010
Wasn't much in here that inspired me or was very sophisticated. Lots of covering lamp shades with weird stuff.

Take Your Decor from Drab to Fab in Seconds Flat!, May 19, 2010

There are plenty of home decor books with perfectly perfect ideas offered on perfectly designed pages with perfectly polite instructions and quite frankly, I find them perfectly boring. If you want perfectly perfect, buy your decor at Pottery Barn. Creativity isn't about perfection. Creativity is about the willingness to roll up your sleeves and make glorious messes. TV Host and author Mark Montano gets that. How could you not love someone who fully embraces the beauty of imperfection and encourages you to design without a net? How could you not love someone who names his book The Big Ass Book of Home Decor? Mark Montano's fantabulous new book is a crafty revelation!

This irreverent tome is simply bursting at the seams with fresh approaches to traditional techniques with a generous dollop of totally new concepts that will leave your brain spinning. Mark throws so much stuff at you on every page you're going to need a thermos of espresso, a sketch book and an oxygen canister at the ready. He fully exemplifies the mantra 'It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it' and Mark does it with such flair and panache it's positively mind blowing. You may have decoupaged or texture painted or used plaster of Paris before, but I can guarantee you that you've never done it the way Mark does. If you love to dance on the edge of good taste, if you love a heaping helping of kitsch in your decor, if you are a frugalista who needs solutions to help you take your el cheapo finds and make them el fabuloso, this is your book.

What impressed and intrigued me the most was the abundant array of aesthetics Mr. Montano explored on every page. Nothing was the same old, same old and everything had it's own unique design appeal. Whether you're a mid century maven, a shabby chic sophisticate, a Deco doyenne, a graffiti guru or a Belle Epoque believer...Mark gives you a plethora of fun techniques and concepts and shows you how you can tailor them to suit your personal sense of style. There are over 100 projects in this book to explore using affordable and easily accessible materials, which means there literally is something for everyone. If you can't find something to love here, might I suggest one of the aforementioned perfectly perfect home decor titles. Snore.

Some of my personal favorite projects include: Garden Side Table, Mirrored Glass Candle Holders, Tramp Art Cardboard Frame, Silhouette Wall Treatment, Modern Office Flower Art, Circus Tables...and the list goes on and on and on. So many of these ideas make you smack your forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?!" For those of us who've grown weary of cookie cutter furniture with names like Flargensnorp and Gertlesnark, Mark works his design magic on those Ikea staples along with charmingly imperfect and dated flea market and thrift store finds. The projects are straightforward and easy to recreate, but rife with potential for further embellishment and personalization. You can take them as far as you like, mix and match ideas to make them your own. Mark makes even the entirely technically challenged feel empowered.

I'm simply mad for Mark Montano and I'm quite sure after reading The Big Ass Book of Home Decor, you will be too. Perfect, schmerfect. Take a walk on the wild side, you'll be so very glad that you did.

Margot Potter
Author, Designer, TV Personality
The Impatient Beader Series, Beyond the Bead and Bead Chic

Love it!, May 3, 2010
I got both his Big Ass books and like both of them. If you only have budget for one, I recommend this one. Lots of ideas and lots of fun.

MAD FOR THESE CRAFTS!, April 28, 2010
So, this book had me at the title alone! This is a BIG ASS BOOK of fabulous ideas that dont cost a fortune! Most of them can be made with materials you have or can find at the dollar store. I love Mark's creativity and his detailed explanations of the crafts. He lets you be the master of your own home decor. This book gave me the initiative to actually make things again. I haven't been inspired to do that for 20+ years! What a feeling! Cant wait for the next one:)

Great & Inexpensive Ideas, April 19, 2010
great book! great addition to the preivous "...book of crafts" Montano knows his stuff and makes it easy for you to know too!

Inspiring, April 2, 2010
I made a trip to the local chain bookstore with the intention of grabbing a copy of Natalie Chanin's new book and spotted the Big Ass Book of Home Decor. Of course I had to take a peak. I really like what I saw and now it's own my wish list. There are a lot of fun projects and inspiring ideas in this book. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of my own, soon! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Robert and Cortney Novogratz, starts of the hit Bravo series 9 BY DESIGN, have been renovating and designing unique and hip homes for families for over ten years. Describing their signature style as a sophisticated but bohemian mix of high and low, new and old, they offer their realistic advice on how to create original, warm interiors with ease. One part practical guide, one part inspirational volume on creating a look for the home, the book pairs humorous anecdotes about the pitfalls and pleasures of renovation with a treasure trove of decorating tips: how to use both boutique and flea-market finds; how to inject lots of personality into a room affordably; how to decorate kids’ rooms so they appeal to children and adults; how to easily rehabilitate outdated furnishings; and many more. In each of the ten projects featured—which include a townhouse in New York City, a country house in Massachusetts, and a beach house in Brazil—before and after shots document the agony and ecstasy of any renovation project, as well as revealing the design duo’s vision and remarkable ability to see through the most awful of spaces to the amazing home that lies within. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For many of us, our home is the center of our life. It is the place where our families meet and mingle, where we share our meals and share our dreams. So much more than just a space to live, our homes offer us a place of comfort, nourishment, and love for us and for our children.

In Handmade Home, Amanda Blake Soule, author of The Creative Family and the blog SouleMama.com, offers simple sewing and craft projects for the home that reflect the needs, activities, and personalities of today’s families. As Amanda writes in the introduction, “As a crafter, I’m always looking for the next thing I want to make. As a mama, I’m always looking for the next thing we need—to do, to have, to use—as a family. The coming together of these parts is where the heart of Handmade Home lies.”

Filled with thirty-three projects made by reusing and repurposing materials, all of the items here offer a practical use in the home. From picnic blankets made out of repurposed bed sheets to curtains made out of vintage handkerchiefs, these projects express the sense of making something new out of something old as a way to live a more financially pared-down and simple life; lessen our impact on the earth; connect to the past and preserve a more traditional way of life; and place value on the work of the hands. Also included are projects that children can help with, allowing them to make their own special contribution to the family home.

More than just a collection of projects for handmade items, this book offers the tools to create a life—and home—full of beauty, integrity, and joy.

Projects include:

   • Papa’s Healing Cozy: This hot water bottle cover becomes a simple way to offer comfort to a sick child

   • Baby Sling: A simple pattern for an object that offers so much to a small child—refuge from the world and a place to lay their head next to a parent’s heart

   • Beach Blanket To-Go: Repurpose old sheets to create the perfect picnic blanket for special outdoor meals

   • Cozy Wall Pockets: A creative solution for storing a child’s small treasures Pattern templates for Handmade Home ... Read more

Reviews

Fun craft book but needs work, September 4, 2009
I find Amanda's blog interesting and her second book is full of gorgeous photos of projects I can make! The only disappointment was there is only plain text instructions. No diagrams or drawings or photos. When I buy a craft book I expect better details on how to make an item. As I bought this book as a pre-order I couldn't peruse it prior to buying it. I am not going to go turn on my computer and look something up. Her first book "The Creative Family" had a couple of drawings in it like the one for the felt colored pencil roll and the wool felt block and the bedtime bags for example. I wonder why this book didn't have any? I like Amy Karol's "Bend The Rules Sewing" book better since it is easier to understand.

Encouraging but not inspiring, October 26, 2009
I love Amanda's Blog and own her first book "Creative Family." Her words are inspiring and although the craft projects are less than inspiring or unique in her 2nd book, her voice is lovely to read. Her first book has a bit more of her in it as opposed "Handmade Home" which jumps from project to project. The recycled paper the book is printed on is a nice touch but it dulls the photos, and there could be a few more images added to readily inspire.

If you are new to crafts and recycling in your home you may love this book, but I would recommend "Creative Family" first. "Handmade Home" has similar info on recycling/thrifting and if that's a new concept to you the book is worth a look at a library or bookstore but not a great reference or a great read. I feel that in the book the author seems to be spending to obtain all these "thrifted items" whereas most folks have plenty og old sheets and towels around and wouldn't use any designer fabric to make cloth napkins...

The author is an inspiring mom, author and blogger, and for those who may never enter her world on her blog the book may help to stimulate creativity. But it's not original nor have any concepts been taken to the next level for perhaps her more interested fan base. Kudos that she has published 2 books with 4 kids and let's you take a peak into her world via her blog, but the book, unless you wish to support her efforts, doesn't jump off the shelf and seems to have been rushed by the publisher.

A Wonderful, Inspiring Surprise!, August 17, 2009
I wasn't sure what I'd get in "Handmade Home", but now I can tell you! The first part of the book is a primer on the eco-friendly art of reusing old materials. It's filled with tips for getting the best finds at thrift stores, garage sales, etc. She shares what to look for, even with reminders to leave behind those great deals that one doesn't need for the next thrifter - it's "thrifting karma" says Amanda. Excellent advice! There's also brief ideas for setting up a sewing space in a small area.

The second part is a large collection of 30+ projects organized by categories: Nourish (as in kitchen items), Nurture (as in wellness), Play, Seek (as in adventure) and Retreat (as in decor). The categories are loose, but they do give you a peak into the scope of the projects. And they are not "the usual" projects. No patchwork quilts or aprons here. Those are useful patterns (and can be found in "Bend-the-Rules Sewing") that anyone might want, but not what you'll find in Handmade Home. Amanda Soule's book brings many ideas that incorporate childrens' art - "Portrait Bookmarks" - or make use of fabric scraps - "One-Word Banner". She includes several non-sewing projects, often using decoupage. There are useful, but "alternative" patterns for items like cloth diapers, rag bags and women's cloth. And then, there are memory-preserving projects like the "Memory Tree Quilt Art." Everything is beautiful! And, just as with her blog SouleMama, everything is presented along with inspiring photography. Along the way she shares "crafty tips" and "earthy tips" - both of which share ways to craft smart, making safe, eco-friendly choices.

I have only begun to absorb the goodness to be found in this little volume. But, just this weekend, I have finished an embellished bath mat and have begun a "One-Word Banner" for my son's room, using my husband's discarded wool sweater and fabric scraps from my son's crib bedding and nursery items. I think that "Handmade Home" will enrich the life of many a "Green Mama" interested in creating and reusing. Enjoy!

don't waste your money, August 14, 2009
I had pre-ordered this book months ago and was eagerly awaiting it's arrival what a huge disappointment. The book has artistic photo's but lacks any diagrams, or detailed instructions. The whole first chapter (21) pages are about getting started they are nothing more than a vanity photo shoot on the cleverness of the author, as if we are not smart enough to recycle our own old containers or put our grandmothers button jars to good use. Many of the projects look ratty, and are ill conceived. Lacking any diagrams or detailed instructions the author who claims to be writing simple ways to re purpose old materials assumes you are an experienced seamstress. What a waste of money. A simple way to repurpose your money would be to buy a plain composition book and use your own head. I have not found a single original idea in the whole book, nor any idea that was conceived from beginning to end with attention to details or easily followed instructions.

Great resource!, August 30, 2010
I really enjoyed this. Not all the projects were applicable to my life, but the ones that were are perfect. Items like the baby sling, pot holders and fabric signs would make great gifts. I especially liked the braided rag rug and bathroom towel rugs, too. All the instructions are simple, and the author includes little reminders throughout of where to look for repurpose-able fabric already in your life. Definitely worth picking up!

A Little Bit of Handmade Heart and Soul, August 22, 2009
This book is full of inspiration; not only are there plenty of projects that can be accomplished with and also for your family, as well as yourself, there is so much spiritual inspiration and insight into what it really means to put your heart into the work that your hands create. I love that the focus is on being truly creative in the most simple way - by repurposing. We all have plenty of things sitting on our shelves, in our closets, in our attics, just waiting to be reborn and given new life to become something newly treasured and loved. I also appreciate that so many of these projects can simply be a springboard for your own creative ideas...in my mind, I'm already crafting a table runner with my children's art work with a holiday theme, and I am supersizing the art and hook rack while finally knowing what to do to utilize a great piece of wood we have left over. And I won't be spending any money that we are currently lacking, anyhow. Thanks to this book, my family and I will be so full of creative projects for many moons to come, and I look forward to watching these ideas grow right along with us. This is a beautiful book, well worded, wonderful photographs, with lovely anecdotes. Keep in mind, it won't teach you much in the way of sewing, etc., but rather lays the groundwork for helping you to discover a way to craft with truly unique materials and ideas. I only wish it were longer!

A jewel!!, August 28, 2009
Yes, as other reviews have said, there is nothing "new" or that hasn't been created before, but I think what AMandas book and Blog is all about is to INSPIRE, and to ENCOURAGE people to create. Which I think It's the MOST important thing here. The book is very well written and you can see all the love and care she has put into every page. It's wonderful to see Amandas concern for the planet, our bealoved Earth and how she lovingly points ways to live our family lifes in a more conscious way. Specially if you consider how we are all so Disconected from our real nature and the things that REALLY matter.This is why her contribution is so important.She masterly does this by being a living example.
The only thing I can tell you I didn't like is that I would have LOVE for the book to have a 100 more pages!!!!

Good resource, September 21, 2009
I loved the ideas and project in the book. It really makes you think about connecting with yourself, your creativity, your family, home and the earth. Great for crafters who want to explore earth friendly crafts! ... Read more