Editorial Review

Marc Vassallo's Read more

Reviews (2)

An easy recipe for easy living
Vassallo puts into words the kind of home we all want: casual, bright, a place that feels good to call home. The BFH introduces the idea of the easy feeling you get when you're away on a summer vacation, renting a cabin in the woods or a house on the beach. The book provides the recipe for maintaining this feeling year-round, not just one or two weeks a year but every day in your own house.

A lavishly photographed interior design and decorating guide
The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design For Casual Living is a lavishly photographed interior design and decorating guide, with an eye for the laid-back lifestyle. Emphasis on openness, lack of clutter, serenity, ventilation, and ease distinguish these suggestions for everything from kitchens to studios to bedroom. Full-color photographs on every page, diagrams, and extensive writing not only about specific suggestions but also general themes to promote a relaxed atmosphere fill The Barefoot Home cover-to-cover. The perfect interior design antidote to the pressures and stresses of a fast-paced world, The Barefoot Home is written in a tone akin to its subject matter - easygoing and thoroughly accessible to amateur and professional designers alike. Very highly recommended and informative reading.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Decorating - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Domestic    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior architecture    11. Psychological aspects    12. Residential Buildings Architecture    13. Room layout (Dwellings)    14. House & Home / General   

Reviews (9)

Should you buy French By Design?
I just did. The homes & rooms featured in this book indicate that money is no object and these homeowners want you to know it. Subtlety is non-existant. Rooms are very "we had a decorator & we spent a LOT". Most items looks too new, too ruffled, smocked, tucked and otherwise adorned. HOWEVER, if you can get past the pictures & READ THE TEXT- Phillips has a lot to say that is excellent. She lists sources & frequently shares fascinating comments on everyday details of French style (who knew about brass hardware vs brushed nickel?). If you read; buy it. If you look only at photos, don't! Charles Faudree is much better in the genre in my opinion.

Beautifully presented.
Another of Philips' beautiful French decorating books.Homes presented in this book, as with her other books are high end showing us the sumptuous fabrics, and lovely French furniture she specializes in.Homes shown are mostly mansions, not the average house. Good coffee table book.

Brilliant, Great Sense of Design, a Visual Delight
Not unlike all of Phillips' books, this book is a masterpiece of European syle and design.No detail is left unnoticed.The furniture, fabrics, antiques, architecture, artwork, and carved stone are each carefully considered and beautifully photographed.Every page is a visual delight.I cannot recommend it highly enough! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    6. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    7. Design & Construction    8. France    9. History    10. House & Home    11. Influence    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Interior decoration    14. United States    15. Architecture / Interior Design    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. Interior design    18. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (17)

Sun-drenched colors of Southern France
"French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication." For Americans creating French style, who can't go toFrance
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here? French Provencal style influences American interiors
I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. France    8. History    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. Influence    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Interior decoration    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Decorating    18. Interior design   

Reviews (4)

Beautiful pictures, workable ideas
So you've bought a bungalow--now, what do you do with it?Maybe it's a fixer-upper; maybe it's too small, or doesn't have enough storage space; maybe you're just not sure what kind of furniture to get.This book is a great start toward deciding where to go next.Illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, it shows not only many of the features by which you can tell an Arts & Crafts house when you see it (I was surprised to learn that the big old foursquares such as my grandparents lived in for 40 years are included in this classification), but gives actual ideas carried out by other homeowners, even unto before-and-after floor plans.The author's advice is thoughtful and well suited to the houses she writes about, too.And if you just like to look at pictures of vintage American homes, this would be a good volume to add to your collection.

Houses, er, too large
There's a lot of good in this book, and it's given me a few ideas for my own arts-and-crafts vernacular house, but at the same time it's frustrating.Lots of the pictures feel (or explicitly state) that they're from houses much larger than the classic 900-2000 square foot bungalow.
Its a keeper!
As a librarian and a lover of Arts & Crafts style, I recommend this book to all who desire a peek at some fantastic Bungalow interiors.The color photography is stunning and that material which is covered is covered well.Though the pictures will be enticing to anyone fond of this architecture, I consider the text to be aimed at newbies.Having said that, the chapter on "What Style is Your Home" describing basic architectural hallmarks of various Bungalows is especially well written, albeit very basic.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Arts and crafts movement    3. Bungalows    4. Conservation and restoration    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Dwellings    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Influence    10. Interior Design - General    11. Interior Design - Style Books    12. Remodeling    13. Remodeling & Renovation - General    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Design & Construction    18. House & Home / General   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Details    4. Great Britain    5. History - General    6. History Of Architecture    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior architecture    9. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. Reference    11. Architecture - Details    12. Architecture / Historic Preservation   

Reviews (12)

Great color guide, with only one problem
I bought this book as I was in the process of buying a house.A house we had seen was so welcoming because of the colors, that it inspired me.I really like what I came up with from this book.The only problem is that you can look up colors by paint color only.I had to page through the book to find our exact color of upholstery in the "upholstery" blocks of color.It was tedious and time consuming, but I saw lots of interesting colors to choose from in my other rooms.Overall, I really like the book and it was veryuseful.

Absolutely fabulous!
I Love the usefulness of this book! The way it lays out which colors to use with which and for what is marvelous. Sometimes I was stumped if the author referred to a kitchen or bathroom and I had a den or living room in mind.
Great book to get a Color Scheme for your Room
Yes, we all want to paint our room some vibrant color, but do we have a clue as to what the complementing colors are ? well , I for one have no idea.. and this book helped out a lot. It lets you pick a color from the first two pages and then leads you to the colors that accent the color you have picked. It also explains the color in detail giving you the mood it stimulates, and gives tips on what kind of colors to pick for bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
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Subjects:  1. Color in interior decoration    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior walls    11. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (2)

AffectationIn-A-Box
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Jolene's Reviews
This book has beautiful photos and sketched home plans for luxurious living.If you are looking for ideas to build an estate or a waterfront home, this is a good choice.It has home plans from designers like Sater. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    10. Southern Europe   

Reviews (18)

Furniture is the Focus
This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.

Moderately interesting
This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.

FABULOUS!
I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style".This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Furniture    4. Furniture design    5. Furniture, Colonial    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. West Indies    10. Art / Design / Decorative    11. Caribbean islands    12. Interior design   

Reviews (6)

don'twaste your money!!
While I very much enjoyed Miss Wearstler's first book, I found Domicilium Decoratus to be borderline obnoxious. Rather than show great decorating, the book focused mainly on close up shots of objects in her house that took up the whole page.In addition, I feel that as the viewer of the book I do not need to see fifteen entirepages of Miss Wearstler dressed in ball gowns pretending to be domestic.

delicious eye candy
I loved modern glamour.
amazing design sensibility
This signed limited edition in a specially bound case is superbly done.Ms. Wearstler has the uncanny and clearly innate ability to take any object you give her and make it look absolutely fabulous.When I saw her son's carrera marble bathtub, my first thought was, "how do I get her to adopt me?" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Art    3. Decorating - General    4. Design - Decorative    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Art / Design / Decorative   

Reviews (18)

Fantastic Book
This is a great book. I love the pictures and have actually called one of the artist to order one of her creations. It would be a much better book if the author would have included a resource guide as to where to purchase the organizing units that the women use to create their working envirnoments.

Good book but......
This is a good book with beautiful pictures of craft spaces.I ordered in the hopes of getting ideas & inspiration for my craft space, but got none.

Where Women Create
This is an agreeable book, but I found Organizing Your Craft Space by the same author much better and more useful.Much material is duplicated - you really don't need both books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists' studios    2. Careers - General    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. United States    11. Women artists    12. Women designers    13. House & Home / Decorating    14. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes   

Reviews (3)

Idea Finder
Great find.This is the perfect book when plannning a remodel.It's refreshing to find such a variety of interiors under one cover.The garden shots are equally inspiring and wildly different from one home to the next.The book is beautifully shot and the narative is well thought out.Well worth buying.

One Word: Fabulous, Fabulous ,Fabulous
I know you say to yourselves. Not another narsicistic book on celebrity domiciles.. But this book stands out. It is smartly written by Sue Hostetler. An element of honesty comes out in her subjects that one is not usually privy to in a celebrity "fluff piece". The humanity of those who dwell within the walls portrayed in this book really shines through. Also the photographs are "Superb". I have owned many beautiful photo books and this one really stands out. The depth of the images and the natural balance of light is stunning. Peter seems to know just what the spaces want to share with the viewer. All the homes shine under Peters visionary imagemaking. I would say if you are interested in what really drives the styles of today, "Hip Hollywood Homes" is a MUST HAVE. The style , design , and tastemakers who opened their lives and homes to Peter and Sue really are the creme' de la creme' of what is happening now.

Vanity Fair meets Architectural Digest for those with real style!,
Much, much more than other coffee table books!
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Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. California    3. Celebrities    4. Decorating    5. Decorating - General    6. Domestic    7. Homes and haunts    8. House & Home    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Los Angeles    11. Residential Interior Design    12. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (8)

Sumptuous and inspiring
I received this book for my birthday last year and still enjoy looking at it. In fact, I was getting ready to order it for a friend for the holidays when I saw an earlier review of this book that also mentioned another vacation home book called Second Home, I bought it, too. I highly recommend both books. This is wonderful dream book, as is Second Home. Second Home also includes pointers (throughout the book) on deciding where you might want to have a second home, real estate shopping tips, and ideas on building and decorating, too. Second Home is as inspiring as Family Houses by the Sea, but it offers the bonus of being practical and talking directly to me about what I can do to actually realize my dream of having a weekend house.

One of our favorites
We are accumulating a wonderful little stack of books related to second homes as we plan a getaway of our own. This one is a favorite because of its dreamy photography. I also highly recommend SECOND HOME: Finding Your Place In The Fun, which is a new book that mixes dreamy photos of real homes with some helpful tips on finding a location as well as buying, building, remodeling, or decorating a second home. Like Family Houses, Second Home is a larger hardback book. Gorgeous.

Family houses - eclectically by the sea
And therein lies the beauty of this book. Yes, some of the homes are older & some are rustic-but there's the sleek & contemporary too. In other words, something for everyone who loves to live by the water (or wishes they did). Buy this book to appreciate the different ways to express loving the natural light & atmosphere in a home that is reflective of the sea. You may not get Decorating Lessons 1-100 - but thats not the point. You can escape thru this book, dream thru it, share it, admire those who have created beautiful spaces in beautiful places - without displaying every obvious "seaside" nic-nac but with much good taste & class. Buy it for those pleasures & of knowing that kind of life does exist & can be lived by those to whom it means the most. To the authors - a beautiful volumn - thank you for seeking these places out & creating an arm chair trip to some incredibly beautiful spots by the water. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating - General    3. Europe    4. History    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Pictorial works    9. Residential Buildings Architecture    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - Marriage & Family    13. United States    14. Vacation homes    15. House & Home / Decorating    16. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (1)

Just another potpourri book...
I love interior decorating books, especially Colonial, Regency and Victorian or English Country Style.But this book covers too much territory.A few pictures of each, as well as others styles like Ranch, or French.If you are having trouble deciding on a style, this book might help you. It has lovely illustrations, but again, as it is trying to cover many different styles falling under the broad title of "Country" your information is limited.There are too many books coming out like this. Specialty books are much better.Look to Rizzoli for the best in interior decorating books, or if you want some kind of country, best buy a book that covers that one particular style.I browsed through this at the store, hoping it might make a good Christmas present for me, but it ended up back on the shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. United States    12. House & Home / General   

Reviews (4)

McMansion Style
If you like the newly built McMansion-styled homes, then this is the book for you.If you are looking for authentic French decor and tips, don't buy this book.This is no more "unmistakably French" than la Madeline food is to French cuisine.

Beautiful Book
I love all of Betty Lou Phillip's books.I really like her style - scrolled iron work, marbled tile and other beautiful touches.Some of the photos are of very extravagant homes, but they contain ideas that those of us with less imposing homes could include in our decorating.I could just sit and look through her books for hours.(Actually, I think I have!)

Much more of the same.
This book shows us several mansions, just as her other books do.They are very polished and show-roomy-think of the TV show Dynasty from the 1980's updated!The text is snobby, and it appears she doesn't intend to relate her ideas to her readers, but glorify herself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decoration and ornament    4. France    5. History    6. Influence    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. United States    11. European studies    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Decorating    14. Interior design   

Reviews (29)

Floorplans and great photos
I really like it that the floorplan for each place is included.
Does anyone LIVE like this?
Seriously, the book is beautifully photographed and the rooms are very well designed if you like rooms where no one actually has to LIVE...
My bad?
Perhaps it's my misunderstanding of the purpose of this book. or the implication of the title. In sum, it's stuffed with pretty pictures of overdecorated spaces - and nothing, & I mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G remotely useful for utilizing small spaces.
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Subjects:  1. Apartments    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Personal space    10. House & Home / Decorating   

Editorial Review

Most people are familiar with the hallmarks of Rachel Ashwell's shabby chic style: fabrics in pastel florals and stripes, chintz sofa covers, antique-store and yard-sale finds turned into home furnishings and accessories. At the heart of this breezy style is a very practical idea: don't buy new--use what you have or can find at thrift stores and secondhand shops and enjoy the old-fashioned charm that only aged pieces acquire. The same idea goes for houses. Read more

Reviews (34)

The Shabby Chic Home
I received The Shabby Chic Home on Friday, and it was such a joy to spend a night with the beautiful and warm-hearted book of Rachel Ashwell, her family and sweer home. Nothing luxuary, only lots of love!

Fabulous!
I look at this book again and again.The colors inspire me, and I seem to notice something new everytime I look at it again.

Admirable.
This woman is truly admirable. She is financially successful, yet it is clear from the way she organizes and decorates her dream home that she values her family life and simplicity above all. Shabby Chic is not my style. However, I find myself benefiting from her advice again and again. Mostly to help me find my own sense of beauty every time I need to purchase something for my home. This is a wonderfully useful book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House furnishings    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. Interior design    10. Residential Interior Design    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Decorating    12. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (2)

Balinese houses - paradise.
This is a genuinely fine book. The photographs are spectacular, with fine color and resolution.
bali houses
Good overall but not as informative as Bali Modern another book by same author. PHotography excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Bali Island    4. Domestic    5. Indonesia    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior architecture    9. Interior decoration    10. International Architecture - Asian    11. Architectural structure & design    12. Bali    13. Interior design    14. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (13)

Great reference book
Although I have a much smaller home, I am using much of the design elements by Ms. Phillips in the renovation of my home.

A Decorator's Dream
So many lovely pictures!I am using many of the design ideas in decorating my new kitchen and breakfast room in the Country French style.I would recommend this book to everyone who is a visual learner.

Not bad, but pretty much the same look throughout
This decorating book has plenty of pictures, but I was a little disappointed that the only color scheme included was monochromatic.This is a very soothing look, but after a while the pictures start to look the same. I was hoping for some different ideas, but this book showed pretty much one idea throughout.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. France    3. Influence    4. Interior Design - General    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Interior decoration    7. Italy    8. United States    9. House & Home / Decorating    10. Interior design   

Reviews (5)

INSPIRING!
Wow, what a gorgeous book.We look at it again and again for indoor and outdoor inspiration.You will be completely delighted by this book which captures golden light!

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS....
Pure and simple, for most of us PROVEN�AL HOUSE is a coffee table book filled with exquisite detail found in several dozen homes in the south of France. Author, Joanna Thornycroft, has classified the structures Andreas Von Einsiedel photographed into `Town', `Manor' or `Country' houses. Short on text and long on photos, the premise of this publication seems to be a picure is worth a thousand words.Beginning with houses in the French Rivera and ending with Le Murier in hameau das Auvis, the author takes you on a trip through the land painted by Van Gogh and Pagnol.
great inspirational book
I can be critical of design and house books after seeing so many, so it's a relief to finally be able to give a book five stars. The photographs are authentic and detail everything from interior to exterior, including gardens. The essence of French provincal style is captured and distilled here. The writing is clever and concise, although you'll hardly notice it because the pictures are so brilliant. This is an essential book if you're trying to capture the French provencal look in house design or interior design. This book gives you an authentic source reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Domestic    4. Dwellings    5. France    6. General    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. International Architecture - European    10. Pictorial works    11. Provence    12. Provence (France)    13. Reference    14. Social life and customs    15. Architecture / General   

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. General    5. Interior Design    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. Mexico    10. Architecture / Interior Design    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. Interior Design; architecture