Book Description
Celebrating the distinctive decorative style inspired over many centuries by the French countryside. French Country Living is an invaluable resource for anyone who has ever longed to bring home a piece of France. Combining evocative photographs with elegant and illuminating text by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, the book argues that the familiar romantic landscape is still a vital part of France, and that the roots of most French people lie firmly in the rural way of life. The first part, The Elements, explores the ingredients that make up the whole: the subtle color palette of soft warm grays, cloudy pinks, and misty greens, the traditional materials, the furniture, and the textiles. Then there are the distinctive, often unchanging, objects and accessories, from ceramics to silver to pictures. The second part. The Spaces, looks at the overall style. It begins at the heart of the French home, in the kitchen and dining area -- where wood, stone, and tiles are often combined in imaginative and p
Customer Reviews:
very white.......2007-03-24
If you are afraid of color, this book is for you. Don't let it convince you, though, that french country is not about bold colors- every other book I've seen says the opposite. That said, it is a beatiful book, with lots of rustic elements.
Delicious.......2007-01-25
Caroline Clifton-Mogg's French Country Living is a delicious book to look at; the pages are filled with beautiful, airy rooms and the accompanying text does a good job of explaining how the effect is achieved--lots of grey in the colors, painted furniture, small-sized fabric prints, etc.
This is French country living in the Marie-Antoinette-at-Petit-Trianon style, not truly rural la France profonde, however. The exquisitely restored rooms are filled with priceless antiques, and a cursory glance over the photo credits suggests that the majority of houses shown are located in either Provence, or the richer departements near Paris (the most famous house in Yvelines is Versailles, if that gives you an idea of what's in the neighborhood of some of the chateaux photographed). Having seen more than one room in a rural French house with vinyl wallpaper on the ceiling and door, I can only wish that all of French country life was this beautiful!
Beautiful and informative.......2006-02-03
Actually bought this book French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Christopher Drake (Photographer) as well as New French Country : A Style and Source Book by Linda Dannenberg (Author), Guy Bouchet (Photographer) and this book is really great for those of us who look for more of a French Zen style devoid of lots of tassels and furniture that you are afraid to even sit on.
I especially appreciate the crisp clean photography and amount of white theme rooms and simple room designs. I recommend this book to anyone who loves open, bright and airy homes and rooms, that in my opinion help alleviate or even prevent depression in many people.
And the rooms are so easy to clean and easy to live in. No fear of messing something up. In some ways the book shows what I would call California or casual university town style living that is also environmentally friendly and physically healthy. Also very affordable styles are shown so the book should appeal to all financial groups.
The Essence of the French Culture.......2004-07-27
Outside of Paris and the other bustling cities, France's image is of small farms, atmospheric medieval villages, and of an age well past but well preserved with an understated elegance. Even newly built houses are often designed with a view towards looking like the 19th century.
In this book, hundreds of color photographs illustrate the essence of the French countryside. The book is in two parts, the first emphasizes the soft, non-contrasting colors and the natural materials and textures that are distinctly France. The second part of the book looks at the overall style. It looks at the French home, starting of course with the kitchen (this is after all France). Only then does it move on to the rest of the house, ending with the French garden. And this is France, so the garden also emphasises a place to eat and drink.
This is an absolutely delightful book.
Book Description
Capture this popular and pretty look with the help of Christina Strutt, owner of the renowned design firm, Cabbages & Roses. She takes a tour of town and country homes to showcase, with beautiful photographs, hundreds of decorating ideas. Comfy living rooms feature patchwork cushions and oversized family sofas. The style is beautiful and timeless.
Customer Reviews:
Easygoing and Pretty Country Decorating!.......2006-02-24
This book evokes an easygoing Summer feeling, and inspires you to fill your home with sunlight, fresh flowers and "Shabby Chic" style flea market finds. I absolutely love, love, love, this book! If you love the "Shabbby Chic" style, then you'll truly enjoy this lovely book. Written by the owner of Cabbages & Roses, based in England.
Book Description
Country Living editor Niña Williams had never visited Provence, yet visions of that fabled French region permeated her dreams. And so, with a little help from some talented artists, she transformed her own simple Denver home (inside and out) into a small bit of Provençal heaven. Everywhere trompe l'oeil murals turn the walls into a storybook peopled with imaginary characters and landscapes from a tiny imaginary Provençal village. And each detail, from the ceramic dishes to the small soaps in the bathroom to the wrought iron furniture on the patio, has the perfect Provençal touch. Williams herself explains her inspiration, and the reasons behind all her choices. A pure delight and true original, this blend of romance and design primer also includes tasty tidbits like Provençal recipes (Garlic Rabbit) and information on the Provençal crafts of lacemaking, enamelware, and more.
Customer Reviews:
a decorative fairy tale............2002-01-22
As stated in the book's introduction, the decoration of this
house does indeed capture the mood, spirit and colors of
Provence. Anyone looking for ideas or studies of trompe l'oeil
will totally enjoy the art on every page. I remember the
first time I saw the art of Fisher and Chappell in an old issue
of Country Living magazine. They artfully painted a garden
shed and it made the cover of the magazine. A story unfolds
as you go room to room in this house, the walls are the illustrations. French tiles, a mouse on garden tools, rabbits
in a hutch, windows to lavender fields, murals of glorious
Provencal landscapes, a broken plate on the floor, pearls on the stair steps, rose petals on a window sill: are they
real or painted? An excellent addition to a collection of
interior design books. You can't go wrong here. The resource
guide in the back features decorative sources, fabric and upholstery sources, garden catalogs and graphic designers.
Lots of garden pictures too as Nina Williams was the founding
editor of Country Living Gardener. From the kitchen to the
atelier, the boudoir to the foyer you will find inspiration!
Thumbs up!
Lovely,dreamy.......2002-01-11
This book, although not practical, is lovely and dreamy. Great for thumbing through on a weekend afternoon. The author has tapped into my psyche by fueling my dream of having a getaway cottage. We want a dreamy place not in Europe but close enough to home so that we can escape every weekend if we want to. Fortunately, that is possible in our part of the country where vacation homes are common. I've searched for vacation homes and cottage books, and the best are:
SECOND HOME. Rating: 10. This gorgeous coffee table book is also practical. Great houses, dreamy photos of locations, but the homes, which are in all styles from cabins in the woods to big family homes on the Atlantic, aren't out of reach. The book has tips on finding a location and that sort of thing as well as decorating. Nice resource list with internet sites for more information. Blends dreamy beauty with information.
THE CABIN. Rating: 6. Another pretty coffee table book. Not practical in any way but nice to look at. More of an architecture book than anything else.
COTTAGE STYLE. Rating: 8. All about decorating any home so it looks like a weekend cottkage. My decorating "bible."
ADIRONDACK STYLE. Rating: 5. Good pictures of homes and interiors. But it's limited to one rustic style, of course.
HOME DECOR. WITH A STORY TO TELL.......2001-12-13
I can't finish this book. It's so good,
I want to leave some for other days.
The decor is fasinating.
Cottage Art at its best.......2001-10-31
Nina Williams has created a gift for those of us who are artists who like to make our homes or in my case my cottage a day to day living canvas. Not only did I appreciate the "theme" which is basically a young girl flowing into adulthood but like Ms Williams I have a serious free spirit mode that is very Bohemian.
The photos are wonderful and one sees how an artist creates beauty that is a mix of fairytale and reality. And I am also a grower of French lavender and could almost smell the lavender tucked in the curtain or in the mural of the French lavender fields that seemed to stretch for miles.
And the whimsy of the strand of pearls broken and dropping down the painted stairs of her home, the mouse on the stairs the looks so lifelike and the flowers...oh my they look so real, as if freshly picked. And the young girl at the window, caught in a far off thought with love letter in hand.
And the colours and hue are so vibrant and I so love the way the artists creates smiles on peoples faces. How you open a door and see a painting on the other side. How rooms blend paintings with tile work and furniture.
This is a book I would recommend for all my fellow artist friends who love creating and are not afraid of working on non canvas surfaces.
Provence Captured.......2000-12-03
Owning a residence in Provence, We werelooking for inspiration for a redesign. This will be my bible. She perfectly captured the mood and colors of Provence. The Trompe L' Oeil work is some of the finest I have ever seen. It weaves the tri-themes of the book together perfectly. Personality makes a room.
Book Description
This style and decorative arts book reflects the design philosophy of renowned artisan Susan Sargent, emphasizing spontaneous creativity, do-it-yourself decorative accents, and ideas for adding self-expression to any and all furnishings. Her fresh interpretation of classical forms celebrates design, proportion, and color with a subtle whimsy and playful spirit. Her style is distinguished by a look that is elegant and relaxed, with a tasteful use of color patterns and imagery. Sargent is an innovator and pioneer in combining cutting-edge colors and modern manufacturing practices with mediums that are steeped in tradition. Her creative and refreshing approach draws from many influences in design: William Morris, Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry, Carl Larsson, Laura Ashley, and Marimekko. Filled with more than 300 magnificent full-color photographs and inspiring text, this book displays the hundreds of ways beautiful handcrafted objects and vibrant, unexpected colors can enhance one's home-and life.
Customer Reviews:
Loved this book!.......2006-08-20
This book has inspired me like no other decorating book has. I got the book at the library first and after renewing it the maximum amount of times, figured I'd better buy it before I wore out the borrowed copy. I am filled with ideas and can't wait to try them out. Susan Sargent has a real gift for using color in the home, and her ideas are truly inspirational.
New Country Home- Waste of your $.......2005-12-22
I was excited about getting this book but what a disappointment!!
Photos were mediocre at best and there was nothing inspiring that gets the juices going for dedorating with her ideas. It is not a book worth looking at more than once, but even at that I woldn't bother. Buy this book if you want to adore Susan Sargent and pay a big sum to just have a book with her name on it. I love decorating and this rates low on my book list. Sorry if I offend some with being candid, but I prefer to give a my true assessment and hope someone else doesn't waster his/her hard urned money on this book. Take a look at it at a book store before being lured to buying it based on a name and a nice cover.
Loads of Color.......2005-05-05
This book is so beautiful. From the front cover to the last page, it is a sweeping expanse of color. Even if I didn't need ideas to decorate the house we're moving into soon, I would still love to sit and look at the book. The writing is simple and interesting, she talks about her journey to where she is now; her inspiration; history; being afraid of color; etc. The pictures are beautiful.
Everyone has a different sense of style, so her style might not be yours. I still think it is worth looking at, if just to see a different point of view.
Pretty Pictures not much help with Color choices for home.......2005-03-02
I loved the pictures in this book, but I wanted to learn a little about color theory and what would work in my townhouse so this book was not very helpful to me.
Exceptionally pretty book with good advice.......2003-10-14
Weaver, artist, colorist, free spirit--Susan Sargent is all these and more. After having trained and worked in textile art in Scandinavia, Sargent brought her bold, free-wheeling color and pattern sensibility back to the United States, where it has had a considerable impact on modern country decorating. Once the province of dove greys, white, taupe and beige, the boundaries of country decorating have been pushed out by Sargent, who is interested in helping us not be afraid of pattern and color--and in fact, she urges us to embrace both.
The book is an exhilarating visual punch. Sargent blithely combines acid green, periwinkle, daffodil, a deep coral red and a host of other colors to show us that--far from being intrusive or hard to live with on a day-to-day basis
--color can be simultaneously stimulating and calming.
The practical advice in here isn't anything you haven't read elsewhere already, but the book is worth the price just to see Sargent's heady color experiments and her considerable control of pattern as well.
Book Description
Quick and easy ways to add country distinction and elegance to the home.
Home decorators can satisfy their yearning for a little touch of country—instantly. The editors at Country Living have gathered every smart and special shortcut they know for adding charming touches to every room, and creating the perfect blend of function and elegance. Throughout, invaluable decorating tips offer a variety of quick-to-implement suggestions. On every page, beautiful photographs showcase perfect and easy-to-achieve country color schemes (such as the ever-popular blue-and-white combo); fabrics and wallpapers; furniture styles; and cozy accessories. There are ideas for hiding modern gadgets, such as the TV, that don’t really fit into the country style; for displaying treasured items; for selecting just the right window treatments; for candles and sconces that create atmospheric lighting; and much more. A Main Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
• Advertising in Country Living magazine
Customer Reviews:
Simple ideas.... great results!!!.......2006-08-14
I have a great time every time I open the book. It has simple ideas and projects that can make a change in your home. I highly recommend it.
Chock Full of Ideas & Photos!.......2005-12-31
I couldn't wait to flip through and absorb the images in this book. The photos are so inviting! Anyone who loves the textures and colors that make up the country look, will luxuriate in this book.
Then I began reading the tips which are set off in numbered paragraphs. That format made it so easy to read and absorb the ideas.
Whether your preference is for English country house or for a cottage, this has ideas to create it in your own home. A lovely book.
Book Description
With just a little inspiration from Country Living’s successful series, anyone can turn a small and awkward space into an appealing, cozy corner.
Every home has its tiny room, oddly shaped hallway, empty landing, or other difficult-to-decorate area—but these innovative and quick approaches are the first step in turning neglected spaces into models of decorative style. The topics covered range from Themes and Collections to Perfecting Your Palette; some of the ideas are as simple as varying the sizes of objects in a display to create visual interest. Other concepts—such as creatively mixing formal and informal elements—will free home decorators from tired and dull design tenets and bring “fresh air” into any décor. Smart tips and easy, enjoyable projects help jump-start the transformation, while detailed captions for the photos and many sidebars reveal exactly how the job was accomplished.
A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
Average customer rating:
|
Country Living Stylish Makeovers: Design Ideas for Every Room (Country Living)
Rhoda J Murphy
Manufacturer: Hearst
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| Remodeling & Renovation
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ASIN: 1588164020 |
Book Description
Twenty years of Country Living knowledge, and a glimpse into real renovations, shows home decorators how to complete their own projects, and redo their own houses, in a style they’ll cherish for years to come.
Drawing on more than two decades of architectural documentary, Country Living has created this visually dazzling guide offering practical, elegant ideas for home decoration projects both large and small. Every residence shown is real, and the profiles of actual renovations range from a converted barn to a log cabin to an updated Greek Revival Home. Insider’s Advice tip boxes feature everything from sprucing up aging wood floors to reglazing vintage pedestal sinks. Go room by room, enjoying the creative ways of intensifying color and style, preserving period detailing, adding space to a too-small place (while melding the old with the new), salvaging mantels, choosing window treatments, installing lighting fixtures, painting stenciled finishes, repairing the roof, hiring contractors, and lots more.
Book Description
It's the private face of France—the intimate scenes that natives know so well: quiet country landscapes between rolling farm fields, delightful walled gardens, the regional architecture of traditional homes, the intimate spaces inside them. French Country Living is a breathtaking photographic glimpse into the private palate—the styles, the colors, the ambience—of life in the French countryside. Here, in dramatic, full-page photos, are entryways and living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, and family spaces indoors and out.
Customer Reviews:
The best country living style consulting book.......2007-01-12
Everything what you want to know about the country style decoration, collectibles, cooking, and gardening is included in this book. It's perfect !
Great Inspiration!.......2005-08-22
This is a great book with tons of wonderful pictures. There are many antiques and vintage items in the pictures, (which I LOVE), and the ideas are very short and simple. A great book to just open, get some ideas easily, and be inspired. If you like collecting, or like Vintage style decor, this book would be a great addition to your collection.
447 Pages of Visual Decorating Candy.......2003-10-25
Large formate hardback with full page photos color each page, minimal captions, how to sections for creating your own unique interpretations of what you see. Compilation of photos from previous issues of Country Living Magazine condensed and available in one book. Abundant creative stimulation for moments when I just want to relax and allow myself some visual candy, snuggled comfortably listening to Miles Davis. Jazz and country? you bet!
Average customer rating:
- A Special House
- Scandinavian Delights
- Fantastic read
- An American Take on the Swedish Style Home
- Scandinavian Interior Design
|
Country Living The Scandinavian Look (Country Living)
Manufacturer: Hearst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Swedish Style: Creating the Look
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Painted Rooms: Scandinavian Interiors by Sigmund Aarseth
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The Swedish House
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Painted Furniture: From Simple Scandinavian to Modern Country
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Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style
ASIN: 0688150969 |
Book Description
This book focuses on the art and craft of Scandinavian style, and details in depth the creation of an exquisitely crafted Wisconsin family compound in the style of Swedens great colorist and artist, Carl Larsson. Offering a wealth of ideas and inspiration for anyone with an urge to redecorate, renovate, remodel, or build, Country Living Scandinavias hundreds of photos-taken over the two years it took to create and furnish this family retreat- show people how to replicate this marvelous design style themselves.
Customer Reviews:
A Special House.......2006-09-02
What a visual treat this book was. For anyone that has seen a painting of Carl Larsson's home and fallen in love with the clean lines and colors of Scandinavian interiors, this book carries that love to the next level. Wisconsin native Loran Nordgren created a home using the traditional elements like built-in beds, carving, colors, but added some contemporary conveniences. The books chronicles the planning and construction of the house, but the wealth of photos and design ideas have wide appeal.
Scandinavian Delights.......2004-12-15
I give Mr. Nordgren the owner high credit for the obvious mega $$$ he spent to have his Carl Larsson dream home come to life. However I concur with a prior reviewer that the interior decorating is sub-par with oversized furniture & decorator pieces that evoke a Non-Scandinavian feel that appears to conflict with its authetic Scandinavian backdrop of the houses interior details. If it was my money $$$ I would have sought out correct period Scandinavian antiques or had authentic pieces recreated from scratch with a 100% effort to create the Nordic "look". Would recommend the book as a strong buy with great design ideas throughout.
Fantastic read.......2004-09-21
As a lover of the traditional Scandinavian home style, and the owner of four such homes, I found this book truly helpful in decorating all of them. The authors, including Ms. Sears have such an passionate eye for this unique and gorgeous style.
An American Take on the Swedish Style Home.......2003-06-22
This is an excellent pictoral review of a lovely home recently built in the Wisconsin countryside. The book is full of great ideas for both interior and especially exterior architectural details. As an interior and architectural designer, I have stolen ideas extensively for a Scandinavian style home I am working on which is currently under construction. The house featured in the book is beautifully done, but not for those seeking a subtle take on the Swedish/Scandinavian home. Disneyesque could aptly describe the overall look and feel of the home. This is not to say it does not have a great charm, but it slams its design concepts home with no punches pulled. It is an American interpretation and distillation of Scandinavia.
There are a lot of great ideas for color and design for the built interiors, but I found the interior furnishings and accessories to be ameteurish and do not live up to the professional standard of the architecture that contains it. The furnishings are rather middle of the road contemporary country style and do not suit the carefully orchestrated design concepts of the architectural designer. For instance the sofas are large and clunky, and are upholstered in a bland fabric - none of which would ever been found in a house of this type of traditional Swedish home.
With that caveat I highly recommend the book to those who admire the Scandinavian style and especially to anyone planning to design and build a home in this style.
Scandinavian Interior Design.......2001-12-18
As a folk artist, I am interested in European interior design. My interest in Swedish design lies in the magnificient use of color. This book provided what I needed.
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