So here I am doing my very first book review. Hooray! My goal is to be honest in my review and to avoid negativity... by only reviewing books I like. How's that for media bias? Hey, my blog, my rules, muah ha ha haaaa......
Excuse me, I'm having a "mad blogger" moment...
Right, back to the review. The book I'm reviewing is The Perfectly Imperfect Home, How to Decorate and Live Well by Deborah Needleman with lovely illustrations by Virginia Johnson. I just got it in the mail on Monday and I've already read through it twice. Ask me what I didn't get done while I did that... actually, better not.
My noisy pic of the book. My new camera has been ordered but I have to wait for Christmas to use it. *sigh* |
A very cool room from Domino. Copyright Domino, September 2007 |
This one is from Southern Living but it illustrates my point. |
When I read Domino, by way of contrast, I would look at the room and I could see how amazing it was but I was usually left wondering "How did they do that?" "Why does that crazy color scheme work?" "How do you come to the conclusion that you can put a Panton chair in a room with a wing chair?" "Why would you hang a picture so low on a wall?" I could see that it worked but I had no idea how they got there and I certainly couldn't reproduce the look on my own.
An illustration of Kate and Andy Spade's guest room. |
John Stefanidis's mudroom. I love the jumble of baskets, hats and umbrellas. |
Heart print Porthault sheets in Rita Konig's bedroom. |
Needleman has another chapter called "A Bit of Quirk" which I, quirky person that I am, absolutely love! In it she advocates for the addition of "Jollifiers," sentimental objects that bring joy to the room, like the LOVE poster in the illustration of Rita Konig's living room below. The inclusion of "Mollifiers," which are the less-than-wonderful items beloved by the people who live with us. And "Some Small Animals" because they are fun and because Needleman says so. I happen to have a bronze owl, which I like very much. I may need to get her a friend.
Jollifier - the LOVE poster in Rita Konig's living room. |
Carolina Irving's apartment. I love this room! I could move right in. |
It's funny, I grabbed November's copy of Martha Stewart magazine. (Shown below in a really bad picture.)
Because I was flipping through it at the grocery check-out and I saw this picture:
and I loved it! It turns out that this is a picture of Deborah Needleman's living room. In the issue, there is an entire article devoted to her home and Perfectly Imperfect. The November issue of MSL is off the shelves but if you have it, have a look. Here is one more picture. This is of her bathroom, where you can see the Domino aesthetic at work.
Grainy, I know. My camera doesn't do it justice (yes, I'm blaming the camera.) |
What I love about this book is that Needleman advocates for homes to be lived in, loved and thoroughly used by their occupants. Homes with "A Personal Narrative" (another chapter) so that the people who live their are clearly represented by their photographs, the books they love, and objects from the places they've been. Homes with a patina, where all of the evidence of time hasn't been scrubbed away. Where it is obvious that the objects contained therein are loved and used by the people who live there.
That is the perfectly imperfect home, one that is both beautiful and useful. A home that is personal and a little quirky. A home where comfort is just as important as style. It is a home which is the antithesis of a furniture showroom. A home that is a lovely, useful, personal, meaningful place to be!
I recommend this book! I'm going to read it again and start to do what it says!
Thanks and see you Monday,
H
Hi Heather, I love your book review! I have such a big pile to read, and yet I love another recommendation. I never read "Domino", so your explanation was helpful. Very interesting. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I agree with Noreen...really nice explanation too. I loved that article on Needleman's home in MSL.
ReplyDeleteOh, this book looks great. I may have a book addiction, but surely one more won't hurt! Lovely, personal review. I enjoyed this post x
ReplyDeleteHi! I found my way here through Leah's blog Sang the Bird, and I got stuck reading this interesting post :-) I have read something about this book before, but not as inspiriring as your post. I soooo agree that a home should be a comfortable and personal place to LIVE not a showroom.
ReplyDeleteI will be back to check out your blog again!
Thanks Jamie! I'm so glad you like the review! I loved the book. I'm sorry that it took so long for me to see your comment, I have to fix the comment moderation settings... I hope you do stop by again :-) I'm going to pop over for a look at your blog now!
ReplyDelete