There's no such thing as too many books, simply not enough places to put them Decluttering is all the rage, but what do you do when your preferred interior decor is miles of overstuffed bookshelves? If you can't bring yourself to clear your collection, SHELF RESPECT will validate your life choices. Do you alphabetise your books or organise by genre... or (heaven forbid) colour? Have you merged your collection with your other half's? (And do you write your name inside the cover, just in case?) Do you keep all the books you've read, or only the most cherished? Is there such a thing as too many books? (No.) Bound to provoke (good-natured) debate between Bibliophiles, SHELF RESPECT is a charmingly illustrated book in defence of towering TBR piles and overflowing shelves... no matter how you choose to organise them.

A tome of design, inspiration, and how-to, this substantial book is the one-stop resource for anyone looking to learn the fine art of furniture upholstery. With all of the techniques taught through step-by-step illustrated instructions of five projects, including a Louis chair, a slipper chair, a wingback chair, a full-sized sofa, and an ottoman, students will acquire all the skills they need to go out and create one-of-a-kind pieces designed to suit their taste. There are also chapters on interior design principles and how to sew throw pillows. With Amanda Brown's living room as the backdrop, readers can see first-hand how her aesthetic and upholstery design transform a bare room into something wonderful.

Welcome to the 'more is more' world of decorating, or as it's more commonly know in the business, Maximalism.

A style that embraces the all-out: beautiful colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment. Maximalism is the epitome of passion, one in which Scandi-style, stripped bare and pared-back interiors have no place. Abigail Ahern guides us through the sea change in the world of interiors as the pendulum swings away from minimalism, over to our increasing desire for self-expression and optimism. Learn how to break the 'rules' of interior design, play fast and loose with different periods in a single room and have fun. Maximalism allows you to dip into colour palettes and any decade or style, with the effect of stirring up emotions and creating a bedazzling space you'd never want to leave.

Chapters include:

• Developing a Sense of Style: Research tips and how to begin, from trawling Instagram and tearing sheets from magazine.
• Expressing Yourself: Learning which rules to forget and which guidelines you would do best to remember to make your decorating foolproof.
• All-Important Accessories: Learn to create a story whereby every object in the room supports the same vision.
• Identifying Your Palette: Experiment with thinking outside the box and be curious with colour - what matters most is not the colour but the tone.
• Creating a Sense of Home: All homes should have a soul and you should be the mixologist, taking risks and mixing up furniture styles with aplomb.
• Creating Ambience with Lighting: Lighting is key and enables you to set a mood that is instantly tangible and has a direct impact on mood and energy.
• Styling Your Space: The secret ingredient to making a maximalist home work, and not feeling like a cluttered mess.
• Challenge the Norm: Harness beauty and oddity, sensuous and the macabre, to create a decorative melting pot where elements vibrate with energy.
• Little Black Book: Take a peek inside Abigail's little black book where we find the best global decor stores not to be missed.

MAKE YOURS A HYGGE HOME THIS CHRISTMAS - AS SEEN ON THIS MORNING 'Such a beautiful book with so many suggestions for how we can get back to happiness. Just looking at it makes me happy' Holly Willoughby A gorgeous guide to the Danish art of creating a cosy, happy home from the internationally bestselling author, Meik Wiking. Our homes should be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Somewhere to be ourselves, to unwind and create special memories. Inspired by Danish design and traditions, this beautiful new book from Meik Wiking shares how to turn your home into a sanctuary and live like the happiest people in the world. With simple tips based on new research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, this book reveals what makes a happy home tick. No matter how much space you have or what your budget is, Meik shows how you can use colour, light and space to create your happy place and celebrate cosiness the Danish way. Get your copy of the latest book from the author of THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE now! 'I love it, I love it, I love it. Just reading this makes you more content' Chris Evans

The third edition of this classic text, first published in 1949, contains additional colour plates and text describing popular decorative paint finishes such as lapis lazuli, tortoiseshell, malachite, patinated gold and fossilstone marble. A chapter on broken colour effects----including ragging, dragging, stippling, sponging and shading----is also provided. The extensive text on graining has been enhanced by replacing the descriptive--only ground colours with two full--colour plates of suggested colours (aligned with the British Standard), thereby enabling access to paints from local suppliers or helping the decorative painter make and mix his/her own colours.

Theories of the domestic stemming from the 19th century have focused on the home as a refuge and place of repose for the family, a nurturing environment for children and a safe place for visitors. Under this conception, domestic space is positioned as nurturing and private, a refuge and place of retreat which gave rise to theories of 'home as haven'. While, arguably, some social conditions might suggest this is the case, Domesticity Under Siege exposes a different world, one in which the boundaries of nurturing domesticity collide with both outside and inside agents. Whether these agents are external military forces, psychological trauma or familial violence, they re-position meta-narratives of domesticity, not through identity politics or specialized subgroup experience, but relative to the actions of the world around an inhabited domain. That is, when home is constituted as a private realm, a place where individuals or groups can reside in 'safety and comfort', it is argued as a place in which the individual exercises control or power. However, there are many occasions when forces act upon the home and threaten aspects of safety and comfort, often through such things as ruination, violence, mortality, and infestation. Organised around four thematic sections, 'Microbes, Animals and Insects', 'Human Agents', Wars and Disasters as Agents' and 'Hauntings, Eeriness and the Uncanny', chapters provide a range of approaches to the home which challenge notions of 'haven' and reflect major causes that have played an important role in undermining the modern home. Examples and case studies explore the domestic screen, hoarding, hauntings, violence and imprisonment in the home, wartime interior art, the Hanover Merzbau and Wolfgang Staudte's 1946 film Die Moerder sind unter uns ('The Murderers are Among Us').

The treehouse in its most simple and fundamental form enables us to escape from the everyday pressures of modern life and feel closer to nature. It can also be an architectural wonder, showcasing the most creative of small space design and engineering solutions. This beautiful book shows how the treehouse can be many things: from simple structures based on centuries-old woodworking skills to modern geodesic forms strung high up above the treeline. There is something magical about treehouses - whatever your age. These boltholes perched above the ground appeal to those of us who want to get close to nature without forgoing any creature comforts... there are treehouses with wood-burning stoves, some with copper baths and some with elevated linking walkways obscured by the canopy of trees above. Then there are the handmade simple structures using recycled materials and the branches of the trees for both internal and external support and design. There are also free-standing structures on stilts inspired by the physical tree but not attached in any way. The book offers both visual inspiration from the specially commissioned photography but also the human stories behind the creation and design of these treehouses. The text covers topics such as the plan, structure, materials and decoration, colour palette and texture, and style notes to bring to life the personal and interesting story behind each treehouse featured in the book.

This is first follow-up to the Garden Writer's Guild Award-nominated Vintage Roses. This new title in Pavilion's series of stylish floral gardening guides celebrates the beauty and versatility of the peony flower. Peonies have always been a favourite with gardeners and cut-flower fans alike, but in 2016 their popularity went beyond bridal bouquets as the blooms took over social media - their gramming power was so huge this year that by May, Elle UK had already crowned the flowers as `The New Avocado'. First outlining the history of the peony, Peonies is then split into chapters Pure, Dramatic, Romantic and Fragrant, and includes over 50 beautiful varieties as well as detailing when they bloom, their size, and, of course, what they'll look like. From Shawnee Chief to Sarah Bernhardt, you'll discover an eclectic selection of specimens from those that have the best visual appearance to those with the most fragrant perfume. The final section, Growing and Care, outlines those varieties which are easiest to grow and which produce the best flowers for cutting. With contemporary commentary on each bloom, easy-to-follow advice and glorious photography, this book will appeal to everyone who appreciates the beauty of the majestic peony.

This volume features the recent projects of McAlpine, one of the country s most highly respected architecture and interior design firms, renowned for its timeless houses exemplifying the charm and elegance of traditional and vernacular English, American, and European styles blended with a modern sensibility. Following from their first book, The Home Within Us, this book profiles twenty stunning projects, from a stone tower folly standing in the gardens of a Tudor-style house to a humble yet elegant wooden lakeside retreat. Through his poetic voice, Bobby McAlpine narrates the story of each residence, pointing out its unique qualities. Featured are an exotic Florida Panhandle beach house; a Tuscan-style horse farm; a rambling Colonial Revival compound; and a miniature European manor house, among others. These dwellings are classically understated and welcoming. With its gorgeous photography of inspiring interiors and exteriors, Poetry of Place will appeal to those interested in design romancing the past.

Let Geraldine James show you how to reinvent your home with new and exciting ways to make it uniquely yours. Whether you live in a bustling home where a family of different ages with varying tastes and interests needs to be accommodated, in a compact city pied a terre, or in a country or seaside retreat, you will find inspiration here for your ideal living space. The Creative Home brings together the best of Geraldine James's Creative series of books and shows how to apply these ideas in your own home. There are four chapters on different areas of the house - Cook and Eat features kitchens and dining areas, Relax and Socialize covers living rooms, Work and Create includes home offices and studios, and Sleep and Bathe, of course, shows bedrooms and bathrooms. A final chapter, Store and Display, shows how your home can be used to show off your treasures and store your collections. Each chapter features rooms of different styles - from sleek and minimal, to Aladdin's caves belonging to collectors of anything and everything, thrifty chic-style rooms furnished with second-hand buys, and renovated homes with no expense spared - as well as displays featuring designer items alongside inherited family heirlooms. However, the one thing every room has in common, whatever its style or purpose, is that it has been furnished and decorated with great attention to detail.

An in-depth review of the latest trends in residential interior designs from internationally renowned architects and designers, showcasing 150 full-color profiles and 500 pages of color photos-an outstanding addition to the popular 150 Best series. In 150 Best Interior Design Ideas you'll find the most attractive, functional, and cost-effective design solutions for every room in the house. Some of the top architects and designers working around the globe today experiment with arrangement, color, texture, material, and finishes to create personalized spaces to suit every aesthetic preference. Featuring full-color photographs and diagrams, this exciting entry in the highly successful 150 Best series is an inspirational source of ideas to help you create beauty in your everyday surroundings, and is an essential reference of current trends in interior design for designers, decorators, architects, and homeowners.

Coastal Blues is a magnificent celebration of shoreside homes around the globe, offering decorative inspiration for all of us who love the ocean or dream of living by the sea. Covering homes from as far apart as the Bahamas and Denmark, authors Sally Hayden and Alice Whately begin by looking at the essential components of the coastal look - colour and texture, materials, furniture, fabrics, accessories and display. The second part of the book, The Spaces, takes a tour through the home room by room, from Living Spaces, Cooking and Eating Spaces to Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Outdoor Spaces, capturing the informal, easy-going interior style associated with living at the water's edge. But Coastal Blues is not only for those who live by the ocean. Whatever and wherever your home, from a high-rise apartment to a newly built home, you can create a simple, informal beachy feel. From tranquil living areas to balmy bedrooms and shipshape kitchens, Coastal Blues covers all the aspects of decorative seaside style. Coastal Blues is a fantastic new edition of the previously published Coastal Style.

This classic work provides simplified methods and materials to help you be successful in creating your own upholstery, drapes, and slipcover projects. Learn professional methods for re-covering upholstery, how upholstered furniture is constructed, and how to select the right fabrics and determine yardage. There are wonderful ideas for adding glamour to bed headboards, making custom drapes and curtains on a budget, and creating beautiful, custom-fitted slipcovers. Simple projects, like how to make pillows and pads and useful tips on cleaning your household textiles, are included. A glossary of terms and a primer on furniture styles make this an indespensible reference book.

In today's home decor, matched furniture is out and individuality is king. Whether these pieces are coming from a flea market, vintage fair, attic, or thrift shop, transforming them into one-of-a-kind home accents takes only a little DIY creativity and attitude. In Junk Beautiful: Furniture ReFreshed, author and Queen of Junk Sue Whitney provides inspiration for reimagining and refashioning vintage pieces into truly unique furniture and accessories. 30 projects presented here include clear, concise step-by-step instruction and photographs Requiring little to no skill to create and capable of being completed in a weekend or less, the projects are arranged based on where they will appear in the home An introductory section on techniques, tools, and supplies lays the groundwork for the woodworking, painting, staining, and crafting that will transform these items A shopper's guide presents tips and advice for selecting and collecting items to incorporate into your home.

Bob Richter has been thrifting and collecting vintage treasures for more than forty years, since the age of six. With a true passion for antiques, or any object with a past and a story, Richter speaks to our desire to surround ourselves with belongings that impart beauty and meaning to our lives. Drawing on his years of experience as a stylist and interior designer, Richter takes us through a trove of beautiful historic homes, illustrating how to live stylishly with our vintage finds and collections (hint: buy what you love, express yourself, and don t be afraid to mix periods!). A celebration of the art of thrifting and decorating with antiques of every era, Vintage Living is a full-service guide to treasure hunting, from flea markets, antique shows, and estate sales to country auctions, yard sales and the on-line marketplace. Richter also imparts hard-won practical tips, such as how best to negotiate and haggle. With chapters on vintage entertaining and cooking; vintage holiday decor for all seasons (including Valentine s Day, Easter, and Halloween among others); giving vintage gifts; embracing vintage ways (write letters, repurpose and recycle); and caring for your old treasures, this bible of vintage living will inspire you to take a personal and creative approach to your decor.

Do you yearn to be surrounded by tidiness? Do you wish you could spend your days enjoying your home rather than endlessly searching through boxes, drawers and cupboards for something you hoped to find in an instant? If so, you're not alone. Tidiness is both a physical entity and a frame of mind. It's a global craze tapping into the human need for order, calm and sanctuary in a busy world. It can take a little effort to get organised but the results can be life-changing. Tidiness isn't just about the physical act of putting things where we feel they ought to be: it's also about how order can help us be the very best version of ourselves. This inspired handbook gives practical pointers on how to start, working through your home room by room to find new systems and order in your life, and tips on how to tackle the physical and mental challenges you encounter along the way.

Storytelling Exhibitions describes the role and practice of modern 'spatial storytellers' and looks at the potential of exhibitions to shape our understanding of the world. It explains how curators, designers, artists and scientists combine to tell powerful stories through exhibition design. Exhibition designer and educator Philip Hughes shows how contemporary tools and technologies - digital reconstruction, 3D scanning and digital archives - interweave with traditional forms of informing, displaying and promoting to create powerful narrative spaces. Whether telling stories of politics, trends, society, war, science or history, Storytelling Exhibitions provides inspiration and guidance on designing installations which change the way we think. Examples included from: Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, USA Weltmuseum Wien, Austria Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, US Lascaux: Centre International de l'Art Parietal in Montignac, France Stapferhaus, Lenzburg, Switizerland Micropia, Amsterdam, Netherlands ...and many more

This compact volume features over 100 of the most spectacular interiors from across the world, spanning the entire 20th century to the present day. It includes interiors assembled by artists and fashion designers, architects, interior and set-designers, bringing together diverse design talents from Piero Fornasetti to Alvar Aalto, Marc Newson and Matthew Williamson. Twenty short profiles are presented in the introduction, with a single iconic photograph and a concise, informative text; the interiors are arranged by chronological order, with superb colour photography and texts recounting the stories of these remarkable designs. Representing every style from minimalism and Art Nouveau to Gesamtkunstwerk creations that defy definition, these interiors are elegant compositions that will endure.

For many years, Maud Lewis was one of Nova Scotia's best-loved folk painters. In the 1990s she was embraced by the rest of the country when the landmark exhibition of her work "The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis" travelled across Canada. By the time the tour was over, half a million people had become acquainted with her delightful work.

Between 1938, when she married Everett Lewis, until her death in 1970, Maud Lewis lived in a tiny one-room house near Digby, Nova Scotia. Over the years, she painted the doors inside and out, the windowpanes, the walls and cupboards, the wallpaper, the little staircase to the sleeping loft, the woodstove, the breadbox, the dustpan, almost everything her hand touched. Her house was a joy to behold, and it became a magnet for tourists as well as a focal point in her village. In 1979, after Everett Lewis died, the Maud Lewis Painted House Society worked diligently to raise funds to acquire, preserve, and display the house as part of the cultural heritage of the area as well as a memorial to their beloved artist.

In 1984, the house and its contents were purchased by the Province of Nova Scotia for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. In "The Painted House of Maud Lewis," Laurie Hamilton, the conservator at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, shows how all the different parts of the house -- the building itself, the painted household items, even the wallpaper -- were catalogued, conserved, and prepared for exhibition. The preliminary stages of conservation treatment began in 1996 in a most unusual location: the Sunnyside Mall in Bedford, just outside Halifax., where conservators worked in full view of the public. The conservators used established techniques and invented new ones to complete their unique project and documented every stage of the restoration photographically.

The book also features more than sixty-five colour photos including several taken by noted photographer Bob Brooks in 1965 for the "Star Weekly." Today, anyone can visit the tiny house that has become a folk art phenomenon. The restoration story spans two decades, but the story of the Painted House continues as each new visitor to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia finds delight and inspiration in Maud Lewis's joyous vision.