Decorating with Antiques: Confidently Combining Old and New

If you are the type of decorator who likes to mix antique or just plain old furniture and possessions with new furnishings, this book is loaded with ideas on how to make it work. The first half of the book is dedicated to the elements of design--chairs, mirrors, lighting, pillows, etc. I did not find the text in these sections to be as educational as the text in the 2nd half of the book. The photos in this first section are wonderful (very high end) and the writer talks a lot about balance, scale, etc., but doesn't say what you actually need to do to accomplish the balance, scale, etc. The second half, dedicated to the indivudual rooms in the home, is much better. Not only are the photos beautiful, but solid suggestions are given as to what works and what does not. Most of the photos are of the homes of world-class designers or the very-rich. That was as problem for me because there is no way that I can afford the kinds of furniture and decorative accents used in the photos. For that reason, I'm giving the book a ****. I bought mine from an individual seller at a discounted price, so it was worth it for me.

This book explains in so many useful ways how to create a home, that makes you proud of living in it. The photographs are very beautiful and well chosen, and the author explains step by step how to mix colors, patterns and not to forget how to arrange furniture and pictures in order to create a relaxed atmosphere. You will not regret buying this book, it is next to the awesome pictures really worth reading! ENJOY!!!

This is by far my favorite decorating book!! If you have antiques (or just old or quirky things you really love) this book explains how to arrange them with other furnishings in a way that is both beautiful to look at and also very livable. I'm decorating my tiny house, and have been reading a lot of decorating books. This is the ONLY book I've come across that explains HOW to decorate. It breaks down this daunting task (it seems daunting to me since I don't know where to begin) into smaller components that make sense. Each chapter explains how to work with the different elements of your home, such as Furniture, Fabrics, Lighting, but also explains the elements of each room, such as choosing Flooring and Wall Color. It also tells you how to pull together items that don't necessarily match through use of Color, Texture, Pattern, and through Proportion & Scale (yes, even I was able to understand these concepts because of the direct, yet eloquent wording of the text and great pictures that reinforced the concepts being explained). Some of the pictures had the typical 14-foot ceilings and grand spaces that I will probably never live with, but many others were of small-sized rooms that were beautifully done. Even the 14-foot-ceiling pictures had many, many ideas that I could use because these rooms were decorated by function--most contained small groupings of furniture (i.e., sitting areas, dining areas, etc.) that broke up the large spaces and made them look comfortable and inviting. I just finished reading the book, and I'm looking forward to going back and really study it again. I do feel more confident that I'll be able to create a home that is lovely and comfortable.

In many ways, the pictures in this volume reminds me of interiors shown in books on French style. Rather than trying to create museum-perfect rooms that represent a certain period in time, this book is about combining what you love in ways that are pleasing to the eye and easy to live with. So, if you wish to have a stylish home that mixes antiques with more modern furniture and is accented with collections representative of cultures from around the world, this book is for you!