Kelly Hoppen Style: The Golden Rules of Design

I think her discussion of color for neutrals is the best I've seen. She has a science for coordinating trim and fabrics with taupe, sand or cream.

I would not consider myself to be a designer or decorator, but I do enjoy style and try to bring that high-end look to my own home. Kelly's book has given me a lot of inspiration and she imparts a lot of good advice for the novice. Some very simple principles that have already helped me to see items through different eyes. The photographs are superb and give some great ideas, as well.

I was looking for some basic good advice for smart, clean interior design aesthetics...this book met those standards in a beautiful and sensitively assembled book. My only criticism is that the styling that Kelly shows is a high design with contemporary attributes - not very relevant to many other kinds of decorating challenges. I have an early 1900s home with standard ceilings, wood trim and smallish rooms - not very similar at all to Kelly's gorgeous and mostly spacious examples. I will have to work a little harder to envision the golden rules being applied to my humble abode.

I found the photographs in this book to be beautifully presented. It is a minimalist's dream book, clean lines, nothing over done, with rooms full of texture, beauty, and elegance. Nothing overstated, like a fine aged wine, or great architecture. The author, Kelly Hoppen, offers refined elegance, no kitsch.