The Comforts of Home: Creating Relaxed Rooms with a Romantic Feel

If you are looking for accessorizing inspiration, this is good little book. I bought it mainly for the photographs and drew information by noticing color combinations and decorative object placement. As with any decorating book, some ideas will please and some won't. The photographs are calming which is the point of the "Relaxed Home."

I love romantic, cottage country style decorating. But usually associate it with with an over-abundance of Stuff. On the other hand I found the minimalist style overly cold and too contemporary and modern for my tastes. This book takes the best of both styles...the romantic, soft look of the one...and the uncluttered, open spaces of the other...and blends them together. Creating a pleasing fusion of what I would have thought were two incompatible styles. It's wonderful to see that uncluttered and open spaces don't have to look cold and barren, but can be soft, elegant, and romantic instead. Looking through this book inspires me to unclutter my home and create open spaces that are more suitable to the life I am trying to live.

I just bought this book yesterday, after thumbing through all the pages at the bookstore. I can see why the previous readers were disappointed with the book; this book doesn't contain much information or tips that you don't already know.But the reason I bought this book, is because the photos were so lovely and "relaxed". I loved all the colors and palettes that were used. For me it was a really "tasteful" book, a style reference if you like. I think this book should be enjoyed more as a photography book, rather than a serious interior decorating project workbook.I personally appreciated the lightness in approach to home decoration. I also liked the keywords "relaxed comfortable", "relaxed eclectic" and "relaxed elegant" and so on. I'm a 20 something art director, so I appreciated the prettiness and fresh colors used throughout the book, but I don't think I'd have bought this book if I were in my 30s.The author suggests little things like hanging your floral print dress that you love on the wall for decorative effect, or placing a bunch of candles in the fireplace that is not used, and using decorative fabric to inject unique personalities in your room. As you can see, all of these are things anyone can do, but I just liked the way she presented these in such a pleasing visual presentation. I also loved her use of modern and old furniture (although sometimes a bit too shabby), together with ethnic prints - for me it is like East meets West in the most pleasing way possible.I can't say this book is for everyone, but this book is what it is, and I happen to love it just as it is. I'm giving it 4 stars because I think this book would have benefited from a few quotations here and there to go with the photographs. I would like to thank the author for putting this book together; I want to bring some of that relaxed, comfortable, yet fresh feeling into my little home, and also into my wardrobe! Reading this book, I feel inspired to dress in this "relaxed, comfortable" way too.

I enjoyed this book because it appealed to my sense of style. I love modern decoration and variations on it also (ie modern country,cottage,ethnic, etc) and this did a very good job of adding a romantic feel without it being fussy. Great pictures and wonderful ideas. A-