Customer Reviews

Nina Campbell's Decorating Secrets

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I TRY to live like this. Part of the art of living beautifully is hiding and improving the not-so-beautiful. Nothing fancy about that. If you're as tired of pictures of spare, beige rooms as I am, this is a wonderful book, full of color and elegance and a variety of styles in an English context. There is a far wider scope of styles and accessories than in many design books, and the use of international motifs and accessories always fascinates me. If you like layers, color, and variety in a traditional to transitional style, this is a beautiful and educational read.

English designer Nina Campbell has rewarded us with yet another piece de resistance. Brimming with sumptuous photographs (all of which left me salivating), this book has quickly become my perennial favorite. DECORATING SECRETS is robust in every area, not just a few, and seems to appeal to a wide audience.

This book is more than just tassels and fluff. Firstly, Nina makes it clear that she is a traditionalist. "...I am not advocating the minimalist approach - anyone who knows my look would realize how alien that is to me..." Secondly, her sage advice is for appropriate for every designer, regardless of budget limitations. If the photographs are not your speed, then pay strict attention to her words, you can adapt the ideas presented to a home of any size.

In essence, what makes this book stand out head and shoulders above the others is the combination of Nina's elegant writing, her down-to-earth presentation, inspiring ideas and -- the details, details, details! She deftly explains what a novice designer needs to know before tackling a project, and then walks through the process room by room. She also addresses small spaces, a topic usually covered under separate titles. Most of the photographs are close-ups, which enables readers to catch specific details and replicate the looks most inspiring to them.

If you are confused by the myriad of decorating books on the market today, and are looking for that one book that you can use over and over again as a quick reference guide, this is one I would recommend hands down. I also suggest that you check out Nina's other book entitled The Art of Decoration. My copy is two years old and very tattered.

Cris Cunningham

The very basics of decorating are covered in Nina Campbell's Decorating Secrets, a guide which offers step-by-step strategies to designing and decorating every room in a home. From assessing a room's light and qualities to understanding design focal points and the trappings which separate professional from amateur results, Decorating Secrets provides excellent tips and strategies.

I just started reading decorating books and so far this has been the best one. It gives advice on what you need to think about before decorating and the specific elementS a room needs to successfull. This book gives you the underlying principles that can be applied to many differnt styles.

I love this book! Who wouldn't? I'll tell you who won't like the book, people whose taste lean toward modern, contemporary or minimalist. That said it is a wonderful resource for those interested in traditional or English style. I love both and find it hard to get enough. I have owned the book for several years and still pull it off the shelf to refer to the great pictures or decorating suggestions. There is a section in the book that reviews how to approach a decorating project...that is by the use of the room first and foremost (practical advice no matter what your decorating style) to make sure that the room will meet your needs. I refere to this book often for window treatment ideas and wall decorating (placement of pictures, mirrors). I study the pictures to figure out why things look so beautiful. Careful study of this book is a good lesson in best use of space, spatial relationships, balance, color, textures, light and dark. I can't say enough of Nina's talent. Wonderful!

I didn't get much of value from this book, nor did I get any new ideas about professional decorating. I think it would only appeal to a very upscale market.

With impeccable taste as always, Nina Campbell does it again! Full of fabulous examples of the best of British design, I loved this book. Buy it- you won't regret it.

This was well ahead of my expectations. I was hoping to get a few ideas, at best. The book takes the reader through the steps a designer must take in the process of determining the best use and functionality of the space. There's so much more to decorating than the color and pieces and Nina has now become my guru. Loved the book. A must have for people who like decorating - especially with the English influence.

I have two living spaces in my home that I have random ideas but was having difficulty putting anything together. I read Nina's book which caused me to rethink my ideas and to show me how to put my ideas into a working mode. I like Nina's down-to earth communication with her readers making it easy to visualize my space as she describes how to do someting. I have one other book by Nina that I am finding helpful also, DECORATING SECRETS.

Only buy this book if you like old fashioned English style of decorating. This book gave me alergies. Too much of everything. Except "secrets". . . There wern't any. Who lives like this and why.