Customer Reviews

Colonial Style

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is another gorgeous edition from Taunton, whose books seem to have just the right balance of photos, text, ideas, thoroughness, and entertainment value. (I also like Shaker Legacy by Christian Becksvoort.)

This volume has really great photos and discussions of many aspects of colonial architecture and furnishings. Some helpful contemporary treatments of traditional spaces, such as modern kitchens in antique houses, reproduction lighting, and so on, as well as more "period" photos, showing how things might have looked when these houses were new.

This is my newest coffee-table/reference book, which I was turned onto by an architect friend (Frank Shirley of Cambridge, MA) one of whose projects was featured in it (the cover photo, the gorgeous newell post , etc.). Though my own old house isn't of this style, there are some elements of the Colonial style that have found their way in, here, and many of the concepts are relevant to anyone, really, who is interested in living in old houses, planning renovations/restorations, and so on.

Highly recommended.

I'm a traditionalist in the sense that I want to preserve the integrity of my old house 1765, and I'm looking at options with regards to bringing some of the old feel within a newer addition.

I actually thought this book had more actual period interiors, but they're a combination of some old with more new construction approximating the look of old with varying degrees of success.

What I feel is successful is retaining period color and contruction to mimic the period. I'm all for modernization where appropriate but not at the expense of destroying the fabric of history for modern convenience. To haphazardly mimic a style becomes mere embelishment which is fine in new construction but unconscionable distruction to an actual historic property.

18th century or 17th century structures didn't use bright colors and lighting. Part of the charm in an actual period home is viewing the environment as it was ment to be viewed. Much like the distain people have for colorized films, so goes bright overhead lights in a 18th century colonial keeping room.
The warm glow of candlelight or there aproximating that allows the room to feel as it was. (why and where blue, red, green etc. were or were not used and why).

On the otherhand, juxtaposing contemporary modern convieniences within an attached modern structure (relatively speaking) or renovation a disintigrating section, while intergating and leaving the old as art and accent from old can be a wonderful contrast in texture and environment.

This book is more along the lines of renovation, maybe restoration is a stretch but you might get some helpful photos. It's definitly not in the preservation category.

Overall I've gotten some descent ideas for my renovation project.

This is a book which explores (mostly) middle class home interiors of the 18th and early 19th century. Yes, there are some odd digressions, but by and large it's a fine work brimming with great photos and ideas, mostly taken from original homes. This book is a solid effort, showing what appropriate 18th century interiors should look like when cleaned up in a modern restored house, or a recreated one. Those who like authentic interiors will like this book. Those who do not want an authentic interior, but want to mix and match taking a bit of this and a bit of that, but still want to call it colonial, will possibly find these interiors "dark and provincial". Well - news flash: 18th century middle class and lower class interiors in North America were, by their very nature, both dark (candle light, small windows, soot, dark paint) and provincial (being the colonies, after all). The word colonial has its own cachet, and many people insist on applying it to their house, no matter what kind of eclectic mish mash it is.

This book has pretty pictures, but focuses on a more rustic colonial home. Think charming, yet squeeky, New England Inn. I was hoping for some pictures and ideas for a more "updated" Colonial with larger rooms. A little less "shabby chic" and more "classic decorating".

I only write this review to guide others. The book is nice and is perfect for that person who likes the older, historic-feeling home.

As the proud owner of an 1830 home in New England, I found this book to be very valuable as a resource. As a REALTOR who specializes in period homes, I plan to give copies of this book to my clients who want to preserve these valuable homes, and retain their original character, while enjoying all of todays' amenities. I believe that when you really peruse this volume, and read the detailed descriptions (not just appreciate the gorgeous photography) you will see that the author has effectively shown how to blend the best of the antique features with the demands of today's living. As evidenced on TV programs and in magazines, too many buyers make the mistake of taking a lovely period home, and putting in totally modern kitchens and baths, which create a jarring change in ambiance from one room to another, and also affect the historical accuracy of the structure. This author has featured homes where the homeowners have shown considerable sensitivity to the historic properties they are fortunate enough to own.

My husband and I recently built a new old house...We were shooting for an 1830 half cape that looked as though it had been remodeled in 1860. We started with some good plans, and then went to work on the 'little stuff'. I found myself flagging page after page to show our contractor. The success of a reproduction is in the tiny details. Add them all up and you get a new house that looks old. (this window trim, this bathroom sink, this eave trim, this mantle, etc.) This book was one of our two favorite sources of ideas, and this one was used the most. The entire book was full of what I would call New England Type Architecture. As we built, we used bits and pieces of Sturbridge, plus details from countless books. This book spent months on the construction site with probably 60 or 70 tags. As the look was accomplished, the flag came off. This book is still sitting on the coffee table with two flags remaining...the library shelves, and the front steps. Getting it right is a long process, but Treena Crochet has a great eye. If you really do want to creat a classic interior, this is a must have.

The book was purchased to help guide an authentic restoration of a 1925 Saltbox in Atlanta. The cover was among the best photographs in the book, but many others were helpful in establishing a general sense of the colonial aesthetic, with which we were unfamiliar. The mouldings section was far briefer(and less helpful) than I was hoping for, but suppose you can't expect a full chapter devoted to base boards. Because we were adding a fireplace and bookcases, pictures from the book proved invaluable in communicating trim details to the contractor. In summary, the book well served our purposes. A heady read on colonial design it is not.

As proud new owners of an antique home in Marblehead, MA -- built circa 1720 -- we were thrilled to find Treena Crochet's "Colonial Style." It helped greatly in getting our creative juices in motion. And the author even took time to respond to my e-mail inquiry about a ceiling issue which had us stumped. The book is a real pleasure to own -- just like our antique home! Ann and Mike

Beautiful book full of ideas, and lovely rooms. I really like this book and know it will provide me with good ideas..

I love this book! For some reason, I imagined that it would be softcover, like many similar books, and I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived and was a high-quality hardcover book. Yes, the entry indicates it is hardcover, and somehow I overlooked that.)

While it is a beautiful hardcover fit for display, readers will want to actually USE this book, again and again. As another reviewer mentioned, it is the perfect balance of text and large, glossy photos. The author begins with a review of the history of the three styles covered - Cape, Colonial, and Saltbox. The book is then broken into major categories - woodwork; walls, ceilings, and floors; kitchens, baths, storage, and mudrooms; and "today's classic interior". Each category is further subdivided, and examples the different house styles are shown, along with both historical information, and information about how to incorporate the ideas into renovations. There is also a useful resources section, as well as a glossary.

One reviewer stated that this book covers "shabby chic" - the style of the "squeaky New England Inn" - rather than stately modern homes. I do not see any "shabby chic" in this book, but the focus IS on original interiors - those from the 18th century, or similar recreations. Thus, almost all of the interiors include significant amounts of woodwork - panelling, chunky trim, many built-in closets and cubbies, wide plank flooring, and exposed beams, which were almost never included in 20th century houses. Yet, there is nothing "shabby" about this. These elements are almost invariably shown to be in excellent condition, a historic backdrop to both period furniture and modern furniture. Historic is not synonymous with shabby.

My reasons for purchasing this book were two-fold. First, I have lived in New England my entire life, save for brief times in other places, and I am surrounded by, and love, very old houses. I really can't get enough of looking at gorgeous photos of original features and impressively-restored old houses. But second, I own a new Cape. This is a post-2000 Cape which lacks even the architectural detail of post-WWII Capes. I am looking for inspiration for changes I can make to make it at least somewhat more historically-accurate. For inspiration, the photos in this book cannot be beat!

This book is probably not for someone who is looking for guidance in decorating their house in a modern way. It is for someone who wants to decorate/renovate their house in a largely period-correct way, and there's nothing wrong with that. Nonetheless, individuals who fall into the former category may still enjoy this book as a source for ideas for small period features to add to otherwise modern interiors... a light fixture, a piece of furniture, etc.. The publisher has provided access to parts of the book so that amazon customers may search within the book. Searching will give you a very good idea of what the book is all about, and whether it is appropriate for your needs.