Customer Reviews

The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design: How to Decorate Using Your Personality Type

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I guess I must be one of the few people that didn't like this book. The quiz may be simple, but it is not very helpful. I was excited to learn what personality Type I was, but when I looked at the photos, I didn't feel like it fit my design style. I think that only four styles is way too few to encompass the varity that is present in interior decoration. I was also disappointed in a similar book called Yes/No Design. Sometimes, if a book doesn't have very useful tips, but beautiful photos, I might still buy the book. The photos don't save this book from the reject pile.

I think that people are much better off choosing their own unique style of interior decoration then trying to have it dictated to them by a quiz. Sometimes, interior decoration is about breaking the rules and going with your own intuition.

Recommendation: There are other books that will give you better guidance towards developing your own style. Good luck!

Other Resources:

The Ultimate Home Style Guide by Katherine Sorrell is the best book on the broadest range of styles that I have seen. Almost all styles are represented here with enough details on colors, fabrics, and other style elements to create the looks yourself.

The Architecture and Design Library series are excellent primers on different design styles. Each book focusess on one style, such as eastern style, Arts & Crafts, French Country, and Retro Modern to name just a few.

Color in Your Home by T. Evelegh has one of the best primers on how to use color. The photos are beautiful. The style is modern country and/or feminine (but not overdone) color schemes.

Color Design File by Geddes-Brown also does a great job of covering the basics, and there are beautiful photos. I like the fact that there are pockets for swatches and magazine inspirations. This book shows primarily Loft style.

I bought 3 copies as holiday gifts for 3 very different people -- my mother, my husband, and my sister, who is an artist. My mother was thrilled I would give her a book on design and it has opened a new line of communications between us. We disucss our results of the quiz(and now she understands we can have different taste and both are ok). She loved going through the book and finding pieces that she owned that Ms. George had pictured in her book. (She was particularly pleased that she had never thrown out her 1940's coffeepot which is displayed in one of the book's beautiful room collages)

My husband said this was one of the few books on home decorating that was written with both men and women in mind. He keeps it on his desk next to his Riverside Shakespare and biography of Frank Lloyd Wright. We had fun taking the quiz together and found that, not to our surpise, we think a great deal alike. Also the quiz caused us to think about our lifestyle now and in the future in ways we had not addressed before.

Overal this was a super gift to my family and myself, because it appealed to everyone on so many different levels. The pictures stimulate new ideas and they are beautifully laid out so you can simulate a whole room, corner, or get an idea for an artifact. The quiz acts as a way to pull togehter all your tastes and interests in a way that is lighthearted and fun. Ms. Georege takes an intimidating topic and makes it accessible to everyone.

Watch out all brides-to-be and new home owning friends this is the gift I'll be giving!

Not only was the "quiz" extremely easy to take, fun to read and quite inciteful but the illustrations, the content and presentation of this book was absolutely an A+ for me. It doesn't matter what level of "expertise" you categorize yourself in with respect to interior design...this book touches everyone at every level. It's also a great gift idea!

My wife and I have eclectic tatses. Our home consists of a 300+ cookie jar collection all the way through to antique tables, beds and chairs. We have spent many years collecting/decorating, and are constantly seeking opportunities to bridge the gap between our differing design points of view. It is important to us both, that as we personalize each room, and balance is achieved to mesh our combined tastes. Since we entertain frequently, our environment is very important, as we seek to provide warmth and coziness, while at the same time, provoke thoughts of curiosity and of course, smiles. We achieve this through our art, furnishings and use of space, and are actively searching for additions to furnish. The Intuitive Book of Home Design helped us to focus on identifying our unique personalities to ensure that we achieve balance. The test was particularly revealing, not to mention fun. We did find ourselves somewhat on the edge of more then one type, which might explain how the mix of my wife's taste and style, while different then mine, can work well as we developed a greater understanding and appreciation for our unique points of view through our reading.

Thanks Judy.

Andrew Koven - A satisfied and enlightened Fan

What a great idea! I have learned a lot. Instead of just looking at photos to see if I like them, I now have a strong sense of what my "decorating personality style" is. Since decorating has been a bit intimidating for me, this book gave me a new sense of confidence about what to do in my home.

I actually can see why I really like some things and don't like others. The book is fun, creative, well written and has great photos. Thanks for introducing the design personality concept! I highly recommend this book!

I have never really given much thought to my design instincts until taking "The Domain Quiz". I was surprised by my results, because as I explored the Domain house tour my archetypal personality ("visionary/idealist") didn't match my real life design preferences. Brainstorm! I asked my wife to take "The Quiz" (she's an "adventurer/artisan") and compared her answers to mine. We had a spirited discussion about design preferences, and taste. My wife makes 90% of our home design decisions (I do things like pick out the TV and CD player), but our home reflects both of us and I benefit from the artistic, "no rules" atmosphere of our home. (For example, if it was up to me, we'd have all white walls and sports memorabilia everywhere. Plus I have my eye on this great baseball glove shaped couch in a local furniture store. See what I mean?) Exploring this subject was great fun. It also gave me greater insight into why my wife approaches home design (and life) as she does. A great read and learning experience. Highly recommended.

Marshall Goldberg

After years of accumulating stuff I liked, my condo looked like the yard sales I had so vigilantly frequented. My personality types were warring with each other and the rooms looked like chaos. The Intuitive Book of Home Design helped me focus my efforts so that each room now has a cohesive look that expresses who I am. I really love the personality angle because now I've done my home in a way that makes me feel comformable -- I'm not trying to conform to someone else's idea of style.

I really enjoyed reading The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design. It was fun answering the quiz and discovering more about my own decorating style. It is difficult finding a good book that deals with "determining your decorating style". I have searched through many books, and only a few deal specifically with decorating style. Most books on style focus on a specific style such as Country French, or Shabby Chic, or Cottage. I do not own my own home, but I plan to eventually. This book gave me a head start on choosing my decorating style.

The book is organized so well and the sections deal specifically with each personality. This is very helpful and very entertaining. Although my decorating style is Artisan, I read through the other sections about the Visionary, Idealist, and Adventurer. The book even discusses what to do with a "split personality". It also had some good information about dealing with people with different personalities. It is interesting that people can have such different tastes. Thank you for this entertaining reference source.

This is the first home decorating book that held my attention for an entire evening! Ms. George's personality quiz was fun to take and revealed so much about my personal taste in decorating. At last I understand why I like what I like...and why it's so different from most of my friends and family.

Anyone moving into a new home should read this book with their mate or significant other before making purchases. By taking the quiz, they can help understand the similarities and differences of their choices. I believe by understanding each other's personality type it will help them resolve purchasing conflicts and come to a meeting of the minds in what they buy.

This book is valuable, insightful and enjoyable....quite an evening's entertainment. It's also a "must-have" gift for brides and grooms and people moving into new homes!

The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design is the first decorating book I have found that provides an actual framework for determining your own design style. The intuitive personality quiz found at the beginning of the book is fun to take -- either by yourself, or with family and friends. I also found the quiz to be very enlightening... Now I know why I am attracted to certain colors and styles!

This book includes a wide variety of beautiful photographs that illustrate examples of design styles that fit each personality type. I enjoyed reviewing all of the wonderful spaces featured throughout the book. But I am most excited by the fact that I came away with a set of tools that I can really use in creating my own living spaces. I highly recommend this unique and wonderful book.