Customer Reviews

Ethan Allen's New American Style: Stage-by-Stage Decorating for Your Home

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just bought my second copy of this book, after giving my first to a friend. In contrast to the first reviewer, I found this book very helpful. Although it's true that the photographs in this book show furniture by Ethan Allen, the text never mentions their products specifically. It does lay out a very realistic 1-2-3 approach to decorating that allows you to make progress without breaking your budget. It shows you how to start with the basics and layer on the style as your checkbook allows, without the room ever looking or feeling or half-done. I own quite a few books on home decorating and this is one of the more practical and useful ones on my bookshelf.

This book has beautiful photographs, and incorporates a wide variety of styles. Nearly each page provides a decorating tip, which I think would be useful to those just starting out. I imagine that most of the furniture items photographed are Ethan Allen pieces although they aren't specifically mentioned as such. However there are many that aren't. Antiques and garage sale pieces are mentioned, and the reader is encouraged to find non-conventional items to add to the decorating. So I regard this book as more than just a glorified catalog.

Among our wedding gifts was this book. I am sorry that anyone paid money for it. I guess I don't trust books put out by a manufacturer who just wants to sell me some product. I don't trust in the integrity of the ideas in a book like this. It's a glorified catalog.