Customer Reviews

Glamorous Rooms

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is beautifully done. She knows how to mix textures using fabrics and furniture from any time period, and she definitely has an eye for color and value. I love how she uses color throughout the book...each time the hues are perfect(the platinum/gray living is one of my favorites..so chic!). The rooms are glamorous and smart while being accessible. I will definitely use this as inspiration for my own home.

After devouring all 206 pages of design ideas and beautiful photography I can safely say that Glamorous Rooms will be a forerunner in my design library that I am starting to build. The book is divided into 6 "rooms" covering entry halls, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, private spaces, and outdoor living. Jan Showers shares her portfolio of timeless interior spaces as well as ideas on how to achieve a touch of glamour in your own home. And these ideas are cleverly drawn from her 25 years of experience designing rooms of understated elegance. Several pages of my copy are already bookmarked -- whether they are rooms that I am inspired by or ideas that I wish to reference later and perhaps try in my own home. Until then Glamorous Rooms will be beautifully displayed on my coffee table as even the cloth cover, where Showers pays homage to Hinson & Co.'s Snow Leopard fabric, is glamorous.

Wow! I received this as a gift and what a great gift it has been! My whole house looks "better" just by having this on my coffee table. Not only is it full of beautiful photographs and wonderful tips, but it's also conversational and easy to read. And the foreword written by Michael Kors was such an added bonus... What a fun glimpse into his and Ms. Showers' friendship! My mother has since borrowed my copy and doesn't want to give it back! Needless to say, I will be passing it on... and buying her a copy of her own!

This beautiful book is absolutely fabulous!! When I think of someone with elegance, panache, and sophistication I think of Jan Showers and her incredible style. I could not put down this book, and now want to redecorate my entire house with Jan's creations. I can't wait to give my girlfriends this book for their birthdays-the perfect gift! Glamorous Rooms is a must read and a must on every coffee table.

Jan Showers has the most amazing style and is so talented. Her rooms are never overdone, and are always elegant and sophisticated--but never so much so that you don't feel like you could actually LIVE in each room. An important balance. And her use of color--this book is just a tutorial on the smart use of color! That is why I have scoured the book, to learn all of the color secrets that I can. Plus, don't forget to pay special attention to her furniture. She designs a fair amount of the furniture you see in the book, and it mixes so well with both modern pieces from other designers and antique pieces from centuries ago.

I have always been a fan of Ms. Showers. Over the course of 8 years I have collected every article, magazine and book that has even mentioned the talent of this interior designer. I received my copy of the book today, and it was just what the doctor ordered: the elegant, and glamorous rooms are bright, beautiful and fantastically photographed.

I love the way each chapter covers specific rooms in a home, and yields many full-page examples of interiors. There is no choppiness of imagery that many interior design books publish nowadays, where one can find tiny photographs with about 12 examples of interiors on one page, and one can barely make out the interiors.


My one negative about the book is that I only wish the pages were printed on glossy paper. But maybe next time...

Every living room equals one sofa upholstered in neutrals, a table with metal legs, two matching side chairs that dont' match the sofa. In the dining room, take one murano chandelier, add a table that doesn't match the surrounding chairs and sideboard. If you want or like the formula, this book has formulas on offer; and perhaps not always bad formulas. (In fact, I though Jan Showers did some pretty dining rooms, but they tend to offer limited scope for individuality to begin with.) But other designers offer a lot more individuality and I had very little sense of the personality of the owners of any of the rooms pictured.

I did enjoy reading and looking at all the beautiful rooms. I was thinking that Jan Showers has great design ideas and suggestions. What I think would be so interesting is a book that included some of her "no no's" I would enjoy seeing a room that is not tastefully done and then have her put her spin on it. For example the never put wallpaper in a livingrooom or do not fully upholster every piece of furniture in a room. She could easily show a room done wrong and correct it. What fun.
In all though I did enjoy her book and would reccommend it.

I'm impressed. This book is not for people that want their rooms to look like everyman's or who want to order a room in a box or achieve a completed room at one go. The book is excellent for those that want to use recycled items regardless if one's budget is big or small. I'm a bargin hunter and have frequented flea markets, consignment stores, eBay, estate sales, et al, to achieve the looks in this wonderful book. Also, I used elbow grease, paint, upholstry, and repurposed vases, etc. to make gorgeous lamps that look very similar to the high end beauties show cased in the book. While the book's written words point to principles and approaches, for me, one must study the pictures to see how rooms can sparkle and meld into timeless, beautiful, and comfortable design. The book is particularly helpful when mixing periods and global pieces. By referencing this book, our home has gone from looking ordered, nice, and middle class to refined and spectacular. Wow!

This has got to be the best decorating book I have ever read. Even if her style isn't your style, this book reads like the designer is giving a class about her decorating techniques. The book is broken down into the various rooms of the house. The author then breaks down every room and talks about the elements(furniture, etc) she uses, making it very easy for the reader to replicate her style for themselves. If only all the other decorating books read like this!