Customer Reviews

Interior Alchemy: Secrets to Creating Expressive Ambience

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you buy every new interior decorating book on the market, and you open each book with the believer's prayer, which goes something like, let there be one idea worth stealing in this book, then you're in for a faith renewing experiece.

Purcell has managed to come up with new ideas, as well as some new terms, guerilla architecture, Do-It-Yourself Art, and Attention-getting Mechanisms, all of which gave this jaded professional an almost religious experience.

Perhaps because of her background in retail display, Purcell takes an irreverent approach to putting together a room. The photographs and text make you slap yourself on the head and ask, why didn't I think of that?

Decorating books tend to fall into two categories, either how to's or beautiful pictures. Interior Alchemy combines these two styles, providing excellent, revealing pictures and text that tells you how to produce the same results, either by aging, no talent carpentery or as the title suggests by magic.

Hallelujah! At last there's an interior design book for people who are creative, imaginative, original, and/or artistic! Interior Alchemy is not for the Martha Stewart wannabe or anyone with timid or conventional tastes . Instead the book shows how to take a bold, eclectic approach to creating an interior design that is original and a little off-beat. After reading this book, I completely rearranged four of my rooms, and now I have a home that has translated my deepest fantasies, longings, and dreams into reality. The author, Rebecca Purcell, helped me identify exactly what kind of interior design appeals to me, and then she gave lots of practical tips about how to create that look. I was able to use (mostly) things I already had, but the book showed me how to arrange them to create a dramatic effect. Right now I'm so in love with the look of my new interior design that I don't want to leave the house unless it's important! I never thought I could have a house ! ! decor that I liked so much. While the names Purcell gives the specific designs are sometimes a little strange (for example, "Alienated" refers to a blend of medieval and modern), the looks she achieves will inspire people who want a more creative environment in their homes. This is a beautiful, rich, imaginative, delightful book.

Upfront here: If you're the sort who likes to have your space organized, if you dislike the shabby, the thrift store look, the impression of disrepair, do not bother with this book. Purcell leans heavily on the idea that interior fantasy is built up of layers of eccentric, aged, lived-in objects and artifacts, and the result, while remarkable, is not going to be to everyone's taste.

Purcell's aesthetic is dark, and even a bit threatening. It's eccentric rather than whimsical, and that's not a bad thing. It's just that it can be a bit overwhelming. (If you're looking for a modified version of this, one with a lighter feel, check out Tracy Porter.) It makes heavy use of thrift store finds, but in these days of shabby chic, this look isn't as thrifty as it used to be. One room features a grouping of very large composition dolls. Granted, they're damaged and rather ratty-looking, but all the same, scoring a single large compo doll can be pricey. Half a dozen is likely to set you back quite a bit of money. And that's more or less true of many of the design ideas here. Very nice things (or at least things so odd that you're going to have to go to some lengths to find a good analog) artfully arranged so that they look kind of neglected. Cha-ching! That's gonna cost you.

Over all, I'd have to say that Interior Alchemy, is a great book for those who are not timid about their decorating, who have either some serious spare change or spare time, and who are already more or less on this path of crowded, eccentric spaces. The fantasy level here is enormous, and if it's worth it to you to do the work, then this is a grand resource. To most people, I'd say, start with something a little less ambitious.

I have mixed feelings about this book, despite the 5 stars. I don't actually like clutter myself. I take its presence as a sign that somebody needs to tidy up and/or throw a few things out.

Still, whose home is neat and organized all the time? Through great effort, I can get mine to lose that just-been-burglerized look for about 5 minutes a week.

So I was delighted to find Purcell's book, much of which is devoted to making clutter actually look good, a process she refers to as "hooshing."

She also appreciates that few people's household belongings are new, unstained or well-matched.

--which is (IMO) why the rooms in this book bear some resemblance to places people actually live.

The main deviation from TRULY realistic decor derives from the fact that HER piles of clutter consist of things like old globes, brocade samples, hardcover books etc., whereas most people's clutter is stuff like old newspapers and dead plants. But for an interior decorating book, it's close enough.

I adore this book. I found a copy of it mysteriously in my office (I'm a set dresser) and it has completely overhauled my beliefs in decorating. The pictures are feasts for your eyes... There's just so much to look at, all layered so perfectly. I can't wait to create my own lofted bed, my own hooshes, and mysteriously curtained nooks. I feel like I finally fit into a design catagory.

Even if this book doesn't quite mesh as well with your design style, it is still interesting to look at the unique ways of decorating, and the text is lively and quite non-snore inducing (which most decorating books tend to be).

Amazing book. Buy it, you won't be disappointed. It will leave you yearning for another one from the very creative Rebecca Prucell.

This is more of an analysis of your artistic style than one of those cookie cutter decorating books--every page is amazing. If you are artistic & don't like to follow current trends, you will love the offbeat, quirky ideas. Worth every penny--sequel, please?

Firstoff the four stars is hard to explain. I want to give this item five. But there is a few things I cannot overlook. However, this book is amazing. It is a decorating eden, filled with wonderous things you should look into and explore. If you look at this book and you think "ack, $$$!! I do not have the money to pull off these styles" you will miss the entire point of the book. The entire book is about doing it yourself, and she does it on a penny. she explains throughout - its possible to get the look and spend a reasonable amount of money. The book is not about buying the most expensive antique. Its about creating. Its about making something yours from junk. Its about hooshing - making it yourself; spending no money. It is a tome of creativity.

The only reason I cannot give it 5 is the one chapter 'Humble' - while the style is visually appealing she seems to forget a few things, like sanitation. The cute little guest cottage is made out of an old large chicken coop, where the walls have sustained beautiful natural water damage. While asthetically pleasing, its mold. Also, chickens carry alot of airborn diseases that if you mess around in their dried feces (like oh say, in a chicken coop) you can inhale and get terrible things like meningitis. (It happened to a friend's brother of mine while he was cleaning out a similar coop to the one she uses. Not something to mess around with. And he was wearing an air filter and construction gear.)
While this chapter can be completely overlooked and ideas still gained from it, it completely ignores hygine and health. But honestly, this shouldn't make you ignore this book. Its a diamond in the rough. No book is perfect, but this - is pretty darn close.

I do NOT have a french or english country estate, so decorating books showing large rooms are not helpful for me. I hate French country decor, with the stupid ugly chickens and everything painted mustard and blue. Pottery Barn, Res Hardware and Crate and Barrel are handy but cookie cutter... This book is not any one of these things and I really love it! Some of the decorating styles, like "Alienated" are a bit too eccentric even for me but I love seeing the ideas taken to completion with out appology. It's not about shabby chic, it's more eccentric than that, like vintage photos of show girls, morrocan lamps and velvet couches... I really hate decorating books where everything is painted flat white, like an apartment, and cutsy little flowers everywhere. Too girly. No punch. This book is using what you love, even if, or especially if, its odd to create atmosphere with attitude. I think this is especially good for people with old houses or apartments, who are good at found art and collage. If your mother was an antique dealer like mine and you have mis matched yet interesting things, there are very useful ideas here. Medieval enthusiasts and goth kids would love this book. People with Magickal households that have unusual things would love this book, as well.

This book caught my eye and I could not put it down. Well written, full of great photos and inspiration. This is not your avarage book on interiors, so conventional cookie cutter types should stay away. If you want to personalize your space this is a great place for inspiration and tips for making the place "work". Having seen her windows and adds in magazines for ABC Carpets in NY, I really appreciate Rebecca sharing her ideas and those of the other artist in this short but compelling book.
I actually see the world with new eyes. Thanks Rebecca!

Clear, practical instructions on decorating in general as well as how to achieve the atmosphere portrayed in the book's fascinating photos. I collected her gorgeous ABC ads -- hope there will be another book.