Customer Reviews

Judith Miller's Guide to Period-Style Curtains and Soft Furnishings

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

 

 

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Just wish it had many MORE instructions for making some of the period treatments.

I can't say I'm overly impressed by the information in this book, aside from the wonderful photography. I'd have liked more information on the various time periods as well as more directions for actually reproducing the items shown. (Not all items have directions with them.) Still, you could piece together most any of them with directions from throughout the book. The fabric sample photos at the back are helpful to get oriented to a time period, especially if you're not sure where to start. The Rag Rug section was a fun departure, as was how to cover walls with dust catchers, ahem, fabric. I'd borrow this one from a friend, or go with interlibrary loan if you can.

I have a few other books from Judith Miller, and this one seemed more like a book that was written "just because she can." It does have the nice pictures and quite a bit of technical information, but those items are more for a drapery/upholstery work room. Not a whole lot of actual historical information that you would be able to turn around and apply to other pieces of material in day to day contact. A nice visual reference for extravagant window treatments and a few accessory pieces. The pictures are beautiful references for design ideas, but really a work room book or large scale budget interior design firm.

I'm building a period house. So, I have ordered quite a few books recently. And this is one of my favorites, became one of my favorites just flipping through it.

If you've read any of my reviews, you know that aesthetics are very important to me; if a book isn't "attractive" with good colorful photography/beauty and a good selection of what is being photographed/variety, then the book is somewhat spoiled for me from the start. Well this book is aesthetically pleasing. However, I do agree with another customer's review that when it comes to the the knowledge aspect, this book falls short on providing enough variety in the "How to's" section. For example, if you wanted to create your own half-tester, the author only demonstrates how to make one style while there are other styles depicted in the book.

Regardless, this book is a pleasant surprise because I didn't expect it to contain the "How to" sections, show how to dress walls or include pictures of swatches. I do wish the author had included a section on shades: austrian shades for example.

"Glorious ideas for curtains, blinds, bed hangings and coverings, table linens, wall hangings, lampshades, cushions"...Beautiful pictures. I love it!