Customer Reviews

Living in the Arts and Crafts Style: A Home Decorating Workbook

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

 

 

The format is well organized, and full page color photography is nice - especially with the addition of captions highlighting elements of the rooms. Very nice touch is the back of the book, containing removable swatches and a pocket for swatches you collect.

But, six pages for wallpaper and nary a Bradbury & Bradbury design in sight? Bathrooms - one picture in the entire book? Two sections on home offices - including one with a fireplace and a warming oven (I thought this was a decorating workbook based in the real world?) Where in heck are you supposed to incorporate the computer equipment?

Not enough content for the person just getting familiar with Arts & Crafts. Not emough content for the person (like me) planning a renovation of my 1920's bungalow. I'm not sure who this book is aimed at. Very disappointing.

I must agree with the first reviewer of this text. First let me say that this workbook is a decent starting point for those people who are learning about elements of Arts and Crafts style, design and architecture. The layout is addresses a specific aspect of the Arts and Crafts movement (e.g. Wallpaper & Paint, Furniture) and applies it to each room in a house. So far so good...

My problem is there isn't clear identification of resources and craftsman to contact for each of the areas. The photos are great but there isn't identification in a room of who to turn to if you like what you see. The only thing you get is a list at the back of the book for each of the areas covered. In the format of a "workbook" I don't think this is particularly helpful.

Like the previous reviewer I wasn't happy that some of the core Arts and Crafts suppliers weren't highlighted (Bradbury & Bradbury, Motawi Tile, Fulper Tile, etc.)

So as I said, this is a decent starting point but the content is far from comprehensive. I suggest looking at other resources in concert with this workbook to get a better idea what is available.

This is not a textbook nor a guide to its history or sources. It makes none of these claims. What it claims it succeeds in doing for us: A Workbook for Arts and Crafts lovers or beginners.

We've found that going through books and magazines to find stuff we like in decorating in A&C style is what this great resource provides in neat, organized way!

Great idea starter easy to carry when shopping. Who wants to carry a heavy stack of books with far too many words and few illustrations, except of rooms?

This is more easily accessible for most of us shoppers. We've already used it for art, chairs and found it very resourceful and helpful.

If you're an expert, maybe this has no place. For the consumer that we are, this is great! Depending on your needs and goals, this just might fit well in your A&C library like it has in ours.

I don't know who was the fact checker or editor for this book, but he should be fired. A brilliant concept, but pathetic execution. There are many better books on this subject. Avoid like the plague. (I'm an Arts and Crafts dealer and collector and the errors I found in two minutes at the bookstore had me laughing to myself.)

This book contains everything that was promised in the reviews, and the photographs are exceptionally well done. I have read many books from the library on the Arts and Crafts movement, but this is one of the few that was worth purchasing. It is sure to be used as a reference many times in our decorating project.

Often, I've sat reading this book in bookstores across Boston, hoping for it to change its ways. It's brilliantly organized and the pictures are great, but the knowledge behind the framework and fandango is either absolutely lacking or off for a lunchbreak. The author totally ignores the differences between the English and American A&C aesthetics, which, if you are already familiar with the differences, might not make much difference, but if you are a newbie to the A&C Renaissance, will be hugely misleading. The architectural poetics espoused by Morris and Voysey are quite different from those of Stickley, Wright, and the Roycroft community. I would have expected much better from this author.

A simple presentation to understand the "Arts & Crafts Movement". As a builder I am constantly looking for details that set my work apart from the "also-rans". I continue to reference this publication for trim details, and share them with my customers to create an exciting, unique, and exceptional building experience.
gst

This book is really a travesty. The captions to the very nice photos were full of errors and were clearly written by someone who had not a clue as to what was in the photo. Save your money. There are so many excellent books on the subject, nearly any one of which is vastly superior to this laughable "book" on the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Not quite the book I was looking for. I thought the book would help me create an "Arts & Crafts" decorating style to my home. It did not offer much direction.

Great decorating book with lots of ideas for furniture, wall colors and rugs.