Customer Reviews

Living with Light: Decorating the Scandinavian Way

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

 

 

In Scandinavia, with its long and dark winters, few qualities are a prized in homes as light. The vivid color pictures in this book how light is emphasized, with bleached floors and white walls, white benches, white tablecloths, and glass and mirrors that send light glimmering in the rooms.

Scandinavian decorating emphasizes plain walls and clean lines. They try to bring the outside in pots and vases of flowers.

The pale gold of rattan is sometimes the only color in a room. "Many homes in Sweden have an antique chandelier with crystals that sparkle as they slowly move in the air, but even a single crystal hung at a window will refract any stray beam that comes it ways, often throwing glorious rainbows across the room into the bargain" (p 120).

"Living With Light: Decorating the Scandanavian Way" is a beautifully photographed interior design book that features some of the decor ideas that make the most of the Northern light that is so dearly treasured in the short summer months in cottages in Sweden as well as British upscale homes. The materials, color palettes, and rooms are illuminated by the pictures and the minimal text adds some detail to the images. I would have given 5 stars if I had seen some photos of how all this summer-oriented decor worked in other times of the year; it would be very interesting to see how this interior style changes to embrace the darker times of winter and still bring in natural light.

Not only are the photos beautiful as they capture the heart of Swedish style but they also teach how important light is to this type of decorating. The text that goes along with the photos aptly describes how to accomplish Scandinavian decorating in your home.

A lovely book of coffee table quality anyone would appreciate owning and reading.

Positives: Very approachable for everyone who is interested in Swedish design. Lots of good tips here and there and features items that can be used by 'average' people.

Negatives: I thought it had too many repeats of the same stuff. Not enough photos that excited me. Why are there so many pictures of flowers? I thought I bought a design book..not a flower arrangement book.

I am very pleased with this book as it shows good examples of the use of light and a light hand in decorating Swedish style for the average homeowner. There are abundant photos and the text explains the concepts without being overly technical. This book has examples that the reader can borrow from to create a Swedish atmosphere in their own home. I look at this book again and again.

This book was both beautiful and informative, just a lovely read and one that I find myself sitting down with again and again.

The photographs are wonderful. I would love to see pictures of the houses in winter. The clean,simple lines of scandinavian style are comfortable and cheerful in a place where light is at a premium during winter.