Customer Reviews

The Natural Home: Living the Simple Life

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4 star:		(1)
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As someone who has moved 20 times in the last 16 years (due to job relocation, divorce, and the ever-increasing costs of apartments), the trappings of a settled life have rarely been obtainable. As is too well known to many of us, apartment life does not lend itself to creativity manifesting itself in the removal of carpet or the ragging of walls in the newest shades of peridot and cranberry. And the homes displayed in many inspiring magazines are a cause for scorn to many struggling to simply keep the home one has. Ms. Foley's excellent work not only encourages thriftiness by advocating the use of furnishings already in one's possession, but demonstrates that the color schemes so often inflicted by rental managers can be soothing rather than monotonous. I have finally purchased a home after too many years of wandering, and have used many of the techniques she describes to make that home a place of comfort and calm rather than a collection of oversized boxes for the storage of "things". Her enthusiasm for the reuse of furniture, the salvaging of discards and those pieces abandoned in attics not only aids the environment but can help to preserve a sense of family continuity in a world where parent and child are often divided by thousands of miles after graduation. After the death of my grandmother, I willingly accepted the dusty contents of her basement; chairs and chests and other things that had been brought to this country by my Hungarian and Irish ancestors 120 years ago. No Christie's find could match the feeling of history stirred in me by those things, and Ms. Foley's book encourages such reclamation.

Three cheers for Tricia Foley's new book "The Natural Home," a guide for anyone who has every wanted to tear up carpeting and start all over again crating a living space that is truely his or her own in tune with nature and brimming with cottage appeal. Within its pages, Foley preaches a wholistic approach to creating a gentler lifestyle using Mother Nature as interior designer.

Georgeously photographed by Michael Skott with text by Jill Kirchner, Foley has laid out a "how to" guide for living well. Her's is a kind of recipe book for a beautiful life.

Here we find how tos of using natural fibers and objecs that hold meaning not those which can be simply purchased.

Instead of investing in yards of brocase drapery fabrice of ankle thick carpeting, Foley's approach is clean, spare and almost Shakeresque in simplisity and functionality. A place for everything and everything perfectly placed as she shows us the way of sisal underfoot, cotton curtains fluttering at widowsills, pitchers of wildflower, coverlets of lace, hand made soaps and thick terry toweling.

Foley has produced the kind of book so pleasant, peaceful and welcoming that you'll want to take out a mortgage and move right in.

Here is Fung Shuie for Western sensibilities.

I too have moved often (26 times in 25 years). I am also a collector of old things, so I have accumulated a lot. I am also a Virgo which means I must have a connection with organic things. I am also originally from New Orleans which means I have a passion for the old, patinated, historical and verdant. Therefore, I loved Tricia Foley's philosophies. I have always loved color, but now I find myself wanting to unclutter and live simply. I've begun with my bed linens and clothing. Soon, my husband and I are relocating (another move!) and I want to incorporate much of the Natural Home in my new environment. While I will be unable to live with quite the sparcity of the homes pictured, the concept can certainly be modified to fit anyone's lifestyle. More? Less?, it's up to you. The book is a great starting place. Now I'm ordering Linens and Lace because I have chests full of antique linens,(my passion!), acquired thru family or collecting.

Colors/pigments originate from toxic heavy metals such as lead being red; purples or violets may contain both mercury and lead; yellow and orange may contain cadmium. You've heard of cadmium yellow with artists pigments. Additionally, darker, deeper as well as more fluorescent colors contain the more volatile organic compounds --VOC's.

Some of us have been poisoned with VOC's. I, for one. Carpets made of synthetic fibers and vibrant colors in the USA may contain lots of toxic nerve poisons which are volatile and off gas into the air in our homes, schools, and businesses.

On the other hand, the Natural Home is made up of white and greens because these colors contains less VOC's and hence, are better for our brain and nervous system. They bring us peace and tranquility. They keep our brains sharp and focused. We are not in a brain fog, as we may be with more toxic colors.

BTW, organic solvents, like those in pigments, are also amongst the misnamed inert ingredients in economic poisons that kill or cause harm to pests be they weeds; insects (including ants, roaches and mosquitoes; fungi, bacteria or other pesticides; fragrances, perfumes and colognes; natural gas, gasoline, and plastics, plus numerous other products with which we are being poisoned every day. No wonder white and green bring us peace and tranquility.

I salute The Natural Home by Tricia Foley, et al and encourage more people to read this book.

This is another book I purchased from amazon.com, based on client's reviews. I hoped to get something exciting, but, was disappointed. This book presents a "natural home" as bleak and colorless. The dominating colors are white and green. I don't think nature has only these colors in store. What about the riches of spring, summer and fall colors, the reds, blues, violets, oranges to name a few? The author has an aesthetic eye for displaying pictures. But all in all, I am returning this book for a full refund. I am disappointed because I did not get my money's worth.

I have had this book for over 12 years and it is a dog-eared favorite on my shelf. Yes, the palette is sage, ivories, light blues and pale pinks, but it is so calm and peaceful. I didn't know about the heavy toxins in more vibrant dyes used in US, but I believe it. I'm not crazy about the bird nests, egg collections, or outdoor sections of the book, but I can see evidence of Foley's inspiration in my own home over the years in clean bare wood floors, sparse wall decor, white linens and natural, useful items on my counters and in my cupboards. Photography I return to again and again. I like it better than the vintage shabby chic that is out there now, the more modern stuff reflects a fine line between cool eclectic and wait.. double take, is that a roomful of trash? Not Foley. She recycles, but with quiet grace.

This is a book with information about creating a natural home. I would not classify this book as a decorating book, but more a book about creating a life and home filled with natural things (eg: environmentally safe items, etc).

I came across this book some years ago at at furniture store, I love it and it has always been a apart of my home. I am working on my own Natural Home which I feel is where I have always wanted to be since I was child. I have turn back to basics, castile soap, cleaning with natural products, baking soda and old fashion borax, open windows, planting herb gardens, eating outside in the santuary of my own backyard, family and friends get togethers. This book has given me idea's and help me to add to my own idea's. In so I have created a home with it's own personality...a garden room...a Paris room...a cottage bath...an island room...a natural living room that is so peaceful and tranquil...a dinning room that make folks want to take pictures of it, a home where everyone is welcomed and where everyone wants to stay. My copy sits on my loveseat so it's always part of our home.