Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life: How to live creatively with collections, clutter, work, kids, pets, art, etc... and stop worrying about everything being perfectly in its place. [Hardcover]

Mary Randolph Carter (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 19, 2010

For all those who choose to live "imperfectly" with the messy things they love, this book shows how to do so creatively, happily, and with considerable style ideas from leading designers. A beautiful and inspiring volume, A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life focuses on living well with everything that makes a house a home. If you have been influenced by the picturesquely cluttered studios of Pablo Picasso or Alexander Calder, or by the art- and book-filled house of Vanessa Bell, this unique style book will stimulate you with its creative ideas.This volume explores how real-life tastemakers (photographers, textile designers, fashion designers, writers, artists) integrate their life and interiors to live well with their passions, histories, conveniences, and inconveniences. In inspiring essays, Mary Randolph Carter muses on such key housekeeping concerns as clutter versus mess; open windows; and unmade beds. Combining practical tips with liberating philosophy—"Don’t scrub the soul out of your home"; "Make room for what you love"—this volume celebrates living beautifully and happily, not messily. Lavishly illustrated with intimate photographs of different living spaces, Carter exalts in the beauty of imperfection and in living perfectly in our "imperfect" homes. Life isn’t perfect—why should your house be?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Randolph Carter is an author, photographer, designer, and longtime creative director for Ralph Lauren. She is the author of For the Love of Old and the Junk series of books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847833658
• ISBN-13: 978-0847833658
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.2 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 84 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to its title December 12, 2010

By Ruxandra Barb

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought the book because of its clever title, and was not disappointed. Even took it to a couple of meetings with clients, whose only complaint was that it has more to do with displaying collections creatively than making clutter work for you. Well, I see their point, because in my experience as a Feng Shui interior designer, clutter doesn't work. Period. What Mrs. Carter refers to as clutter is for her, as opposed to mess, interesting stuff that has an emotional value, without which life would seem emptier (i.e. the book of poems left open in the cozy and sunny reading nook). For quite a few of my clients, clutter is the stuff that they have kept accumulating for half their lives and they have no idea what to do with (hint: many charities pick up, too).

The pictures are beautiful in an artsy, boho way, the book is well written and the kind that I would leave open on my old green velvet sofa that's turning yellow because of the sunny windows behind it.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Love, LOVE this! December 19, 2010

By Emmy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is simply amazing. I've even framed the motto of the book! I can't stop flipping through the pages over and over again. All the different artists' houses are wonderful to look at and get lost in. I love seeing how others live! I highly recommend this book to someone who love interiors, art and the art of living itself.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air in a cluttered world March 21, 2011

By Ella Kwint TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I buy these interior style books with a boho lean less for inspiration to decorate my own space, but more for confirmation that there really are no 'rules' anymore; it's perfectly ok to keep a home that's clean, but cluttered, and it's perfectly ok to shun a minimalist look in favor of conspicious consumption--especially if the items you collect and display have special meaning to you. Since I don't really know anyone in my own life who has adopted this 'look' of just going with it, this title really will hit home that you're not alone with your love of stuff. The author writes about it beautifully and the photos are scrumptious treats. Is it a how- to book? Oh, not to me. Rather you'll pour over all the eye candy, feel bouyant at the amazing collections, and yes, perhaps be inspired to fully embrace the messiness of imperfection. Homes that look like hotel rooms really can feel souless. Soul, I am happy to report, is here in spades. It's a hefty coffee table book that is too special to gather dust on an actual coffee table. My copy will be dog-eared in no time and displayed anywhere else but my coffee table. Of course, this sort of decorating style is certainly not for everyone; if you break out in a cold sweat over the mere idea of dusting dozens of figurines, would not be caught dead at a garage sale, or always choose fuction over form, then skip it.

Also would recommend "etc" by Sibella Court.