Customer Reviews

Sea Changes: Simple Decorating Styles and ideas Inspired by the Ocean and Seashore

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

 

 

Sea Changes has some great ideas...add in the wonderful photography and seemingly you have a great book. My only complaint about this book (hence the four stars) is that some of the photographs in the book have no explination or directions to go with them. Take a look at the cover photo for example...the main reason I got the book was to duplicate the napkins with the shells hanging off them, but when I got the book and opened it to the page with that photo all the book said was "put together a lovely centerpiece with driftwood and a feather, along with a pillar candle decorated with shells" If you are heavily into crafts, sure you can figure out how to make the napkins on your own but that is pretty much the purpose of this book...to teach you. There are a few other scenarios like that...such as a bed canopy made to look like a beach hut a <which is beautiful>, but there are no directions only a small picture so you would have to know off hand what type of canopy fabric they are using, how is it being supported from the ceiling so on and so on. Also, be forewarned a lot of ideas in this book are very rustic. I can see why the writer and photographer have made it that way, to get back to the roots of seaside style, but just be warned that if you are looking for a "beautifully decorated beach house" then this book may not be for you unless you are thinking beautifully rustic. The main highlites in the book include a beautiful hand dyed blanket and pillows for a bed, a very unique outdoor arrangement made from canldes, shells, seaglass and driftwood, and a quite stunning mosiac table. Also noteworthy are the shell curtains and tablecloth which are very simple to make but yield great results. All in all a great book to get ideas from....but if you are looking for a decorating book you may want to look elsewhere. Like the authors previous book, this is a craft book. It doesent really show you where to put items and how to arrange them like a usual decorating book.

Received my copy today and am ready to start combing flea markets, antique, craft and hardware stores and all the local beaches!! Not a step by step "how to book" for all the great ideas, just most of the tough ones. Oh yes - did I mention terrific photos! A perfect book, full of things suited for our comfy California home with hardwood floors and denim sofas.

Missing how-to information for certain projects pictured in the book , that lack instruction, are from the first (?) book : Seashore Style- Decorative Ideas Inspired by the Spirit of the Seashore. Rustic, beautiful, inspirational - however, to me, not always sensible or usable. Yet, if you have access to a beach, the fun you will have!