Customer Reviews

Sister Parish Design: On Decorating

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4 star:		(2)
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The title of the book refers to the name of a fabric and wallpaper company, not to the work of legendary designer Mrs Henry "Sister" Parish, II. The authors, one the grand-daughter of, and the other, the former assistant to, the late decorator, developed this book as a clever promotion for their business venture, Sister Parish Design. With contributions from 25 decorators, including Albert Hadley and Bunny Williams, and magazine editiors, such as Mitchell Owens and Carolyn Englefield, various comments are grouped together in chapters and sub-chapters as a chatty how-to book of sorts, for lack of a better description.

There is a Forward by Albert Hadley and an Introduction in three parts by each of the authors and the illustrator. The chapters are Our Rooms, Beginnings, Elements, Furniture, Color, Materials & Textures, Collections, Outdoor Rooms, and The Courage to Decorate. A section titled Recommended Reading lists two pages of books on interior design. The section, Contributors, gives a very brief and vague 3 or 4 line c.v. on the designers and editors. A one page Acknowledgement thanks those who helped with the book, ending with the woman they only refer to as Sister, who provided the inspiration, they say.

The watercolor illustrations are an odd sort by Mita Corsini Bland, wife of popular Manhattan art and antiques dealer Gerald Bland. Similar in style to those by the late interior designer Mark Hampton, they lack the benefit of his understanding of what best to show, however. Most are not illustrations of Mrs Parish's work, but rather a somewhat muddy assortment of the contributors' work. They apprear to be largely taken from snapshots because only details or corners of rooms are shown. The benefits of using drawings instead of photographs were not generally exploited here. The exception is the dustjacket, with the fabric on a prominent bergere in Mrs Parish's living room changed from her trademark chintz to a blue & white print from the authors' fabric line!

There are many typos and inaccuracies, too numerous and perhaps too tedious to list here. There has been some criticism that many of the contributors had never even met Sister Parish. But this reviewer does not agree; I never met the 16th century architect Andrea Palladio, but he has been a great inspiration to me!

This is not a bad book, and generally rather attractive. But many will be disappointed in most aspects of content. All except the most devoted fans of Sister Parish should just wait until the book is further discounted. The definitive book on Sister Parish remains to be written.

If you could only have one book on design, this should be your choice. What a delight to sink into! This book reads like a novel, yet, one has the ability to jump from area to area, and not lose track. I found it to be inspiring, like coming home after a vacation, and seeing familiar sights in a new light.

Without a hint of aloofness, the message given is to follow and trust your instincts, enjoy your home or space, yet helps by pointing out some basic proportions, etc. This is an energizing book that can be referenced again and again, or simply read for the pure pleasure of it!

This is a book that really does not add anything to a knowledge of Mrs. Parish's design "philosophy". I believe that she was a brilliant but totally intuitive
designer who had a very good eye. The visual presentation of this book is washed-out, pale, and faded -- like the amateurish watercolor illustrations by a Ms. Bland (!). Some of the watercolors are painted from well-known photographs (Mrs. Astor's library by Mr. Hadley, p.122). Wouldn't it have been better to show the vibrant red scheme in a photograph? And what of the terrible "bar set up on an antique desk"on p. 14? Why is this awful sketch in the book? Mrs. Parrish's memory certainly deserves something better
than this mish-mash!

What this book is not: An illustrated history of design, designers, or of Sister Parish herself. What this book is: An intriguing and engaging collection of insights by many of the major designers of our time. It was surprisingly hard to put down because of its gossipy side notes and because the contributors' personalities come through so strongly as they opine on different topics. The watercolors are beautiful but there are not as many illustrations as I would like to see especially on the tricky topics of lighting and kitchens. If you read it and don't look at your home space differently, then you missed the point. It's more useful and more timely than Alexandra Stoddard's "Creating a Beautiful Home." The diverse points of view help identify the most common themes-- be useful, be comfortable, and be beautiful-- all at once. Rooms should be for real living.

I don't read a lot of books on design, favoring those on architecture as a general rule, but having known Sister Parish from summers in Maine during my childhood, I recently purchased this book. I was immediately drawn in to the conversation the book so perfectly captures about what goes into creating a sense of place that transforms a room from an empty box filled with things into an expression of who its owner is (or would like to be!). The use of watercolors in place of photos makes for a series of focused guides for the eye, directing the reader's attention to specific elements and details of a room to enhance the content of the accompanying text. Reading this book is both an aesthetic and practical experience, for in addition to pretty pictures of beautiful rooms, there are to be found among the anecdotes and stories of working for design clients helpful tips on small touches that go a long way towards helping a room come alive. It would make a great Christmas present!

Anyone who knows anything about decorating knows Sister Parish and her design esthetic. We're talking comfortable, colorful, traditional and above all else, real. Having lived for years in California where efforts at decorating the latest subdivision home can unfortunately come in the form of Ethan Allen furniture, cookie-cutter art bought at Costco and stinky gingerbread candles, I love to pick up a book like this which brings me full circle back to my New England mother's idea of home beauty: family heirlooms, crisp paint, deep downy seating, fabric to die for, garden flowers and oh, did I mention, family conversation, history and substance because after all, that is what really counts in the well-framed, well-decorated home.

This source book on ideas and on personal style, told in a series of conversations with well known decorators communicates its message well. Anyone can decorate, and after reading these well organized chapters on elements, color, materials and even the courage it takes to try something new, there is no doubt that you will walk away with personal ideas to use in your home. As you come to realize, unlike other decorating books which are gorgeous to look at while pitching ideas and rooms that are out of reach financially and realistically, all of the Sister Parish ideas can be embraced by anyone (that's what made her so special and what the two authors continue to advocate in their fabric business and in this book). Start room by room, idea by idea, and pick and choose what you like. Let your home be an expression of who you are; it's fun and very rewarding. Just remember, put down the faux Ming Dynasty cache pot, don't even think about nubby beige cushion covers (that I know may be more practical with the wee ones) and for goodness sake, get on the band wagon of daring to express yourself through color and through imagination. In your efforts to entertain yourself and to create a personal space that will embrace comfort and style, the Crater/Cameron book is a must-buy. By breaking down the design process into easily managed areas of focus, and through the again homey approach of "chatting" with others, the authors demonstrate the how-to of personal style in an inviting and engaging read.

An absolutely charming and delightful book! The relaxed and honest insight from designers and editors is a treat to read. Mita Corsini Bland's watercolors are a feast for the eyes. Lovely to look at, the watercolors capture the warmth of a room and provide an intimate perspective as no photograph could. Very enjoyable!!

Sister Parish Design: On Decorating is a collection of vignettes/insights from well known decorators with lovely, inspiring water colors by Mita Corsini Bland. This is not a coffee table book of Parish-Hadley projects; rather, it reads like a collection of short stories and offers great insight in to the genius of Sister Parish and Albert Hadley's design schemes. One of the things I loved most about the book is that it talks about a philosophy of gracious living: enjoying one's home and how to entertain. Enjoy!

This book is a series of reminisces (and conversations) between well known interior decorators. It has lots of "inside gossip" regarding their famous and monied clients. But I think it is not for the general public who are interested in finding inspiration regarding their own decorating dilemmas. I didn't take away anything memorable (for my own home), and hearing about the homes of the rich and famous gets a bit tiresome after a few pages. It is an "insider's book" written for the trade and not for the average reader. I recommend Mark Hampton's book On Decorating which is one of the best on the subject of interior design.