Customer Reviews

The Well-Worn Interior

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

 

 

This is one of my favorite decorating books. The photographs are rich and warm, revealing the interiors of beautiful, aged, classic homes. If you like the look of distressed original walls, furniture, rugs, and paintings, you will enjoy this book. There is no chrome, plastic, or formica here.

Many of the photos in this book remind me of the classic "Ralph Lauren" look, featuring English or European country style with the patina of age. The interiors have the "shabby chic" look, but without the overabundance of white paint on everything that "shabby chic" usually implies.

There is a lack of fussiness and frilliness in these rooms. They look lived in -- these are not museum-type rooms, for show only. These are rooms where you can sit down, kick off your shoes, read a book, enjoy a meal, or sleep comfortably, without worrying that you're going to ruin something.

I give this book my highest rating -- five stars.

If you love old houses and comfortable, worn furniture, this is the book for you. I happen to be one of those folks who drive down the road and enjoy looking at old, abandoned homes. I find the natural deterioration of a building to be a beautiful thing. As such a person, I found this book to be beautiful, with excellent ideas for designing my home - though many of the effects shown are reproduceable only by age and neglect.

If you are of a similar mindset to mine, you will love this book. If not, well, you might want to look elsewhere.

Although these interiors are probably too worn for American comfort, the style shown gives one ideas to help design an inviting room.

A new track to follow in interior design? I certainly think so. Apprecieting the softness of well-used furniture, carpets and so on. And believe me, there is no "dirt" exposed in this book. Unless that is how you describe peeling wall-paper, which is about as extreme as the content goes. But to a spoiled Western population (who rather buy brand new things of inferior design and craftmanship than lovely old pieces second-hand) maybe that is off-putting. I'm in fact rather turned-on.

Not intended for those wanting a simple step by step to revamp their kitchen or lounge. This book is filled with sumptious images of spaces well lived in and loved. A fabulous reference for architects or designers who want to inject character and texture into a space.

Yes, indeed, this book highlights well-worn interiors, but the vast majority of the photos are from old English homes and townhouses. I was hoping for more variety, more applicability to the Average Joe's well-worn interior dreams.

Pealing, ancient wall paper.... Narrow dim hallways.... ballrooms with ancient chandeliers, what the well dressed haunted house is wearing today. Formerly grand interiors that have NEVER BEEN RENOVATED - It's all about "Authentic." Not one single floor has even a SPECK of finish left on it, they're referred to as "Well scrubbed." Most of these original interiors are European or English from 200 years ago or so. Once grand, these houses are beyond lived in. There is a least one old house from the sourthern United States featured.

For the most part, I like this book, and many of the interiors shown. However, there are some things that didn't set well with me. I suppose I'm one of those spoiled Americans. I love old houses and the patina of age to a degree, but I don't like peeling wallpaper, upholstered chairs with stuffing and springs exposed, rusty metals, or too much peeling paint. (A bit of peeling paint is fine.) These things make a home looked neglected and unloved. How sad.

What a silly book. It looks like the pictures were taken in abandoned houses -- that's how dirty and uncomfortable these rooms look. This book has pictures of some of the ugliest rooms I have ever seen. It's a shame to call it a design oriented book.

I looked through the book a few times after I got it hoping there was something beyond the absurd idea that filth was a good thing to incorporate in one's house. DISAPPOINTING. Don't waste any money or time on this book.