William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home [Hardcover]

Pamela Todd (Author), Chris Tubbs (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

Light, airy, rooms...clean-lined wooden furnishings...richly patterned rugs and fabrics in colors inspired by nature. William Morris was the first to champion the styles that remain quintessentially modern today. William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home is both a profile of this innovative tastemaker and a lavishly illustrated guide to decorating with these ever-popular elements. Over 200 photographs capture the Arts and Crafts look, both in Morris's own residences as well as in contemporary homes where the classic Morris aesthetic of simple beauty prevails. Organized by element, chapters on the legendary patterned fabrics and wallpapers he designed, his artisan wooden furniture, curtains and carpets, ceramics and metalwork all serve to illustrate Morris's unique vision. Informative, engaging, and delightful to peruse, William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home captures the beauty and simplicity of these influential designs.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This beautifully illustrated volume combines an introduction to arts and crafts founder William Morris with contemporary interpretations of his design vision. The first section examines Morris' design philosophy, and lavishly illustrated chapters, featuring images from Morris' homes, showcase original designs for wallpapers, fabrics, and furniture as well as ideas for finishing touches and overall room composition. "Case studies" of contemporary interiors inspired by Morris' designs and philosophies make up the book's second half. The text is lively but could have benefited from stronger editing; whole quotes are repeated within pages of each other. Still, the visuals are stunning. Color photographs of sweeping interiors blend with sharp close-ups of Morris' patterns, including some unfinished projects, which offer a glimpse of his work methodology. Artists, designers, and browsers seeking to enliven their own living spaces will find much inspiration in this introduction to Morris' forward-thinking ideas about celebrating craftsmanship, finding inspiration in nature, and avoiding "the accumulation of useless things." A list of top arts and crafts sites in the U.K and North America is appended. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Pamela Todd is an art historian who specializes in 19th century Britain. She lives in London.

The work of UK-based photographer Chris Tubbs has appeared in House and Garden and Travel + Leisure .

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811842754
• ISBN-13: 978-0811842754
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Lovers of Arts and Crafts Homes, January 15, 2006

By 

Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home (Hardcover)

William Morris changed people's attitudes towards architecture and interior decoration when Victorian excess was at it's height. I love the use of wood in an Arts and Crafts house. For others who feel this way, this book is a treat. At the back are two useful sections: Where to See Arts and Crafts Homes and a listing of Specialist Supplies for anyone renovating an Arts and Crafts Home.
You might also want to read The William Morris Stained Glass Pattern Book and The Life and Works of William Morris. Take a look also at Craftsman Homes: Architecture and Furnishings of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely details, June 22, 2006

By 

Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home (Hardcover)

If you appreciate anything to do with the Arts & Crafts movement, you'll really like this book -- even if you look only at the pictures. It's separated into sections on exteriors and gardens; interiors (architecture); decorative patterns (wallpapers and woven fabric); furniture; softer elements (curtains, rugs, carpets, etc.); finishing touches (ornament, tiles).

Each has plenty of detail: you see the overall effect (the entire wall of wallpaper) and the specific design (a zoom in on the wallpaper's design). Even if you care about only one element (you're into fabric for instance) you'll get plenty out of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, August 24, 2008

By 

Mountain-Wild (Idyllwild, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home (Hardcover)

What a find! Great history, very informative and the photography is outstanding. Such a wonderful book on the Arts & Craft movement. I would imagine it's a must-read for interior design students.