Customer Reviews

Winter House

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I received this book for Christmas and I literally haven't been able to put it down since! This is one of the best interior design books I've seen for a long time. I've always admired the Charlotte Moss interiors I've seen in magazines, but I never realized how really talented she is until I saw this book. Her use of colors, mixing of fabrics & arrangements of furniture & accessories is amazing and she has inspired me to already make some changes in my own home that I'd been afraid to do until now because I thought they wouldn't work. This book was also a joy to read because of the friendly, conversational tone and the fact that Moss shows you how to put some things together without having to go out and spend a fortune. I even made some changes using items I already had because all I did was switch things around a little based on what she'd done. This book is a sumptuous feast for the eyes and I highly recommend it. It's sitting on the top of my coffee table book collection right now and will be there for a long while!!!

Interior designer Charlotte Moss focuses on how to change a home to a warm retreat using her own winter house as an example: WINTER HOUSE is thus both a review of her designs and a survey of what makes a winter house more accommodating. There are spaces for all purposes, from family gatherings to private rooms for reflection: a room-by-room survey is accompanied by organization and design tips, reflections on innovations and 'little luxuries' adaptable to any environment, and plenty of entertainment ideas. Color photos pack nearly every page and accompany the author's examples of what makes a 'winter home' style.

I love this book. I have a lot of decorating books and can say that this one is something special. Charlotte Moss has a very traditional decorating style, which I like, and there were plenty of detailed photos of each room. The text covered how she decorated the house and also how she and her husband and guests live in the house. There are chapters on decorating for Christmas, wrapping presents and other holiday activities. It is just a charming book that made me wish that I was one of the friends and relatives who are invited there.

What style! Charlotte Moss is an expert in mixing pattern and color. Her Aspen home is outstanding, and I expecially enjoyed the schemes she included for various rooms in your home. Although wealthy, she includes Calico Corners, a fabric shop I love, in her resources. I am eagerly anticipating her next book>

I have concluded that in the future, where books on decor,landscaping, and such like are concerned, I should always examine the book in person before I purchase. For one thing, they are large and eventually can preempt bookcase space. For another, since they are expensive, they cut into a book-buying budget. However, "Winter House" by Charlotte Moss was reviewed and summarized as possessing a unique slant. That caught my attention.

When it arrived the book itself was in splendid condition. It was pretty, with lots of illustrations and these profuse in their detail, with good colors. However, the book itself was a disappointment.

The text seemed to repeat itself a lot, its raison d'etre was flimsy, its cohereence and finish were weak. We don't expect a book on decor to be too serious on thought, or even to hold out very many "ideas"; or at least, I don't. But I do want a focus of some sort,and to hear a few things that are fresh. There needs to be something more than "spend a lot of money."

If Miss Moss was not original,there was one feature to her book which I enjoyed. She is an heiress of sorts: her southern grandmother worked professionally in table textiles and tableware for many years and established a tradition of Sunday afternoon brunches at her home displaying quality table presentations and every sort of table detail.Charlotte Moss learned it all as a child. Now, in addition to the things handed down to her, she collects table textiles. Her love of fine tableware, good textiles, and lovely professional flower arrangements all come across in her book and enrich it. It is contagious. That part of "Winter House" I enjoyed, while overall, I DO consider the book a disappointment.

I am new to "Charlotte Moss" and found this book to be one of the exceptional decorating books that I have ever seen. Her work is beautiful and down to earth. I first viewed the book at a retail store and knew I had to have it even before reading it. Delighted with my purchase. Thank you Charlotte!

This is a good book, and gives good ideas. But be prepared for a veritable photo montage of the author, Charlotte Moss. YOu get treated to a huge one of her in the beginnning, but they really rain down on you at the end. Towards the end of the book, when I saw a photo on a page with people in it, I found myself saying "let me guess, she's in the photo...." And there she was. Every. Time.

This is worth buying but you sort of get a wierd sense of..."its all about MEEEEE" from the author. Sorry, but it makes me laugh a bit.

This book is very visually descriptive. The author/designer put together the colors, textures, fabrics, furniture, etc. to give the reader a perfect picture of each room that he/she designed. I found myself going back through this book many times, each time finding something new. This book is not only a great resource book but also a beautiful book if one wishes to use it to embellish their coffee table. The "Winter House" is a must have for my home library.

I bought one, read it in our "winter house" and loved it so much I bought a second copy to read during the rest of the year when we're at the seashore. The photographs, the text, the "feel" of the book are all inspiring and I return to it again and again.

Wither House.

At a loss for words. Beautiful but boring. Old school that doesn't bring anything new to the table (or the myriad of tables). It'll be on the sale rack soon. If you know people that like this kind of stilted matchy-matchy interior design work, then get it for them. Otherwise it's a snore.