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Mary Randolph Carter

Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life: How to live creatively with collections, clutter, work, kids, pets, art, etc... and stop worrying about everything being perfectly in its place. Hardcover – October 19, 2010

by Randolph Carter, Mary (Author), Mary Randolph Carter (Photographer)

32 customer reviews

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For all those who choose to live "imperfectly" with the messy things they love, this book shows how to do so creatively, happily, and with considerable style ideas from leading designers. A beautiful and inspiring volume, A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life focuses on living well with everything that makes a house a home. If you have been influenced by the picturesquely cluttered studios of Pablo Picasso or Alexander Calder, or by the art- and book-filled house of Vanessa Bell, this unique style book will stimulate you with its creative ideas.This volume explores how real-life tastemakers (photographers, textile designers, fashion designers, writers, artists) integrate their life and interiors to live well with their passions, histories, conveniences, and inconveniences. In inspiring essays, Mary Randolph Carter muses on such key housekeeping concerns as clutter versus mess; open windows; and unmade beds. Combining practical tips with liberating philosophy—"Don’t scrub the soul out of your home"; "Make room for what you love"—this volume celebrates living beautifully and happily, not messily. Lavishly illustrated with intimate photographs of different living spaces, Carter exalts in the beauty of imperfection and in living perfectly in our "imperfect" homes. Life isn’t perfect—why should your house be?

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For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered… by Mary Randolph Carter Hardcover $26.96
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About the Author

Mary Randolph Carter is an author, photographer, designer, and longtime creative director for Ralph Lauren. She is the author of For the Love of Old and the Junk series of books.

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Rizzoli (October 19, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780847833658
ISBN-13: 978-0847833658
ASIN: 0847833658
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 1.2 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 32 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1180 in Creativity (Books)
- #641 in Home Decorating (Books)
- #390 in Popular Psychology Creativity & Genius

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A breath of fresh air in a cluttered world

March 21, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I buy these interior style books with a boho lean less for inspiration to decorate my own space, but more for confirmation that there really are no 'rules' anymore; it's perfectly ok to keep a home that's clean, but cluttered, and it's perfectly ok to shun a minimalist look in favor of conspicious consumption--especially if the items you collect and display have special meaning to you. Since I don't really know anyone in my own life who has adopted this 'look' of just going with it, this title really will hit home that you're not alone with your love of stuff. The author writes about it beautifully and the photos are scrumptious treats. Is it a how- to book? Oh, not to me. Rather you'll pour over all the eye candy, feel bouyant at the amazing collections, and yes, perhaps be inspired to fully embrace the messiness of imperfection. Homes that look like hotel rooms really can feel souless. Soul, I am happy to report, is here in spades. It's a hefty coffee table book that is too special to gather dust on an actual coffee table. My copy will be dog-eared in no time and displayed anywhere else but my coffee table. Of course, this sort of decorating style is certainly not for everyone; if you break out in a cold sweat over the mere idea of dusting dozens of figurines, would not be caught dead at a garage sale, or always choose fuction over form, then skip it.

Also would recommend "etc" by Sibella Court.

69 people found this helpful

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Sherry L. Verwey

Heartwarming, affirming, I'm not alone

March 1, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I quickly snatched up this book once the price went down, but now seeing it in person and reading it, it would have been worth the higher prices.

This book affirms the fact that life is more importantly lived; cluttered, splattered, and whatevered. That there are others all over the world that feel their home is their nest, and it's okay if that nest isn't exactly being featured in Architectural Digest.

I wish that I had an expansive collection as some of those individuals highlighted in this book, but it inspires me to not feel guilty when I'm searching for 'that next treasure'.

You won't be disappointed by this book!

26 people found this helpful

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S. Fishburn

Mary Randolph Carter, wish that we were friends...

June 18, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I really loved reading this lively book, and loved that the homes profiled were all so different from one another. The only complaint I have is the quality of the photographs. The detail shots are not quite as bad as the photos of larger areas - most of those just look too darn blurry. If it was deliberate, I wish the author had stated that -

3 people found this helpful

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Sandra T

Fun Book

May 19, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I loved the title of this book, because for me, it is so true! Gorgeous pictures, good interviews, and life affirming philosophy. It is a good coffee table book, but somehow more than that. Lots of great ideas to copy. The picture of the spaniels in bed is very sweet. Enforces my personal philosophy, I'd rather live in my house, than be a slave to it.

6 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Excellent book

September 19, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent and enjoyable book. Relieves some guilt over not keeping a spotless house and affirms importance of spirit and individuals living there.

4 people found this helpful

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knittsky

Love this

January 22, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I really love this book. The writing and design are quite enjoyable and frankly, since I live with someone who is creative and cluttered, it's rather relaxing and reassuring to see others living in the same state.

One person found this helpful

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Elizabeth

Bad photographs

January 30, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I like the premise of the book and that it's ok to have your house not be perfect, that lived-in is actually a good thing. The writing is good but the photographs are basically awful, not like a nice interior design magazine but more like she took her junky snapshot camera along; they're grainy, the lighting is bad, and some of the spaces were just not pleasing. Overall disappointing though weirdly I would still say that I like having it for the simple fact that it's given me tips on how to relax about my own house, which is a very good thing.

12 people found this helpful

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SALLY DICKTER

ANOTHER WINNER FROM THIS AUTHOR

November 28, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is the third book by Mary Randolph Carter that I own, and the one I found most helpful in using all the stuff I've collected to enhance my home. The words and photos are very readable and engaging -- whether you're reading page after page or just leafing through, you're bound to find something that will intrigue you. Chapters on topics like house cleaning or acquiring more things helped rationalize my habits. The case studies of individuals are interesting, but it's difficult to relate to their unusual lifestyles or living spaces.

7 people found this helpful

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