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House Beautiful Decorating with Books: Use Your Library to Enhance Your Decor
From House Beautiful comes a worthy addition to any decorator's library--a stylish guide on making books a part of your home
Opening the pages of a book can instantly carry you off to another world. But did you realize that, open or closed, books can also make your real world--your home--more fabulous? As legendary designer Billy Baldwin pointed out, they're “the best decoration,� capable of bringing incredible warmth, color, and character to a room. From grand bookcases in home libraries to casual stacks artfully arrayed on chairs, House Beautiful presents countless eye-catching ideas for displaying and arranging your hardcovers, paperbacks, encyclopedias, and even valuable first editions. Useful tips shed light on how to organize a large collection; situate bookcases in the room for the best effect; and make the most of books' appealing visual and tactile qualities. From traditional interpretations to contemporary visions--such as putting a book on a pedestal as an objet d'art--these concepts write a new page in design.
Opening the pages of a book can instantly carry you off to another world. But did you realize that, open or closed, books can also make your real world--your home--more fabulous? As legendary designer Billy Baldwin pointed out, they're “the best decoration,� capable of bringing incredible warmth, color, and character to a room. From grand bookcases in home libraries to casual stacks artfully arrayed on chairs, House Beautiful presents countless eye-catching ideas for displaying and arranging your hardcovers, paperbacks, encyclopedias, and even valuable first editions. Useful tips shed light on how to organize a large collection; situate bookcases in the room for the best effect; and make the most of books' appealing visual and tactile qualities. From traditional interpretations to contemporary visions--such as putting a book on a pedestal as an objet d'art--these concepts write a new page in design.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2006
4 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Marie Proeller Hueston
10books1followerThe former Arts & Antiques Editor for Country Living magazine, Marie has written six decorating books, one book on country weddings, and two children's books. Her articles have appeared in Country Living, Art & Auction, Town & Country, and O: The Oprah Magazine. Marie also blogs for Bob Vila.com and recently started drawing "mommy comics" for NickMom.com.
Marie lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, son, and daughter. She appreciates the advice of her in-house critics (ages 9 and 6) when working on new stories. On her bookshelves is a large and ever-growing collection of antique and vintage children's books.
Marie lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, son, and daughter. She appreciates the advice of her in-house critics (ages 9 and 6) when working on new stories. On her bookshelves is a large and ever-growing collection of antique and vintage children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 18, 2015
This book was a bit of a letdown. I think it lost sight of its core audience. Most of the readers of this book are going to be book lovers and this book treated books solely from an aesthetic standpoint. Books were arranged by color, size, or positioned around the room in order to offer a scholarly air to a room. More than once, the author suggested using white covers on the books in order to make a more consistent bookshelf. Books were seen only as decorating tools. I just thought they took the wrong approach when writing this book.
March 9, 2015
Buku yg tak bosan dibelek bila bila masa sambil berangan.
Ada idea yg kelihatan terlalu kaya dan terlalu WOW (memang confirm tak mampu lah aku) tapi ada juga yg simple dan boleh dipraktikkan di rumah masing2. :) saya suka! Saya suka!
Ada idea yg kelihatan terlalu kaya dan terlalu WOW (memang confirm tak mampu lah aku) tapi ada juga yg simple dan boleh dipraktikkan di rumah masing2. :) saya suka! Saya suka!
May 1, 2012
The title of this book should have probably been "Decorating with Books: For Smug Rich People".
January 16, 2008
This book is fun to look through, even if most of the ideas aren't usable.
May 30, 2017
This book has some good ideas how to decorate using books. One of my pastimes is buying books. I have so many interests that just walking into a bookstore can be very dangerous for me !! I guess one might call me a bibliophile. Some of the ideas in this book I actually had thought of myself - probably out of desperation of where to place all of my books. One of the first things I did when we moved to our new house was panel the library with oak paneling just as the favorite room in the house in which I grew up was paneled. I love how it turned out. Now, I need to organize our books most of which I proudly say are mine. My husband's family had some antique books, and I know where I am going to put those. My father had a leather bound collection of books by Charles Dickens which I have already placed on one of built in shelves around the fireplace in the living room. Matter of fact, the previous owners had built in bookshelves put in many rooms, and am I ever pleased about that. I cannot put off the herculean task of placing all the other books I have( and my husband too.)any longer, and this book will help me a little with this project. My husband will help also, but I do not think that he realizes that yet !!
November 26, 2015
I gave this book 2 stars, because it did not tell me to get rid of my books, and because I found it unintentionally, but hysterically, funny. As someone who likes to re-read her books, or look up things in her books (you would be amazed at how often the Battle of Bull Run comes up in conversation), organizing my books by color, or covering them all with unlabeled white covers would be the quickest way to drive me insane. And what is with having books near open flames? Do the authors think I need more excitement in my life? In this book, you'll see how to stack your books on top of firewood, next to an open flaming stove; or, just in time for Banned Books Week, stuff them all into your fireplace, daring visitors to throw in a lit match. Also, this book shows how to stack books in the rafters of a twenty-plus foot tall room, requiring a cherry picker to retrieve any book from that shelf. Of course, if you've stored your books next to one of the open flames, as demonstrated earlier in the book, the fire department will be arriving soon, and no doubt the fire chief will gladly assist you in retrieving the elevated book.
October 19, 2008
I really enjoyed the pictures, and I got quite a few ideas from this book. A lot of the examples are not workable unless you have the funds to build custom shelving, though.
February 7, 2012
God please give me a house with at least one of these room, I'll be a good sheep. I promice!
January 18, 2025
Caught my eye on recent trip to the library. It was on a Books about Books display. I'm a reader so there's always books all over the house but I love seeing creative ways to display.
Most of these aren't practical but I did get a little inspiration here and there.
Most of these aren't practical but I did get a little inspiration here and there.
March 10, 2017
Sumptuous Pictures/The Associated Patter is Weak
Ignore the text in this book, it's just decorator patter. The photography however is magnificent as is the selection of libraries on display. I would love to own or visit with most of the shelving displayed and in fact the canoe structure on pp98 is close to something we almost bought (and should have) a year ago. Sigh. The A-frame structure on pp112 is quite intriguing as is the library ladder leading up to a sleeping loft on pp126. I'm not however sold on the idea of hanging pictures in front of books.
OK for a library read or if you are into decorating. I enjoyed looking at it but probably not a keeper.
Ignore the text in this book, it's just decorator patter. The photography however is magnificent as is the selection of libraries on display. I would love to own or visit with most of the shelving displayed and in fact the canoe structure on pp98 is close to something we almost bought (and should have) a year ago. Sigh. The A-frame structure on pp112 is quite intriguing as is the library ladder leading up to a sleeping loft on pp126. I'm not however sold on the idea of hanging pictures in front of books.
OK for a library read or if you are into decorating. I enjoyed looking at it but probably not a keeper.
May 22, 2008
I love the pictures in this book. While it's not a "how-to" book, it is inspiring. I have collected and displayed books as part of my decor ever since I moved into my first apartment at 18. Now I've decided to transform my formal living room into a library/music room, and will incorporate some of the ideas gleaned from this lovely volume.
October 6, 2007
One question: who will come and dust all these books once you decorate with them??
September 22, 2017
Too ritzy for my taste. For anyone who has a collection of books that have never been read.
December 7, 2017
A lot of good ideas or jumping off places to brainstorm your own book situation in your own house. It's always wonderful to see a book that has photos of lots and lots of books:)
April 27, 2024
This is not a book for bibliophiles. I should have taken the title literally. This is how to decorate using books as decorative objects. Ugh! "...creative decorators and homeowners are now using books as decorative accessories-to add a punch of color to an interior, or as pedestals for objects d'art-without any intention of ever reading them." (p. 15) Oy Vey! I intend to read all my books. My TBR list may be long, but I plan to get through it. One picture even had a book displayed on a shelf open and lying on its open pages. Oh, the horror. ;) I would never do this to a book's spine!
This book also had a 2006 Copywrite so the pictures of home interiors are dated. The colors are heavy and the rooms cluttered compared to today's lighter and more minimalist trends.
This book also had a 2006 Copywrite so the pictures of home interiors are dated. The colors are heavy and the rooms cluttered compared to today's lighter and more minimalist trends.
October 14, 2024
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https://atzdecor.vn/cay-chanh-vang-my-gia-ccvmg/
Thông tin liên h�:
Hotline: 0988.816.086
Email: [email protected]
#cay_chanh_vang_my_gia
#cay_gia_trong_nha
#cay_gia
January 31, 2023
I thought this was a pretty book for bibliophiles and those who like to decorate. It is probably not practical for someone like me who has a lot of books but a very small house, but I enjoyed leafing through and daydreaming.
January 19, 2017
Good photography but really not geared toward book lover. I'm keeping it for now because it shows lots of different bookcases styles.
December 11, 2017
This was really good. Especially the descriptions and pictures of the different book shelves.
February 5, 2019
Beautiful pictures, and some really great inspiration. But, boring text. Would have also liked to see some photos of rooms that don't cost a fortune...
Read
January 9, 2020Evidently you can do more with books than have them haphazardly spread or stacked on the couches and floors!
May 16, 2020
a book lovers dream
July 17, 2024
A few good rooms, but a lot of surprisingly bad ones.
January 1, 2009
A peek into how to decorate a home or library with books. The book was primarily focused on spacious homes and those with a designated space for a library. For the average book lover, struggling to find a place for all those books, there weren't very many new ideas: stacking, rows, using books as pedestals, or furniture. Most book lovers with limited space have figured out how to place their books in creative ways. There wasn't anything particularly new in the ideas offered; though I did like the idea of using a ladder to drape or hang books. I probably wouldn't do this for fear of damaging the binding of the books.
For the most part, the layouts pictured didn't seem to be for those who constantly use their books. What made this book distinct was its focus on home libraries. I enjoyed seeing how others had designed libraries - and it gave me some ideas for the day that I have a library in my home. did give me some ideas - but nothing particularly new. One idea I did find to be innovative, was using a ladder to hang books on/place books. I probably wouldn't hang the books because it might damage the binding.
It'd be great if the folks who put out Apartment Therapy could do a book on libraries or incorporating books.
For the most part, the layouts pictured didn't seem to be for those who constantly use their books. What made this book distinct was its focus on home libraries. I enjoyed seeing how others had designed libraries - and it gave me some ideas for the day that I have a library in my home. did give me some ideas - but nothing particularly new. One idea I did find to be innovative, was using a ladder to hang books on/place books. I probably wouldn't hang the books because it might damage the binding.
It'd be great if the folks who put out Apartment Therapy could do a book on libraries or incorporating books.
February 10, 2017
Given to me by a friend who know of my passion for all things books! She picked it up at a used book sale, gave it to me to read, and then asked that I place it in one of the Little Free Libraries that I steward :) A quick and fun read fill with inspiring pictures. It did make me realize how much I actually do decorate with books (and never really purposefully thought about it)! After I finished it, I did place it in the LFL where it was promptly "checked out" :)
May 18, 2012
Do I rate it two stars for ideas and projects, or five stars for all the pretty books?
Eh. You can find pictures of bookshelves everywhere online, and most of them are more impressive than these. There was one idea I quite fancied (leaving a string of eye-level shelves empty and hanging artwork in them instead) and also one room I quite liked (it was a converted water tower - awesome - but it was interesting for that fact and not so much for its books). But other than that, this was solely pictures of bookcases and/or stacks of books sitting around. Maybe it's the librarian in me, but I can't stand stacks of books just sitting haphazardly on chairs and on the floor.
Eh. You can find pictures of bookshelves everywhere online, and most of them are more impressive than these. There was one idea I quite fancied (leaving a string of eye-level shelves empty and hanging artwork in them instead) and also one room I quite liked (it was a converted water tower - awesome - but it was interesting for that fact and not so much for its books). But other than that, this was solely pictures of bookcases and/or stacks of books sitting around. Maybe it's the librarian in me, but I can't stand stacks of books just sitting haphazardly on chairs and on the floor.
November 23, 2012
An interesting book with some lovely pictures of different ways to incorporate booksholving into your home. However some of the uses of "decorating" with books just make it look really cluttered, in my opinion, for example, stacking piles of books around a round table with an ornament on top of each one. Or stacking big piles on top of chairs. To me that would be annoying if I wanted to use either the books in the pile, or the chair. To me, book should have a home, on a bookshelf, and they should be there when they're not being read. The inspiration of different shelving ideas is still worth the read though.
August 11, 2008
This little tome gave me all sorts of lovely ideas about what to do with my book collection. I've moved without taking all my bookshelves along (my husband installed some lovely ones in the last place but we left them there when we moved) and was using the pantry in the basement ("built in shelves yay!" I thought, not realizing that it was much damper in this basement than in the others I've inhabited...)so I finally figured out some good ways to make the inanimate loves of my life be more encorporated in my living space!
December 14, 2014
Lots of suggestions to go shopping for books with a certain look. How about more advice on what to do with book you already have? I want to decorate with books that fit MY tastes. Not buy books so I'll have a specific look to the books I own.
Many of these ideas are out of my budget. The pictures are lovely and the suggestions are amazing, but I don't have the money for this. Some suggestions like coordinating by color are interesting, but not practical if you want to read your books.
That's a lot of negativity....Okay, Pro: pretty pictures
Many of these ideas are out of my budget. The pictures are lovely and the suggestions are amazing, but I don't have the money for this. Some suggestions like coordinating by color are interesting, but not practical if you want to read your books.
That's a lot of negativity....Okay, Pro: pretty pictures
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
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