August 2023 MBR The Interior Design Shelf

The Interior Design Shelf

How to Redecorate, second edition
Joa Studholme, author
Charlotte Cosby, author
Farrow & Ball, author
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784728991, $44.99, HC, 268pp

https://www.amazon.com/Farrow-Ball-How-Redecorate-Transform/dp/1784728993

Synopsis: Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "How to Redecorate: Transform Your Home with Paint & Paper" by co-authors Joa Studholme and Charlotte Cosby (as well as the firm of Farrow & Ball) brings the invaluable advice from the first edition right up to date in line with current trends, including catering for the home-working age. This new addition of "How to Redecorate" reflects the seismic shift in the way we decorate our homes that has taken place over the last decade, showcasing a wide range of living spaces, featuring everything from compact city apartments to roomier country residences.

Packed from cover to cover with stylish and easy-to-follow decorating advice, "How to Redecorate" answers common questions, including which white to use with which color, how to select a neutral group and what exactly are the three different ways to decorate? Accompanied by a wealth of inspirational new images, the book also features an expanded section on color names and inspirations, as well as guidance on how to create a beautiful working space within the home.

With more than 80% new material, this new edition of "How to Redecorate" takes decorating to a whole new level, demystifying the process with ease and equipping you to transform your home.

Critique: Formally titled "Farrow & Ball: How to Decorate" (October 2020), this new and impressively expanded/updated edition of "How to Redecorate" is an ideal instructional guide, how-to manual, and inspirational resource for home owners and professional interior designers wanting to update and improve the appearance and style of a home. Profusely illustrated throughout with full color photography, "How to Redecorate" is exceptionally well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation. While strongly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Interior Design collections, it should be noted that the large format hard cover edition of "How to Redecorate" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.99).

Editorial Note #1: Joa Studholme Having joined Farrow & Ball more than 25 years ago, Joa Studholme has amassed a vast wealth of experience. From developing new colors to consulting on design projects, Joa works with the paints and papers every day on both residential and commercial projects and chooses colors for more than 4,500 rooms a year. (https://www.farrow-ball.com/en-us/colour-consultancy/meet-joa-studholme)

Editorial Note #2: Charlotte Cosby is the head of creative and has been working with Farrow & Ball for the past sixteen years. Charlotte began her career in finance, but she soon realized that her heart was in the creative world and she moved to Farrow & Ball in 2006. She has full responsibility for creative direction, including product development, brand identity, photography, showroom design and much more.

Editorial Note #3: Paint pioneers John Farrow and Richard Ball founded their company in 1946. They met while working at a local clay pit and later went on to build their first factory in Dorset, southern England, where the company is still based. Farrow & Ball is now one of the world's leading home decorating brands, manufacturing decorative paint and wallpaper that transform homes around the globe. Farrow & Ball (https://www.farrow-ball.com/en-us) distributes its paints and papers to 70 countries worldwide, and there are more than 50 Farrow & Ball showrooms in the UK, Europe and North America, as well as over 1,500 independent retailers who support the brand.

Uncommon Kitchens
Sophie Donelson
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
www.abramsbooks.com
9781419762314, $40.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Kitchens-Revolutionary-Approach-Popular/dp/1419762311

Synopsis: The past few years (especially having been house-bound during the Covid years) have made us all want to rethink our living spaces, particularly our kitchens. Our inner voices are saying, "You spend a lot of time in this room. Shouldn't it feel more like you?"

Now at least your kitchen can.

With the publication of "Uncommon Kitchens: A Revolutionary Approach to the Most Popular Room in the House", interior designer and former editor in chief of House Beautiful, Sophie Donelson, revolutionizes traditional kitchen design with a bevy of inventive ideas for makeovers both large and small.

The kitchen is designed unlike any other room in the house, but that doesn't mean you have to be hemmed in by tradition. Donelson takes a rule-breaking approach, mixing and layering styles, colors, furnishings, and layouts to make even well-trodden kitchens vividly fresh. Drawing on advice and up-to-the-minute projects from designers such as Frances Merrill, Jaqui Seerman, Victoria Sass, and many more, each personality-filled chapter is packed with liberating designs that will change your thinking about the tried-and-true kitchen.

Learn from the DIY community, Instagrammers, and design experts like Nate McBride, Justina Blakeney, and Athena Calderone. Be inspired by innovators such as MK Quinlan and James Coviello. Packed from cover to cover with indispensable tips to help you revolutionize your kitchen, "Uncommon Kitchens" is an ideal browsers' compendium of imaginative new spaces that will make you a quick Kitchen remodeling DIY expert in your own right.

Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with inspiring full color photography, "Uncommon Kitchens: A Revolutionary Approach to the Most Popular Room in the House" is as informative and inspiring as it is impressively 'reader friendly' in commentary, organization, and presentation. This large format (8.3 x 1.2 x 10.25 inches, 2.75 pounds) hardcover edition is a highly recommended and solid pick for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Interior Design & Home Decoration collections. It should be noted that "Uncommon Kitchens" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Sophie Donelson (sophiedonelson.com) served as editor in chief of House Beautiful and is currently a marketing strategist and sought-after consultant. Donelson is a favorite (and repeat) speaker for the annual Future of Home Conference, and is an advisor to high-profile brands such as Curbed, VRBO, Business of Home, and Mitchell Gold. She makes regular guest appearances as a design expert on Good Morning America, Today,and Open House.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review