This is a timely design book which is the one of the first of its kind to feature and unite three major trends impacting interior design today. These trends are: 1) intelligent use of financial resources in decorating-- maximizing your design dollars 2) using green design principles and products in your decor plan and 3) cherishing past styles and design elements and reusing them in authentic, personal and eclectic interiors.
The author is passionate and knowledgeable about these and shows you how to restore, recycle and reuse items to create attractive rooms from living rooms and kitchens to bedrooms, baths and the outdoors. It's full of how-to tips--including his grandmother's tips--on how to accomplish this. And you get to see how these look in charming rooms that you'd like to live in. The rooms featured tend to be cottage and country (the author is a contributing editor to Country Living magazine), but the same tips and items could work in modern and retro interiors or an eclectic combination of these. If you like books on vintage decorating, flea market decor, eclectic interiors, apartment therapy interiors, DIY design, makeover rooms, decorating for less, you should enjoy this book.
It should spark your own ideas on how to incorporate something you love innovatively into a room. If you want a home you love, you need to have what you love in the home and this book shows you how to do it originally, economically and with healthy materials and green principles. It's perfect for the first-time decorator, someone moving into a new home or apartment, or if you're wanting to update, renovate and accessorize your home distinctively and like looking for unique and original pieces and combining them in fresh ways. For so long if something was old in a home, we threw it out and started over. Now we're seeing the value of cherishing the past and incorporating it in fresh ways in our contemporary interiors. I think this book is going to be a best-seller as it teaches about the design trends which are becoming increasingly important today which will only accelerate in value to us as designers and curators of our own homes in the future. Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.: Create a Beautiful Home (A Country Living Book)
I was really impressed with the book and the references to buying items from locations closer to home to eliminate transportation waste and then I saw on the brown strip around the book that it was printed in CHINA. Shame on the author and publisher for allowing this to happen. Kind of voids all the phrases in the book that say ".....buy locally and avoid things being shipped in from China or Mexico." There have got to be lots of printers in the USA who would have loved your business and done an excellent job.
Very rarely am I disappointed by a "Country Living" book - and this was no exception! Randy Florke has a great eye for "recycled treasure," he can put it together in a clean, unfussy yet beautiful arrangement! The pictures in this book are exquisite and thought provoking at the same time. Who would have thought a kitchen with a pink stove and double oven arrangement could look so yummy and functional at the same time. It's not dated yet not timeless either, provoking nostalgia for a simpler time, (pg 51). Thanks for such a fantastic book - Randy proves that country doesn't have to look old or cluttered - what a bit of fun!!!
I absolutely love this book. I was not sure how to name or describe the style of home decor that I love and want to create in my house, and then I found this book and ah ha! This is it. The perfect guide. The rooms are so much more interesting since things are a mix of "vintage" finds--none of that match-y mathch-y look that looks so boring and cookie cutter. The look is down to earth yet tasteful and impressive. I just love looking at all the pictures and he gives plenty of advice for shopping. Full of great ideas, even for little details. (I am using an antique iron as a doorstop but I see he has one propped up for a book end--hmm).
What a wonderful book this is! The concept of preserving our environment and decorating with what is already around makes a beautiful home. I love the thoughts Randy shares about his grandmother. His philosophy is so needed in our world today. Highly recommended.
Although some of the ideas were not new, I liked the approach this author took of offering different level of "greenness". It was also interesting that each chapter focused on what projects in the room covered by that chapter would give you the most "green" bang for your buck.
This book was a complete waste of money. I do not agree with the video review stating that this book provides inovative ideas for "repurposing" and "recycling" your own stuff. The only advice the author of this book give towards "repurposing" is to BUY VINTAGE! Purchasing someone else's vitange items does not help me repurpose my own things. The author even states MANY TIMES that buying vintage is expensive, but you are "repurposing" those items.
Do an online search for "country vintage", "country rustic" or simply check out the DIY Network homepage for FREE ideas. - Green Living - Green Design - Do It Yourself - Decorating'
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