Rooms: Creating Luxurious, Livable Spaces
by Mariette Himes Gomez
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mariette Himes GomezEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-07-08
ISBN: 0060083700
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Harper Design
Book Reviews of Rooms: Creating Luxurious, Livable Spaces
Book Review: Thoughtless negative reviews
Summary: 5 Stars
It took me awhile to decide whether to buy this book or not because of the number of really negative reviews, not having an opportunity to review it myself at a bookstore. I did buy it finally, however, because I'm already a great fan of Ms. Gomez (although I held off on "Houses" for the time being, just in case).
I'm so glad I did buy it. This is a high-quality book physically (sewn binding, fine heavy stock, beautiful photos, etc.), it does NOT recycle photos that are already out in the public domain (which I'd feared), and the text is very worthwhile and pleasant to read.
What seems so patently unfair about the negative reviews is that the authors seem almost unfailingly to have purchased the book not not even being familiar with Ms. Gomez' style, let alone being fans! Then, irritated with having spent money for a book that's not at all aligned with their taste, they try to foist the blame onto Ms. Gomez. With books about aesthetics, the first question anyone should ask themselves is "do I consider what's in this book to be beautiful?". If not, for heaven's sake, go elsewhere -- don't trash the book because it doesn't reflect your taste!
It certainly reflects mine. I DO find her palettes soothing and, yes, "livable". I do find her rooms very, very luxurious. And while she may generally show upper-class homes (although not always -- her own houses are quite unpretentious), if you bother to read her text carefully, you'll see that she doesn't advocate expensive, elitist solutions necessarily. One doesn't have to spend a fortune to buy a chair with clean lines, for instance, nor to opt for plain fabrics rather than patterned. There is a great deal of information within that is applicable to all income levels and homes (yes, even plain "normal" homes).
To the reviewer who said Gomez advocates painting all rooms beige, as long as they were complex colors she gives no idea how to obtain -- what utter rubbish! No element of that is true: she most certainly does not only advocate beige, although she does herself often prefer white and does prefer for the walls to be a plain backdrop for the furniture. She specifically mentions being fond of Donald Kaufman's #5, 'an off-white that's not quite a cream'. No, she doesn't tell you what store to buy it in, but isn't that specific enough for you?!
What this book is not is a complete course in interior design -- but that's an unrealistic expectation in any event. It doesn't give specific guidance to lighting, for instance. It is more, though, than a collection of pictures one's left to analyze on one's own, deducing whatever (little) they can simply from looking at the rooms photographed. It gives a reasonable idea of the approach that Gomez herself takes when faced with designing a room, makes very clear her guiding philosophies, and provides enough concrete ideas for readers to significantly improve their own rooms toward a more Gomez-esque style should they wish to apply her thoughts.
I recommend it unreservedly for fans of Mariette Himes-Gomez' work.
[A tiny niggle: how are the cords of lamps handled when the lamps are pulled into the middle of a room? This is one aspect of the photos which is clearly "art directed" to be false, as they are suspiciously missing. I doubt the owners of these lovely rooms actually trip over exposed cords so this is one 'insider trick' I would have appreciated being shared.]
Summary of Rooms: Creating Luxurious, Livable Spaces
For award-winning interior designer Mariette Himes Gomez, every project is a voyage of self-discovery
Refined simplicity, thoughtful attention to detail, and a clear architectural design -- these are the hallmarks of Mariette's style. Filled with breathtaking photography, Rooms is a guided tour of the designs that have made Mariette one of the most respected and sought-after tastemasters in the country. Peek behind the scenes as she divulges the secrets of the trade that will help you transform your own home from the everyday to the extraordinary.
Designing a room involves balancing the ideal and the real, discovering a happy medium between what you imagine and what exists. From evaluating the core architectural structure -- or "shell" -- of a room, to selecting colors and arranging furniture, to picking out and placing the final artistic touches, Mariette shares all of the techniques and information you'll need to create Rooms of elegance and distinction.
What colors and patterns will work with a room's architecture? How can you visually turn two Rooms into one -- and vice versa? How is art different from décor? How big a sofa will a room tolerate? Mariette answers these questions and more with sage advice and an easy-to-follow, step-by-step approach. She shares the experience of renovating her own homes -- one, a house in the country, the other, an apartment in the city -- and the many homes around the country that bear her unique signature.
Whether you are decorating a loft apartment, summer cottage, or home in the suburbs, Rooms will help you strike the balance between beautiful and practical, lavish and livable.
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