HOME & GARDEN

Designing Rooms with Joie de Vivre: A Fresh Take on Classic Style

by Amanda Reynal
Abrams. Oct. 2023. 256p. ISBN 9781419765667. $40. INTERIOR DESIGN
COPY ISBN
Reynal, an Iowa-based interior designer with nearly 30 years of experience, shares her tips for creating rooms that are classic, joyful, and comfortable. The book showcases her work in chapters with titles like “Creating Wow Moments: Pushing the Envelope” and “Turning Practical into Stunning.” The title is jam-packed with practical design ideas that are spotlighted in numerous color photos, all of which illustrate how layering color and texture can impact a room’s feel in a significant way. It is useful information, but there’s not much here that hasn’t been covered in similar titles. Unfortunately, the book’s tips are distributed in a somewhat unorganized and haphazard way, instead of being categorized by type of room or design element.
VERDICT Features attractive photos and solid ideas, but doesn’t offer many fresh takes on design.
Reviewed by Eva Mitnick , Oct 01, 2023
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

NONFICTION

The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition: 20 Years of Permaculture and Whole Systems Design
by Falk, Ben
NONFICTION

The New French Look
by Li, Lauren
NONFICTION

The Layered Edible Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Productive Food Garden Layer by Layer
by Chung, Christina
NONFICTION

Medicinal Perennials To Know and Grow
by Jason, Dan & Rupert Adams
NONFICTION

Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian
by Attas, Amy
NONFICTION

Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden
by van der Kloet, Jacqueline
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?