Lets say a few words about the fresh new interior design book Decorate by Holly Becker & Joanna Copestick; with the undertitle 1 000 inspirational design ideas for every room in your house. First of all, the title does not lie! This is nothing less than a resource book on decorating. It is completely packed with insightful decorating ideas & advices and masses of beautiful and inspirational photos…
| UK cover left and the gorgeous US cover right, together with a glimpse |
This book collects, organizes and features numerous contemporary interior styles and tricks – and pairs it with rich descriptions, advices and initiated quotes. There are guidelines and even space planning layouts included. Though the latter – probably a helpful tool for many – was information overload to my little brain. It’s related to the only drawback (or rather inconvenience) with this book: it makes decorating seem truly complicated and technical. Then again, the book is loaded and such books need to be chewed in bits. Carefully digested.
The book is divided into four sections and my favourite (so far) is Setting Your Style. This section features interesting case studies of many and different styles. Very nicely captured, spot-on and highly interesting.
One can not simply wish for more in a book called Decorate! It meets and exceeds expectations. Well apart from the overload there is one tiny thing my inner voice can’t stop me to say – and bear with me now, I was born and bred in Sweden -
[learn_more caption="can’t the next book on decorating skip the old school division of children's rooms into boys vs girls rooms?"] It itches me reading *itch, itch* that the girl should be encouraged to create her own scrapbook and boys, well, boys like space, so they can spread out their games and activities. Boys also tend to make more use of desks than girls…? There are too many scrapbooking boys loving pink and desk-sitting spacious game playing girls prefering blue for that to make sense. Ok, that was a parenthesis (same happened when Abigail Ahern’s excellent decor book was elevated to Mankind’s Guide to Decorating)[/learn_more]
Now, the comparison is inevitable: how do I choose between the two fresh new books in the stands with the contradictory titles Decorate and Undecorate? With major contradictions going down to the very core of the decorating approach?
[learn_more caption="In the book shop, with the weight of each book in your hand?"] Well, Decorate is heavier, technically speaking. Undecorate is heartier. However, these books are incommensurable. Like apples and oranges. In this case I love and prefer the Undecorate’s no rules philosophy like the sweetest of oranges. But, must also say – if Decorate was an apple – that it’s the crispiest exemple seen for long. It’s smooth and polished and foremost: substantial on the inside.[/learn_more]
