I wrote a brief review about this fab book over a year ago, and I still adore it just as much, so I thought I’d repost the review for you here in the library! Here it is…
Based on Mark and Sally Bailey’s farm property in the Herefordshire countryside of the UK, Recycled Home, pour moi, is love at first sight with a staircase and an old giant’s scissors hanging on a worn out wall on the front cover. Their intro exposes perfectly their decorating philosophy: “Use what you’ve got, be true to the structure of your house and the materials it is made from… think of your home as a delicious experiment.”
The book is filled with the most delectable photographs by South African Debi Treloar: One of my favourites being a tiny copper-sailed boat resting serenely on top of an old-fashioned door knob. And if you love wood, warm whites and textures you will love this book. Be warned though – you will end up wanting to buy everything at your next antique & flea market visit as this book guides you to seeing the beauty in things you would never have looked twice at.
I love the textile section where you will find an old otherwise boring chest of drawers with wrapped handles in different wild vintage fabrics, stairs covered with a patchwork of mini persian rugs, and the fabric of an old bathing tent made into stunning curtains. But as I flick through the pages, my added tip as a stylist to make this style work in your own home is organisation. Without organisation, this look can quickly design itself into a display of useless scraps.
WHAT I LOVE:
WHAT I’M ‘OVER’:
Mark and Sally have included a fabulous resource section from across Europe at the back of their book. And what more could you want? What about a website where you can buy their awesome finds and creations? Wouldn’t that be great? Yes it would and here it is!
Enhance The Everyday rating for Recycled Home by Mark and Sally Bailey: 4 outta 5
(original post here)
Pia that is WONDERFUL! I love to recycle and this recycled home just makes my heart sing.
March 24th, 2009 | #
I have to agree with you 100% on the loathing of the use of found letters in a space. I too, am a huge fan of typography, fonts, books, words BUT BUT BUT everything has its day and well, the charm and cleverness of having them seems to be, at this point, lost on me forever…..but those wooden toothbrush holders?!?! now, that is something i can get behind! xo
March 24th, 2009 | #
i have been terribly busy lately, planning a big event i do at the store and thus really slacking on my blog reading, but i have to say, your new format is just so wonderful and as ALWAYS your content, inspiring…happy to take a break from my stresses and get lost in the serenity of your site. its always so cohesive and consistent. just well, thanks pia! xo
March 24th, 2009 | #
This book seems incredible…I can’t wait to check it out.
March 24th, 2009 | #
What a wonderful book! I love those oak toothbrush holders, too! Thanks, Pia 🙂
March 26th, 2009 | #
i jumped on the “found letters” trend late, i’m afraid, so i still have some displayed near my entrance. eek! looking forward to your tips, so my home can be rescued from late 1990’s decorating purgatory.
March 27th, 2009 | #