Thanks so much for all the generous comments on this morning’s post, a tutorial for building a Pottery Barn inspired Cubby Organizer. I’ve been lusting after that organizer for years. Appreciate the awesome tips you left, too. Had no idea a compound miter saw could be used for a project like that!
This evening I’m sharing another fave from the BNOTP library, a book about English decor/interior design.
In the BNOTP Library: Perfect English
Author: Ros Byam Shaw
Published: Ryland Peters & Small (April 1, 2007
Hardcover: 192 pages
Book size: 11.7 x 9.9 x 0.9
3 Things I Like About This Book:
- Lot of wonderful pictures of rooms that feel real and lived-in, all with an understated elegance. No decorator show houses or staged rooms in this book.
- Plenty of beautiful antiques and examples/ideas for displaying art, ceramics and collectibles
- The photos exude warmth, I’d love to know the people who live there.
- Gotta add one more: Loved seeing the old-fashioned wallpapers, built-in book shelves and paneled rooms. I think I even spotted a wallpaper on page 88 in a classic chintz pattern by Colefax and Fowler called Bowood. It’s one Mario Buatta favors and has mentioned often in the past so it caught my eye.
You’ll find all the books I’ve previously featured on English Design here: Books Featuring Classic English Design
You can read more about this book, Perfect English
You’ll find previously featured books from the BNTOP library here: In The BNOTP Library or just click below.
Hi Susan, can’t find an email addy for you and wanted to reply to your ‘reply’……make sense??? My handyman drilled holes from the front through the backing of the cubby to attach it to the wall with bolts. One bolt in each corner part on top, one bolt in the center and one on the bottom part. That way is sits flush with the wall. My cubby is stained so the screws are dark and blend in. My PB cubby is thinner wood than yours and the backing is like a chip board, but it is still heavy………if it ever falls down, the entire wall will fall with it!!!! Enjoy your blog so much………ttyl…………
Susan – I love that you own so many decorating books. I could definitely pass the time of day (the whole day) browsing decorating books with a nice cup of coffee or tea! Have you ever caught the show “Junk Gypsies” on GAC (Great American County) cable TV station? Two sisters, Aime & Jolie Sikes started the Junk Gypsy company and they’re decorating is awesome (their website is: http://gypsyville.com/). I also like it that they reuse old junk and make it look so pretty and give old items new purpose.
Have a great day! – Sharon (P.S. We’re finally starting to see some Spring up north! Yay!)
Yeah, I started buying decorating books when I realized one day that I could buy used “Like New” or “Good” books on Amazon for about the price or maybe a few dollars more than the decorating magazines I was buying. I’d much rather have a hardcover book than another magazine filled from cover to cover with ads and very little content. So that was the start of my book buying days. I love pulling them off the shelf and losing myself in the beautiful rooms. 🙂 No, I haven’t seen that one. I will check out their website…thanks for telling me about it, Sharon!
I’ve been doing the same thing, Susan. I buy used books from Amazon as they are much cheaper that way and are often in pristine condition.
Jennie, so true! Sometimes I wait until they’ve been out a while since the prices tend to drop down some, but occasionally one is too tempting to wait. lol
Hi — “Perfect English”, like all of your suggested reading books looks great, but when I go to Amazon I cannot actually preview or look inside. It happens more often than it should; especially if the book has illustrations or photographs. Odd and you’d think online book sellers would realize that sales can be lost because of this glaringly omission. In this case I took your word for it and purchased today. I love that you’re posting the books you like.
I don’t like it when they don’t have a preview either, Margaret. I don’t know why they don’t have them for every book. Often I won’t order books if there’s not a preview, unless I can get them for a great price or the reviews are really, really favorable. Sometimes the previews they offer don’t do the book justice. I have several books I love but the preview they let you see on Amazon is terrible. I hope you like it when it arrives. I’m just sharing the books I have and really like so hopefully I won’t lead you astray. 🙂