Book of the Week
Home by Design by Sarah Susanka and Inside the Not so Big House also by Sarah Susanka
Inspiration for home decor
Have you looked at the houses of today? All fancy on the outside but plain Jane’s on the inside? Well, here are two books that put pay to lacklustre design, books that place character back where it belongs, books that turn a house into a home.
And no, it needn’t cost you an arm and a leg. The principles are simple and practical but, and this is the BUT, you have to build them in to the structure of your new house or renovation. That’s what Susanka means when she claims that her books are about design as opposed to decorating.
Design Susanka-style means built in, done at the planning stage. You’ll find advice on how to compose the feel of a room by manipulating and molding its physical space and the play of light upon it, and how to tie these critical elements of design together to give a personally satisfying and lasting sense of homeliness.
If it is possible to fall in love with books, then these two do it for me. They are both beautifully and cleverly illustrated. Study particularly the Picture This captions that compare the same room, digitally altered, to show the sensual impact of varying architectural details. You’ll be astonished at the difference subtle changes in design make to the feel of a room. Beware though, when you first open the books, not to be put off by the homes illustrated because you think they look out of reach. Instead, consider the ideas and how you might apply them to your own house or renovation, and your own budget. Susanka demonstrates convincingly that her ideas can be applied with relatively little outlay. What counts is forethought (and maybe a smidgeon of Kiwi ingenuity).
21 April 2008
