A Home for the Soul : A Guide for Dwelling wtih Spirit and Imagination

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Summary: A fresh wind through the cells of your soul
Review: This book is beautifully illustrated and great value for money. The author explains how he has arrived at this work after a serendipitous path in his youth. After creating his own 'special place' in which the burgeoning youth felt secure enough to externalise the process of growth, the adult has now presented the formula for creating our own 'special place', merely by making us conscious of what makes us feel comfortable. A recent and equally wonderful book by Richard Patton entitled "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" also takes us down the inner path of youth to establish a comfort zone in which the the adult can sally forth into the outer world. Although at face value these books appear poles apart, they are in fact kissing cousins. At their core, both attempt (and succeed) at creating a satisfying meal for the Soul. Depending on how substantial a meal you want - you takes yer choice! Definitely recommended.

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Summary: For those without taste!
Review: This book seems to be written for people that have no taste in interior design/arrangement. For them it gives lots of ideas but not enough photo's for my taste. Reading through the book I figured it had been written 20 years ago because of the way it looks, but it is actually a 1997 book. I think the author needs to read a book on how to make a book feel like it has some soul to it!

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Summary: Mundane ideas at best...
Review: Unless you've lived under a rock for the past decade & have read NOTHING in design periodicals (or even the newspaper!) about trends in decorating & design; you've already seen most of what is in this book. The author's suggestions are topics covered in entire books elsewhere. On a new garden "use plants native to your microclimate. Install bird feeders". Could you have guessed? Most pictures are antique-y and have an East coast derivative feel: hardly inspiratioin to those in other regions. Softening sunlight using rattan shades has been done in Calif. for at least 20 years!On the toilet: author's exhalted importance here will be left to your imagination unless you buy the book anyway. The curve of stairways "inviting the soul to flow....upward"...I expected an expose on the supernatural. On dining: use runners & placemats, a cluster of candles...this is new? "Breath 3 times, look at each person, look at food.". .this book has an air of total meloncholy; damp & moldy. He tells us to "observe", "think of ways", "think of materials"...things we are looking to HIM for. "Wood panel doors offer grainy texture.... "Place a desk by a window..." these are not unique either. What a downer. Save your money & peruse your Pottery Barn catalog instead. I wish I had.

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Summary: This book was profound and inspiring - a must read!
Review: When I read A Home for the Soul, I was in awe of the author's ability to express the principles in architecture which deeply influence a person's spiritual growth. This book effected my life deeply. The more I read, the more inspired I became. I looked at the world differently, at my home differently, at my relationship with my environment. I highly recommend this book to anyone.