Modern Glamour : The Art of Unexpected Style

Rating:
Summary: Kelly, deliver us from beige!
Review:
If you bought all the "Trading Spaces" books, or worship at the altar of Christopher Lowell and Nate Berkus, then this is probably NOT the book for you. This is not a helpful hints, step-by-step book, or a book of designer secrets. It's the edgy boutique hotel of decorating books, not the Hilton.

It's a book of inspiration. Wearstler's interiors show the rewards of having patience and searching for the absolute perfect color, perfect item, perfect chair. She shows how to twist tradition with a blend of unusual pieces, unexpected finishes, and wild patterns and colors.

Every time I pick this up I find a quirky detail in one of the rooms. Whether it's a ceramic dog positioned to be peeking over the back of a sofa, or a large black tassel hanging from a brass door handle, or a lacquered wall. All stuff I'd usually cringe at, but here done with the author's wit, and it works.

You may not wish to have any of that in your home, but I bet you'll start finding the courage to display more than just a Crate and Barrel vase on the coffee table.

Rating:
Summary: What a FUN book!
Review: As a designer myself, this book was a great read. No, it is not an instructional book on how to decorate, but more of a personal portfolio of this designer's very stylish work. Ms. Wearstler is a very talented designer in that she has developed a very strong style that is recognizable among today's design work. As for the pictures of Ms. Wearstler herself, I very much enjoyed them, because her style of clothing absolutely reflected the glamour of the interiors she designs. I would say not to get this book if you know nothing about design, but read this book if you appreciate visual design that is unique and very bold. Congratulations Kelly Wearstler on showing us what personal style is all about!

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Innovative Addition to Your Library
Review: As a devotee of interiors, architecture and vintage Hollywood, I found this book to be visually stunning and cleverly crafted. Miss Wearstler has a lovely way of showing how you can take your your personal needs and experiences, consider your heroes' influences (for her, diverse 20th century stylists like Billy Haines, Sonny and Cher, Warren Platner and Diana Vreeland) and create something sophisticated, comfortable, fun and different in your own home. Plus, her candor and honesty about her personal life are SO refreshing. She loves her family! She hates how bad lighting shows cellulite! She wants life to be fun to look at and fun to live! If you want a dry, constipated, typical book on "decorating," don't crack open Modern Glamour. But if you want a fresh adventure in adding glamour, history and humor to your environment, this is your book.

Rating:
Summary: It's not about decorating, it's about Kelly!
Review: Don't get me wrong, it's a nice book. But don't tell me it's about decorating. It's actually all about Kelly herself! I love these kind of books but this is a little bit too much. Have you ever seen an interior book filled with fullpage pictures of the decorator herself?? The reason why Kelly has written this book is so she could have a booklaunch party i guess where she could entertain her kind of people. Offcourse there are nice pictures in this book of interiors she has decorated. So buy the book and lay it on your coffetable. It will look great!

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Summary: A design book with personal flair...
Review: For those of us that truly love and get excited by design, this book is a wonderful example of why we are fascinated by this field. Rather than giving us the same old dry verbage about visual decor and "furniture placement," this book tailors itself directly from the author's personal point of view. I loved the way Ms. Wearstler discussed her framework of reference for her own designs, but in a way that allows you to decide for yourself how they might be adjusted to work for your own sensibility. Some of her spaces shown in the book are a little too staged for my own taste, but they give one ideas of how she might approach designing spaces of her own using texture and pattern to similar ends.
As a fellow professional of this field, I most certainly and highly recommend this book.

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Summary: LOVED THE BOOK full of style!!!
Review: Hail Kelly Wearstler and her sense of style....finally someone who has a refreshing approach to design...offbeat, kitschy cool, modern, yet all done in a tasteful way. This book has so many pictures to highlight her success as an interior designer and she truly is an inspiration. The woman is full of knowledge and talent, and shows that you don't have to follow a traditional approach to anything....not to mention her cool and keen sense of fashion! i only wish there were more pictures of her fashion style!

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Unexpected Style
Review: Hum...this book is full of wonderful impractical ideas...the color combos and drama are fun and playful- great photos...too bad Ms Wearstler is so under priviliged and un-attractive (read scarcasm!)- very good addition to a design library of depth- it will be interesting to see the longevity of her taste.

Rating:
Summary: Modern Glamour
Review: I can only agree, this book is not about helping you out with your personal Interior Design projects.
It actually fells more like it is a expensive business card for Kelly Wearstlers Design Studio.

Rating:
Summary: A big waste of my money
Review: I've never heard of this author, but I bought the book anyway, which was my mistake. I did not find one new thing in the entire book. I've read it all before. I've read the same ideas in other books and magazines many, many times over the years. There is nothing original in this book, so I am really disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, puhleeze
Review: If you want decorating ideas, do not buy this book. If you want to see a puff piece about the author and too many pictures of her, then this is for you. I have not heard of this author, and I don't care to know anything about her. I just want a good decorating book. This is the kind of vanity book that authors should have to pay to publish (and then give to their friends for free). No attempt should be made to sell this piecie of trash to consumers like me who are are on the lookout for cool decorating ideas.