Well-Worn Interior, The

Rating:
Summary: Warm, Rich Photographs of Beautiful Lived-In Rooms
Review: This is one of my favorite decorating books. The photographs are rich and warm, revealing the interiors of beautiful, aged, classic homes. If you like the look of distressed original walls, furniture, rugs, and paintings, you will enjoy this book. There is no chrome, plastic, or formica here.

Many of the photos in this book remind me of the classic "Ralph Lauren" look, featuring English or European country style with the patina of age. The interiors have the "shabby chic" look, but without the overabundance of white paint on everything that "shabby chic" usually implies.

There is a lack of fussiness and frilliness in these rooms. They look lived in -- these are not museum-type rooms, for show only. These are rooms where you can sit down, kick off your shoes, read a book, enjoy a meal, or sleep comfortably, without worrying that you're going to ruin something.

I give this book my highest rating -- five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Waste of time and money!!!
Review: What a silly book. It looks like the pictures were taken in abandoned houses -- that's how dirty and uncomfortable these rooms look. This book has pictures of some of the ugliest rooms I have ever seen. It's a shame to call it a design oriented book.

I looked through the book a few times after I got it hoping there was something beyond the absurd idea that filth was a good thing to incorporate in one's house. DISAPPOINTING. Don't waste any money or time on this book.