*I was given this book for free in return for an honest review*
Do want an interesting, well written, and beautifully photographed book on interior design? Are you, perchance, a lover of classics, a devourer of words, and/or enchanted by interior design?
If the answer to any of these was ‘yes’ you should race to get your very own copy of Lisa Borgnes Giramonti’s Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired By Literature. Combining her knowledge of design and literature would make for an interesting read in and of itself, but when you add to those words the beautiful photography of Ivan Terestchenko,you find yourself diving into a space that invites a reader in just to sit in a corner and bask.
With a beautiful Forward written by David Netto, an enchanting and inviting forward which all but begs the reader to pull up a chair and learn their decorating style, and six sections titled with headings such as “Shall I put the Kettle On? (ch 1, pg 21) and Sometimes a Fantasy (ch 6 pg 225) there are many genres and styles to choose from.
While some of the rooms depicted seem overdone or odd to my simple eyes, there are quite a few that appeal to me. I love page 41’s bit on naming your house, the golden mermaid flying over a sink on page 262, and most of the bohemian styles depicted in the chapter title “Anything Goes” (beginning on page 181). However, I think my favorite picture of all is that of a child’s bed, who’s sweet simplicity is depicted on page 39…and will be reinvented in my daughter’s room as soon as I can trust her without bed bars!
Can’t wait to set this up for her!
Overall I am going to give the book a whopping 5 out of 5 dragons! The set up is gorgeous, the author has a flow of words that matches the photographer’s eye, and I know how I’m redecorating at least 2 of my rooms next time! Now if they would only come out with a Novel Interiors 2 – Decorating with the books of J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and Nora Roberts. I could FINALLY have a great guide for creating a writing room strait out of a lover’s retreat bed and breakfast in which resides the Leaky Cauldron, which is (of course) located in Middle Earth!
What an ODD bathroom!
The book’s back cover – Even the back is full of gorgeous Terestchenko photos!
Here there Be Dragons! 