Alexander Girard book by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee available from Amazon UK: £93.75 & Amazon US: $126.00
I know the festive season’s only just gone, but I’m putting this Alexander Girard book on my Christmas wish list for next year!
Posts Tagged ‘book’
Wednesday Wish: New Alexander Girard book
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012Tuesday Huesday: Alexander Girard Color Book
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
We love the folk art inspired illustrations of Alexander Girard and have just discovered that The Alexander Girard Color [Board Book] is available to pre-order from Amazon.
Bookmarks: 70s Style & Design
Friday, October 14th, 2011
In terms of style & design, the 1970s is sometimes dismissed as being a bit naff or as the decade that taste forgot.
This is very wide of the mark – its influence being both wide ranging and long lasting.
This book, 70s Style & Design, by Dominic Lutyens & Kirsty Hislop clearly demonstrates this.
The decade was remarkable for its diversity – its range of cultures & counter cultures. It began with hippies & flower power and ended with punks & new wave!
There was a “loosened up spirit of fashion & design” during this period – a strong sense of doing your own thing, experimentation, freedom and fun.
There were trends & fashions of course, but it never descended into a bland homogenisation.
It was a very eclectic decade in terms of style & design – psychedelia & flower power spilled over from the 1960s, then there was the strong influence of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, nostalgic Victoriana, the folksy/back to nature style – and later on a harder edged industrial look.
It has been referred to as a decade of ‘the self’ – whether that be individuals looking towards & analyzing their inner self – or an outward expression through personal appearance or living & work spaces. This resulted in a real blossoming of creativity.
The book highlights the influence of various music scenes, movements such as gay rights & women’s lib, the importance of an increasing awareness of the environment, the political & economic factors prevalent at the time, the increasing & diverse student population, the new DIY ethos in both fashion & interiors, a craft renaissance – and the impact of shops such as Habitat, Mr Freedom, Biba and Granny Takes a Trip.
Divided into four chapters, From Pop to Postmodernism, Belle Epoque, Supernature and Avant Garde, the book tackles these subjects in great detail and does a remarkable job in drawing all these strands together.
The text is informative, articulate & well researched – the accompanying photographs capturing all the spirit of this fabulous decade.
The 70s isn’t a particularly well documented era in terms of style & design – this book helps redress the balance.
As well as having their own dedicated website, the authors write the Flashin’ on the 70s blog which features even more 70s (and 70s inspired) gorgeousness!
As usual, the book is available both direct from the publisher and through our H is for Home UK & US Amazon aStores
[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for this review copy]
Bookmarks: The Way We Live in the Country
Friday, August 19th, 2011
It’s been a real pleasure reviewing this book – it’s right up our street – or right up our country lane as the case may be!
This is the second review we’ve written in the The Way We Live… series, the first being The Way We Live With the Things We Love
As the title suggests, this one is concerned with all things rustic & rural…
…the landscape, the lifestyle, the buildings & their interiors.
Once again, there’s a wonderful introduction by author Stafford Cliff.
As with all good introductions, it not only gives a broad overview of the subject – it also creates atmosphere and whets the appetite for the pages that follow.
He begins with this magical image:
“Many years ago, long before mobile phones or sat-nav, I went to visit a friend who lived in central France. As the light began to fade, my companions and I found ourselves driving along narrow roads in open farmland with our map and our directions running out. Suddenly up ahead we noticed a narrow track leading through fields to a distant farmhouse. We knew that we had arrived at the right place because every few feet along both sides of this road my friend had placed old jam jars containing little flickering candles. The effect was heart-stopping and memorable, and it said ‘Welcome’ in a way no words ever could. The scene comes to mind again now, because it distills the special qualities of living in the country, or visiting those who do.”
The book comprises five main chapters – Country Landscapes, The House in the Country, Traditional Homes, Contemporary Homes and Country Details.
It’s great to see traditional & contemporary homes in the same book – the different interpretations of country living.
The blend of the two is just our kind of look – mixing antique country furniture with vintage ceramics & textiles from the 1950s & 60s.
A tool used throughout the book is page spreads of images comparing similar house details in different parts of the world.
It’s perfect for a quick flick through, but also stands up to deeper scrutiny.
The gorgeous photographs taken by the late Gilles De Chabaneix are accompanied by insightful captions – adding detail & context.
We have a handful of books that we gravitate towards – this one has joined their ranks.
This is a great book for providing interior decoration inspiration.
The mood of the subject simply washes over you. It’s very odd, but you almost sigh with relaxation – a sense of well-being & calm descending as you flick through the wonderful landscapes & houses.
There’s only one question left to answer – Do we recommend the book?
Well it’s probably quite obvious by now – if you share our love of country living or country influenced interiors, then this is a must have book.
We’re sure you’ll revisit it over & over again.
The Way We Live in the Country is available from the publishers, Thames & Hudson and also from the H s for Home UK & US aStores.
[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for providing this review copy]
Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away Home!
Friday, August 5th, 2011
Here’s a quick follow up to our recent blog post about vintage American road maps.
A few days after we bought them, we also picked up this lovely little Ladybird book.
It’s from the Flight series – this one being, “Flight Three – U.S.A – A Ladybird Book of Travel Adventure”.
This is a first edition, published in 1959.
Alison & John take a trip to the U.S.A where Dad sometimes goes on business trips.
They land in New York and spend a week there – then hire a car and take a a road trip.
As with most Ladybirds from this era, the illustrations are fabulous.
Other destinations in the series include Australia, Canada, Africa, India and The Holy Land.
If we ever manage to do an American road trip in a vintage camper van (or lovely, shiny Airstream!), we’ll have lots of vintage travel ephemera to accompany us… we suspect there might have been a few changes!
I want an orange fridge/freezer too! Most definitely the orange!
