Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
By degrees earthy, rustic, humble, romantic, eclectic and grand, restored and converted piggeries, dairies, stables, cowsheds and farmhouses are eulogized by respected design journalist Byam Shaw (Perfect English). Five straightforward chapters present stylistic classifications from Organic, Traditional, Farm Fresh, and No Frills to Funky. While some properties were saved from dereliction, all were restored and revived by persons of interest, among them a potter, a photographer, a sculptor, two textile designers, three antiques sellers, and an interior designer. Inspiring back stories of how spaces were converted for family-friendly residences, offices, antique shops, and holiday cottages are illustrated with camera-ready rooms, some festooned in vintage fabrics perennially abloom with primroses and buds. Beams, stone floors, fireplaces, and mullion windows abound. There are recycled tables, dressers, four-poster beds, collections of china, plush eiderdowns, and embroidered bed canopies. Hummingbirds are alight on Cole's wallpaper. If not papered, walls are coated with Farrow & Ball paint. Kitchens are outfitted with efficient Aga stoves. There are homes with a pared-back, distilled aesthetic and restrained color palette. Some feature mid-century modern furnishings, and a few are appointed with decor hip and chic. A comprehensive directory of U.K. and U.S. sources is also included. Photos. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
