Review by Booklist Review
Cozy doesn't mean cluttered, and minimalist doesn't signify bare. And combining the two, according to stylist Smith (The Nesting Place, 2014), sets the stage for a home with plenty and yet no-junked-up surfaces. Smith guides readers in finding an interior design to fit their needs. After establishing some necessary definitions, she starts with a great method to determine style: readers find 50-to-100 images they love and ask friends and family to find three-to-five similarities among them. The next task is to create one sane space: a room that offers quiet and the space to develop plans for the rest of the house. Then, the fun: choosing the best long-term sofa, applying the decorating trinity (rugs, drapes, lighting), and styling, oh so carefully, the wall art and accessories. Smith's clear-eyed narrative is punctuated by photographs of her house; even better are the appendix's before-and-after pictures. Rather than a photo-based decorating tome, this is thinking fodder for home designers who've decided enough is enough.--Barbara Jacobs Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Smith (The Nesting Place) collects her thoughts and practical advice about downsizing and eliminating clutter in this spiritually informed book about home style. For Smith, the key is to focus on creating the atmosphere one craves rather than being tied to more and more items. Employing humor, clever terminology, and personal anecdotes, Smith offers practical methods and temporary fixes to ease what she calls "clutter anxiety." Knowing which pieces of furniture to start with, and how to prioritize where they will go in a room, for example, can help one decide what additional items will be needed. Smith understands how hard it is to find the line between cozy and cluttered, and recommends concentrating on the rooms and styles readers already have. Chapters open with questions to spur thinking about home space: "What about this room draws me in? What ideas can I steal for my own use?" Smith also includes prompts for sparking creativity, steps for getting started, and inspirational sound bites: "When we have clarity and purpose, we find motivation and confidence" and "We long to create because we were made by a creator." Readers will discover interesting perspectives on decluttering in Smith's instructive book. Agent: Jenni Burke, D.C. Jacobsen & Associates. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
