Based purely on the title, we kinda love this book and feel the a strong desire to read it....now we are just hoping that the rest of the words are as good as the seven on the cover. Judging from the few photos on the Amazon listing and from what we know about its author, we'd say the chances are excellent...
Living in Style Without Losing Your Mind
...that it'll be the case. Passanella is the head of a design firm in NY, teaches design at Parsons and seems firmly rooted in the practical. A few images from the book and ideas from the review/description that convinced us that it is a book we'd enjoy:
Pasanella eschews gimmicky style tips and doesn't believe everyone should adhere to one mode of decorating. "Style is important. A style is not."
Pasanella attempts the nearly impossible: to define style in order to help homeowners understand the difference between the stylish and the merely trendy.
Pasanella shows us, you don't have to have a "look"; rather, great design can be found in many styles and in any house. For your place to look great, he says, you don't need a platinum card or a flair for fabrics. You don't need a degree and you don't need to know how to draw. You only need to know how to see.
We've just ordered our (used - it's out of print) copy and have our fingers crossed that it is as good as it sounds. Anyone out there have this book? Please give us your review - thumbs up or down?
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Yes! I bought this book remaindered years ago and I love it! Rather than just giving you photos of looks to copy, he gives you ideas on how to accomplish a style all your own. Heavy on text and light on illustrations. One of my few "keeper" design books.
view Scout's profile
Someone took a copy of a book I had with maybe Moroccan design in it... and I always loved the brown mud walls with the white designs. beautiful.
view jenzoe's profile
I forgot i had this in my bookcase. It IS a great book. It has great photos and advice that is very do-able and liveable. Thanks for reminding me to look through it again.
view wysiwyg's profile
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Absolutely a keeper.
view ohjodi's profile
I love it too. It has survived all my bookshelf purges.
Its value is the variety of decorating styles shown in the photos.
view lifesized dollhouse's profile
This is the kind of book that is ideal for keeping on coffee tables where you can casually browse it for inspiration and your guest will delight in it.
Mafan Green lasers rulz
view mafan's profile
Bought it for the title . kept it for great info .
view kellynkaty's profile
Yes, this is a great book, one of the few design books I kept when I moved from NYC to London last year. It's full of good advice ("A window view will look more dramatic when contrasted with something on the sill") and inspirational ideas (inject humor into your rooms; style doesn't have to make sense). Enjoy.
view New Yorker in London's profile