New Interior Book reviews, Podcast show notes S13 Ep2
Hello and welcome to my show notes for the second episode in the thirteenth season of The Great Indoors. I just wanted to say thanks to all you listeners out there for sticking with us and please do rate and review if you can – it really does make all the difference.
On with today’s show, we’re talking about the recent Twitter debate surrounding the ‘big light’ and we flick through some beautiful new design books set to inspire you, just in time for Christmas gifting. You can listen to the full episode here.
The battle of the big light
I have strategically placed spotlights on my ceiling in favour of a big central light
We first spotted this topic on Twitter where Isabella Rosner asked the question “Is being anti big light a British thing?? I feel like I’ve never met so many people who hate The Big Light.” Believe it or not, this tweet quickly gained momentum and was a hot topic on Instagram too, quickly followed by the Guardian.
I must say I am not a fan of the big light, I quickly removed the double whammy of chandeliers when we moved in and I replaced them with carefully planned out spotlights and of course, some lovely lamps dotted around. Kate, however, is in favour of the big light as she feels the ceiling needs something to wear, as the floor has rugs, the walls have curtains etc etc, so why not dress the ceiling with something ornate or sculptural?
Just think about the positioning of a big light and what would be its purpose – do you need everything eliminated or do you want a soft glow of light? So what do you think? Do share your thoughts over on our fabulous Facebook group which is alive with lots of interior inspiration, advice and creativity.
Design book reviews
Hill House Living by Paula Sutton
Paula Sutton photographed by Simon Brown
First up is Hill House Living by one of our favourite Instagrammers, Paula Sutton @hillhousevintage. Paula has built an astonishing 506k followers and this book, I would say, is a printed version of her feed. If you love Paula’s Instagram which is based on her lovely house in Norfolk, her vintage shop, fabulous food and styling then you’ll find it all in this book. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Paula’s profile, she is celebrating her love of interiors but it’s a very nostalgic take with a 1950s vibe. She is clearly living her best life through Instagram and why not, with a gorgeous country house like hers, she is showing us her fantastical life.
What is interesting is that Paula didn’t grow up in the country, she explains her journey and how she got to live her idyllic lifestyle. This book isn’t aimed at people already living in the country, it says that you may find a love for all things vintage and follow Paula with her passion for country life. I love this book as it is full of ideas and inspiration that can be carried into any lifestyle whether urban or country.
Calm, Interiors to Nurture, Relax, and Restore by Sally Denning. Photography by Polly Wreford, Published by © Ryland Peters & Small (£25)
Stop the press: Kate was lost for words for this one as the images were so beautiful. No surprises though as it’s by the wonderful interior stylist Sally Denning and the equally fabulous interiors photographer Polly Wreford. It’s wasn’t a shock that this book is beautiful, Sally has worked with many of the top interior magazines and also styles the photography for Little Greene and Neptune, so she knows a thing or two about putting schemes together.
You may wonder why I like this book as the front cover is a little …. well brown – to me, a calm interior doesn’t need to be brown, but lo and behold there is a chapter on using colour and colour is dotted throughout the book. Sally shows us that calming interiors are not just about colour but how you style them, how to use texture, the placement and curation of certain objects. This is a good all-rounder and is great for those starting on their homes from scratch, refreshing their schenes or for those interested in becoming a stylist.
A Modern Way to Live, 5 Design Principles from The Modern House by Matt Gibberd
Some of our listeners may remember we interviewed Matt on the podcast a while ago, he is a former senior editor at the World of Interiors, has written for the Telegraph, House & Garden and Elle Decoration although is probably best known as co-founder of the Modern House, the design-led estate agency. Matt has emersed himself in all things design and with his vast experience, he is now helping people find their dream home.
So what are the 5 Design Principles according to the Modern House?
They are Space, Light, Materials, Nature and Decoration and he goes through them in some detail so there is a lot to take in and learn from. He has been able to define these principles following the hundreds of houses he has sold and identifies examples with accompanying photography. Whilst the photography is lovely, don’t expect any large scale images, this book is very text-heavy. You need to invest some time into reading this book, you can’t just have a flick.
A huge thank you to our producer Kate Taylor at Feast Collective and to you our lovely listeners.
Image at top taken from Calm, Interiors to Nurture, Relax, and Restore by Sally Denning.
