Martha Stewart Living How to Decorate (1996, Hardcover)

As with all Martha Stewart Books and Magazines, the photography is superb. Her ideas and examples in this volume lean towards the simple. Many of the photographs were taken at her Turkey Hill home. The furnishing fit well into the spaces.

Her colors may be a bit bland for many people. I find them soothing and relaxing and her rooms are inviting in the way my grandmother’s house felt inviting when I was a little girl: Windows open, fresh air flowing and a cozy, clean feeling of welcome. It is one of the books on decorating that I own and have been able to use in creating some of the ideas I used in our new house. I like simple things, white walls and monochrome color schemes, so it works for me. It certainly would work for the person who is trying to create a vintage look. Many of Martha’s furnishings are older pieces that have a “collected” look and feel. She helps establish that sense by the fact that she is an avid collector and is pleased to display many of your favorite finds in places of honor around her space.

Like many other people, I am not always a Martha Steward fan. But she has created a visually appealing assembly which yields a very warm, comfortable aura in this book.