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Interior designer Nancy Braithwaite’s long-awaited first book is a striking tutorial in the power of simplicity in design. In the world of interior design, Nancy Braithwaite is known for her single-minded devotion to the principle that has guided her work for more than forty years: simplicity. Braithwaite’s work is luxuriously minimalist, its beauty inextricably tied to its Shaker-like purity. While her work varies from art deco to country, the underlying rules remain the same: every element should strive to be simple and powerful without compromise, and every room must have a level of power that comes from commanding scale, repetition of elements, subtleties of color, or the sheer beauty of forms. In Braithwaite’s world, excess is not opulent. Simplicity is opulent. Braithwaite takes the reader deep into her singular vision. Divided into five sections, the book begins with her manifesto on simplicity and the aspects of design used to achieve it, including architecture, scale, color, texture, pattern, and composition. She then presents three categories of style—country, classic, and contemporary—and explains and illustrates each with iconic rooms from her portfolio. Finally, she presents several houses as case studies, displaying the power of these principles in action and emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship in design, from a stunning modern seaside retreat on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to her unforgettable country house in Atlanta. Review: Simple yet stunning - I first heard of Nancy Braithwaite by chance on the Ballard Designs podcast a few years back. Picked up her book, and now she is my favorite interior designer. Such a beautiful, well done book and I want to live in any of the houses she has designed, but especially her Atlanta home. I have a problem with minimalism, I can’t keep anything around! Nancy did nothing to help me with my minimalism addiction, in fact she fanned the flames! Her interiors are perfection, and when you look closely, you’ll see she uses very few pieces but each thing is the exact right thing. It makes you want to chuck anything that you don’t completely love. I hope that Nancy is doing ok, have scoured the internet for the past few years looking for new designs from her and cannot find a thing! So many designers these days just piling crap on a shelf and taking a picture of it and saying “there!” (And then selling it in their online shop so you can “get the look” too) I just love Nancy’s approach of, buy 1 quality, amazing thing, and keep it forever. Finally, I display this book proudly on my coffee table, it’s a perfect coffee table book! Come back Nancy, we love you! Review: Pure joy - This is my all-time fave home design book. Period. Looking at it--for the first time or the 50th--inevitably fills me with inspiration, admiration, and the joy of seeing a creative mind at work. Over and over, Braithwaite proves the power of restraint and simplicity...which are two of the hardest things in the world to do!





| Best Sellers Rank | #380,994 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #340 in Interior & Home Design #674 in Interior Design #954 in Home Decorating (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 543 Reviews |
A**N
Simple yet stunning
I first heard of Nancy Braithwaite by chance on the Ballard Designs podcast a few years back. Picked up her book, and now she is my favorite interior designer. Such a beautiful, well done book and I want to live in any of the houses she has designed, but especially her Atlanta home. I have a problem with minimalism, I can’t keep anything around! Nancy did nothing to help me with my minimalism addiction, in fact she fanned the flames! Her interiors are perfection, and when you look closely, you’ll see she uses very few pieces but each thing is the exact right thing. It makes you want to chuck anything that you don’t completely love. I hope that Nancy is doing ok, have scoured the internet for the past few years looking for new designs from her and cannot find a thing! So many designers these days just piling crap on a shelf and taking a picture of it and saying “there!” (And then selling it in their online shop so you can “get the look” too) I just love Nancy’s approach of, buy 1 quality, amazing thing, and keep it forever. Finally, I display this book proudly on my coffee table, it’s a perfect coffee table book! Come back Nancy, we love you!
V**L
Pure joy
This is my all-time fave home design book. Period. Looking at it--for the first time or the 50th--inevitably fills me with inspiration, admiration, and the joy of seeing a creative mind at work. Over and over, Braithwaite proves the power of restraint and simplicity...which are two of the hardest things in the world to do!
H**E
Awesome, gorgeous book!
I don’t understand why people are upset that the dust jacket for the book doesn’t cover the top inch of the book. It’s part of the DESIGN of it. The polka dots through on the uncovered part and it’s super cute! Some people don’t understand design elements I guess... maybe that’s why they need this book!
N**L
Fabulous Interiors
I adore the whole aesthetic shown here. The eagle, the handpainted walls, the beauty and simplicity. Strong design.
M**N
Breathtakingly Elegant
A tour de force of exemplary restrained interior decorating style! The restraint used to create such beautifully simple interiors is to be lauded! The use of significant furnishings and embellishments is a symphony of elegant and timeless style. If you appreciate a paired down and well edited style of interior decoration consider this book a masterclass!
A**R
Beautiful but unrelatable
This is a beautiful book and the photos are lovely and sensitive, of beautiful places and things. But I'm only giving it a 4 and here is why: I love books about creating beautiful homes and how to do that, by talented people, and have several. Normally I use the books to curate my own things, change things about, use paint colors better, learn from the principles, and just enjoy the photos. I knew that a book about minimalist design would feel different than other books. But the reason I can not wholeheartedly recommend this book is that this is minimalism for people so privileged and so able to live without color, for the most part, that I can not connect with it at all. There doesn't seem to be a place for people in these photos, because the second I envision entering one of the spaces and sitting down with a satchel, or taking off my shoes or setting down groceries, or cooking, I would feel as though I've spoilt my own decor. I know that's not actually the case but these photos are SO pure that it feels as though there's no place for people to actually live. Would it have been possible to do a design book about Minimalism for ordinary people? Maybe not, since most of us collect less carefully and more cheaply than the writer, and we have more family treasures we need to keep where we can see and touch 'em. Anyway. It's a beautiful book, I loving having it, but I can't help feeling that if the writer were to come into my home she might have to have therapy afterwards. :)
V**L
Nice eye candy for coffee table.
Bought this for home staging as it’s large, has a beautiful cover and makes a great coffee table book. One day I might look inside it, but for now it’s still in the plastic wrap staying pretty. 😜
J**S
The Heart of Elegantly Modern Design
Nancy Braithwaite knows how to take elegant design to its simplified best. I wish I could wander through her design world in person.
B**H
Gorgeous coffee table book
If you are looking for a beautiful coffee table book, this book will not disappoint. If you are looking for a good read, not so much.
C**A
Muy bonito
Tal como se describe, es un libro grande y muy bonito para decoración. Lo recomiendo.
C**A
brilliant!
I can’t underestimate the influence this author has had in my ability to edit and curate a home that is both rich in content collected over time— yest has room to breath. inspired.
R**S
Wonderful book
The photos are a very generous size, just what's required in a book of this type. The photos are also wonderful. It's a gorgeous book. If you're an interiors fan it's a must.
A**R
Perfeito
Uso como decoracao
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