Nancy Braithwaite: Simplicity

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!

I adore the whole aesthetic shown here. The eagle, the handpainted walls, the beauty and simplicity. Strong design.

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!

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!

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!

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. :)

Nancy Braithwaite knows how to take elegant design to its simplified best. I wish I could wander through her design world in person.

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. 😜