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Product Description
Product Description
"The Comforts of Home" is a book that enters into the spirit of how we want to live now, at a time when excess is no longer desirable. Author Caroline Clifton-Mogg puts a welcoming and beautiful haven within everyone's reach. The first section, The Elements, extols the joys of an orderly haven, covering both decorative aspects such as textiles and finishing touches, and practical topics such as storage and cleaning. The second section, The Rooms, shows how to create a home that's cosy and easy to live in - from the wecloming hallway, to the cozy kitchen, comfortable living room, satisfying study, practical bathroom and peaceful bedroom - through to the garden. "The Comforts of Home" offers clever decorating ideas that rely on imagination and style rather than a deep purse and suggests ways of making the most of what we have to put the heart back into our homes.
About the Author
Caroline Clifton-Mogg writes about interior design, gardens and other subjects. Her books include All In The Detail, Tuscan Escapes, Italian Country Living and French Country Living (all published by Ryland Peters & Small).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Comforts of Home is the latest book from journalist and author Caroline Clifton-Mogg. She advocates making the most of what you have, finding inspiration via window shopping and rejigging what you already own to create livable spaces which you and your guests both feel at home in. A manifesto which is very timely this current era of austerity.
It's all about getting the basics right, with the first part of the book is dedicated to "The Elements" necessary to form well run-household. From the linen cupboard to the pantry Caroline suggests de-cluttering, organising, and getting into the nitty gritty of cleaning. There are even helpful hints on how to make your own natural cleaning products and a list of store cupboard staples. The second part, "The Rooms" tackles head on the individual challenges of each room which are aspirationally described as the "peaceful bedroom" and the "practical bathroom".
You can read more about this book on my blog The Curiosity Workshop
It's all about getting the basics right, with the first part of the book is dedicated to "The Elements" necessary to form well run-household. From the linen cupboard to the pantry Caroline suggests de-cluttering, organising, and getting into the nitty gritty of cleaning. There are even helpful hints on how to make your own natural cleaning products and a list of store cupboard staples. The second part, "The Rooms" tackles head on the individual challenges of each room which are aspirationally described as the "peaceful bedroom" and the "practical bathroom".
You can read more about this book on my blog The Curiosity Workshop
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I agree with the previous reviewer Sue. This book contains some very attractive photographs, the cover picture being a prime example; this is truly the best that can be said of it. I found the words silly, lazy and patronising - they read like a series of inconsequential magazine pieces cobbled and tacked together with very little thought or structure. The thesis of using "thrifty and chic decorating ideas for making the most of what you have" doesn't amount to much more than things like drawing the curtains, arranging fresh flowers and buying new things like cushions and lamps, for which a long list of suppliers is provided at the back. An injunction to change our general philosophy, and to think about the pleasures of rejuvenating, recycling and learning to re-like the things we already have, evaporates within a couple of pages: "presumably you like what you have, otherwise you wouldn't give it shelf space (and of course, if you don't like it, you could get rid of it...)" The reader is offered priceless advice such as "a tablecloth is a very cozy thing to see on a table, (as long as it is clean; dirty, stained cloths have no place in the comfortable kitchen)" and, when unexpected guests are coming, to "go straight for the visible manifestations of disorder: remove all papers from all surfaces (including chair seats), as well as any remnants of earlier snacks and drinks - from apple cores and cigarette ends to dirty plates, mugs and glasses". The photographs of beautifully designed rooms, many of them in designers' own homes, are disconnected from the writing - so that, for example, a chapter on bathrooms extols the virtues of building as much storage as possible into spaces such as the panelling surrounding the bath, while the bathrooms pictured feature a succession of roll-top, claw-feet baths with no storage in sight. There are irrelevant lapses into the history of housekeeping, leading to things like a list of "random, but riveting (and untested by us)" ideas - so what value is being added by the author? - such as cleaning a kettle by boiling potato parings in it, or removing grass stains from a garment by rubbing on some treacle or molasses before washing in tepid water. The vaguest of suggestions are made: "I cannot make lampshades, but if I could I would use old, lightweight shawls or sari lengths...and either stretch the material tightly around a frame, or attach it more loosely in a sort of old-fashioned, full-skirted way, finishing it off with braid, ribbon or even beads." And it is badly written: "But while at a small gathering it is comparatively easy to greet each new guest and make he or she feel welcome..." and "Obviously, a hallway must be well lit, but that does not, nor should not, mean a single, harsh overhead light." I feel mean articulating all this but honestly, this book was such a huge disappointment that I feel cheated and I can't recommend it at all.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Just one of those books, you can look at over a coffee or tea ,and get ideas and inspiration from. Even nicer than I expected!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautiful Book
This is an absolutely beautiful book. I find something new in it every time I open it, and I open it often! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. J. A. Glover
The Comforts of Home
This is a very beautiful book, full of great ideas albeit they are not very original. It makes you look at things you have lying around in a new way and I am all for hanging... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Noodlesville
The comforts of home
I rate this item very high. Having the opportunity to look inside the book via Amazon was a real bonus before purchasing this book. When it arrived it was better than expected. Read more
Published 9 months ago by sandy
A Waste of Money
I was extrememly disappointed by this book. Having read the other reviews I expected to find really useful book giving lots of tips on making my new holiday home a comfortable... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sue
Book review
This book was bought as a Christmas present. The recipient loved it. It has lovely photographs and interesting text. Very good value for money.
Published 17 months ago by LizzieLight
Great for good idea's
A great book if you are looking for idea's to make your home cosy and still look good
Published on 12 May 2010 by Christine Jackson
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