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ashleyrhyan's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. It made me feel like I actually can have a lovely and fun home, even with my kids around, and that it's a gift I can give to them. Her advice and ideas are wonderful. Lovely book.
inthecommonhours's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite posts on Design Mom are the peeks into other family's homes and how they design with children. This is not a regurgitation of those posts, but a well-organized compilation of how to make your home fit your needs and your taste.
It reaffirmed a lot of what I've learned (the hard way) so I highly recommend it to new parents. I love the little tips---like keep drawers only half-full, and skip the top sheet (there is an endless battle in this house between the boys and Brian over pulling up that top sheet when they make their beds---I use the recommend duvet covers, but I'd also love to just ditch those top sheets!).
Of course the photos are pretty, but the peaks into Gabrielle's own home were the only ones I really felt pulled into.
Based on Blair's acknowledgements, Karey Mackin's fingerprints are on most of the book; no wonder it is so good!
It reaffirmed a lot of what I've learned (the hard way) so I highly recommend it to new parents. I love the little tips---like keep drawers only half-full, and skip the top sheet (there is an endless battle in this house between the boys and Brian over pulling up that top sheet when they make their beds---I use the recommend duvet covers, but I'd also love to just ditch those top sheets!).
Of course the photos are pretty, but the peaks into Gabrielle's own home were the only ones I really felt pulled into.
Based on Blair's acknowledgements, Karey Mackin's fingerprints are on most of the book; no wonder it is so good!
lizbusby's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect balance of practicality and inspiration. I will buy this book because I know I'm going to refer back to her ideas as I design our new home.
pinoncoffee's review against another edition
3.0
It was nicely done and had good ideas; I just didn’t love it.
bookworm_baggins's review against another edition
3.0
I've struggled with my thoughts on this book for several weeks. It is a beautiful book, full of great photographs with lovely details, and I love the format of the book where each page spread is basically a stand alone.
I really enjoyed the first section (entryways) and was mostly on board with the second (kitchen space), and then I my opinion began to waver. The author is full of lots of practical tips on organizing a house to make it functional, beautiful, and practical for life with kids. Many of the pictures line up perfectly with what she is saying. BUT, the pictures began to feel deceptive to me. She describes how they did something in their home, and then the image is from Land of Nod. I finally found the photo credit page in the back and realized that every photo is staged...taken either from a design company or from a home where a stylist came in and gussied everything up. Several pictures have the author listed as stylist and some are of their actual home, but I had to do some digging to figure out which ones.
Additionally, I found some of the pictures extremely unhelpful and not in keeping with the idea of decorating for life with kids. Particularly, children's nightstand were instructed to be simple and small (perfect), and then the pictures of simple night stands were perfectly staged with kicknacks in a row, books artistically piled high, framed photos leaned neatly against a wall, all next to a toddler bed...not something that would stay put in my house!
I think this book could have been improved by utilizing photos from more "real" houses, where it's obvious someone lives, not set up for a photo shoot. Also, it would have been helpful for the pictures from the author's house to be clearly marked. I've been going back through and enjoying the book more that I figured it out, trying to pull what I can in smaller quantities, instead of looking at the photos as a whole and wondering how that would work for us.
It's a beautiful book, to be sure, but I would not recommend it without some disclaimers.
I really enjoyed the first section (entryways) and was mostly on board with the second (kitchen space), and then I my opinion began to waver. The author is full of lots of practical tips on organizing a house to make it functional, beautiful, and practical for life with kids. Many of the pictures line up perfectly with what she is saying. BUT, the pictures began to feel deceptive to me. She describes how they did something in their home, and then the image is from Land of Nod. I finally found the photo credit page in the back and realized that every photo is staged...taken either from a design company or from a home where a stylist came in and gussied everything up. Several pictures have the author listed as stylist and some are of their actual home, but I had to do some digging to figure out which ones.
Additionally, I found some of the pictures extremely unhelpful and not in keeping with the idea of decorating for life with kids. Particularly, children's nightstand were instructed to be simple and small (perfect), and then the pictures of simple night stands were perfectly staged with kicknacks in a row, books artistically piled high, framed photos leaned neatly against a wall, all next to a toddler bed...not something that would stay put in my house!
I think this book could have been improved by utilizing photos from more "real" houses, where it's obvious someone lives, not set up for a photo shoot. Also, it would have been helpful for the pictures from the author's house to be clearly marked. I've been going back through and enjoying the book more that I figured it out, trying to pull what I can in smaller quantities, instead of looking at the photos as a whole and wondering how that would work for us.
It's a beautiful book, to be sure, but I would not recommend it without some disclaimers.
elephant's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, the photos are totally lovely and the mixtures of colors and elements look fabulous. However, many of the rooms scream "danger!" if you have kids. Glass items and heavy items on low shelves, framed artwork with glass in them sitting on the floor leaning against the wall in a child's bedroom, antlers - sharp and definitely could be used as a weapon- on a coffee table are just a few of the wildly un-child friendly items in this book. It reminds me a bit of the photos they make fun of on Catalog Living or other blogs. They could say something like, silly Susie, our children certainly will not climb on or roll our rustic coffee table that has huge wheels on it and they would never get our white slip covered sofa dirty or knock over the spotlight on the tripod that is sitting behind the sofa. Nor will they pick up the expensive antique camera or potted plant sitting on the rolling coffee table, they will just happily play with their small stack of 9 wooden blocks that is sitting next to them. And don't worry about the metal edges sticking out from the corners of the rustic wooden coffee table on wheels, our children will never run into those or hurt themselves on them. It is fun to look at the photos of the lovely rooms, and there is some good advice in the book that can be helpful to moms who are decorating their homes. Just please do keep safety in mind.
cpoole's review against another edition
4.0
I relate to so much of what's in this book. Definitely the style I aim to accomplish in my child-filled home some day. The author believes much of what I do:
-a Disney movie family, but no clothes, toys, or decor with the characters
-bedrooms are doe beds! Kids belong in family spaces where everyone can work on projects, etc in a shared space
-night stands can be stools!
-kitchen islands are necessary
-concrete countertops are for cool people
-duvet covers are the answer!
-vintage tablecloths!!!
-a Disney movie family, but no clothes, toys, or decor with the characters
-bedrooms are doe beds! Kids belong in family spaces where everyone can work on projects, etc in a shared space
-night stands can be stools!
-kitchen islands are necessary
-concrete countertops are for cool people
-duvet covers are the answer!
-vintage tablecloths!!!
allisonbsk's review
2.0
Not a lot I haven't heard elsewhere, a lot of the author's bragging about places she's lived or this or that collection or dream, I think I got two useful ideas from the whole book. Still, fun to look at.