Bunny Williams’ Scrapbook for Living Hardcover – November 1, 2010

How many of us would love to follow around a favorite aunt in her home who happens to be one of the U.S.'s premier interior designers--like Bunny--while she drops her design pearls of wisdom for us to catch and record? That's what the experience of reading this book feels like. Since Bunny can't adopt all of us, she compiled the precious design insights that over 30 years of designing and living in beautiful rooms has taught her.In SCRAPBOOK FOR LIVING, Bunny's emphasis is on living: how to create rooms that are beautiful AND livable. If you've seen rooms decorated by Bunny Williams--especially her own homes--you know they combine style with livability. They're homey. They're rooms where dogs are allowed on the furniture--but they still look great in magazines. Bunny shares the inside details of how she accomplishes this.Bunny stresses function in this book--how to make rooms work in an attractive way. There's tips for every room--from mudrooms, to living rooms and libraries, to project rooms, to bedrooms and baths. Covering A to Z design topics such as selecting chairs to bringing a home to life with flowers, scents, art and fireplaces, Bunny teaches the essentials of comfort. It's the gems she shares along the way--any place you want a window and don't have one, put a mirror--that make this book invaluable. Another favorite tip is take a camera with you and photograph what you love for your own design scrapbooks. It's intriguing to read what inspires Bunny, including her nine favorite design books and design resources. Bunny says when she sees a home full of books, she knows the owners are likely to be interesting. This book's pictures are MORE about illustrating the ideas in it--less about seeing all the beautiful rooms she has decorated.What I loved about this book is it provides a personal look at how a top designer, savvy entrepreneur, wife, mother, dog-lover who loves to travel, entertain, read, and learn lives in her homes. What are her priorities in combining beauty and function?In writing classes, you learn the ABCD elements of fiction books: Action, Background, Character and Dialogue. There's a fifth element in books, I've realized, and that's the personality/character of the author which can't help but leak through. Likable, nice authors write likable books which touch your heart. You hear people who have met Bunny say how darn likable she is; reading her books is heart-warming. You can almost hear her: "honey, after polishing the silver, keep it in an airtight bag...my favorite fragrances for rooms are....you can use the seating fabric in a room to create a matching dog-bed the dogs will want to be on...." Priceless and personal tidbits for well-lived and well-loved lives & homes fill this scrapbook for living.

Bunny Williams' SCRAPBOOK FOR LIVING is a wonderful beautiful reference book on how to make one's life, one's home the best possible comfortable splendid world, both aesthetically and practically. It should be on everyone's bookshelf or coffee table. In Bunny Williams' very sure handed and thorough way, she enlightens how to optimize that which we cherish. Her splendid text is complemented by some truly amazing photography. The photographer, Amy Archer, not only photographs rooms but also details upon details within a room and creates what she calls 'Place Portraits'. They are grid shaped four across four and when one looks at them, the full effect of the total that one sees is greater than any of the lovely details within. It is an extraordinary way to visually communicate, a dining room, or chairs, or bookshelves, each and every subject that Bunny talks about. They are breathtakingly beautiful and by themselves, would look great mounted on a wall as a work of art. If there are horse whispers in this world that can divine the secret of horses, these two ladies are house whispers who can divine the secrets of own homes and way of life. As one leafs through the pages, it becomes readily apparent that the collaboration between these two gifted ladies is akin to composing a classic appealing resonating song or a musical score. Ms. Williams is the pitch perfect lyricist and Ms. Archer contributes the wondrous music with her great photography which is, indeed, art. It is a book one will treasure and return to over and over and each time be greatly rewarded.

Bunny Williams is the best!*! I have read this fine book line by line and refer to it often for guidance while decorating my home. It is filled with sticky notes so I can locate Ms. Williams most thoughtful ideas quickly.Ms. Williams has wonderful ideas on every decorating subject. I am proud to own this book!*!

Bravo Bunny--I have read "Scrapbook For Living" and my head is spinning with obtainable information.This book must be put next to your bed and not just flipped through-it must be read. It is not just a coffeetable book but a textbook.It goes quickly but has infinite information that all of us are hungry for.Bunny shares her knowledge like no one else. Whether it is her lecture at a function or her beautiful books-starting with one of my favorites,"On Garden Style", she gives concrete information that we can all use-not just information that we can only dream about.Her knowledge is based on tried and true facts. This book is proof of that."Scrapbook For Living" is not written by someone being "coy" that gives you part of the information you need and you have to figure out the rest.It is written by someone trying to help every reader achieve their dream home no matter what the size or location.I love the photography in this book. It is interesting and unique as it should be. It catches the attention and holds it through the last page.I can hardly wait to rearrange my linen closet using her suggestions-Brilliant

My review has nothing to do with the seller. Looking through the book is like looking at someone’s Instagram feed. Lots of tiny pictures. I do not recommend this book.

A completely gorgeous book, I love Bunny Williams, her beautiful houses and natural style.This came well wrapped and quickly.Thank you.

インテリア本といっても、完全に女性向け。リビングルーム重視ではないところが秀逸です。バックヤードにあたるお部屋や収納についても判り易く、見開きで記載があります。かと言って、生活感にあふれた書き方ではありません。写真もとてもきれいです。　日本のおうちはかつて、紙と木で出来ていると言われました。でも、現在、プラスチックやスティール製品が日本の部屋に満ちています。写真に映るインテリアがクラッシックで、何か懐かしい感じがするのは、木、紙、陶器、布製品、植物などの天然物が映っており、プラスチックやスティール製品が登場しない(カトラリーを除く）からかもしれません。解説の英語は平易です。カウチの上でくつろいで、眺める本として作られているから、と思われます。　中村うさぎさんのような名前の著者ですが、アメリカで有名なインテリアデザイナーで、夫はアンティーク家具の売買を行っている人物とのことです。テーブルセッティングは得意なようで、良いしつらえです。パーティの多いお国柄からかもしれません。　2010年以降くらいから、飲食店のインテリアがクラッシックに回帰しつつあり、新しい店舗ではドアが飴色の木製だったりします。時代が求める懐かしさを見たい、と思う方に参考になる本かもしれません。