I’m Liking…Easy Elegance Decorating with Atlanta

I’m Liking…Easy Elegance Decorating with Atlanta – A Book Review

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G'day all. My legs still hurt.

Do you like my little book reading corner this week, including old found vintage mirrors, old bottles and gifts of flowers? Last week the books were all things French, this week it is all things Atlanta…Atlanta Bartlett being the author inspiring me to add some colour and got me hauling old pieces of vintage furniture around the cottage in a frenzy.

Lots of you asked where this new thing had come from and though it's not a new look for me (before the beachy thing kicked in I was more into this chippy old furniture with a faded patina) it has definitely been influenced by this particular book.

This, coupled with the fact that I get a heap of emails asking me to review things (and not of course that I mind that but I do think it odd to be asked to review something that I haven't seen) made me think that I might do a few of my own recommendations for stuff I have tried, tested…and like.

Thought I'd start with one of the books I've bought lately and more importantly the one I have had pasted to my thigh for the last few weeks and gave away to Julie-Anne with no blog a few weeks ago.

It all started when I came across, and sorry I can't remember who recommended me to this site, the internet book store Book Depository based in the UK.

So what's so good about it? Well basically this site offers free, yep that would be completely free shipping anywhere in the world, now if you are in Australia, that means plus plus plus for a number of reasons. Firstly the choice here can be somewhat limited, therefore this solves that. Secondly, the free shipping together with the low cover price, even though it is in good old British Pounds, means that a book you might pay a hefty amount for at the mall is much better value and it comes direct to your door.

Hmmm, but what about time, I mean it has to get on a plane from England, won't it take ages. Well, so I thought, but after a trip to the bookshop where I wanted a book for $60 and one of the kiddos for $20 we searched instead on Book Depository, both books were in stock and including shipping to us here it worked out just under half price on both books.

We placed the order on a Thursday afternoon and the following Monday they arrived. I don't think I could ask for a better service than that, to be honest I was astounded that the whole thing worked out well.

So we did it again and I have, ever since, spent long late sessions searching for any number of books and ordering them in a new secret addiction (hence the various reasons going on here to conceal my growing collection).

And onto Atlanta Bartlett, her of At Home with White fame . I ordered Easy Elegance on the back of how much I liked At Home with White and by very fact that she is extremely popular and much emulated. I wasn't disappointed.

If you want a book for your coffee table, it looks pretty good. It's well set out, flows with a simple coherent theme, uses different takes on the same ideas to accommodate different decorating styles and is choc full of wonderful photos. Atlanta seamlessly takes us through the different versions of 'Elegance' (she hasn't seen me collapsed on the sofa with her books) and explains in detail her ideas and advises on how to achieve the looks that are expertly styled and photographed in the pictures as only the pros do.

If I had to criticize, the only thing would be it is ever-so-slightly unrealistic and when you flick through to the photo credits the list reads a bit like an elitist list from a niche group of interior stylists that somehow makes the whole thing ironic and un-attainable to someone like me. But then who wants pictures of attainable, that's the beauty of a book like this and the ensuing oohing and ahhing when you put your feet up at the end of the day.

oh and if you do want to feature on here – I would love to pay it forward

submissions: abeachcottageblog@gmail.com

and go stop by Beach Cottage Inspiration with a coffee and tumble on through…

see you all later…

thanks for the nomination!

Comments

Amanda says:

June 16, 2009 at 4:28 pm

Thanks for the book website tip, I love to online shop so will be checking it out after this post! I have so many interiors books its getting a bit silly but I think I am going to have to add Easy Elegance to my list! I just bought The Recycled Home which I quite like but a fair bit of the stuff is a bit industrial for me rather than old and distressed but the neutral colours in the photos still look great…….

m says:

June 16, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, a new source for books! You have made my day…possibly week! Thank you, thank you!!!!!!

m ^..^

tea with lucy says:

June 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm

I’m a BIG fan of the Book Depository. Isn’t it the greatest. I do find it weird though, when you order bulk books and they all come in their own individual parcel. Shipping like that must cost a bomb!

Love your blog. We’re currently building our own beach shack on the south coast of WA. I’ll be back to visit you regularly!

Marjolijn says:

June 16, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Thank you so much for this very interesting bookshop-link! Until now I always ordered at different online-shops, but the shippingcosts often were quite high. I did my first order today at the Book Depository!
Lovely pictures up here!

Kellie Collis says:

June 16, 2009 at 10:10 pm

Yay i love books!! Thank you for sharing…. Why can’t i have more time in the day!!!

Chrissy says:

June 16, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Morning!!! Just saw that you had come by,I am hoping you will stop by again, as I never post anything on a personal basis(except Megs grad) would love to know what you think of my decor style(gosh, I sound like a teenage groupie)Anyway, do take care,and know your welcome anytime!! All the best,Chrissy

Sugar Boogers & Tantrums says:

June 16, 2009 at 11:03 pm

that is so pretty!Stopping by from SITS!

Marie Walter says:

June 16, 2009 at 11:13 pm

Hello Sarah – I love your reading corner! And that mirror…yep, it’s absolutely fabulous! I love the curves and it’s just the right size. You’ve inspired me to get my hands on that book!

Blessings,
Marie

sabine, la marquise des anges says:

June 17, 2009 at 3:16 am

what a lovely post. thabnks for sharing … and those pics are absolutely gorgeous.

Alison Gibbs says:

June 17, 2009 at 6:51 am

Thanks for more gorgeous photos and the link for the books.
Alison

cherry says:

June 17, 2009 at 7:34 am

Your home is scrumptious…it is like the best darn cookie you have ever ate…and you don’t want the last bite to end. cherry

French furniture says:

June 17, 2009 at 7:51 am

It’s a really cute reading corner. Very lovely!

Kerryanne English says:

June 17, 2009 at 11:19 am

Ooohh… ooohhhh… [sticking my hand up here], I know the answer….. giggle.

I think it went like this Sarah; Vikki from Sew Useful Designs told me about the UK Book Depository and then I got addicted, I then did a book review and recommended BD and Mel from Mel’s Rose Place then got addicted and she did a review and here you are, ADDICTED like the rest of us.

Talk about fast service. I once placed an order for 4 craft books on the same day and each book arrived seperately – one each day for 4 days. That’s my idea of Christmas. Got to love that free postage!!!
Love your reading spot too.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

Clare says:

June 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm

I have placed quite a few orders with Book Depsitory now and they arrive promptly every time. They is something very decadent about having the books arrive on the doorstep and you don’t even need to get out of your jammies! This one is on my ‘to order next’ list.
Clare x

Brenda Kula says:

June 18, 2009 at 12:02 am

Well, tell you to send you those books free they want you to review. And you’re all set!
Brenda

Renata says:

August 1, 2009 at 7:10 pm

can I ask were you got the lovely mirror in the pictures above. I love it!

I’m Liking…Easy Elegance Decorating with Atlanta – A Book Review

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