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Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Design: Fearless, Fabulous Decorating by Christopher Lowell
thejoyofbooking's review against another edition
4.0
Like Apartment Therapy, Seven Layers of Design is a font of information for the design-challenged – but unlike any other design book I’ve ever seen, Christopher Lowell’s books really get to the heart of how difficult it can be to feel like you know what you’re doing with decorating. It’s like psychology for the housefashion-challenged!
Seven Layers focuses on the seven layers of design that Lowell has devised with the help of countless real people: paint & architecture, installed flooring, upholstered furniture, accent fabrics, non-upholstered furniture, accessories, and plants & lighting. You should build your rooms up in the order, instead of focusing all your creative efforts around a really great pair of curtains or a piece of art. That way the big pieces remain neutral and can be changed on a whim or with the fashion of the moment, instead of looking dated.
Lowell’s upbeat and positive vibe carry through the book, and close-ups of DIY projects fill the end of the book. I wish there had been a few more rooms showcased, since it seemed like it was a really small handful of scenarios that they were trying to fix, but the results were admittedly dramatic, and this book was also read with a notepad by my side to jot down ideas for my new house. I also may have Pinterest’ed a few images from the book!
If you’re looking for a design guide with a fresh twist and some personality behind the words, Seven Layers (or probably any book by Christopher Lowell) is a great bet.
Seven Layers focuses on the seven layers of design that Lowell has devised with the help of countless real people: paint & architecture, installed flooring, upholstered furniture, accent fabrics, non-upholstered furniture, accessories, and plants & lighting. You should build your rooms up in the order, instead of focusing all your creative efforts around a really great pair of curtains or a piece of art. That way the big pieces remain neutral and can be changed on a whim or with the fashion of the moment, instead of looking dated.
Lowell’s upbeat and positive vibe carry through the book, and close-ups of DIY projects fill the end of the book. I wish there had been a few more rooms showcased, since it seemed like it was a really small handful of scenarios that they were trying to fix, but the results were admittedly dramatic, and this book was also read with a notepad by my side to jot down ideas for my new house. I also may have Pinterest’ed a few images from the book!
If you’re looking for a design guide with a fresh twist and some personality behind the words, Seven Layers (or probably any book by Christopher Lowell) is a great bet.
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