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'Thrifty Chic: Interior Style on a Shoestring' by Liz Bauwens & Alexandra Campbell

This title appealed immediately, upon our weekly library visitation. Cohen and I both have colds now, so we have been pottering around the house. Cohen has discovered that play dough sticks to the wall. Also, that Mummy will let you stick play dough to the wall if she is drinking tea and flicking through a book. Happy days.

There are some lovely ideas in this book for decorating your home using vintage and modern pieces. Although the information seems to cater more for the US and UK markets, many of the tips are adaptable to Australian houses. I found the images inspiring. Who wouldn't want that claw foot bath, the over-sized mirror, those green pitchers? The less is more approach is refreshing, as are the examples of everyday items being decorator worthy - such as that line up of gumboots. But like others, I noticed the repetition of the text and images and wondered whether there'd been a dearth of houses to photograph for the book. 

Overall though, it really is a charming book and one that would be a welcome addition to the libraries of anyone with a love of the old and an inkling towards interior design. 

Can you recommend any interior design books? What style of decorating do you favor?