The best kind of Book Report... blogging on "The Well-Dressed Home" by Annette Tatum

Lately perched upon a growing stack of books on the top of my bedside table has been the recently published book, "The Well-Dressed Home" by Annette Tatum. The concept of this book is terrific as well as being very life-applicable however, it is the cleverly creative visual collages within this tome that keeps me returning to it again and again. This author could come arrange an idea bulletin board in my house any day!

Besides the various design categories being well thought out, adequately explained and accompanied by great photography, I really enjoy how Tatum then combines assorted design types to realistically address the many-layered, more complex style which people usually incorporate within their lives both as to their personal fashion and fashioning a lifestyle.

I found myself definitely camped within the "Classic" style category but also heavily influenced by "Couture" and "Romantic". I've always been what I call a Cottage-Girl however it's the English Countryside kind of cottage with emphasis on historical architecture, many-generational layering, close to nature indoor-outdoor use and a dash of sterling candelabra elegance mixed in with fly rods and wellie boots. Nothing's too precious at all as practical and pretty go hand-in-hand here. One of my aims is to live fully within whatever household environment I'm currently living in so there's plenty of well-lived items around our rooms and no off-limits areas reserved for company or only used for more formal entertaining. In fact, I think that we have out here probably one of the most-used (as in daily) dining rooms that I personally know of... it is a place to gather for meals, to spread out one's studies and research books within, sit with a mug of tea to watch the marsh tides from the oversized picture window and also hosts my makeshift antique tea cart watercoloring "art-studio" in a corner. If anyone has a similar dining room scenario, please post a comment about it: I'd love to hear it.

Currently we are living in the vacation/retirement island home that was very much my parent's visioning however, if (and when) I can fashion my own environment once again specifically to my and James' personal tastes, this book's sections on "Classic Couture" and "Classic Casual" are probably the closest rendering of the decor' style we'd enact for our lifestyle.

Over the years, I've noticed an obvious corollary between my fashion style, color tones and accessories and how I decorate my house. It has been really neat to see someone put together such a lovely book about just this...