Book cover image used with permission of author James Swan
While on Twitter the other day, I laughed out loud when I saw the title of this new book
, 101 Things I Hate About Your House, by nationally-acclaimed interior designer James Swan, with award-winning writer Carol Beggy and illustrator Stanley A. Meyer. The red "door" cover made me want to click the book's brass knocker NOW and walk right in and see...you guessed it...what James might hate about
my house! (Oh, the pressure!)
From page one, I was laughing all the way to my little...uh..."powder room" where James lets all us home dwellers firmly know: "If I've got to "go" then the last thing I want to see is the collection of cover-sticks, deodorants, and hair products that went into pulling you together for either day, evening, or both. I love you dearly, but I don't love you that much. Put your stuff away."
Well James, the organizer and decorator in me says I'm with you so far on this sage homeowner advice!
Oh, and count me in as well on James's wise statement: "I don't care if your closet is so small that it won't hold the contents of Lady Gaga's "Birkin" bag, neatness counts."
My thumbs up!
And you know those glass-fronted kitchen cabinets we see in so many new model homes now? James has the most clever way ever of dealing with kitchen cabinet clutter that this organizer has encountered: "Why do your cabinet interiors look the sales tables at Filene's basement?... If glass cabinet doors are what you want, then be prepared to maintain a level of orderliness. Otherwise, straighten up the shelves or be prepared to smash the glass and start over."
Well now, that's a thought!
Like me, James thinks home should have a spiritual center too, at least that's how I see his comment: "Technology being what it is today, there are many stunning wallcoverings available that you can spray and wipe. A mother's prayer is answered."
Amen!
I gotta tell you too that as someone who personally loves nothing more than to set a lovely dinner table, I literally wept tears of cloth-napkin and real-silverware joy at James's statement: "Fear and loathing, paranoia and clinical depression, jealousy and sublimated rage, phobias galore announce their existence by what you choose to place on your table. Not every home requires sterling silver nor do hours need to be spent measuring placemats at each setting--but please, care enough to take pride in how your table is laid."
I just popped an engraved dinner invitation in the mail to James and the guest of his choice!
Well now that we've come full circle here in my review about James's wonderful new book, which I think is the funniest home book I've ever read, earning it a place on my living room bookshelves so I can refer it to others and pull it down now and then to have a good home laugh, we've toured all the way back to your front door, which of course, James also has sage interior designer advice for: "Nothing screams "Dreary Little Mess" quite like a front door masquerading as last winter's snow tires. Does the word 'maintenance' mean anything to anyone?...Wear rubber gloves to protect your manicure and mix in a bit of elbow grease."
Be still my snow-white front door heart!
And last but not least, as a cat lover myself, the colorful and zany home illustrations in this book by talented illustrator Stanley A. Meyer, had me laughing all the way to my...uh...cat litter box!
Hearth Hugs!
Kathryn :)
