Every Friday, we post a question. You have until 12 Noon ET on Monday to comment on this post with a valid email address and you’re entered for that week’s giveaway. It’s that simple!
This week we partnered with one of our favorite independent publishers, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. They’re the oldest and largest publishing house owned wholly by its employees and they strive to “publish books not for a single season, but for the years.” Their design books are impeccably researched and beautifully bound — the one I reviewed on Michael Taylor remains a favorite in my library. Our giveaway is their book, Arts and Crafts Rugs for Craftsman Interiors.
Here’s a blurb from the book jacket:
Gustav Stickley is revered not only as a furniture maker but also as a leading proponent for the American Arts and Crafts movement.
He designed simple, well-made household furnishings and forward-looking interiors, which he promoted through his magazine, The Craftsman (1901–1916). The rugs used in his interiors are arguably the most under-studied of all the decorative arts of the Arts and Crafts movement. Arts and Crafts Rugs for Craftsman Interiors considers both the rugs that The Craftsman recommended and designs by artists who influenced the work and philosophy of Stickley.
This is a worthy addition to any design library, especially for those interested in the influence of Stickley, William Morris and Gavin Morton on the field of interior design.
And here’s our question: What’s your favorite design style? Are you an Arts and Crafts fan? Do you drool over mid-century modern? Does updated traditional best reflect your personality? Or do you blend them all, in eclectic glory?
Answer before 12 Noon ET on Monday. Click here for the Official Rules
I love all design styles. not necessarily all in my home at the same time, but i love em all.
I am a mid century modern girl myself, or danish modern. I love just about anything with a retro futuristic style. However, I also love a lot of design styles and am more impressed with a regular person who can pull a style (any look) together with some sort of flair.
I love a room that has a mix of styles. Although, I have to say, looking around my home, there is a ton of mid-century modern. Maybe I need this book so that I can incorporporate more styles!
I LOVE Stickley's work and would consider myself an Arts & Crafts gal – but have more recently found myself really liking contemporary pieces and decor. Give me clean lines along the warmth and character of the Arts & Crafts and I'm a happy gal!
I appreciate the Arts and Crafts style and enjoy seeing it, but I need to live in more color, a mix of periods and styles. I love mid-century and retro, love whimsical furniture and accessories, art, and especially the exuberant style of Susan Sargent. I love Becky's response, above, and I agree with her!
I'm a contemporary traditionalist. I like some of the modern that updates the tradional periods. I like colors that are vibrantly muted and subdued yet not washed away, as in a heathered look. I prefer furniture that can be used, not types that you can't sit on, eat on, or sleep in, always having to be careful with them, admired from afar.
I love MCM but also am a fan of the eclectic look.
Modern and chic with a bit country, i guess that would be me!! I love design books and what this one!!
I love ALL styles. I love a craftsman style home with all of its wooden details. I makes the home feel welcoming and warm. I love the romance of country; the clean lines of modern design (it gives a space that much sought after "clean, fresh and organized" look.) Also a room with global touches lends a sense of adventure and shows an appreciation of other cultures. I also love spanish style–a little rustic, a little refined.
My style is best described as updated traditional with a little contemporary thrown in for good measure.
They say everything "matchy, matchy" is not the way to go now. Maybe a little "mixy, matchy" decorating style would look super!
The more I work in design, the more messed up I get:) I love traditional with a mix of transitional, eclectic, industrial – stir that up with a good dose of color and I'm inspired!
LOL! I thought it was just me! I'm trying to think of it as a refinement of my tastes, but really, I just find that I have a harder time making up my mind!
I prefer updated traditional, cozy and comfortable with large pieces and whimsical accents.
i like arts and crafts styles, but i also enjoy combining styles to make for interesting conversation.
I love all design styles, but I currently live in updated traditional/eclectic. The home I'm living in has dictated my primary choice. When I lived in an arts n' crafts bungalow, I was thrilled to go with earthtones, straigt lines and nature. I owned a contemporary condo, and went there but I didn't enjoy, it just wasn't me. Now my home is traditional so my collection of furniture favorites make it eclectic, but the background and majority of accessories are updated traditional with European flair.
I love the craftsman home with more of a cottage style interior….light and happy. Also enjoy some '50s influence, things from nature and incorporating all the family treasures passed down to me.
contemporary traditional with an eclectice kick
"eclectic" sorry
A cross between updated traditional and rustic (I realize how this sounds but it works).
LOVE the Arts & Crafts style, grew up with it in our family home so it will always hold a special place in my heart. However since then I've not lived in a home where that style "fits". I'd have to say my house is eclectic but tend toward more of a modern cottage feel.
Probably country. But not ugly, cutsie, ducks-in-bonnets country. The GOOD country.
How do you define good country? I'd love to do a photo gallery on it, since most people hear "country" and automatically think "ducks."
i secretly wish I was a modern girl, but I'm definately country chic.
I love the arts and crafts style but my home is more of a eclectic- a collection of old but traditional with a touch of color. I am trying to go bold with wall color and blend my style from there. I have alot of pieces that were handed down and want them to blend in with some of the other styles. I still have a few rooms to go before I can say I am finished.
The style we inherit always seems to be a challenge to blend with the style we love. Hmm… I may feel a blog post coming on….
I love art's and crafts, but my home isn't that way.
My dream home would be in the Art Deco style/period. I also love to incorporate inherited, as well as, purchased, English wood antiques from the period. (I am a first generation American – my parents emigrated from England 55+ years ago) I get such an ethereal pleasure out of the Art Deco style, it instantly hits some pleasure points in my brain!!
I love contemporary and lean toward modern but struggle with trying to keep things "warm".
Our home has an eclectic style, trying to combine traditional with a hint of harley davidson, its a definite challenge but we manage to make it work
Traditional to the core, but with an occassional bit of Americana and shake of " how unique" or " what a delightful way to display collectables". Since "Variety is the Spice of Life", I try to put a snip or dash of surprise into my decorating. Nothing is more than finding a yard sale bargain (antique basket) that is perfect for magazines or my dogs squeaky balls and toys).
I'm trying to balance my love of collections (tea pots, rolling pins, china), with my love of modern furniture. The two just don't seem to mesh. Ideas?
eclectic design fits me , my home, my office, my clothes
mixing the cool and thought worthy items
motivates and inspires
Craftsman homes are my favorite homes to show and sell. The ones that are maintained generally reflect the passions of their owners so well! So many in Knoxville still remain to be renovated-so much potential.
Howdy, Knoxville!
I think I'd call myself and my home contemporary, colorful, funky geometric. Is that a style?
I have a flair for blended styles. Modern as well as some traditional. I like furnishings and art from around the world.
I prefer to mix traditional with contemporary elements….I would call my style transitional.
After majoring in art history and architecture, my design style remains firmly entrenched in IKEA meets Good Will…
I'm a contemporary girl with a touch of traditional. I respect all styles just because I love design!
A magnificent blend mix of all, to say I am any one style would be to limit what a home means to me.
I am definately eclectic traditional. My home is a mix of oak and black wood. Some of the tables are traditional and some totally different. Either the styles go together or the color do. I hava traditional sofa in green print ( with little rose flowers) with a black leather chair and a rose colored rocker. The walls are sage green and the drapes are lighter sage green with green and rose colored flowers. It;s the first time in my life that my furniture has been cohesively put together. I really like it.
I have a passion for design and appreciate all styles of design and the history, colors, textures and patterns behind them. But for my personal residence I like a modern spin on shabby chic/beachy cottage. But again I truly enjoy working with and learning about all design elements and styles. I recently went to the Gamble House in Pasadena and the craftsman design was it absolutely fabulous! The Asian influence was amazing yet settle. I recommend anyone who is love with design to go visit.
I am absolutely an Arts and Crafts Movement fan in the biggest way ! Over the years, beginning with an American art and architecture course I took at SUNY New Paltz, I have informally studied the different architects and artists of the period. ( I am also a huge fan of the Hudson River School of Painting. ) The picture shown here which I assume is the cover of the book, is such a great example of the Arts and Crafts period of decor. Thank you for giving this opportunity to everyone to own such a treasured book !
It depends on my mood — I change my mind all the time, so we have a hard time decorating since I can never commit to a style!
Eclectic Style with some traditional elements
I like to play with design styles, in some places I like to mix them up and use more then one. I know that does not work in all places but overall as a rule I mix things up.
This is tough but i'd say a mix of comfortable traditional and craftsman. I just like things to be warm and comfy.
My husband and I have owned several houses in several parts of the Country. I enjoy decorating a home to enhance its architecture. I have been lucky enough to be able to decorate a couple country style homes, a contemporary style home and a traditional style home. I like the traditional style the best. I love the elegance of all the crown molding, wainscoting and wood floors with beautifully designed area rugs. Traditional style makes me feel warm and at home. Just a little taste of yester year.
Eclectic. I love finding fun, interesting pieces to bring in and bring all the style together.
My home is eclectic and it reflected great diversity. I have oriental rugs through out over hardwood flooring however the kitchen and bathrooms have ceramic tiles. The walls are have wonderful coloring with art displayed that reflect again diversity of period, color, form and location. There is something to share, talk about or reflex on where ever you find yourself. Item in my home are attached to people, place or things in my life. My home is a visual journal of who I am, where I have been, who I love and what is important in my life.
I like the description of your home being a visual journal.
I don't quite fit in any box.Comfort the key to living space. Guess I would say my style is eclectic. I love antiques, art, photography, leather, earth tones, lighting is very important and I have to have a fireplace. Love the outdoors so that space is critical to my peace of mind. But, have an appreciate for anything that is tastefully done and not too matchy matchy or flashy.
I am a Mid-Century Modern fan. I seem to gravitate towards this style in my furnishings and lighting, but my linens and accessories and things tend to run the gamut.
I think I'm mostly contemporary. I love furniture with clean straight lines – but that still feels warm and comfortable. I also love asian influences – but have yet to incorporate them into my own home – probably because it's so much easier to find contemporary furniture for reasonable prices.
I would love to think mid-century modern, but I tend to blend many styles, so it probably more like eclectic glory.
I love craftsman style homes–I love all the extra detail. The more built ins the better. —My dream home though would be to live in a Frank Lloyd Wright home.
My style is traditional with a hint of contemporary. I like contemporary pieces and decor but I'm careful to keep things warm by doing a little mixing.