Domythic Book Club

I thought it might be fun to recommend a few books I've found helpful over the years. Sadly there seems to be no single volume out there that encapsulates Domythic style, but these are a few that I feel contain bits and pieces of what I consider to be the goals of the decor style.

Interior Alchemy: Secrets to Expressing Creative Ambiance.
This book was recommended to me by Jen Parrish, a friend whose aesthetic and decorating taste I value very highly. The book starts out with a section explaining how to "hoosh" an interior...a term that seems to be similar to the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy idea of zhooshing up one's appearance, only applied to decor. "A hoosh is an arrangement that works, that has a sense of balance and its own internal coherence..." The book goes on to give several examples of interior styles that successfully "hoosh" a space. Some are a bit ramshackle looking, but almost all the pictures include content that can be used as inspiration. The real gem here, however, is the text. The suggestions are extremely inspirational, explaining how to infuse your house with a sense of history and collection.


Rustic Accents for Your Home: 45 Projects from Vines, Twigs & Branches
This is a book I've picked up at the library where I work. Some of the projects are a little more "country cabin" than my preference (making words with twigs, etc) but a lot of them have great potential for the mythic home too. Plus the book begins with an excellent section explaining in general how to harvest and prepare vines twigs and branches for use in the home.



Country Living A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace.
I've checked this one out from the library multiple times. Magnolia Pearl has a very distinct and signature style, leaning heavily on antique lace and velvet. Sometimes her interiors are a bit too over-the-top for myself personally, but again, I can dissect the images and almost always find inspiration in the components. I love her use of garden statuary in her home, and of course the fabrics are droolworthy.



Nell Hill's Feather Your Nest
(and all other volumes by Mary Carol Garrity) I have to admit, Nell Hill's books are my personal favorite when it comes to interior decor inspiration. She just seems to get the mixture of nature mixed with elegance...acknowledging and tossing aside the rules of decorating when needed...just right. Or at least just the way I like it. I especially love her book on Christmas decor, Nell Hill's Christmas at Home. I've used it for more than just Christmas decor inspiration.




William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home
I'm just a tad bit biased toward the Arts and Crafts design style, as should not surprise anyone who follows my other blog. This is probably my favorite book on William Morris' style, as it contains both gorgeous pictures of his homes and other Victorian spaces he helped decorate, plus modern examples of people who have designed their interiors inspired by his art.



So now it's your turn...what interior decorating books do you recommend?