If you're an avid Casa reader, I'm sure you've heard of
Amy Butler, whose textiles are all the rage these days. Aside from designing beautiful fabrics, Butler is also the author of
Midwest Modern and
Found Style, which I've told you about in the past. Her book,
In Stitches ($12.48, reduced from $24.95), a collection of 25 sewing projects ranging from floor cushions to handbags, which includes inspiring photographs, easy-to-use pattern sheets, and how-to illustrations, along with descriptive text, is on sale at Kate's Paperie.
If you're looking for ideas on how to decorate a shared space with your new spouse,
The Nest Home Design Handbook ($25.95) by Carla Roney is a great place to begin your search. Roney, editor in chief of
The Knot and its sister site,
The Nest, offers practical tips and advice for first-time home decorators, and is also a great resource for couples and newlyweds that are moving in together for the first time.
The Next Home Design Handbook takes newbie decorators through all of the steps of making a home, from choosing paint colors to controlling clutter in your home. The book features vibrant, eclectic home interiors as well as diagrams that provide guidance on hanging photos, arranging sculptural objects, and laying out furniture.
Sometimes I like to revisit books that may be oldies but are definitely goodies, like Amy and David Butler's
Found Style, published back in 2003. Since it's also prime season for antiquing and garage sales, it seemed only appropriate to introduce you all to a book that offers sensible, inspired advice on integrating "found" objects into your home. Amy Butler, whose
fabric designs I love, brilliantly combines garage sale $1 finds with midcentury furniture, Pottery Barn accessories, and practical, Ikea pieces in this book.
Remember when I told you, many moons ago, about the very cool project
Edible Estates. Dreamed up and spearheaded by Los Angeles-based architect Fritz Haeg, the project pushes the idea that lawns, which are, in many parts of the world, unnatural groundcover, should be replaced with native plants and edible crops. Now, Haeg, along with contributors, has given urban, suburban, and rural gardeners the world over some serious inspiration with his book
Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.
What better book to review during June, when our theme is focused on
eco chic living, than Emily Anderson's wonderful guide
Eco-Chic Weddings. Since I'm trying to plan my wedding as
DIY and green as possible, I knew that Anderson's book was a must-read for my planning. With simple, quick, and often economic ideas for making your ceremony and reception more eco-friendly, Eco-Chic Weddings was just the thing I needed to both inspire new ideas and reinforce other plans I'd already made.
