Terence Conran's Easy Living

by Terence Conran

An essential guide presents a wealth of tips and techniques for designing a comfortable and satisfying living space based on four key concepts--Elements, Comfort, Function, and Detail. IP.

Genres: Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Sir Terence Conran was educated at Bryanston School, Dorset, and trained as a textile designer at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. Hand in hand with his much-publicized career as an arbiter of good taste for a whole generation goes a career in cookery and restaurant management. Having learned the basic skills in the kitchens of a two-star Parisian establishment, he opened several small restaurants in London.These were later sold to finance his fast-expanding furniture business, from which grew the hugely successful Habitat stores. No-one has had a greater influence on contemporary living style than Conran. From the outset of his career, in the brilliant era of the '60s, he devoted his talents to interpreting the home-making aspirations of the bright, busy people of his generation - and to providing them with an excellence of craftsmanship and design at a price they could afford.

Reviews

[A.K. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book that realigns priorities within a home. While living with beauty and design can be wonderful, the home is for living, and possessions are secondary to this fact.

Simple language and design ideas revolve around setting up a home that makes your lifestyle more enjoyable. Quality tools, design that works, and "stuff" that addss joy to life are worth having. Clutter, excess, and contrived style intended to display wealth or flaunt oneself is not the point.

Unlike other design books, which focus on the latest and greatest of "things", Conran writes on setting up your home in a way best suited to your life and your activities within the home, within an emphasis on eliminating excess to best highlight that which you have chosen to keep.

I highly recommend this as one to own, and refer back to when life is feeling chaotic, shopping rears it's ugly head, or the need to buy "stuff" to impress the world creeps in.