My Neighbor Saw Me Naked and Other Reasons You Need Drapes

by Annie Elliott

Written by Washington, DC-based interior designer Annie Elliott, My Neighbor Saw Me Naked, and Other Reasons You Need Drapes is a concise guide to the most important things you need to know about decorating.

The book draws from Annie’s nineteen years’ experience answering the most-asked questions about decorating. Questions such as:

Is my rug too small?
Which paint finish is better: flat or eggshell?
How tall should my lamps be?
And, of course,
Do I really need window treatments?

Conversational in tone and filled with stories from the field, this engaging handbook answers these questions and more. It is a design guide like no other, combining must-have decorating advice with Elliott’s charming commentary about taste and style.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

102 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Jaimme Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Life is messy. Do what you can and control the clutter, and then be thankful for the people who are creating it.”

Also I need a floor lamp now.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is physically beautiful. It's small and nicely weighted, and the watercolor illustrations are gorgeous.

[Laura Bedser]

This is a book with useful and easy-to-follow advice! I loved the watercolor illustrations.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a basic, approachable, and often funny, guide to designing your home. This brief handbook covers the key points of decorating a living space, from choosing window coverings to arranging decorative objects and furniture from a woman with more than twenty years as an interior decorator. The book teaches some terminology and discusses topics such as: using color; the pros and cons of various materials used in rugs; the types of paint finishes and where they are best applied; the best scale and type of lighting for specific purposes; and how to arrange artwork. A lot of helpful measurements are summarized in the “Cheat Sheet” at the back of the book. The book uses illustrations to add context.

The tone is breezy and very often funny (her neighbor actually did see her naked). I laughed out loud at a couple of the descriptions, including of a certain style of bookshelf she calls “Erudite/old money” with more than a hint of sarcasm: “Books, books, and more books. Shelves stuffed to the gills. Horizontal books crammed on top of vertical books…. Emphasize the messiness by shoving all books to the back of the bookcase to create an uneven face, and then place objects in front of them…. Bonus points for stacks of books on the floor in front of the bookcase…” I’m pretty sure she’s making fun of this look because her aesthetic seems generally more refined and precise, though not stodgy. She is a proponent of neatness and includes a neat person’s tiny section on clutter, but she’s also a believer in having a home that incorporates your interests, hobbies, collections, and makes you happy. If you are just starting out with a new home or are interested in making your current home feel more interesting or cohesive, this is a good, non-intimidating, reference book to get you started.

[Jillaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title--obviously--caught my attention at my local bookstore. As we were in the middle of remodeling, I thought that having some advice on window coverings, art hanging, and furniture placement would be useful. There are lots of useful definitions and guidance on sizes and arrangements for all sorts of things, but I do wish there had been more pictures/illustrations. There were some things she described that I just couldn't grasp, and I would think that a book devoted to how things LOOK might offer a bit more in the visual aid department. I also think some of her advice was personal preference and not so much design principles, but overall this is something I'll continue to refer to when needing to make purchases or design decisions. I don't see it as the end-all-be-all, but as a helpful guide. 2.5 stars.

[Lindsi K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! Nothing earth shattering if you’ve read other interior design books, but often humorous and very practical.