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The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes
New York Times bestseller!
“Updated interpretations of the free-spirited aesthetic and worldview.” — Los Angeles Times
“With pages of tips and twelve DIY projects, the book makes the free-spirited style easy to achieve.” —ArchitecturalDigest.com
LA-based designer Justina Blakeney defines the “New Bohemians” as creative individuals who are boutique owners and bloggers, entrepreneurs and expats, artists and urban farmers. They embrace free-spirited, no-rules lifestyles and apply that attitude to all areas of their lives, including their homes.
With little distinction between work and play, the new boho home often includes an office, art gallery, showroom, photography studio, restaurant, or even a pop-up shop. Which is your style? The New Bohemians explores 20 homes located primarily on the East and West Coasts. Exclusive interviews with the owners, 12 DIY projects created by Blakeney and inspired by objects found in the homes, and a plant-o-pedia offer insight into achieving this aesthetic.
Blakeney writes in her introduction, “We bohemians chase free wi-fi, we blog from Brooklyn Laundromats, and we check our e-mail barefoot in Tulum. We arrive early to flea markets but late to farmers markets. We are vintage hounds. We are resourceful and profoundly creative. We are boutique owners and bloggers, mothers and makers, entrepreneurs and expats, chefs and consultants, fathers and urban farmers, doulas and dancers, collectors and creators, designers and dreamers.”
In addition, each home is accompanied by an “adopt an idea” section that offers general decor, styling, and shopping tips for easy duplication in your own home.
“Updated interpretations of the free-spirited aesthetic and worldview.” — Los Angeles Times
“With pages of tips and twelve DIY projects, the book makes the free-spirited style easy to achieve.” —ArchitecturalDigest.com
LA-based designer Justina Blakeney defines the “New Bohemians” as creative individuals who are boutique owners and bloggers, entrepreneurs and expats, artists and urban farmers. They embrace free-spirited, no-rules lifestyles and apply that attitude to all areas of their lives, including their homes.
With little distinction between work and play, the new boho home often includes an office, art gallery, showroom, photography studio, restaurant, or even a pop-up shop. Which is your style? The New Bohemians explores 20 homes located primarily on the East and West Coasts. Exclusive interviews with the owners, 12 DIY projects created by Blakeney and inspired by objects found in the homes, and a plant-o-pedia offer insight into achieving this aesthetic.
Blakeney writes in her introduction, “We bohemians chase free wi-fi, we blog from Brooklyn Laundromats, and we check our e-mail barefoot in Tulum. We arrive early to flea markets but late to farmers markets. We are vintage hounds. We are resourceful and profoundly creative. We are boutique owners and bloggers, mothers and makers, entrepreneurs and expats, chefs and consultants, fathers and urban farmers, doulas and dancers, collectors and creators, designers and dreamers.”
In addition, each home is accompanied by an “adopt an idea” section that offers general decor, styling, and shopping tips for easy duplication in your own home.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2015
108 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
December 16, 2020
Hey, maybe I'm a Bohemian!
My friend Tracy periodically reviews decorating books, and I always end up tempted by her selections. I'm style-impaired, so I was especially intrigued by her review of this one, "The New Bohemians."
I thought, 'maybe I'm a bohemian.' There was a time when I was known to wear long jangling earrings, flowing skirts and was prone to leaving up Christmas lights all year long (and not out of laziness).
'Bohemian,' according to Blakeney seems to mean people who--well, let me have her explain: "Today's bohemians seek to erase the distinctions between work and play, and our living spaces reflect that lack of boundaries. The new bohemian home is a multifunctional playground for exploration and experimentation: It is an office, an art gallery, a showroom, a daycare, a photo and music studio, even a pop-up restaurant... Our new bohemian lifestyle is rooted in freedom: free-spirited, free-form, and free of rules."
Oh, that's so me. I'm all about using my space for all kinds of things. And about 'no rules.' Except the one about dirty dishes. Don't effing leave them in the sink, hey? Oh, and the rule about putting your shit away when you are done with it. But besides those.
However, it turns out, I'm not a new bohemian, because the way it is interpreted in this book means loads of textiles, a variety of both functional and non-functional items in the open, and generally enough stuff to make me want to hire a cleaner at the thought of having to dust and wash these rooms. It also seems to include lots of patterns, 'found' art, and repurposed items applied without regard for matching.
Look at that! That bedroom just yells, 'let's play Twister instead of sleeping!'
The clutter and drapery on this vanity had me thinking 'Miss Havasham.'
This is when I was positive I wasn't a bohemian. Instead of feeling like I wanted to sink in and kick up my feet, I had to turn the page before I got pattern headache.
And this one! All I can say is that if this belonged to a friend, we'd be meeting for coffee instead of having drinks on her sofa. My eyes.
So, I'm not a new bohemian. I might be just a touch of a 'modern' bohemian, however, because they are more prone to clean lines and like plants. This one, for instance, came the closest to my style, although still a little too busy in the textile department and not comfortable enough in the furniture.
All that said, I'm sure if one enjoys this style, this will be a great book. The pictures are solid and there are a lot of them. Blakeney has little 'DIY' projects at the end of many chapters (although why we get a recipe for daikon radishes, I don't know), such as how to make a mosaic hanging rack, a vinyl plant holder or a tie-dye-patterened box for those who want to bring the extra personal touch to their rooms. She also has what amounts to a 'steal this look' at the end, with tips on curtains, etc. A couple of the houses apparently used painters' drop cloths and repurposed burlap-bags as curtains. Other suggestions included putting your detergent in a cool glass jar with a mug to pour it out, putting a light in a birdcage for a cool lamp, using decals to make a 'cheap stained glass' (pro tip: you can probably find a class and make something way cooler), turning a trashcan from Target upside down and making it an end table, how to make a driftwood hanging lamp, and shopping Craiglist for bargains.
Okay, so not the most helpful of books. But that's what you get from a modern bohemian.
P.S. I do not think 'cool' means what Blakeney think it means.
My friend Tracy periodically reviews decorating books, and I always end up tempted by her selections. I'm style-impaired, so I was especially intrigued by her review of this one, "The New Bohemians."
I thought, 'maybe I'm a bohemian.' There was a time when I was known to wear long jangling earrings, flowing skirts and was prone to leaving up Christmas lights all year long (and not out of laziness).
'Bohemian,' according to Blakeney seems to mean people who--well, let me have her explain: "Today's bohemians seek to erase the distinctions between work and play, and our living spaces reflect that lack of boundaries. The new bohemian home is a multifunctional playground for exploration and experimentation: It is an office, an art gallery, a showroom, a daycare, a photo and music studio, even a pop-up restaurant... Our new bohemian lifestyle is rooted in freedom: free-spirited, free-form, and free of rules."
Oh, that's so me. I'm all about using my space for all kinds of things. And about 'no rules.' Except the one about dirty dishes. Don't effing leave them in the sink, hey? Oh, and the rule about putting your shit away when you are done with it. But besides those.
However, it turns out, I'm not a new bohemian, because the way it is interpreted in this book means loads of textiles, a variety of both functional and non-functional items in the open, and generally enough stuff to make me want to hire a cleaner at the thought of having to dust and wash these rooms. It also seems to include lots of patterns, 'found' art, and repurposed items applied without regard for matching.
Look at that! That bedroom just yells, 'let's play Twister instead of sleeping!'
The clutter and drapery on this vanity had me thinking 'Miss Havasham.'
This is when I was positive I wasn't a bohemian. Instead of feeling like I wanted to sink in and kick up my feet, I had to turn the page before I got pattern headache.
And this one! All I can say is that if this belonged to a friend, we'd be meeting for coffee instead of having drinks on her sofa. My eyes.
So, I'm not a new bohemian. I might be just a touch of a 'modern' bohemian, however, because they are more prone to clean lines and like plants. This one, for instance, came the closest to my style, although still a little too busy in the textile department and not comfortable enough in the furniture.
All that said, I'm sure if one enjoys this style, this will be a great book. The pictures are solid and there are a lot of them. Blakeney has little 'DIY' projects at the end of many chapters (although why we get a recipe for daikon radishes, I don't know), such as how to make a mosaic hanging rack, a vinyl plant holder or a tie-dye-patterened box for those who want to bring the extra personal touch to their rooms. She also has what amounts to a 'steal this look' at the end, with tips on curtains, etc. A couple of the houses apparently used painters' drop cloths and repurposed burlap-bags as curtains. Other suggestions included putting your detergent in a cool glass jar with a mug to pour it out, putting a light in a birdcage for a cool lamp, using decals to make a 'cheap stained glass' (pro tip: you can probably find a class and make something way cooler), turning a trashcan from Target upside down and making it an end table, how to make a driftwood hanging lamp, and shopping Craiglist for bargains.
Okay, so not the most helpful of books. But that's what you get from a modern bohemian.
P.S. I do not think 'cool' means what Blakeney think it means.
April 14, 2018
Because I am a nosy person, I LOVE seeing photos of other people's STUFF. That's the real reason I buy these decorator books and magazines: I want to see your collections, guys. (I also want validation that I'm not the only kook in the world whose home looks like a flea market, but that's a topic for my analyst.)
This book has been on my wish-list for a long time, but $35.00 is a hefty price for this working girl. I waited, and waited for a more affordable used copy, and, finally . . . I wasrewarded disappointed. Sometimes the anticipation is WAY better than the real thing.
When I think of the Bohemian look, I envision COLOR, and lots of it, pattern on pattern, walls cluttered with art, and STuFF everywhere. BUT . . . so much of this book is, GASP! - minimalist: WHITE WALLS, glass-topped tables, one piece of tasteful art hanging above a sofa.
Seriously? Put a bible and some Maalox on that nightstand, and this could be my granny's bedroom!
Only about the last 40 pages of the book are what I really had in mind when I ordered a copy. Turns out, I was looking for Maximal Bohemian style:
. . . maximal bohemians surround themselves with eye candy. Every surface of the home is abundant with art --- the walls are canvases to be patterned, painted, and planted; floors and furniture are buried in pillows and textiles; and shelves are filled with books and beloved objects.
Yeah, baby! THIS is more like it! Punch-you-in-the-eye color, and just LOOK at all that STUFF!
So, 40 pages out of 304 of what I consider to be good stuff kept this one from being a total wash. And, I did get some ideas from within these pages - like how this guy turned his crappy sofa into an awesome crazy-quilt patchwork by sewing scraps of fabric right to the old upholstery.
Will I try this? I'm tempted . . . until I think about spending two years of my life sitting on the floor, stitching pieces of worn-out jeans to my couch.
Yeah.
Even I'm not that crazy.
This book has been on my wish-list for a long time, but $35.00 is a hefty price for this working girl. I waited, and waited for a more affordable used copy, and, finally . . . I was
When I think of the Bohemian look, I envision COLOR, and lots of it, pattern on pattern, walls cluttered with art, and STuFF everywhere. BUT . . . so much of this book is, GASP! - minimalist: WHITE WALLS, glass-topped tables, one piece of tasteful art hanging above a sofa.
Seriously? Put a bible and some Maalox on that nightstand, and this could be my granny's bedroom!
Only about the last 40 pages of the book are what I really had in mind when I ordered a copy. Turns out, I was looking for Maximal Bohemian style:
. . . maximal bohemians surround themselves with eye candy. Every surface of the home is abundant with art --- the walls are canvases to be patterned, painted, and planted; floors and furniture are buried in pillows and textiles; and shelves are filled with books and beloved objects.
Yeah, baby! THIS is more like it! Punch-you-in-the-eye color, and just LOOK at all that STUFF!
So, 40 pages out of 304 of what I consider to be good stuff kept this one from being a total wash. And, I did get some ideas from within these pages - like how this guy turned his crappy sofa into an awesome crazy-quilt patchwork by sewing scraps of fabric right to the old upholstery.
Will I try this? I'm tempted . . . until I think about spending two years of my life sitting on the floor, stitching pieces of worn-out jeans to my couch.
Yeah.
Even I'm not that crazy.
October 2, 2015
Let's start with the good. Lovely homes. I didn't really think the division of homes by bohemian terminology was always accurate to the looks but none-the-less, I found something to enjoy about every home. I also thought the crafts and plant guide gave the book a little extra special something something. But holy cultural appropriation Batman. I think it's possible to be a Bohemian without treating other people's cultures like trinkets in your home but unfortunately there was a lot of that in this book. I also thought the book was very trustafarian. It talks a good game of how bohemians can have no money or lots of money and still be bohemians, but let me be frank, no one featured in this book is lacking in funds by any stretch the imagination regardless of how bohemian you may feel. If you can over look the little annoying things here and there, it's a cool decorating book.
November 3, 2018
Gorgeous photographed book on the Boho decorating style. The included craft projects really boost the book's value.
February 26, 2017
I was attracted to this book because the photos appeared to be beautiful while flipping through it casually. Reading it more closely, however, it was appalling, especially for the shameless constant cultural appropriation. Each home's occupants had a "spirit animal" and/or "spirit plant". There was discussion about smudging and how to make smudge sticks, which they call "home fragrance". There were dream catchers hanging in windows, decorative Buddha statutes, sugar skulls, etc. The text is even worse than the images, and consistently has phrases like, "I have a gypsy soul". The individuals featured all appear to be white, have jobs like "sonic artist... [translating] the plant's electromagnetic currents into musical notes", and live in places like LA and Brooklyn. It was cliche upon cliche of privilege and appropriation.
Read
June 30, 2016Turns out I am not a bohemian. Now we know.
October 18, 2016
Wow, what a gorgeous book. The description says author Blakeney features her favorite homes from "across the country"...but really most of the homes are in California and New York, with a small handful from Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico. No matter, though, because all of the homes here are phenomenal.
The book is divided into six parts, each part covering a different bohemian style: modern, earthy, folksy, nomadic, romantic, and maximal. But all the homes have a lot in common. They are playful, colorful, whimsical, and chock full of personality. Some lean toward minimalism and others are stuffed to the gills, but I loved each and every one. It helps, too, that the book quality and photo spreads are stunning--really vibrant and inspirational. (After reading this book, I've decided our house needs about twice the number of plants it currently has...)
But I especially love how this book made me feel affirmed in our decision to decorate, furnish, and design our new home slowly. It takes time to build layers that are meaningful and reflect who we are. Sometimes I feel pressure to rush that process, since, hello, after a year in this house, we still don't have a coffee table in our living room... But now I'm feeling a little bit more calm and confident. I'm glad we are taking our time to find pieces that we love.
At any rate, I loved this book. It is beautiful to look at and helpful to read. I know I'll be returning to it again and again.
The book is divided into six parts, each part covering a different bohemian style: modern, earthy, folksy, nomadic, romantic, and maximal. But all the homes have a lot in common. They are playful, colorful, whimsical, and chock full of personality. Some lean toward minimalism and others are stuffed to the gills, but I loved each and every one. It helps, too, that the book quality and photo spreads are stunning--really vibrant and inspirational. (After reading this book, I've decided our house needs about twice the number of plants it currently has...)
But I especially love how this book made me feel affirmed in our decision to decorate, furnish, and design our new home slowly. It takes time to build layers that are meaningful and reflect who we are. Sometimes I feel pressure to rush that process, since, hello, after a year in this house, we still don't have a coffee table in our living room... But now I'm feeling a little bit more calm and confident. I'm glad we are taking our time to find pieces that we love.
At any rate, I loved this book. It is beautiful to look at and helpful to read. I know I'll be returning to it again and again.
July 16, 2015
Beautiful and cool book. Very well written, especially for a decor book, w/ fantastic pictures. I like the organization of the book; in-depth and personal vignettes within chapters of sub-themed bohemian styles. Totally inspiring and down-to-Earth, which is not an easy balance to strike. I ❤️ this book!
June 13, 2017
I love this. The homes in it are fantastic. While I found some of them a little busy for my home I did drastically increase the amount of plants in my house after I read this the first time. I haven't tried any of the crafts but I do think I'll get my mother to teach me rug hooking so I can make a rug for my attic bedroom. All in all a terrific home decor book.
July 3, 2015
Beautiful, earthy, and sensuous! After some super long days at work, it felt so nice to come home to this book and immerse myself in the warm and wonderful home environments Ms. Blakeney has curated. If ever I needed to feel affirmed in my personal tastes, this book does the trick -- I don't think I'd realized there were so many others with similar kantha + kilim fetishes, cravings for All The Textiles, plants a plenty, incense-burning, and incessant desire for more more more color. This book felt like coming home, and I loved it.
December 10, 2017
Love, love, love. If you identify with this style you will want to read, look at, and have this book. It's a decoration to a coffee table all on its own. I'm totally inspired and feel validated by my taste in decor, although some will find it just too much.
October 29, 2015
Read... flipped through the pictures... same thing, right? I've been wanting to redecorate my bedroom in this style so I was mostly just looking for ideas. This was nice because it showed a few different styles of bohemian, and even pulled out some of the small details in each room as things you could make yourself.
January 19, 2018
The New Bohemian's book is a wonderful sourcebook for bohemian inspired interior design; filled with clashing colour, patterns and styles. I really enjoyed going through each page and am inspired for redecorating my studio.
August 2, 2015
I'm a hippie at heart. I love the inspiring ideas of the collected and vintage home. The bohemian lifestyle is one that embraces what you have, makes what you don't have and has an overall gypsy spirit. This book encourages us all (even those who don't consider themselves "Hippies") to see that it's not about VW vans and tie-dye, but a way of traveling the globe and taking back home with us a little bit of the world and incorporating it into our homes. Color, spirit and love. That's all a home needs.
June 22, 2015
I loved this book so, so much!
Full of gorgeous ideas, beautiful photos and so much inspiration that anyone can put into action in their own home; anyone can afford plants and we all have access to our imaginations.
Cannot recommend enough! I read it cover to cover in two days and am now taking notes for inspo in specific rooms <3
Full of gorgeous ideas, beautiful photos and so much inspiration that anyone can put into action in their own home; anyone can afford plants and we all have access to our imaginations.
Cannot recommend enough! I read it cover to cover in two days and am now taking notes for inspo in specific rooms <3
January 3, 2016
Special snowflake alert. Precious people (Emily is a macramé specialist while Adam is a metaphysical real estate dabbler) try to convince themselves that they haul stuff into their homes better than everyone else.
Did you know that you can buy things when you leave your home and then decorate with them? Game changer.
Did you know that you can buy things when you leave your home and then decorate with them? Game changer.
July 15, 2016
This book is a big bowl of eye candy for me. I've checked it out from the library multiple times and would probably buy it if it weren't so big and expensive. Maybe one day I'll see it on the sale shelves at B&N.
March 18, 2016
I love the ideas in this book. So many awesome decorating ideas!! Boho the way to go!
January 13, 2019
Apparently bohemian means having a bunch of stuff from Morocco and/or a lot of dreamcatchers.
I like the author's house the most.
I like the author's house the most.
March 3, 2020
Nice book on bohemian decorating style, with many photos.
June 9, 2021
I found my tribe! ❤️
June 7, 2019
This was really fun to look at. Enough said.
Read
August 22, 2021Mostly looked at the pictures. It made me happy that they featured a home in Las Cruces, NM.
February 3, 2020
A boho-centred home decoration and inspiration book, The New Bohemians is one of those big, colourful coffee table books that’s perfect for a quick browse-through. Blogger and author Justina Blakeney has tried to capture the wide range of the bohemian spirit by presenting 20 homes across the United States with different types of styles.
As someone who loves this particular style, I had a blast reading this! The homes presented are lovely and very fitting, the colourful photography is beautiful, and the book itself feels vibrant and fun. The photographs show both enough overview of entire rooms plus some zoom-ins on the details; you could recreate the entire scene at home if you wanted. Most of the chapters also include the Adopt-an-Idea section that easily shows you how you could create a small project inspired by the home in question (twelve DIY projects in total).
Blakeney also devotes a small amount of pages to describing the different aspects to the bohemian lifestyle, as do the homeowners whose homes are featured in the book. They explain more about the context of (some of) the items in their homes and tell about their life philosophy (usually one or two pages accompanying each home).
I also appreciated the attention given to plants and greenery, including a section in the back with a small plant compendium – including their common and scientific names, how to properly care for them, how to use them in your interior, etc. Especially as someone with a lack of a green thumb but the urge to surround myself with plants, this was quite useful!
There are a couple of unnecessary/slightly annoying things about this book, but luckily you can just easily ignore most of these. First of all, the book is divided up into sections of ‘different’ bohemian styles – romantic, earthy, full-on etc. – but one could argue whether these styles are actually different or not. There’s also the constant insistence of the author and homeowners that part of the boho style is getting your stuff for cheap or second-hand or as gifts, but of course the interior of all the homes in the book strongly contrasts that (i.e., they look quite expensive and/or make use of expensive stuff). And there’s this whole g*psy/cultural appropriation thing going on that can be quite culturally insensitive…
Anyhow, if you’re looking for an inspiring bohemian deco/home book, you’re in for a treat! Let the photography speak for itself and decide whether buying it is worth it or not. For me, personally: textual context, three out of five stars, but the pictures are worth four.
As someone who loves this particular style, I had a blast reading this! The homes presented are lovely and very fitting, the colourful photography is beautiful, and the book itself feels vibrant and fun. The photographs show both enough overview of entire rooms plus some zoom-ins on the details; you could recreate the entire scene at home if you wanted. Most of the chapters also include the Adopt-an-Idea section that easily shows you how you could create a small project inspired by the home in question (twelve DIY projects in total).
Blakeney also devotes a small amount of pages to describing the different aspects to the bohemian lifestyle, as do the homeowners whose homes are featured in the book. They explain more about the context of (some of) the items in their homes and tell about their life philosophy (usually one or two pages accompanying each home).
I also appreciated the attention given to plants and greenery, including a section in the back with a small plant compendium – including their common and scientific names, how to properly care for them, how to use them in your interior, etc. Especially as someone with a lack of a green thumb but the urge to surround myself with plants, this was quite useful!
There are a couple of unnecessary/slightly annoying things about this book, but luckily you can just easily ignore most of these. First of all, the book is divided up into sections of ‘different’ bohemian styles – romantic, earthy, full-on etc. – but one could argue whether these styles are actually different or not. There’s also the constant insistence of the author and homeowners that part of the boho style is getting your stuff for cheap or second-hand or as gifts, but of course the interior of all the homes in the book strongly contrasts that (i.e., they look quite expensive and/or make use of expensive stuff). And there’s this whole g*psy/cultural appropriation thing going on that can be quite culturally insensitive…
Anyhow, if you’re looking for an inspiring bohemian deco/home book, you’re in for a treat! Let the photography speak for itself and decide whether buying it is worth it or not. For me, personally: textual context, three out of five stars, but the pictures are worth four.
May 20, 2018
So, this book is by Justina Blakeney, interior decorator du jour, who has people filling their homes with plants and crystals. Her style is what she calls "New Bohemian." It initially appealed to me because I never liked the Scandinavian minimalist design. I like color and lots of objects. This books loves colors, plants, and lived in look (the photos have items strewn in the room, so it gives an items, like books, toys, and plates of of what the room is used for or lived in). The chapter on Flow has photos of a living room, with the furniture and rugs moved to show how the different configurations affect flow. There's also a few nice before and afters of redesigned places. I liked the patterns and fabrics used. The section on textiles and search terms for finding them is helpful.
The bad is that there's more than a whiff of cultural appropriation; I mean, sure throw some Buddha stature in when your decor is full of Moroccan rag rugs, African indigo, and serape inspired textiles, but it clashes and might get you the side eye from non-white friends. Blakeney uses "spirit animal" like she's a 1960s hippie. In the back, theirs a section about the people whose houses are photographed and their name, profession (mostly visual arts and creative fields who I assume are of means, but it is nice to see a high school prinicipal and city planner among the creatives), their instagram handle, and star signs (Sagittarius is misspelled several times and out of 54 people only 7 are Earth signs, so maybe there's some truth there) are noted but not where they live. So, I browsed the IGs, and it seems like a lot of Californians, so the airy and sunny interior design may not seems as cute if you live in a place with season. Also, I see rooms full of plants and think of all the care and upkeep it would take and then dusting with all those knick-knacks.
Good for inspiration, but I wouldn't buy it or copy the ideas completely.
The bad is that there's more than a whiff of cultural appropriation; I mean, sure throw some Buddha stature in when your decor is full of Moroccan rag rugs, African indigo, and serape inspired textiles, but it clashes and might get you the side eye from non-white friends. Blakeney uses "spirit animal" like she's a 1960s hippie. In the back, theirs a section about the people whose houses are photographed and their name, profession (mostly visual arts and creative fields who I assume are of means, but it is nice to see a high school prinicipal and city planner among the creatives), their instagram handle, and star signs (Sagittarius is misspelled several times and out of 54 people only 7 are Earth signs, so maybe there's some truth there) are noted but not where they live. So, I browsed the IGs, and it seems like a lot of Californians, so the airy and sunny interior design may not seems as cute if you live in a place with season. Also, I see rooms full of plants and think of all the care and upkeep it would take and then dusting with all those knick-knacks.
Good for inspiration, but I wouldn't buy it or copy the ideas completely.
July 23, 2017
I did really enjoy studying the details in all of the photos of the spaces, and reading the captions. It's a pleasure to read this book cover to cover, even if it's designed as a coffee table book to peruse. I also appreciated the honest nods to budget-friendly creative use of IKEA and eBay, which isn't typical of interior design books.
But now that I've finished, I would basically describe The New Bohemians as a book featuring a collection of white people who: really love kilim, suzani, and stuff from Mexico and Morocco; who work as designers and/or stylists; and who say things like:
"We think of ourselves as free-spirited life hackers, crystal peacemakers, mindful disco lovers, with future rainbow prism hearts," and
"Our home is a mish-mash, a palimpsest of our lives."
Does Bohemianism really need to be further stereotyped as the realm of privileged hippies who like to pretend that they invented incense? Some diversity would've really kept this book from falling, at times, into eye-roll territory. Where are the boho teachers, immigration lawyers, baristas, journalists in this book? Surely there are homes that have quirky, beautiful style in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South, Rockies or New England (somewhere other than Portland, LA, and New York)? Maybe a farmhouse or a cooperative housing situation? How about more people who actually incorporate artifacts and textiles from their own ethnicities/countries into their living spaces?
Overall, nice to read through once, probably won't keep coming back to it as a resource.
But now that I've finished, I would basically describe The New Bohemians as a book featuring a collection of white people who: really love kilim, suzani, and stuff from Mexico and Morocco; who work as designers and/or stylists; and who say things like:
"We think of ourselves as free-spirited life hackers, crystal peacemakers, mindful disco lovers, with future rainbow prism hearts," and
"Our home is a mish-mash, a palimpsest of our lives."
Does Bohemianism really need to be further stereotyped as the realm of privileged hippies who like to pretend that they invented incense? Some diversity would've really kept this book from falling, at times, into eye-roll territory. Where are the boho teachers, immigration lawyers, baristas, journalists in this book? Surely there are homes that have quirky, beautiful style in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South, Rockies or New England (somewhere other than Portland, LA, and New York)? Maybe a farmhouse or a cooperative housing situation? How about more people who actually incorporate artifacts and textiles from their own ethnicities/countries into their living spaces?
Overall, nice to read through once, probably won't keep coming back to it as a resource.
June 23, 2016
When I read the title, I expected something like Stevie Nicks style, vardo wagon color combinations, print on print and stuff everywhere, with thrift store finds used in new ways and lots and lots of wicker and fringe. The problem was I was missing the ‘New’ part of the title. These are homes with thrift store finds and international textiles, but they are pared down and very nearly spare. The walls are mostly white, allowing the textiles and art (there is always art) to be focal spots rather than part of a tapestry.
The home owners are mostly artists, boutique owners, and others with ties to the artistic world. Most of them are world travelers. They utilize textiles, art, and décor from indigenous cultures around the world. Pretty much all of them have plants. Many work from their homes and so the home must be multifunctional. They have few rules, except that one must make one’s home one’s own, and everything in the world is up for use however you want.
I liked some of the homes- loved the one where a woman made a home in a parking lot- and others left me cold- about average for me with any decorating book, although I liked the majority of what I saw by a hair. I liked that rather than just a look book, she had DIY projects. And a Plant-a-pedia, because they are so important to the style. Four stars out of five.
The home owners are mostly artists, boutique owners, and others with ties to the artistic world. Most of them are world travelers. They utilize textiles, art, and décor from indigenous cultures around the world. Pretty much all of them have plants. Many work from their homes and so the home must be multifunctional. They have few rules, except that one must make one’s home one’s own, and everything in the world is up for use however you want.
I liked some of the homes- loved the one where a woman made a home in a parking lot- and others left me cold- about average for me with any decorating book, although I liked the majority of what I saw by a hair. I liked that rather than just a look book, she had DIY projects. And a Plant-a-pedia, because they are so important to the style. Four stars out of five.
January 10, 2019
This is my second Justina Blakeney book. I read them in reverse order, the handbook before this initial volume. She provides a visual education on a free-spirited, highly individualized home decor esthetic ... one that sprang from the original French bohemians, expressing their tastes, their financial poverty, and their endless creativity. But I'm convinced that there is a Myers-Briggs element to all of this. Certain types of us are drawn to curating little spaces in our homes, are comfortable with clutter if it has an aesthetic quality about it, and want to do things ourselves, be original. Maybe William Morris is one of our gurus. This is the antidote to the Marie Kondo school of toss most things out ... except for one similarity. Both Blakeney and Kondo emphasize keeping what brings you a feeling of joy. I am finding this book and her handbook to be inspirational as I create a meditation room in my house and redo the basement apartment. What a joy!
March 1, 2017
I don't read a lot of design books, and to say I "read" this isn't quite accurate - I don't read cover to cover, but I loved the pictures and tidbits and snippets and think it was very well done and fun to peruse. It's a very pretty book, and definitely inspires my natural inclination for this style to push into some new directions. My only criticism would be that I'm not sure the case studies, people's homes featured in the book, are necessarily representative of real life, ie, I would love to see some homes that were more down to earth and didn't have fantastic windows and designers for owners, to see that interpretation. I realize it is a design showcase, but still. And most of the homes were in LA or Portland, might be good to have a bit more breadth.
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