Ethnic Style: From Mexico to the Mediterranean

by Miranda Innes

This study of ethnic interiors from all over of the world examines the important elements of different ethnic decorative styles, using photographs of real interiors, and shows how each style can be reproduced in one's own home. It includes practical tips and a list of suppliers.

Genres: Design

142 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Alejandro Teruel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love interior decorating and have a weakness for ethnic and folk crafts and design, you will probably cherish this book. The author obviously knows what she is talking about, the book is carefully, and beautifully designed and there are tons of meticulously photographed house interiors. So, why only three stars?

To be honest, I am not sure what it is about the book that bothers me and holds me back from evaluating it with four or five stars. Perhaps it is the lack of a definition of what constitutes ethnic style -the closest one the author comes to a definition is in the introduction to the second part (and I am translating from the Spanish edition back into English):

Ethnic style is based on simple objects and materials.

This is a little too vague for my liking, it seems to include folk, rustic and popular design as well -or does it? She includes Australian outstations and farmhouses (what is ethnic about these?). Perhaps it is that the author veers all over the place, explaining the different way mud is used in building across Africa, mentioning sangiras and kothas (not included in the short glossary at the back of the book), commenting on the antiquity of basketry found in archeological digs in Utah or Peru or describing log cabins as the cruel ending of the spectre of wooden architecture ("Las cabañas hechas a base de troncos y de madera contraenchapada son el cruel final del espectro de la arquitectura de madera"). Perhaps it is simply the sheer number of overindulgent glossy photographs jam-packed with detail: a magpie's feast for the eye.

Perhaps the more sanguine attitude to adopt is simply step back back, recreate the interiors in the mind's eye and enjoy the photographs individually, browse the texts for interesting tidbits, or in the second part of the book, hints on craftmanship.

The Spanish translation occasionally and jarringly slips into curious mistranslations, such as "héctico" for "hectic" -in Spanish "héctico" means consumptive or describing Frida Kahlo's house as being representative of of a combination of genius and infantilism ("genio e infantilismo") -ouch!

I will probably come back to this book -it is certainly worth giving it time to sink in- and would not be at all surprised to find myself tearing up this review. Don't pay much attention to this extremely subjective review and if you have the chance to do so, borrow this book from a library and take the time to carefully and slowly look through it before you make up your mind to buy it.

[Velvetink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This study of ethnic interiors from all over of the world examines the important elements of different ethnic decorative styles, using photographs of real interiors, and shows how each style can be reproduced in one's own home. It includes practical tips and a list of suppliers.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures from around the world. Lots of good decorating ideas. Lots of amazing Moroccan stuff. I was sad there was nothing from Central Asia--surprised really, since I see suzanis everywhere nowadays.