Keep it Simple: A Guide to a Happy, Relaxed Home

by Atlanta Bartlett, Dave Coote

How to create a home that is beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming, yet meets the many demands of busy day-to-day life.

In Keep It Simple, Atlanta Bartlett and Dave Coote present a practical and inspirational guide to create a happy and relaxed home that works perfectly for everyone who lives in it. They start at the beginning, explaining the key elements at the heart of their unique decorating philosophy, The Simple Mindset, which appreciates good, honest design, values quality not quantity, and advocates rediscovering the simple pleasures in life. In Chapter 2: Making it Happen, Atlanta and Dave focus on design essentials such as working with existing architecture and choosing color, furniture, fabrics, accessories and decorative details. Finally, in Living the Dream, they take a tour through every room in the home, from attic to cellar, revealing how effortless and enjoyable it can be to put together rooms that are practical yet personal and beautiful, and to create a home that's easy to live in and easy on the eye.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Interior Design

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2015

Reviews

[Penny Watson]

Too rustic for me.

The overall aesthetic of this book has a cool vibe, pretty pictures. Trying to find ideas that will work for you? You can pick and choose from the images--yes, this makes sense and would work for me. No, this is nutso.

There's rustic--and then there's you-will-need-a-tetanus-shot-if-you-sit-on-this-chair.

Not functional or practical to have rusty metal chairs--inside or outside.

A work desk needs to be comfortable, not a metal fold-away chair. No way a writer could sit there for 8+ hours a day working on a manuscript. Same for dining room chairs--they should be comfortable to encourage a lingering family meal.

There is a way to make things practical, functional, and have a cool aesthetic at the same time. This book doesn't quite get there.

I like the part about color the best.

[Beth Bonini · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pleasant book to look at but not very memorable.
There is a lot of white: white floors, walls, fabric and white space.
It's airy, vintage, rustic, a bit French and a bit country, and very 'in vogue' at the moment.
In some ways it's a classic style, certainly in its appreciation of the stripped-back bones of a house and certain 'comfort-giving' but utilitarian elements. There are lots of wood burning fireplaces, cushions made from vintage florals, leather club chairs, natural materials of every kind, etc, etc.
I do love this sort of style, but it's starting to look predictable and homogenous to me.
Maybe it's not this book's fault, but I do seem to have read too many similar books lately.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book about home design with an emphasis on sustainability and salvaging vintage items. Some of the homes look very comfortable and functional, but there are a lot of metal chairs in dining and office areas which look painful for the arthritis years. Having said that, there are lots of good ideas and inspiration here.

[Tim Corke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great coffee table book from the library to get the creative juices flowing prior to a house move. It’s a bit glam and unrealistic in its photography, think beautiful cottage kitchens, farmhouse tables, rather than new build, so needs a bit of work to get the right flavour for the new house.

[Rick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting at all, purely a home decorating book which I suppose it might give you some ideas. Pretty much style over function in my opinion.

[Robin Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty book about using vintage finds to make a beautiful home, rather than about minimalism.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Atlanta Bartlett's name is on the cover, I know I'll love it. This is a gorgeous, inspiring book.

[Hannah]

Eee I love the minimalist/comfy style! I hope to achieve ultimate comfort in my homes someday.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Corinnagoodwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm just in a grumpy mood, but looking at this book upsets me. every thing looks dirty and cold, which is weird because must on this style I like.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a couple of Atlanta Barlett's books, they always contain photographs of homes, rooms etc, I'd like to see something different.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

A whole lot of airy space, both in content and visually, pressed between two covers.

[Kimberly DuBois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely photos but a bit too primitive for me and my current home. Text was written to offer lots of decorating ideas/suggestions. Seemed more fitting for owners of cottages or a primitive cabins.

[Rachel B · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a repackaged book from 2015, which explains why it's full of white, white, white, and "shabby chic" - emphasis on the shabby.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My style!