Simple Pleasures of the Home: Comforts and Crafts for Living Well (Home Decor, Recipes, Crafts for Adults, and Inspirational Quotes)

by Susannah Seton

"Home," writes Susannah Seton. "There are few words that carry such potent feelings. It's the place where we can let down our hair, loosen our clothes, put our feet up. It's where those we love most share in the ordinariness and extraordinariness of our days. It's the place many of us spend lifetimes trying to get back to. As the proverb goes, it's where our hearts are. Simple Pleasures of the Home is for everyone who has the nesting impulse from passionate and accomplished home decorators to anyone who simply enjoys domestic downtime. Organized room by room, the book includes dozens of simple activities for bringing the family together, creative ideas for pampering yourself and loved ones, easy-to-follow instructions for making aromatherapy products, tips for candlemaking, and comfortfood recipes As the proverb goes, it's where our hearts are."

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of tips for making one's home a sanctuary. The ideas were gathered from numerous people. There were some interesting ideas, recipes, quotes, crafts, and general thoughts on home.

Because there were numerous contributors suggestions were sometimes contradictory or simply rather random. It didn't feel like an entirely coherent collection. Also, having originally been published 18 years ago it does show its age with some design suggestions that are very much dated.

Some of the recipes looked interesting, but there aren't enough of them and they aren't well organized enough for me to add it to my cookbook collection. The only tip that really stuck with me by the end of the book was to braise onions in wine rather than cooking them in butter for a topping or a tasty addition to sauces.

Nevertheless, I give it a three because I'm sure some of the ideas would have been innovative when it was first published, and it doesn't seem fair to hold that against it.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gift from a friend, and it has been in my TBR pile for a long time. I was reading a magazine with the theme about the joys and comforts of home (which many during the pandemic spent more time in) and decided to look at it. It is wisdom and wit covering each room in your house and your outdoor space. It has recipes, crafts, a lot about aromatherapy and herbs along with little cute quotes and stories. This compilation makes it a feel-good read. Pick and choose what interests you. It did not make me feel like I had to do a certain thing or decorate a certain way. I enjoyed it one hot summer afternoon in my swing as a thankful blessing of being able to have a home to enjoy.

[Lauren Farris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used a pretzal recipe from this for a class project. Most of the recipes are ok, but some are pretty good!

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Separated by room with quotes -cooking, tips about projects, hodgepodge of things all thrown in together without any rhythm I can see.