Creative Style: Liveable, loveable spaces

by Lizzie McGraw, Fifi O'Neill

Unleash your creativity to design a home you love – a space that is distinctly yours and works in perfect harmony with your lifestyle.

Author Lizzie McGraw, the founder of interiors boutique Tumbleweed & Dandelion, has had the honor of designing many different styles of home for all kinds of people. She understands that, when designing a space, one should thoroughly understand the lives of its inhabitants. The creative process is fun and adventurous, though it takes patience, imagination and self-awareness to transform your home into your sanctuary. In Creative Style , Lizzie begins with the basics—textiles, furniture, and accessories—and then opens the doors to 12 of her inspiring interiors projects. They include her own 1920s cottage in California, which she has lovingly restored and furnished with fleamarket finds and upcycled vintage pieces. This once-neglected building is now light, airy and full of character—a testament to the power of creativity.

Genres: Interior Design, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2022

Reviews

[Mary Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title should have been California Style. Perfect for those who appreciate that west coast more casual style of interior decorating. These projects were mostly relatable to the average layperson designer and accessible to a wide audience with a variety of budgets. Most of the looks could be replicated at different price points.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. I saw the designer's own summer house in a magazine (also featured in this book) and thought I would check this out. McGraw is the designer while others wrote the text and took the pictures. There is little specific direction for capturing the style; and anyway the style is well-monied (as admittedly are many books of this genre). The one-page intro by McGraw is lovely and inspiring but then there are about 12 pages on her Venice shop, and the other features often have testimonials about the decorator in the outtake quotes. Felt too much like an advertising piece.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 stars. Beautiful photos showcase McGraw's keen eye for style and decor. While I didn't relate to most of the homes shown (their price point and life style were beyond my means or interests), I did find the sections showing her own homes to be extremely inspirational and intriguing and her commentary on these spaces was by far the most interesting. These sections could have been expanded to be a book in their own right which would have been more enjoyable and inspiring.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great aesthetic but slightly repetitive. More stories and less bragging about connections would have been helpful.