Penguin Life A Modern Way to Live: 5 Design Principles from The Modern House

A one-star deduction because Gibberd has a try-too-hard, thesaurus-based writing style that's paradoxical to the simple ideas presented in the book. I think the editor failed him here. But overall it's pretty good and I would recommend it. I picked up some great tips for a forthcoming house build, especially the concept in the Light chapter where an owner's design progressively reveals more light as one moves deeper into the building, like a clearing in a forest. Brilliant, and I am totally copying it. The other sections are very good except Materials, where he does not seem on totally firm ground. He advocates for brick and concrete with no mention of stone, the greatest building material of all. The best part is the orange/yellow ribbon marker! By statute every hardcover book should be required to have one.

Even though I have many of these interiors and design books I never read them thoroughly. I flick through for ideas, pick up on imagery and read relevant sections. This book however I was compelled to read cover to cover. It has completely changed my perspective on what a home is - or can be. It examines 5 concepts: space; light, materials, nature and decoration and the way it has been written encourages you to think about, and at times challenges you to consider how you choose, use - or have ignored - the impact these design principles have upon you, your family and guests to your home. The book doesn't merely examine how a house looks but how it feels and how you live within it. The author doesn't offer rigid concepts and 'must do's' but asks us to question whether our lifestyle these days requires the same structures within the home as it did historically: do we need a study when a 'home office' these days tends to be a laptop on the knee or dining table? Are dinner guests these days more likely to be sitting at the kitchen island with a glass of wine and potato peeler chatting to the hosts as they prepare dinner, rather than being ushered into a separate room for pre-dinner drinks and canapés? My number one piece of learning from this book is that standard features within the home don't have to be utilitarian. Why not invest in the things you use and touch the most regularly: door handles, taps, light switches etc? My favourite concept however was that of chiaroscuro: the use of both natural and creative darkness-light within the home - which aptly encapsulates the impact this book has had upon me - illuminating! Absolutely love it. Have already gifted 3 copies.

Je l’ai acheté en sachant parfaitement que ce n’est pas un catalogue, ni un livre de recettes ni un manuel d’architecture… :D parce que , vous voyez … je sais lire le mot de l’éditeur. C’est un livre doux comme un câlin d’une mère aimante. À tous ceux qui rêvent d’avoir une maison et non une demeure… j’ai adoré

An enjoyable read with lots of interesting insights. The authors passion for the subject shines through

Lovely book, really enjoyed it. The images could use captions and also the fifth section on decoration should have been written by someone who knows more about that topic, ‘never paint ceilings dark’ for example is old fashioned advice.