Product Description

She loves her antiques. He's a modern minimalist. Bringing the best of both worlds together is a labor of love made easier with a little expert guidance. Nest for Two celebrates the shared dwelling with 225 inspiring color photographs showcasing the cozy corners, romantic details, and practical solutions that help couples savor the pleasures of home life together. From the living room to the bedroom, the homes in Nest for Two present hundreds of ingenious ideas for sharing space and uniting two personal styles in ways that are both comfortable for the inhabitants and welcoming to family and friends. From mingling disparate collections of art and ephemera in the living room, to organizing kitchen work areas to make room for two, the advice in Nest for Two spans a variety of sensible topics. The environments are at once down to earth and exceptional, with practical tips ranging from how to share closet space to how to serve the very best breakfasts in bed. A joyful primer for settling into a sublime shared space, Nest for Two is rich with ideas for creating a well-organized, beautiful setting where everyone feels at home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #725168 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-31
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 132 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this touchy-feely decorating guide, lifestyle writer Serrell advises cohabiting couples on the art of merging styles and accoutrements to create a perfectly meshed environment. For example, champagne glasses, she writes, "are essential" to a celebration for two, pieces of artwork "need not ‘go together’" to coexist in the living room and "one-of-a-kind items chosen individually by you and your partner" show off the personality of a bedroom and its inhabitants. Serrell stresses that a couple’s home should reflect who they are, both separately and as a pair. Tips for sharing the perfect breakfast in bed or lounging together in a flower-filled bathroom may seem unrealistic to couples strapped for time. And many of the decorating hints, such as balancing a "streamlined sleeper sofa in soft gray" with a "red leather vintage chair from the 1930s," may be impractical for couples who are budgeting their cash. But Serrell’s advice is warm and Gowdy’s photographs are soothing, making this a pleasant design guide and gentle proponent of domestic harmony, both spatial and emotional.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Allison Serrell is a writer and editor specializing in lifestyle. Her work has appeared in House Beautiful, Woman's Day, and Country Home. She resides in San Francisco where she researches and writes "At Home with the Stylemakers," a monthly column for the San Francisco Chronicle Home section. Thayer Allyson Gowdy is a San Francisco-based photographer whose work has appeared in Real Simple, Town & Country, and Cooking Light.

Customer Reviews

Stylish look, but skimpy on content
The print and photos are boxed off in trendy pastel cubes. Tiny print makes much of the book hard to read. The text really adds little, but if you're looking for decorating ideas, there are plenty of photos to browse.
If you're looking for in depth analysis of what makes a house into a home, this will disappoint. Take a look at Sharing a Place Without Losing Your Space by Regina Leeds. I guess I was disappointed in A Nest for Two as the title implies coziness, togetherness, blending a couple's decorating style. Instead this is just another collection of photos of home decor.

I keep going back to it
I have hundreds of books on architecture; I seem to always come back to this one. Granted, the text is less than illuminating, but the spaces pictured and the decorating solutions are first-rate. It's simply a beautiful book from beginning to end. This is a must have for those of us who dream in the old and new, in light and space, and want to feel inspired. Lovely!