William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Home
This beautifully illustrated volume combines an introduction to arts and crafts founder William Morris with contemporary interpretations of his design vision. The first section examines Morris' design philosophy, and lavishly illustrated chapters, featuring images from Morris' homes, showcase original designs for wallpapers, fabrics, and furniture as well as ideas for finishing touches and overall room composition. "Case studies" of contemporary interiors inspired by Morris' designs and philosophies make up the book's second half. The text is lively but could have benefited from stronger editing; whole quotes are repeated within pages of each other. Still, the visuals are stunning. Color photographs of sweeping interiors blend with sharp close-ups of Morris' patterns, including some unfinished projects, which offer a glimpse of his work methodology. Artists, designers, and browsers seeking to enliven their own living spaces will find much inspiration in this introduction to Morris' forward-thinking ideas about celebrating craftsmanship, finding inspiration in nature, and avoiding "the accumulation of useless things." A list of top arts and crafts sites in the U.K and North America is appended.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved