Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney

Design*Sponge at Home Reviews

• 
  Jennifer

  I don't know why I keep checking out books that come out of blogs I follow. I always expect them to be more than print copies of things seen or read on the blogs. This one, like the others I've read, is not. I like the site so much, I almost didn't write this review, but that seemed dishonest somehow.
  
  There are pretty pictures of many homes, like the "sneak peeks" on the Design*Sponge site. They seem less personal in print, however, missing the little comments from the homeowners about what they like best about their homes.
  
  Crafts and floral arrangements fill the rest of the book. Neither goes beyond what you find online, but they are nicely organized and presented.
• 
  Patty

  Do you love looking at interior design blogs? If you answered yes then you are going to enjoy this book. It is broken down into 5 sections.
  1)Sneak Peeks - This is the largest part of the book which is exactly what it says, a peek into someone's living space. You can go to the blog and see so much more of these spaces which were originally on the blog, but here you will just get a peek of that space. A great many of the spaces are of people who are very successful in interior design or a related field.
  2)DIY Projects - I think that says everything.
  3)DIY Basics - which shares with you the basic tools that you will want, and things like how to strip wood furniture, how to paint furniture, and sewing basics, among other things.
  4)Flower Workshop which shares the basics of flower arranging.
  5)Before and After spaces which concentrates on redoing furniture.
  Of course you can see all of this on the blog, but personally I love to be able to hold an actual book in my hands and put the computer/ipad away for awhile.
  Have you noticed that a lot of design books are doing away with a jacket cover and have created a much more attractive book cover? I like that!
• 
  Manik Sukoco

  While the old adage goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover!", Design Sponge at Home is gorgeous both inside and out!
  Insights into interesting interiors of everyday people with great design eyes. Mixture vintage, antique and modern, just shows objects with excellent lines never go out of style.
  Regardless of style, this book has something for every design enthusiast. While most of the spaces profiled in the book are on the small side, the styles are beautiful and varied. There's all sorts of styles profiled in the book; everything from tastefully done updated traditional to quirky modern and more niche decor like a Scandinavian themed canadian cabin. The writing is clear and concise and each room shot has accompanying blurbs with tips, tricks, and notes on where to find similar or identical pieces featured in the room shots.
  I sincerely hope that the author and editor continue to issue updates to this beautiful hardcover book.
• 
  Kayla Cagan

  I enjoy the Design*Sponge website and the layout of site much more than the book, which felt a bit chaotic to me. It's not as organized as I would have liked - even a break down regionally would have been interesting to me. I felt like I was just browsing schizophrenically from page to page without any rhyme or reason, which actually didn't feel very fun. I usually enjoy skipping around on the site.
  
  This said, the writing is smart and the photographs are clear. I just wish the actual organization of the book would have been more efficient. If you are a design lover, I think you will still enjoy this book with minimal complaint and receive maximum inspiration.
  
  
• 
  Linda

  Synopsis: people really into 'stuff' making a lot of fuss about tatty finds and hand-me-downs. My house has plenty...though not so prized/ artfully arranged. Usual shtick that we should be visiting more flea markets etc to search for the elusive 'piece' to fill a particular space in our home (read: life). Most of the DIY projects are for those with more time than sense. Some are vaguely useful but lacking in detail. Wish I hadn't bought it.
• 
  Kathy

  Beautifully photographed. A little on the etsy/DIY side for my taste but there are also some unique, sleek, and tailored homes. Remarkably, most homes not only incorporated books and libraries as design elements they also focused on and celebrated living with shelves and stacks of books.
  
  I flipped through the DIY section in the back because I am not crafty, but I can see how many people would enjoy these projects.
• 
  Sara

  Some good stuff, but a lot that I recognize as having seen on Design Sponge already at various points in time. Fun to flip through, but even flipping through got tiresome after a while (this is a BIG book).
  
  Made me wonder how much of a "well-decorated house" is camera angle and lighting, plus a cleaning and staging crew scouring through immediately prior to the camera angles and lighting.
• 
  Tiah

  A lot of great ideas and beautiful photos of amazing rooms. I got this book from the library, I would not purchase it. The ideas and photos are things you will find on the blog, so save your money. However, it was fun to look through. I am very inspired to start visiting the flea market!
• 
  Virginia

  I love Grace Bonney's (et al) blog and this book was just more of the best stuff. Loved getting to thumb through bunches and bunches of new Sneak Peeks. Also liked getting to read more about Grace's path to the blog. Delightful. I paged through it in about two lunches.
• 
  Laura

  I loved this book so much more than I thought I would. I already tried out one of the projects (yarn vase) and am looking forward to more. It's a book that teaches and inspires, and I just plain love looking at pretty houses.
• 
  Sarah Ryburn

  a.maz.ing. resplendent. unadulterated brilliance. five bazillion stars. seriously, i'll be scanning, rereading, referencing, indulging, etc for the next decade. an encyclopedia of home design inspiration.
• 
  Kayla Hollatz

  What a fun look into some eccentric homes! While not all of the spaces were my style, it was interesting to see how much each space reflected the people who lived there. Loved the stories too. May need to look at this again for flower inspiration at a later date!
• 
  Alison

  This book makes me sad about all the things I want to do to my house, but can't afford. I just have to remind myself that these people probably have massive credit card debt.
• 
  Carol

  This book is amazing! designsponge.com is my new favorite website. Such good ideas!!!
• 
  D. Thrush

  I don’t follow the Design*Sponge blog and got this book on sale. I didn’t even know what the term Design*Sponge meant. Apparently, it means to soak up design like a sponge. I’m always looking for decorating tips and inexpensive ways to improve my house. Sometimes I go on HGTV watching jags. I especially like before and after photos. Books like this can inspire and share great ideas. This book had several sections: Sneak Peeks of designer’s own interiors; DIY Projects; DIY Basics including curtains, upholstery, sewing, refinishing furniture; Flower Workshop about flower arranging; Before & After featuring projects shared by blog readers; Resource Guide. If you follow the blog, I’m sure you’ll love this book. I soaked up some ideas and tips. The full color photos are nice.
• 
  Jennifer Lawler

  Home decor addict? Spoil yourself with this interior design bible, Design*Sponge at Home. The hugely popular American blog was launched in 2004 and wasted no time in establishing itself as the funky younger sister the Martha Stewart brand never had. I’m thrilled to see the quirky site’s editor Grace Bonney has put her colourful experience and eagle eye to good use in publishing this must-have title.
• 
  Miggsy

  Beautiful and very inspiring living spaces, but really doesn't present anything new. I suggest Justina Blakeney's 'The New Bohemians' for interiors that really pop and excite.
• 
  Bree

  Notes:
  170 pgs home ideas and photos
  200 pgs DIY ideas
• 
  Beka

  Lots of lovely pictures and inspiring DIY projects.
• 
  Jeanna Cooper

  An inspiring interior design book, with an entire section dedicated to DIY projects.
  It even had instructions for basic flower arrangements, a much overlooked but useful skill in design.
• 
  Emily Hampton Haynes

  Gonna have to come back to this book when I’m ready to make more permanent living space changes but i loved all the ideas and color photos in this one!
• 
  Jennifer

  Honestly...just a copy of the blog. Not overly impressed.
• 
  Stephanie

  Houses on parade. On one hand, useful for inspiration but also - a little boring and self-indulgent
• 
  Jodi

  Lost of sneak peak pics, craft/DIY projects and shopping references. A fun look book!