Susan Sargent's The Comfort of Color : inspire transform create

From Publishers Weekly
Whether it's a studio apartment or a rambling farmhouse, any home can be enhanced by color, argues Sargent in this effervescent, eye-popping guide to using color in interior design. Having spent much of her career as a weaver and dyer, Sargent is well qualified to be a color coach. She prefers bright, strong colors that stimulate the senses, because adding color to a home is uplifting (plus, "life is too short for beige"). To prove this point, Sargent and her team make over eight houses in vibrant colors, taking their cues from the homeowners' most treasured possessions and using paint and textiles in unconventional ways. The results are zesty and invigorating, though it would have helped to include more "before" shots of each home to show the extent of the transformations. In other entertaining sections, Sargent expounds on the psychological effects of various colors: a page called "Where Chromophobia Meets Homophobia" explains why even the most enlightened New Age man will balk at having his bedroom painted pink. Sargent's enthusiasm and energy make her a cheery guide and potential design diva, though she points out that she'd rather emulate Julia Child than "the M-woman." Accordingly, she balances information on color theory and compatible hues with the welcome advice to simply "Get messy!" and have fun with color. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description
Filled with more than 200 inspiring full-color photographs and practical interior design advice, Susan Sargent’s The Comfort of Color is an essential guide for all people who are considering transforming their monochromatic home into a colorful and uplifting living space.


From the Inside Flap
Susan Sargent’s The Comfort of Color presents dramatic color makeovers of nine diverse home environments, from a young couple’s starter home to downsizing retirees’ apartment. Author Susan Sargent is known for brightly colored, quality home furnishings and accessories found in her stores in Vermont and on Boston’s Newbury Street, as well as in numerous retail outlets. In this new book, Sargent emphasizes finding a style and color scheme that suits and reflects the homeowner’s personality. The hands-on presentation of each makeover is inspirational, whether a complete renovation or a minor revamp. Sargent demonstrates how color can transform the atmosphere of a home while complementing the owner’s family heirlooms, antiques, and personal collections. She also discusses how color can influence people’s emotions. Sidebars include tips on how to resist formulaic approaches, chromophobia versus chromophilia, and the power of different colors. Susan Sargent’s sophisticated style, full of pattern and bright hues, will bring great warmth and personality to every reader’s home.


About the Author
Susan Sargent is an artisan and color advocate who has been featured in the New York Times, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and other major publications. She divides her time between her Vermont design studio and her home furnishings stores, and creates collections of textiles, furniture, and accessories. Susan also runs Bright House Color Workshops™ for people who want to expand their color eye and skills. She recently opened her flagship store on Boston’s Newbury Street.


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Whether it's a studio apartment or a rambling farmhouse, any home can be enhanced by color, argues Sargent in this effervescent, eye-popping guide to using color in interior design. Having spent much of her career as a weaver and dyer, Sargent is well qualified to be a color coach. She prefers bright, strong colors that stimulate the senses, because adding color to a home is uplifting (plus, "life is too short for beige"). To prove this point, Sargent and her team make over eight houses in vibrant colors, taking their cues from the homeowners' most treasured possessions and using paint and textiles in unconventional ways. The results are zesty and invigorating, though it would have helped to include more "before" shots of each home to show the extent of the transformations. In other entertaining sections, Sargent expounds on the psychological effects of various colors: a page called "Where Chromophobia Meets Homophobia" explains why even the most enlightened New Age man will balk at having his bedroom painted pink. Sargent's enthusiasm and energy make her a cheery guide and potential design diva, though she points out that she'd rather emulate Julia Child than "the M-woman." Accordingly, she balances information on color theory and compatible hues with the welcome advice to simply "Get messy!" and have fun with color. (Sept. 1) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


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