Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life

The cover of this book intrigued me on the the store website; fresh and graceful handling of classic pieces in monochromatic black and white, all set off by the "piano key" border down the left side and very smart-looking. Unfortunately, this is the highlight of the book and from here the author's work tends to be variations on the same theme, which is quickly tiresome. Her prose is personable and pleasant, if cheeky, but that's not enough to justify the purchase price. It caused me to do something I rarely do - I returned my copy.

Very disappointing. If I try to buy another interior book online, will someone please remind me that doing so is rarely a good way to do make this kind of purchase. This book is for amateurs. It might be OK for someone who's recently left their family home, who has had no interior design role models and no exposure to good design. It's very, very basic, with so little information as to be at the level of a baby's first book. It's already been moved to the pile of books I'm donating to Goodwill.

The author's blog has been my daily morning coffee read for several years and her first book delivers with the same engaging writing and honest (and often hilarious) tone. Organized by rooms of the house, she walks you through designing and renovating her home while offering an inside look at both her process and life. Fun 'adds' like family recipes, her 'go to' wall colors and must-have wardrobe essentials are pages that you'll want to bookmark. The first design book I've read with such a personal touch, this is not only a beautiful book (the striped binding is amazing) but a fun read that feels like a conversation with a good friend!

As a busy mom and working professional, I have very little time to do "extras" like write reviews; however, this book is awesome and I felt compelled to write about it. Erin has a writing style that is intriguing yet makes her seem amazingly relatable. She weaves her design advice with personal narratives that truly make you feel like you're getting expert advice from a friend. I've been reading her blog for the last six years, and this book is a combination of her blog style and interior design style that, other than Erin's personal homes, is fairly new, fun and refreshing material. I especially loved the illustrations throughout and the source book at the end, it's just another way she makes her design seem obtainable for the rest of us.

Absolutely stunning cover and the contents are just as engaging. I follow Erin Gates blog regularly, so I was eager to pre-order the book. I finished it in 2 days because I just couldn't put it down. The photos and her writing style are so relatable, and informative. This is a must-read for anybody looking to re-style or re-decorate.

This book is absolutely delightful. I have been following Erin's blog of the same name for years and adore her work and content. This book does not disappoint. Erin's voice is very much a part of the book, which can get lost in editing. I assure you it did not. Congratulations Erin!! I hope to work with Erin in the future! So lovely.

Amazing! The book is so well organized and fun to read. A coffee table book that reads like a magazine. It is an expertly curated mix of images, lists, suggestions. My favorite was a list with pictures of the best paint colors... Something I was desperately in need of for painting a new house. A beautiful reflection of her blog - the writing was spectacular. It will be my new go-to housewarming gift!!

This is the best decorating book I have ever purchased and I have a lot of them, the pictures are just beautiful and all of the room are decorated for real people lives. Just a excellent book, will purchase it for my daughter for Christmas as well.

I always look forward to Erin's blog each morning with my cup of coffee. This book lives up to everything I expected from Erin and more. It's fun to read and I can't put it down! Great info and pictures to illustrate the text. It's the best source for my style decorating I have purchased by far. Great job Erin!

I rarely write reviews, but as I have been following Erin Gates since I met her long ago before she made this incredible name for herself through her blog, seeing this book in print and seeing her at the book signing at West Elm this week, truly can make us all know that her incredible hard work and talent should make this a book be part of every stylish home. Whether you are a designer yourself (like me), or a home owner with loads of ideas and dreams to dress yourself and your home a little better, this is a coffee table (or in my case nightstand, as I am still re-reading pages and pages) book staple that is filled with much more than gorgeous photographs of her much awaited projects. Trust me, it's not just a pretty book, or just a pretty cover, it is jam packed with great ideas, projects, gorgeous illustrations and wonderful writing.

I have ordered many design books in my time, mostly just taking quick looks through the pictures and putting them on the shelf never to be touched again. So far I am finding this book quite different. One of the most appealing aspects of the book for me has been the stories, and the beautiful way Erin has weaved these stories into a book about creating not just a house but a home. The stories are so compelling, in fact, that my wife (who has no interest in design) and I are reading the stories with each other at night leading to some laughs and interesting conversations about our own process of creating a home together.

I don't know Erin, but her writing has such a personal voice that it is very relatable, both in her blog and in this book. I'm not usually compelled to write reviews for books, but I think Erin deserves credit for putting together such a beautiful book. It is clear that time was taken to make this book unique, not just a bunch of blog posts strung together in book form. As someone who has read all her blog posts, that is much appreciated and also reflects on Erin's dedication to making this book something new and fresh. I would highly recommend this book, not just for those interested in design, but for anyone interested in reflecting on creating a life with someone and reading great writing. This book will offer more than your typical design book, I can't wait to continue my journey reading it!