The Conran Octopus Decorating Book

Published by Conran Octopus

A massive book, the ‘bible’ for anyone interested in decorating, I wrote this with four other distinguished authors. As well as my section on Windows and Doors, which has since been published as a separate book (see above for the details of this), The Conran Octopus Decorating Book contains chapters on:

§         Design and Detailing by Anoop Parikh

§         Walls by Debora Robertson

§         Floors by Thomas Lane

§         Furniture and Furnishings by Melanie Paine  

 

 

This is another spread from my section on Windows and Doors, with practical diagrams showing the best way to tackle painting a door, section by section. There are also photographs of two contrasting interiors, both of which I like for their strong individuality. In the room in the left-hand photograph, the door’s panels have been painted different colours, both in the restful blue-green range, and the curtain has a wonderfully dynamic design of coloured rings hand-painted onto it. Anyone can make such a curtain at home for themselves. Clear the kitchen table, buy in some calico (boil-wash and iron it before you start work) and some craft fabric paints, and off you go. Let rip! Go for a bold, strong design rather than small and detailed.

The other interior (on the right-hand page) is clean, simple and uncompromisingly modern. I like the way that the bold squares of the door panes contrast pleasingly with the red-painted curved wall. You don’t have to have a modern house or flat to get this look, but it helps. The key is restraint, and careful attention to surfaces and choice of colours.