Now that I’m serious about overhauling June’s room, I’ve been perusing my two all-time favorite go-to guides for decor inspiration: Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Books from the late 60s and early 70s. I love these books! They are so detailed and inspired, weirdly current and, yes, a bit wacky.
Check out this dining room…
It’s like a presidential dining hall for clowns. Can you imagine trying to eat Beef Wellington in this room? You’d choke, fall over in your chair, bang your head on that zebra and die.
What I love most about these books is that despite the wacky spreads, they’re full of practical, useful decor advice that I find lacking in modern shelter magazines, which seem to focus more on gorgeous interior photography and aspirational lifestyles than offering nitty gritty information.
The Home Decorating series goes over things like…
furniture placement.
Traffic flow.
Texture — how different materials and finishes (shag carpet with metal and woods) can bring a room to life.
They even go over things like correct lamp height for different types of seating.
And rainbows. You heard me: Rainbows. Is it wrong for a grown woman to want a kitchen with rainbow trim?
And when I move into my dream house someday, I am copying this basement lounge area right down to that crappy TV. A gal needs a quiet place to curl up, drink Tab and watch Fantasy Island.
One section that holds particular fascination for me is the kids chapter.
Oh sure, some of the children’s rooms make you want to tear the head off that creepy sunflower doll and throw yourself out that drapey window…
Yikes! And you thought Chucky was scary.
But some pics give me great ideas…
A quirky assemblage of pop art…
And I’m loving the vibrancy of pink and red together.
You see where my head is at as I approach June’s room.
Check out vintage decor books yourself on eBay or on sites like Etsy.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Omg. I have created quite the collection, in the lase year, of bh&g cookbooks. The things that women used to do with unflavored gelatin would blow your mind.
i love your smart ass humor!…you always give me a morning laugh out loud …and that basement room..oy! back when the tvs were a normal size and theres plenty of room to roll your dubes….cuz ya know..i heard…or something..
Oh I am not kidding about that basement lounge area. It will be mine one day.
Sunflower-head is pretty creepy, but that rocking chair is kind of awesome! Have you seen Interior Desecrations? Snarky commentary on magazines just like this…
http://www.lileks.com/institute/interiors/BHG/index.html