Living Well By Design

Everything that surrounds you affects you, so surround yourself only with things you love.

Melissa Penfold’s book Living Well By Design is a treasure trove of beautiful writing and photography with images of her own home alongside stunning projects of designers.  Her discerning eye and the thoughtful explanations of design fundamentals instill confidence in readers who seek to up their home game. Penfold is a longtime columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and contributor to Australia’s major publications, crowning her “Queen of Style”.  She grew up in magnificent homes and an early exposure to art, antiques and design. Who better than Penfold to identify basic design principles such as light and space, composition and balance, and pattern and texture- with  jaw dropping examples and pointers on how to apply them to your own home. 

 She believes there is a difference between furnishing a room and decorating a room- and that difference is style. Your home should be an expression of your personal aesthetic.  Decorating is an autobiography, and a home should feel like a portrait of the person who lives there. Home is the ongoing story of a person and should be decorated with things that please the eye, soothe the senses, and and move us in some way.

 

The above photo is an example of how to maximize a stunning view.  Architect Dimitris Zographos created this magical outdoor space on remote Greek island of Symi from what was previously a ruin. Note the mosaic paving.

Throw open the windows and doors, and roll up every blind to bring in natural light during the day. It will make everything just seem fresher. 

The wall of metal framed windows and doors in this room designed by Rachel Halvorson allows the garden to have an aesthetic impact on the interior. 

The kitchen of Bunny Williams’ recently decorated two bedroom apartment in a 1920s Gothic Revival building in New York. The cabinetry is painted in a dark custom color from Donald Kaufman Color. 

Buy only what you love and you’ll be surprised how well everything works together over the years. 

order your copy here, and one for a friend too!

About the author

Melissa Penfold is a longtime design columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and contributor to major Australian publications which include Vogue Living, Belle, House & Garden, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar. She lives in Australia and this book includes images of her own home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Abbie Melle

 

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