Design and Decor No. 4: Every Room Should Sing

“There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW.

WOW is the one to aim for.” Milton Glaser

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR ROOM SING?

Number four in an ongoing series of reviews on design and décor books

Written by Cece M. Scott

“There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW.

WOW is the one to aim for.” Milton Glaser

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR ROOM SING?

Could there be anything more inspiring for a book lover than spending time leisurely turning the pages of a high-gloss photographic compilation of colourful, high energy rooms, ones that you can absolutely see yourself nestled within, a wine glass in hand as you stand under the glow of a seashell scalloped ceiling light that makes your lips form a wondrous ‘O’ of enchantment?

Beata Heuman’s new book, Every Room Should Sing, delivers these kinds of sensory experiences, page, after page, after page.

Heuman’s London, (U.K.) interior design studio, www.beataheuman.com is known for its imaginative playful approach to interiors, and that lively and spirited approach is evident in her book. Linger-on-the-page feature spreads include a candy-striped headboard, a blue lattice-cut sideboard which was designed by Heuman’s studio, and a books-and-funky-décor-library with dramatic sashed curtains to close the world out.

What a delightful sense of comfy that room would nurture, a hidden designer cave full of books and all things lovely.

Another pause-inspired image that had me time-travelling to, is of a small but delightful terrace-for-two, whose open French doors peek into a breakfast room where I am sure the owners enjoy freshly baked croissants and strong black coffee; what a positive way to start the day, or night-cap it on a warm summer evening. The terrace is lit by dramatic to-scale lighted lanterns that Heuman says, “adds a bit of theatre without going over the top.”

Heuman’s dedication to making the ordinary extraordinary is parsed by the quotes she uses throughout the book.

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” (Anton Chekhov).

And with that, the reader is treated to some of the most unusual and spectacular lighting solutions that I have ever seen.

Wallpaper, once a ubiquitous decorating tool used by our parents in the 1950s and 60s, basically curled up and dried in the second half of the 20^th Century. However, Heuman’s reimaging of this decorating tool, (wallpaper by the way is now called wallcoverings, dah-ling), in the form of marbleized wallcoverings, gave me pause to reconsider just what a room or two in my house might look like covered in this latest 2021 trend. It is a ‘thing’ really, with homesandgardens.com reporting contemporary designed stylings range from “traditional florals and trompe l’oeil, to contemporary geometric and tropical patterns or animal motifs and architectural designs.”

Wallpaper trends 2021 – the key looks to update your walls | Homes & Gardens (homesandgardens.com)

I love a book with colour and splash, one that presents ideas that are fun and almost poetic in their panache.

Certainly, Every Room Should Sing fulfills that desire to create living spaces that are just a little bit spiffier, with a little more personality, and of course, a lot more song.

As for my singing in every room?

The family’s vote is unanimous.

I am to sing, (if I absolutely must), in the shower, with the shower water and both sinks’ taps running, and the bathroom door sealed tight, preferably when no one is home.

Looking to create fresh-air spaces that make you think of warm summer breezes? Read Cece’s review of Sarah Richardson’s City + Country

And Cece’s review of Courtney Allison’s French Country Cottage

As well as Cece’s review of Cozy White Cottage Design and Decor book review: No. 3 Cozy White Cottage (cecescott.com) cece and trophy 300px

Cece is the feature cover writer for several prestigious publications and is an informed, connected and enthusiastic book blogger at cecescott.com. Her first book, The Love Story, was published in 2019. Her second book will be coming out in the spring of 2021.

Cece is also working on a book of Daily Reflections for Auto Immune Condition Warriors.

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