home decorating Archives - Awful Library Books

Solve Your Decorating Problems

October 18, 2022 Mary Kelly Home and Garden 17 comments

How to solve your decorating problems
Bradford
1976

Barbara Taylor Bradford has shown up on our site for her nonfiction decorating books. (I am so glad she turned to fiction.) For the time, these were pretty decent books, although I just about die a thousand deaths with this example.

Depending on the library’s mission, I don’t think one has to keep everything simply because the author is “significant”. No doubt that Bradford is significant. Hanging on to older titles because the author is “important” is not enough of a reason to keep something clearly outdated. Larger or specialty libraries can do this, but for the average public library, this is probably outside the scope of the library mission. Always remember your core audience and mission.

Retro Crochet

September 7, 2022 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 15 comments

Decorating with Crochet
Halliday
1975

There are some lovely decorating tips in this book for all of you looking for a “retro” look for your home. Particularly fetching is the wall hanging of a grandfather clock and the homage to macrame wall hanging on the last picture below.

As a mediocre to poor knitter/crocheter, I can appreciate the skill set, but I just cringe at these projects. It is a waste of yarn. I am also old enough to remember 1970s decor, so I can also tell you that this would have been awful in the 1970s. (At least in my opinion.)

Decorating Ideas

May 26, 2022 Mary Kelly Home and Garden 13 comments

Decorating Ideas for Every Room in Your Home
Eisinger (Ed.) /Knapp (Illus)
1969

Another decorating books from the olden days. For those of you looking for retro chic, this is your chance!

All our 60’s favorites are here:

- Seizure inducing prints
- Matching everything
- Crappy/meaningless artwork
- Blinding colors and patterns

It’s almost like Beverly Hillbillies meet the Playboy Mansion, with some Grandma stuff on the side.

No thank you. Please use caution viewing the interior pictures.

Sewing Fundamentals

February 15, 2022 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 9 comments

Singer Sewing Book
The Complete Guide to Sewing
Hutton and Cunningham
1969

Note the “groovy” cover. Sewing books probably have a long shelf life in terms of content. Mechanical machines still work the same way they did 50 years ago. Yes, there are more bells and whistles, but fundamentally sewing is pretty much the same as it was decades ago. Knitting, needlepoint, and other crafts that have been around forever also can have a long shelf life as well. Weeding is usually condition or low circulation. The obvious other time to weed is when the book just looks out of date due to fashions. This really depends on the title.

Groovy Teen Decor

October 18, 2021 Mary Kelly Home and Garden, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 19 comments

New Young Ideas in Decorating
Walton
1970

Groovy teens everywhere will want to get their own rooms in shape…just like Grandma. All the decorating fads of the late 1960s and the early 1970s are here. Street signs? Check. Beaded curtains? Check. Gauzy drapes? Check. Peace sign? Double check. In 1970 this would have been nice choice for the young adult collection. The entire book reminded me of Rhoda’s Minneapolis apartment from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Curtains for the 1980s

March 19, 2021 Mary Kelly Home and Garden 12 comments

Curtains and Window Treatments
Fishburn
1982

This book was just dirty. And not in a good way. Seriously, just take a nice wipe to the cover. Since COVID, I am overly concerned about visible crud on books.

This reminds me of “Laura Ashley meets shabby chic” for the 1980s. Having attempted budget decorating in the 1980s, this really was reflective of the latest in home fashion, and would have been a decent choice for a home decorating collection. Those balloon type shades in the third picture below seemed to be in every house back in the day. I tried to copy some homemade versions and ended throwing in the proverbial towel since it just didn’t look straight. I blame cheap fabric and my less than stellar sewing skills.

Country themed crafts for home decor

December 16, 2020 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 12 comments

American Country-Crafts
Time-Life Books
1989

This is part of a 15 volume set on country themed art. The books have various themes: Country Kitchen, Country Quilts, Country Style, Country Entertaining, Country Furniture, etc. I guess if you really want to be “country-styled” this is the set for you. Personally, I think this is probably overkill. This book isn’t really for the “how-to” craft crowd. It is more about stylized decorating with the crafty looking items. I can’t imagine what the library was thinking by adding this book. Want to bet it was in a donation pile and someone thought it looked like it was in great shape?

Tiny Hat Decor

June 8, 2020 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 16 comments

Doilies to Crochet for Little Hats
Thomas
1985

The word “doilies” always makes me think of my great-grandmother or any other seriously old person. I mean REALLY old. I can’t remember the last time I saw a doilies for decoration. Anyway, now doilies have a new purpose: little hats. The little hats are for decoration not for wearing on tiny people. I am going to bet that the fashion trend of tiny hats isn’t as strong as it was back in the 80s.