Reviews
In this cozy outing, French Country Cottage blogger Allison (French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings) serves up ideas for rustic holiday decor. She showcases 25 ways to dress up a Christmas tree, with standouts including the "Mingle of Blues" frosty-flocked artificial tree with white and blue ornaments, and "Romantic Floral Elegance," which features hydrangea, rose, and snowberry bunches tucked in among the branches. Suggesting ideas for sprucing up each room of a house, Allison notes that she drapes a garland on her entryway banister and places decorative bowls filled with baubles on surfaces throughout her home. When entertaining, "delicately detailed plates, gilded wine stems, and flatware tied with satin ribbon... offset with country linen napkins" give table settings a "French country feel," according to the author, who also delves into embellishing a home's exterior, showing how she outlines the roof of her barn in colored Christmas lights and mounts a Christmas tree on a rolling stand so she can move it outdoors or indoors depending on the weather. There's little explicit guidance, with Allison instead focusing on displaying scenes she's designed, but the pastoral-inspired arrangements would please even Scrooge. The result is a festive guide for the cottagecore set., Readers will make lists and check them twice to have a home as beautiful as that of Allison ( French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings ), a stylist, photographer, and blogger. In picture-filled chapters, she spotlights family heirlooms, contemporary pieces, and other objects that lend the perfect French country touch. A highlight is the chapter about Christmas trees, with tips for nearly any style--vintage, modern, casual, elegant, or colorful--with different themes and sizes. Allison also shares photos and instructions for layering a Christmas tree with decorations, such as ribbons, simple overhand knot bows, and a touch of glamour. For Christmas-season hosts, a section addresses table settings, with various color schemes and levels of dining formality. Since the Christmas season can be overwhelming, there's also a yearlong checklist with advice to remember to shop after Christmas and at yard sales. The book includes crafting ideas for wreaths, garlands, and one-of-a-kind gift-wrap. The book concludes with a list of resources for items that are easily accessible. VERDICT Purchase where Allison's works are popular and where Christmas titles circulate well.
Synopsis
Christmas decorating maven Courtney Allison shows how to create a cosy and aspirational French country Christmas style wherever you are. Celebrate the season in cosy French Country Cottage style with luscious photography and a plethora of inspiration and ideas for trees in themes from baubles to flowers; décor indoors and outdoors; flowers, garlands, and wreaths; tables, dining, and entertaining; entryways, stairways, and every room of the house; outbuildings; pretty packages; and twinkle lights galore. Plus a little bit of Christmas magic from a Paris apartment with a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a snowy mountain cabin, and a vintage travel trailer at the lake., Christmas decorating maven Courtney Allison shows how to create a cozy and aspirational French country Christmas style wherever you are. "The pastoral-inspired arrangements would please even Scrooge. The result is a festive guide for the cottagecore set."-- Publishers Weekly Celebrate the season in cozy French Country Cottage style with luscious photography and a plethora of inspiration and ideas for trees in themes from baubles to flowers; décor indoors and outdoors; flowers, garlands, and wreaths; tables, dining, and entertaining; entryways, stairways, and every room of the house; outbuildings; pretty packages; and twinkle lights galore. Plus a little bit of Christmas magic from a Paris apartment with a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a snowy mountain cabin, and a vintage travel trailer at the lake. More Accolades: "Readers will make lists and check them twice to have a home as beautiful as that of Allison (French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings), a stylist, photographer, and blogger."-- Library Journal, Taking its cues from the wonderful world of online dating, Houseplant Hookups explores the pros and cons of cohabitating with different houseplants. ?"Isabel, who hails from three generations of plant-loving family members, shares her expertise and knowledge of houseplants in this amusing, informative book, best for neophyte horticulturists who might not yet have a green thumb."-- School Library Journal , Starred Review Cohabitation is a big step in any relationship, so to make sure you don't get stuck with a dead leaf , Houseplant Hookups digs up all the dirt on 35 prospective houseplant partners. By first setting the foundation for a successful relationship with information on purchasing, propagating, and basic plant care, it'll be easy to know when you've found the One. Does your apartment have a scenic view of a brick wall? The Snake Plant thrives in low light. Tend to forget you're even in a relationship? The Golden Pothos is anything but codependent and won't hold neglect against you. Far more helpful than your average Tinder profile, Houseplant Hookups will help you decide if a relationship with a Fiddle Leaf Fig is more likely to be a fling or a forever kind of love. Not sure where to start? Take the Cosmo -inspired quiz to narrow down your matches. The perfect gift for any plant or gardening enthusiast, these illustrated dating profiles are as hilarious as they are informative. More Accolades: "The playful profiles provide a helpful overview of common houseplants, and Degnan's colorful illustrations accentuate the distinguishing characteristics of each....Readers curious about what houseplant is right for them will want to consult this."-- Publishers Weekly "The book is absolutely fantastic. Witty, clever, tasteful, beautiful... unique. One of a kind. I also love how the book feels in your hands. The quality of the printing and colors are magnificent."--Alina Fassakhova, New York Based artist and plant enthusiast " Houseplant Hookups is a fun book, with a creative approach to an otherwise fairly mundane topic. It engages readers with indoor horticulture and reminds us that no matter how big (or small) the garden, there is a perfect plant out there for all of us."--Alice Bennett on Reedsy, Celebrate the season in cozy French Country Cottage style with luscious photography and a plethora of inspiration and ideas for trees in themes from baubles to flowers; décor indoors and outdoors; flowers, garlands, and wreaths; tables, dining, and entertaining; entryways, stairways, and every room of the house; outbuildings; pretty packages; and twinkle lights galore. Plus a little bit of Christmas magic from a Paris apartment with a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a snowy mountain cabin, and a vintage travel trailer at the lake.
