Size insignificance in decorating, as long as you possess bold and audacious style
Ros Byam Shaw's latest book, "Perfect English Small and Beautiful", is set to be published next month by Ryland Peters & Small. The book showcases a collection of small English homes, most under 1,000 square feet, that demonstrate the beauty and potential of living in compact spaces.
Byam Shaw's approach to small-space living is a creative one, focusing on maximising comfort and beauty beyond mere square footage. She achieves this by emphasising multi-functional rooms and furnishings, prioritising cozy, characterful details, and using classic English design elements scaled appropriately.
The houses featured in the book exude warmth and character, often feeling lived-in and personal rather than staged. This is achieved through the use of traditional paneling, warm textiles, and curated collections, which create richness without overcrowding.
One of the strategies highlighted in the book is the importance of creating ceiling height. Byam Shaw argues that this can significantly change the feel of a room in small houses. Some owners of the houses featured have even extended spaces vertically to the rafters to achieve this.
The book also showcases examples of homes where owners have utilised every nook, cranny, and available storage space effectively. Byam Shaw demonstrates that large pieces of furniture don't have to make small spaces feel cramped, as long as the ceiling height allows.
The move to write the book was inspired by a visit to a tiny house in Shropshire with an expansive collection of Georgian furniture. Byam Shaw and her husband, who previously lived in an east-Devon, Tudor-era house, sold their property and moved to a smaller one due to the book commission. This required them to edit their possessions, with Byam Shaw rehoming about half of the contents.
"Perfect English Small and Beautiful" offers inspiration and food for thought for anyone considering small-space living. The book, priced at £40, is expected to resonate with readers, with feedback suggesting it is the most popular among Byam Shaw's works. For more detailed visual examples and ideas, viewing the book or its photo excerpts would be ideal.
The book "Perfect English Small and Beautiful" by Ros Byam Shaw proves that interior design and lifestyle can thrive in compact homes-and-garden, demonstrating creative solutions like maximizing ceiling height and making multi-functional spaces. Additionally, the book showcases homes with remarkable use of storage solutions, proving that large furniture doesn't always translate to cramped spaces, as long as the design elements are scaled appropriately.
