Keeping House: Creating Spaces for Sanctuary and Celebration

by Emma Blomfield

We all desire a space that feels authentically our own: somewhere we can curl up with a cup of tea or host a dinner party for our favourite people.

Many of us see homemaking as something we will do ‘one day’ – perhaps when we are no longer renting or when we have a larger budget. But interior decorator Emma Blomfield can help you start making the most of what you’ve got right now. Emma shares her tips on how to style and maintain every room in your house to achieve a state of meaningful living, and how to decorate and connect with guests through beautiful events.

Genres: Nonfiction, Interior Design

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2019

Reviews

[Nancy Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another overgrown blog post, or series of blog posts. This is geared towards people setting up their first apartments, and is written by an Australian, so is full of unintentionally funny references to doonas (duvets) and such. Entertaining but slight.

[Margaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a “whooo I got my first apartment” book and then proceeded to decorate and live in my apartment for almost a year before reading it. Overall, I think this is sort of a magazine-adjacent in its style, which I appreciated. Super easy to read, beautiful illustrations, and a fun assortment of knowledge about how to be an adult in a space that’s yours. I liked how it dove into different options for decorating at different price points and how to host a dinner party. A lot of it might be common sense if you have used Pinterest extensively or have a general eye for design/comfort, but it was nice to have a full review in one place.

[Jasmine]

this was a nice book with cute illustrations. it was more style than substance, i don't mean that in a harsh way—just that it's almost a coffee table book. i appreciated the specificity, such as how many inches wider than your TV your couch should be to keep the room balanced. i was looking for some of those hard numbers, and while not the majority of the book they were here.

[Clare Zappen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read. The book is about general decorating concepts as well as very specific tips and tricks, not limited to only decorating, but also about entertaining and keeping a home tidy and welcoming.

[Vas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book that I find myself going back to constantly, some really great wisdom and tips alongside beautiful sketches. Great as a housewarming gift for your nearest and dearest!

[Avery Michelle Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute guide and reminder that your space matters

[Haniva Zahra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bagi saya yang belum 'membangun' rumah sendiri, sulit rasanya untuk merasa 'relate' dengan apa yang ditulis dalam buku ini. Tidak bisa dipungkiri, setelah pandemi yang mengubah gaya hidup menjadi lebih banyak di rumah, kenyamanan beraktivitas di rumah menjadi perhatian saya. Pada dasarnya, saya juga memiliki banyak aspirasi mengenai bagaimana mendekorasi rumah tinggal. Tidak hanya itu, sebuah cita-cita apabila suatu saat nanti saya bisa menggunakan jasa arsitek untuk membangun rumah yang 'baik'.

Meski begitu, buku ini cukup menyenangkan untuk dibaca. Buku ini menguatkan pengetahuan saya yang begitu dasar mengenai furnitur yang sangat penting memperhatikan kualitas. Sedikit tips untuk desain interior yang sedikit banyak saya setuju. Saya membaca buku ini beranggapan bahwa meski belum memiliki sendiri, saya selalu punya waktu untuk mengasah selera menjadi lebih baik dan sesuai dengan kepribadian.

[Alyssa Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the introduction:
"We form our thoughts and feelings about the word 'home' from our childhoods and carry those emotions with us into the first home we set up ourselves in early adulthood. Creating a home gives us a sense of belonging, connection and inclusion. It's natural to want to have a place in the world and a physical and psychological connection to a space."

And later: "You don't need to wait until you are in your forever home to create your own haven, and you don't need to wait until everything is perfectly in place before you invite people over. You can achieve a meaningful home regardless of the situation you find yourself in."

These two passages are my main takeaways from the book, along with some other little tips here and there. There was nothing truly revolutionary for me in this book but nonetheless it has left me feeling inspired.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not wholly impractical. Definitely pitched to a certain kind of person interested in a certain kind of image (despite the fact that she tries to refrain from drawing too clear a picture, lest people seek after a style that isn’t truly theirs). As a person who is renting, has limited funds, and lives with cats who would be liable to knock over any ‘vignettes’ I create...Keeping House doesn’t help me that much.

The idea of keeping rugs or pictures in proportion to a table or couch, the lists of what to stock or ideas for personalizing a space, etc. are helpful for occasional consultation.

Readers might be taken aback by Aussie terms: “doona” for duvet, “op shop” for thrift shop, and a couple others. There were also a couple pages on crystals, which made me shut the book immediately.

[Freddi Hynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really good on giving easy to digest tips for someone whose just bought a house or moved out of their parents. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know.

The last chunk of the book goes over party settings and such, which is helpful, but some of it felt very sophisticated. Not really my cup of tea.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

two stars because I am not the target audience for this book. This is about setting up your first home (or even apartment). I am at the point of deconstructing my kitchen, not building it up. This was much more a skim than a read.

[Chelsea Widdicombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about decorating, making a house a home as well as how to be a brilliant party host.
It also featured lovely illustrations, a refreshing and fun outlook on interiors, styling and living a life that you love.

[Elisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't say this lightly or often but, meh. There was nothing revolutionary here, it kind of lightly touches on a lot but says not much. The takeaway is go to the shops and buy things you like to put in your house. The illustrations are nice, but not anything to write home about.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and quick read. The illustrations were colorful and I loved that a duvet was called a doona! Neat ideas for turning your house into a home.

[Christine Sopko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a quick skim and check in.

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth shattering or amazing, but still had some good points.

[Melissa ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! Really good tips and tricks for the house!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice. Covers alot of ground.

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and colourful easy read to home decor and entertaining.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

was hoping for more practical advice and ideas, but what I got was basically a pinterest blog post with a few drawings.

[Ara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts aren't particularly relatable but that's because cultural differences. Love the illustration.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty book, but sort of odd. For example, it tells you the difference required in size between a dining table and the rug underneath it, but only tells you to make sure the dining table is "in proportion to the room". Why be so specific about one point but not the other? If someone needs a book to tell them how to arrange a few cushions on their couch (there are diagrams of the options), how are they going work out whether a couch is balanced with the size of the room?

The book is in three sections, about decorating, entertaining and cooking (I think -- I skimmed that one). The decorating one was of most interest to me, and I was very surprised when it went from detailing things like the durability of types of rugs to the magical, mystical healing properties of types of crystals. That section was another odd part.

Also, I bloody hate the way these books are always written towards women. Other people can also be interested in interior design FFS. Sentences like this are offensive and sexist:

"These may be considered annoying to the majority of the male population, but adding scatter cushions to the bed can bring life to your room."

Aside from the debatable statement that inanimate cushions can add life, scatter cushions are annoying to almost everyone. They remind me of the scene in Along Came Polly when Ben Stiller's character works out how much of his life is wasted fluffing decorative pillows.

[Flyingzebras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a long time to read because I took it in small chunks. Sweet book.