Country Living Aged to Perfection: Adding Rustic Charm to Your Modern Home Inside & Out

by Leslie Linsley

Lavishly illustrated and inspirational, this guide reveals the secrets to adding old-world charm and character to any home-even newly constructed houses. From heirloom furniture to classic window treatments, ideas abound for creating a beautiful rustic effect. Add simple architectural details such as crown molding. Or try paint techniques like crackling, mosaics, and staining to keep a new house from seeming too new. Gorgeous photographs show what's possible with a wide variety of homes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2010

About the author

Leslie Linsley has published more than 70 books on crafts and decorating. Her articles have appeared in Family Circle, where she was the contributing craft editor for 15 years, Woman’s Day, Victoria, Country Living, Redbook, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, O, and HGTV online. Her newspaper column, “At Home With Leslie Linsley,” appears weekly in the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror and The Key West Citizen.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some good ideas in this book, but nothing that really said, "WOW, that's amazing, I'm totally going to do that!"

Buy it if you find it second hand

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recycled/salvage movement in home décor is on fire now and it changes rapidly. In just a few years, décor photos can seem out of style or dated. This book was written in 2010, seven years of changes are making a difference but there's still good ideas to be gleaned from it.

As stated in previous comments, if you're an avid reader of Country Living Magazine, you've probably seen quite a few of the photos and ideas.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was great! She went through different home styles, time periods and different kinds of collectibles-quilts to dishware & cameras. I truly appreciate the main sources she mentioned over & over were flea markets & garage sales; sometimes decorating books are only for the wealthy.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Perfectly nice book with good pictures. Country Living books are always nicely done.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just flipped through

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first saw this book in the pages of Country Living Magazine a while back I was really excited. I was tempted to buy it right away, but waited and eventually requested it from my library. I'm very glad I didn't buy it first. While the photos are pleasing and it offers some good ideas, I honestly have to say I was turned off by the writing early on. Early in the book the author basically states that nearly everyone has antique furniture pieces that have been passed down through their family to use in their home decorating. Not true, Ms. Linsley. Not everyone grew up with houses full of cherished family heirlooms. Some of us grew up in families that were thrilled just to have a thrift-store table that had food on it to eat. Needless to say, after reading her early words, I quit reading the text and just enjoyed the photos.

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointing book this was! I waited for months to get it from inter-library loan so I was eagerly anticipating it, only to be seriously let down. If you've never cracked open an issue of Country Living magazine it might be of some interest, but if you have any experience at all reading CL or decorating blogs, you'll be as bored as I was. This is a VERY beginning guide to using vintage and antique items in your home decor. I recognized most of the photos as having come from back issues of Country Living magazine--several have actually been used in multiple other CL special issues and books. Surely there are enough photos in CL's archives that they could bring out a few we haven't seen before?

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why I've been on a decorating kick lately, but I borrowed this through Inter-Library Loan. It was okay - probably much of what I could have gotten out of the magazine - but there were lots of photos, which is always nice.

[Corrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice photos. Text was uninspiring. Just not the style inspiration I was hoping for.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
3 stars