Thomas Pheasant: Simply Serene

I once picked up this book at the National Gallery of Art gift shop and flipped through it. The photos are lovely but many I've seen before. I put it down and didn't buy. It was only after I bought the book on Amazon and started reading it did I see it's true value. Thomas Pheasant writes beautifully and tells us just what he thinks makes good design. It's a great handbook when one is buying a home, beginning a renovation, or decorating. His advice is sound and very helpful. So you get two books in one--a lovely coffee table book of beautiful interiors and also a great how-to guide. I will gladly use his advice. In fact, I probably ruined it as a coffee table book because I began highlighting his words. Once read, you'll look at your rooms with a wiser eye.

I'm a huge fan of Thomas Pheasant - both the work and the man. I buy lots of design books, and usually after a quick flip through, they go on the bookshelf to look pretty and collect dust with the rest. This one...this one stays on my desk as I pour over the pages and find inspiration in each image. I keep finding myself saying "oh...look at that!", "look at that!". His work is the embodiment of elegance.You can't help but be inspired by this book!

I am a person who loves lots of color in my decor, especially strong colors such as red and black, but I really admire Mr. Pheasant's style of design. Also in this book he demonstrates he can get the same calming effects with dramatic colors as he can with very calming colors such as white and beige because he knows how to mix the various shades of these colors and provide a lot of texture that prevents them from becoming boring. He also beautifully mixes traditional and contemporary architecture and items throughout a structure. The photography in the book is outstanding (some of them taken by Mr. Pheasant) and wonderfully demonstrates Mr. Pheasant's genius as a designer as well as his skill involving architecture. I highly recommend this book.

In this hectic life it is inspiring to read and look at this book. You can feel the beauty and peacefulness that can be brought to any home. While the photographs (some by Pheasant himself) are helpful his actual descriptions of his process in how he thinks and views a space is what is most instructive. Simply serene is how we want our home, our sanctuary to be and Pheasant helps us make it so.

This is one of my favorite design books. While reading it, I found myself taking black and white photos inside my home. It gives a different perspective.The photography in the book is high quality, both black and white and in color. I found inspiration in reading each of the chapters.

Wonderful design book based on a more neutral and lighter way of decor. The author does a great job of detailing his ideas and explaining his process.

While not always simple, Pheasant is certainly serene. Purchased for inspiration, there is plenty to be found. His clarity matching simplicity with detail lets your eyes feast on each room. This is a heavy, masterfully produced book making it a beautiful presentation as well.

I love Thomas Pheasant's style. Based on the pictures I'd seen via the internet, this book seemed to house all of those pictures with his personal commentary for each project. Reading through Simply Serene has encouraged me to change (not buy more) the arrangement of furniture and accessories in my home, giving me a classier, serene feel. Someone had mentioned in an earlier review that there were too many black and white photos in the book. As one is reading his story, you'll discover there is a purpose for those specific photos. Wonderful book - I just wish he had written another one so I could purchase that as well.