Amy Butler's Midwest Modern: A Fresh Design Spirit for the Modern Lifestyle

by Amy Butler

Book Overview

A complete lifestyle book, encompassing fashion, interiors, and gardensAttention, design and style mavens! There's a lot more to America than just the east and west coasts. Today, innovative American design--in clothing, home decor, even gardening--is emerging from the Midwest. So lay your bicoastal biases aside, and let Amy Butler show you what's happening in the heartland.Helping her fans jumpstart their own creative spark is Butler's fashion credo, and her approach has won her a huge following. Her "Mid Mod" philosophy--neither homespun nor haute couture--is as up to the minute as it is firmly rooted in Midwest tradition. Emphasizing simplicity and integrity of craft, Butler is passionate about recycling materials, reinventing vintage looks, and taking joy in the homemade. Her approach--drawing its inspiration from the natural world and the lives of real people--is organic in every sense of the word.Amy Butler's Midwest Modern brings the many aspects of its author's vision into focus, from re-imagining the home as a retreat for relaxation and dreaming, to picturing the body as a canvas for creating one's personal style, to looking to nature as a "sketchbook" for design ideas. Vibrantly illustrated, the book underscores design's practical side, with information on budgeting money and time, a shopping resources list, and "how-to" projects in every chapter.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1584795816
• ISBN13: 9781584795810
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 3.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 9.5" x 10.5"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Love What You Love and Don't Apologize for It

Amy Butler's quote (love what you love, and don't apologize for it) sums up her gorgeous style book. The photography is beautiful and the feeling of the book is at once modern and fun, flirty and sweet. There are lots of decorating ideas in the book, and if you are already a seamstress, you'll get lots of ideas for your own projects. This isn't a project book, however, and doesn't include patterns. For patterns, there's her "Feather Your Nest" patterns and her two big books of patterns, Stitches, and Little Stitches, both of which I recommend.

MidWest Wow

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I understood the book's intent by the description. It's a LIFESTYLE book - there are not many patterns to copy (buy Amy Butlers IN STITCHES, if that's what you are looking for) - but there is plenty of eye candy. I expected more personal fashion (less home decor) based on the cover - as one of her patterns take center stage - but there is much more home decor/style than you could hope for. The studio & decor pictures are great. Lots of great ideas - completely adaptable without using her fabrics - - - Note, you will be hit over the head with Amy's fabrics - so yes, it is a bit of self-promotion going on, but that's just what I would expect. Great book! Lots of ideas!

Inspiring!

An inspiring book I find myself referencing again and again. Beautiful photos and written from the heart, every time I flip through the pages I notice something new. If you are looking for a fresh perspective and inspiration for your home, I highly recommend this book!

Grea lifestyle, not a project book!

Something fresh and exciting for the design world finally. Ignore the "posted" reviews. They're people who expected another project book. A great, honest inspiration book is what you'll get here.

fresh and fun

Exactly what I hoped for and more. I'm a designer and love to find new inspiration. Amy Butler's style is refreshing and fun. The book is beautifully designed. A great gift for the creatives in your life!