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Fantasy Rooms: Inspirational Designs from the BBC Series
by Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Boxtree Ltd (1999-09)
ISBN: 0752217356
EAN: 9780752217352
Dewy Decimal #: 729
Hardcover: 192 pages
Edition: 0
SKU: H5705
Condition: Very Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
This text, which accompanies a television series, explores all kinds of styles from Gothic to Egyptian to high Renaissance. All kinds of living rooms are transformed.
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Amazon.com Review
In Fantasy Rooms--a striking and indulgent book that accompanies the BBC television series--flamboyant Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen urges the British public to stop being so "appalling at letting their hair down" and indulge in their wildest DIY fantasies. Be warned: these designs are not for the faint-hearted. Laurence goes whole hog by transforming a dining room into an Egyptian chamber, making a bedroom into a glitzy Ritz salon, and bringing Ancient Rome into a Basildon living room. He leads us through each project from inspiration to realization, giving a historical perspective on each theme and highlighting the key images and motifs from which the styles are generated. In spite of its extravagance, this book never loses sight of the practicalities of interior design. Each chapter includes an overview of the homeowner's needs and ideas and Laurence's own evaluation of the space in which his designs are to evolve. The transformations are broken down clearly, explaining the steps taken towards the finished room. But if you don't know how to put up a shelf, this is not the book to tell you--some basic DIY experience is required. Illustrated with sumptuous photography, including close-ups of individual features, Fantasy Rooms is as visually lavish as you could hope for. Intended to inspire and bring out the Laurence in us all, This book will show you that an Englishman's home should be his fantasy castle. --Nicola Hollins, Amazon.co.uk
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Customer Reviews
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Great book - but a little more info from the UK to help you
Rating  (5)
Date: 2001-11-11
25 out of 26 customers found this reveiw helpful
You may recognise Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen from "Changing Rooms" which I understand has been shown on BBC America. He has done other shows as well which may or may not have been aired in the US yet, namely "Fantasy Rooms" and more recently "Home Front - Inside Out". (Both of these series have books to accompany them.)In "Fantasy Rooms", Laurence creates rooms which draw their themes directly from the passions/lifestyles of his clients. For example, one of my favourites is the Art Nouveau Bedroom in which he takes the client's love of Muchas/Art Nouveau and creates a bedroom to die for! Everything from the headboard on the bed, the subtle stencilling on the wall, to the peacock coloured throw was just perfect - and the book not only shows you gorgeous pictures of the finished rooms, but a bit of how to do it yourself. I would say that they are not quick do-it-in-a-weekend type projects though...(at least not the way I decorate!!) What it should do is give you the inspiration to dump the magnolia walls and make your house reflect your own individuality and style. I can also recommend the newly published "Home-Front Inside Out" in which Laurence teams up with Diarmuid Gavin, with Laurence doing one room inside the house, and Diarmuid doing the garden (Diarmuid is to gardens what Laurence is to interiors and together they are absolute magic!) You must see Diarmuid's mirror-tiled, egg-shaped refrigerator in one of his designs! Incredible! At the moment this is not available at amazon.com, but is available on amazon.co.uk - but keep checking as it has only recently come out in the UK (Nov 2001) and may find its way to the US in the near future.
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Lawrence at his best
Rating  (4)
Date: 2000-11-30
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
My previous experience with Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen comes from his presence on BBC America's "Changing Rooms" therefore, I am not familiar with the show upon with this book is based. Never the less, this is truly Lawrence at his best. His creativity and talent come through both in the projects themselves and the great photography. The introduction to each section is well written, giving a history of the specific genre of design (Art Deco, Roman Bath, Egyptian...) as well as Lawrence's personal reactions to the space and the theme (as well as his wit and humor). Each section has brief excerpts from 'experts' in the field, such as an Egyptologist and a mosaic artist that are also useful. While previous experience with DIY is necessary, and as an American, some of the terminology can be tricky, the projects are all things that can be done in a labor-intensive weekend. And while not everyone wants a dining room that looks like an Egyptian tomb, each theme has basic elements that could be applied to any room. Truly a worthwhile read, if for nothing more than to see how Lawrence matches his outfits with each theme.
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Lawrence at his best
Rating (4)
Date: 2000-11-30
15 out of 15 customers found this reveiw helpful
My previous experience with Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen comes from his presence on BBC America's "Changing Rooms" therefore, I am not familiar with the show upon with this book is based. Never the less, this is truly Lawrence at his best. His creativity and talent come through both in the projects themselves and the great photography. The introduction to each section is well written, giving a history of the specific genre of design (Art Deco, Roman Bath, Egyptian...) as well as Lawrence's personal reactions to the space and the theme (as well as his wit and humor). Each section has brief excerpts from 'experts' in the field, such as an Egyptologist and a mosaic artist that are also useful. While previous experience with DIY is necessary, and as an American, some of the terminology can be tricky, the projects are all things that can be done in a labor-intensive weekend. And while not everyone wants a dining room that looks like an Egyptian tomb, each theme has basic elements that could be applied to any room. Truly a worthwhile read, if for nothing more than to see how Lawrence matches his outfits with each theme.
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