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Book review
By Ilse Crawford 
Sensual Home provides an antidote to the effects of modern-day living - and, in the case of the private landlord, concentrating more on other people's living arrangements and comfort than on one's own. From counteracting sleep deprivation (perhaps due to a tenant's phone call at 3am) and low energy levels (too much DIY) to managing toxic stress levels (rent arrears, anyone?), the book offers simple, innovative and creative solutions that are as aesthetically gratifying as they are sensually pleasing. Indeed, it will come as no surprise that Crawford is the editor of Elle Decoration: as well as veritably beaming out comfort with chapter titles such as 'harmony - balance - quiet', and a cover in soft grey felt, Sensual Home oozes a quietly understated style, resulting in a relaxing as well as informative read. At the heart of the book, of course, is the idea that tapping into one's senses and enhancing domestic surroundings can improve quality of life. With statements like "A doorknob is the handshake of a house" and the command to "feel your floor", Crawford conveys the importance of deriving pleasure from the merest household details. "What's the point in surfaces that don't thrill your fingers?" she asks, before enumerating ways to address the textures of everyday life and describing how to create a sense of depth and richness through wood wall panels. And the harried landlord will do well to take note of the inspirational quotes peppered throughout the text - the most apt one, perhaps, being Winston Churchill's "We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us." |
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