Home Story: The German Approach to Interior Design by Tina Schneider-Rading

Home Story: The German Approach to Interior Design

by Tina Schneider-Rading

If German interior designers have a genius, it's for mixing modern with vintage finds and timeless classics to create looks that you don't see anywhere else in the world. Their cultural cachet is captured in the 21 projects that rose to the top of a juried residential design competition by Munich-based Schöner Wohnen, Europe's leading lifestyle magazine. Better than Instagram, the book includes interviews with the designers, who share the kind of fresh, eclectic design thinking that transcends trends. Project locations range from Hamburg in the north to Munich in the south but linger in Berlin, which has been called the creative capital of the world and is home to a diverse horde of designers from all over the globe. Join the editors on a tour of these joyful and seemingly effortless spaces. There are no rules, just an invitation to rediscover the sensuous, timeless things we have known since childhood.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

5 of 5 stars

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Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Home Story: The German Approach to Interior Design is a well curated "coffee table book" of German (with a smattering of Scandinavian) interior design. Originally published in German in 2018, this English translation was released 28th Oct 2019 by Schiffer. It's 208 pages and available in hardcover format.

I picked this book up because it has a nice fusion of retro and modern pieces which work together to create an intimate and mostly unfussy real life vibe. I love the clean lines and uncluttered feeling with most of these. The settings also manage to provide a level of comfort and intimacy which is a welcome contrast with so many interior design photo shoots which feel very alien and sterile to me. I couldn't imagine myself living comfortably inside the photographed rooms. This collection is different. Obviously the pieces are high end and mostly very (very) expensive; this is a pictorial representation of a juried award competition. Even though this book showcases the most elite designers, there are a lot of good techniques and takeaways from the book which can certainly be used as inspiration for the 'rest of us'.

It starts with a short bio of the awards jury and continues directly into the awards winning entries. The book is full of clear, lush, inviting photographs. The accompanying text is accessible and informative.

I enjoyed the book and found some inspiration. This would be a superlative selection for artists, designers, and decor interested readers. It's also very well annotated with links and references for further reading.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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  • 2 November, 2019: Reviewed