Perfect English Farmhouse Hardcover – 8 Mar. 2012

I was rather disappointed by this. There is already "Perfect English" and "Perfect English Cottage" by the same author (both of which I enjoyed) but I think the theme is now rather exhausted - which makes one cynical about the commercial reasoning behind this one. Many of the farmhouses featured were second homes and almost none were actually farms. Which is a shame because the interiors lacked some of the more attractive clutter and practicality of real farmhouses in my view. In addition one of the houses I had seen featured before because the owners have published their own book " The New Homesteader" so I felt that was a bit of a swizz. My other gripe is that the text focuses on the people and how they come to have the house rather than the actual design of the interiors. That felt like a cop out, it seemed as though a lot of pictures of people's houses and some text on the people had been thrown together which is more what you would expect from a magazine than a proper book. In one place mention was made of how the clever owner had put lots of storage cupboards into a period interior in so invisibly that guests could not find it - but there were no photographs of this clever storage, much to my frustration! So I would not personally recommend this book.

This is a lovely book. But it is more than just a 'lovely book', delightful though it is to look at and handle. Nor is it just a parade of 'aspirational' interiors beyond the pockets of most of us - though there are some pretty sensational houses here. It's more a celebration of English individuality - that you can do what you like with your own space - mad colour and piles of stuff if that's your bag; or restrained colour and pared down decor if that's what you want. To guide you, there's a gentle categorisation of the different types of English house and a neat summary of the essential elements of each. But there's nothing prescriptive here - and uniformity is told to take a running jump. The message, really, is have faith in what you love and surround yourself with that. All these interiors are totally at ease with themselves - not concerned with keeping up with anybody, or 'making a statement' - except to say: 'Welcome and enjoy'. Congratulations to Ros Byam Shaw for reminding us that in making a home, as in living our lives: 'To thine own self be true'.

If this book is correct Brits are living with desperately sludgy colours and a load of low-merit old furniture worthy only of ancient hermits. I flicked through it and found it depressing just to look at - I knew I would never want to read it so I sent it back. If bookstores were still open it would have sat on a remainders pile for ever.

This book's predecessor - The Perfect English Cottage - was a real winner, mainly because it was adorned with many extremely fine photographs, which made it a joy to look at. This one, on tastefully restored farmhouses, hasn't the impact of the book on cottages and seems somehow colder, and while there are some good photos, there are rather too many that are shot into the light with the result that the eye is drawn to sun drenched windows rather than to the interiors. Moreover the quality of the paper seems to be not quite as good as in the earlier book. That said, there are many things to admire and the text, as always, is informative, though like the photos, perhaps a little cold.

Bought for my mum and she loves it! Really nice quality feel to the book and pages I have to say! Happy Mum = happy home!

I have two other decor books by Ros Byam Shaw. I'm a great fan of hers. She writes for people who want to read about the homes that other people yearn to live in. She does it well. The book has pages and pages of great photographs and delves in the lives of people who live in farmhouses, but don't necessarily farm...it's all about how these people decorate their farmhouses, big or small. A great coffee table book!

I'd vowed not to spend any more money on interiors books, but I just couldn't resist this one. It's delightful and inspiring. The interiors featured here are a welcome relief from the impersonal, 'hip hotel'-style designer rooms which fill most interiors magazines and estate agents' brochures these days. The personalities of the owners shine through.

Beautiful photography and interesting text. I had previously borrowed a copy of this book from the library several times and decided I would like my own copy.