Over the Counter #128

What books caught my eye this week as they passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Flea market finds and decorating. I love digging through antique malls and stalls to find quirky little pieces.

First up was Flea Market Chic by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell. Photography by Simon Brown.

From the publisher Cico Books:

"Flea market chic is the smart way to decorate now, adding texture, colour and depth to contemporary interiors. In modern rooms, a distressed chair or a vintage mirror adds a perfect finishing touch. And in traditional decorating schemes, flea market chic is a key part of the mix: faded textiles, weathered furniture, mis-matched china and the occasional flamboyant lamp or work of art are all part of the charm. Of course, Flea market chic is about saving you money, along with recycling, upcycling and repurposing. Every piece in these interiors has a story: the colourful jug you found at a car boot fair, the vintage telephone you reclaimed when a favourite aunt finally bought a modern handset, the little chair you found in a village junk shop or the old dustbins that have been converted into fashionable zinc planters. Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell show you how to spot the clever find in a pile of junk, where to look and how to negotiate, how to smarten up (and when not to smarten up) second-hand items, and how to re-discover and re-use things you or your family already have."

Next up was New Cottage Style from Better Homes and Gardens.

From the publisher Wiley:

"Cottage" is a perennially popular decorating style, with the flexibility to adapt to changing tastes over the decades. It's associated with comfort, simplicity, and family-friendliness, and allows for a great deal of personalization. This all-new edition of New Cottage Style is packed with decorating ideas and inspiration to achieve a cottage look that's clean, simple, and light—all from the experts at Better Homes and Gardens. Completely updated, New Cottage Style shows you what cottage style means today, with new interpretations that keep it fresh, different, and current. You'll discover the secrets to creating harmony and simplicity with paint, furniture, fabrics, and accessories. Examples of homes in a variety of settings—the country, the beach, the city, and suburbia—will inspire you to bring cottage style to your own home, wherever you happen to live.

• Shows you how cottage-style décor can be beautiful in any room
• Gorgeous full-color photos depict a wide variety of cottage-style homes
• Expert advice helps you interpret what makes a cottage-style space work and gives you ideas for implementing it in your home

Who doesn't want to achieve a casual, easy lifestyle? New Cottage Style gives you practical ideas and decorating techniques to create a comfortable getaway look in any living space.

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)