Distinctive Book Club: Decorating with Style by Abigail Ahern

We may deal in traditional furniture here at Distinctive Chesterfields, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate contemporary decor. In fact, on an almost daily basis customers and friends over on our Facebook page share with us photos of their beautifully-styled living rooms, surprising us with how effortlessly they’ve incorporated old and new – slotting a classic Chesterfield sofa, with its recognisable buttoned back and luxurious stud work – in an otherwise modern room.

It’s something interior designer and blogger Abigail Ahern manages with ease, too – and it’s why we were itching to get hold of her stunning book, ‘Decorating with Style’. Receiving the weighty tome through the post earlier last week marked the very beginning of our ‘Distinctive Book Club’, which will see us delve into the inspiring pages of some of the book world’s top interiors publications.

Combining ‘speedy tips, savvy tricks and cool ideas’ to help you transform your home, the book is your definitive decorating guide.  With well over 150 pages of pure interior-related bliss, it features gorgeous photos and quick style tips to help even the novices amongst us create a home to be proud of.

What we really love about this book, though, is that it lacks the pretentiousness seen in so many publications of this calibre. Plus, Abigail’s style tips are geared towards every kind of space – from those ‘who live in a shoe box’, to homeowners residing in luxurious ‘sprawling farmhouses’.

Abigail offers up helpful pointers on how to do everything from make a cool letter light, to a how to on jazzing up your stair risers. It’s a great guide for those on a budget, too, with pocket-friendly ideas to spruce up your home while still ensuring your space looks chic – and more importantly – unique.

Of course, we’re huge fans of anyone who loves the traditional Chesterfield sofa, and Abigail adds one to a room to great effect (see image top, above), featuring it in her book. She calls the look ‘rock furnishings’, and she suggests picking ‘standalone pieces that add drama’. We hope she’s referring to the sofa, as we believe a Chesterfield really does add all the ‘drama’ you’re looking for in a quirky living area.

Working with notable brands, including on an exclusive product range from Debenhams, Abigail’s no stranger to big projects – and it’s great to see many of them compiled here in this book, a real coffee table staple if you’re a fan of interior design.

We love how she casts her creative eye to magically transform even the smallest of nooks (see the image above, featuring coloured artwork and an emerald green chair) with ease. We particularly love the slick shelving display she’s put together, also seen above.

The trick is always in utilising the space you have, says Abigail in the book. “You may not be able to change the physical dimensions of your space, but you can absolutely change the perception of its size.” Find out how she does it – and a whole lot more – in the beautiful book, available signed by the lady herself via Abigail’s website.

And don’t forget to let us know your thoughts by commenting on this post below. Keep your eyes peeled for the next post in our Distinctive Book Club series – coming very soon!