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Home Repair Book Store > Home Repair books beginning with K
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Kim Parker Home |
Author: Kim Parker
Published: 2008-05-01 |
List price: $29.95
Our price: $13.18
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Usually ships in 24 hours
As of: January 06th, 2009 06:58:27 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Make your world into a garden
Suppose you live in a gloomy climate--then imagine you had Kim Parker decorating your home. In colr picture after color picture, she shows how living spaces can be brightened by the use of brilliantly colored pictures of flowers.
In addition, there are other uses for her floral designs. For example, on page 50 there are examples of a lovely shirt made from her floral design, as well as a small handbag.
This is a very pretty, charming book.
 She Looked Normal on the Cover
The only home interior shots are of the same items in Ms. Parker's own living room and bedroom, over and over!! Otherwise, we are endlessly "treated" to pages of her floral paintings, fabric and dishware, ad nauseum. This is All About Kim, and she comes across as very self-centered and flaky.
The text is repetitive, probably because there was nothing to write about except her endless musings about her creative process, and constant referrals to her millions of products. For instance, she describes in excruciating detail how she comes up with the names for her dish designs. Like "Emma." Like you care.
Instead of discussing the ins and outs of the fashion and design business at that time, which would have shown her struggles (assuming she had any), she instead laments no one appreciated her vision in the early years, her sense of color was ignored, she had to work for cruel and unforgiving bosses (yawn), and her creative spirit was always being crushed by menial work.
However, important people adore her, and their flowery (no pun intended) compliments are all through the book. Prepare to read tons of name-dropping, lists of stores that carry her products, the magazine covers...I hope this is the fault of the ghostwriter, and that Ms. Parker isn't toting around all this self-awareness in real time.
The foreward by a friend of hers sets this specious tone early on. "I first met Kim...in Brazil. We quickly became friends the way one becomes friends in Brazil." Oh? Is that different than the way one becomes friends in Bozeman or Trenton?
Anyone who worked at the same miserable job for 25 years to pay bills would have a very difficult time sympathizing with Ms. Parker in her early years. Striving for inner balance and personal vision while employers are being mean to her, she stops working and takes off for Brussells to play her flute in chateaus.
It's also hard to rejoice in her success, when she tells us: "I am still touched by the birth of a rug, bedding and bath product, fabric, dinner plate..."
I'm not making this up. If you think I'm kidding, check out Page 57. If you can get that far. And she looked like such a nice, down to earth hippie-type on the cover.
 Nice artist tribute- but not a home decor book
I really like this artist for her use of color- and it's always fun to read about people who have no formal training in art- but clearly are talented artists. But I purchased this book thinking that it was a home decor book- and while it does showcase the artist's lovely NY apartment- it was not what I was expecting. I was also sad to see that the bath/kitchen were not included- I would have liked to see the entire home showcased. It only shows select spaces in her own apartment and is more of an autobiography or tribute to her designs and related products than what the title would lead you to believe. It has some really nice photos of her work but I was a little let down by the narrative. I would have preferred to see her works displayed in various home settings than just her own home. It almost came across a little narcissistic - but overall it's a nice book if you enjoy her works.
Lots of stories, not so many photos
What I should have expected, but did not, is that the images in this book are all from Kim's little artist's home in NYC. Personally, I wasn't too inspired by the photos. However, she has lived a rich, creative life as shared through her stories. So if you're expecting a ton of photos, as you'd expect in a typical home decor book, look elsewhere. But if you're someone who wants to be inspired through words, as much as images, then this book is a great choice for you.
fabulous art work
Kim Parker's book is fabulous. I am a friend but I am not biased. She is a super talented artist and musician and has worked hard to get to where she is. Her book is a story about how she became an artist and how hard it is to do in NYC but the results are phenomenal. Her apartment is a collection of her images and more. Great stories abound page to page. Truly a great book for your coffee table to inspire anyone.
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