This book could stand alone as a coffee table book. There are many beautiful and inspiring pictures. If you like the Amy Butler look, this book will be inspirational.

If you have a "vintage-chic" aesthetic, this is the book for you! I am consumed with interior design and love mixing new and old for an interesting, eclectic look. I became interested in Amy Butler after purchasing "Found Style" which is an earlier book put together by Amy and her husband with many ideas of how to mix up interiors with flea market finds. Amy Butler's Midwest Modern is filled with pictures of Amy's current home and shows how she successfully complements each room with new pieces, old pieces and fabrics she designs. A small portion of the book is a portfolio of her textile designs which she uses generously in her home for pillows and upholstery. I find myself referring to this book often for inspiration.

A few publishers have finally begun to take heed of the desire of their reading public for books infused with lush photos, brilliant color, and elegant design, in addition to innovative writing that enchants and possibly compels us to try a little something new.
There's luscious eye candy on every page. Amy Butler invites us into her home to examine her hip takes on art, craft, fashion, interior and garden design, even shopping. With photographs of every room in her house, various collections, the cat, a multitude of aprons, potted plants, and more, Midwest Modern is essentially a Design Lab encyclopedia. It's a lifestyle handbook, a 21st century version of Alicia Bay Laurel's artful 1971 classic, Living on the Earth.
Today, when DIY is synonymous with cool and "I got it on Etsy" is heard at least as often as "I got it at the mall", artists and designers are blossoming and Amy Butler in full bloom. With a wholesome emphasis on recycling and reinventing, Midwest Modern overflows with exuberant patterns drawn from the natural world. In her epilogue, Amy writes, "Beauty is in the way you live. Enjoy your surroundings. Let them inspire you. Follow your own path, and approach everything you do with love in your heart."
This book will make you want to get your Spring cleaning out of the way fast, so you can open the windows, crank up the music and make something pretty!

I don't know how anyone cannot love this book. No, it is not a project book. Yes, it is a nearly-shameless tool to market Amy Butler's designs and style. So what?? I feel like the absolutely gorgeous photography and approachable, down-to-earth prose more than make up for that. If you love Amy's designs, you should love this book. If you are searching for inspiration to help cultivate a funky, eclectic sense of style, this is a great book. Projects - no. Inspiration - enough to spare. Enjoy!

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I understood the book's intent by the description. It's a LIFESTYLE book - there are not many patterns to copy (buy Amy Butlers IN STITCHES, if that's what you are looking for) - but there is plenty of eye candy. I expected more personal fashion (less home decor) based on the cover - as one of her patterns take center stage - but there is much more home decor/style than you could hope for. The studio & decor pictures are great. Lots of great ideas - completely adaptable without using her fabrics - - - Note, you will be hit over the head with Amy's fabrics - so yes, it is a bit of self-promotion going on, but that's just what I would expect. Great book! Lots of ideas!

Every young girl who dreams of being a designer needs this book under her Christmas tree! And, for those of you who are raising these daughters, this book will awaken the creative and imaginative side of your personality that has lain dormant for way too long!!!

Amy is a catalyst for bringing generations of women together who share a common bond - the desire to let their spirit soar! She shares her personal journey through photography.

This truly was a family affair. Her husband, David, did the photography for this book and managed to catch the charm and peace that they have incorporated into their busy, everyday lives.

Clean and simple designs that showcase the natural beauty that surrounds her, is what has drawn all of us to Amy. David's photography demonstrates how she has brought her love of gardening indoors and translated the beauty of her gardens into the fabrics we love.

For those of you who have embraced Amy and have watched her style evolve over the years, this book will be like revisiting an old friend. It is like reading the end of a book first and then getting to go back and discover the "rest of the story". You will recognize your favorite fabrics, prints, and designs and enjoy seeing how Amy brought all of these design elements together to create her own style.

But, Amy's true gift is that she encourages the spirit in every one of us. She has created a life, a career, and a home where she can express herself and her creativity.

Isn't it time that you let yourself invest in your own creativity and let your dreams come true? Amy would be so proud.....

An inspiring book I find myself referencing again and again. Beautiful photos and written from the heart, every time I flip through the pages I notice something new. If you are looking for a fresh perspective and inspiration for your home, I highly recommend this book!

Something fresh and exciting for the design world finally. Ignore the "posted" reviews. They're people who expected another project book. A great, honest inspiration book is what you'll get here.

Exactly what I hoped for and more. I'm a designer and love to find new inspiration. Amy Butler's style is refreshing and fun. The book is beautifully designed. A great gift for the creatives in your life!

If you are looking for a lifesyle book that takes a fresh look at Midwest style - then this is the book for you! The Butlers have beautifully photographed their home & garden capturing their personal design aesthetic - a fresh modern take inspired by their love of color, texture & vintage pieces. I found this book to be full of design ideas for indoors and outdoors. Excellent - Loved it!

Wow! This is a gorgeous book filled with loads of inspiration from Amy Butler's home. It has been beautifully photographed by Amy's husband, David. This is one of those great coffee table books that is just lovely to have around. This isn't a project book like her "In Stitches", but it does provoke one's creativity and imagination. This book is a real treat.

This is one of those books to enjoy again and again. Amy speaks directly to her readers, and shares with us her outlook on living life in a simple way that restores the creative soul. Each page of this book is so well-crafted with photos and her beautiful prints. Her husband Dave captured the essence of Midwest Modern through his gorgeous photos, layout, and typography. Lots of eye candy here! But the visuals support her words, and she shares lots of good thoughts regarding work, rest, play, gardening, cooking, family and friendship... this book is a treasure!

This book is fabulous! I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the "primitive" country look - this gives country a whole new spin! Amy takes her fabulous fabrics and shows us how to update our homes without breaking the bank, and she's so clever with her ideas!

This is not a how-to book! If you accept that it's a beautiful, inspirational, coffeetable book, you can appreciate the large format with its lush photography and Amy's thoughtful tips and observations on what influences her life and work. Midwest Modern is great!!!

This book is great for all Amy Butler fans. I love her design aesthetic, and loved the peek into her home and studio life. If you love Amy Butler, you should get this book.

This book is great for all Amy Butler fans. I love her design aesthetic, and loved the peek into her home and studio life. If you love Amy Butler, you should get this book.

I found the book to be spectacuarly beautifully photographed and designed but one big glorious marketing and promotional piece for Amy's designs which you can see for the most part on her website. You did get a good glimpse inside her design imagination though, and that was the best part of the book, where she shows how her designs are inspired by the rare delicate flowers that bloom in her garden, a love which she shares with her mother.

If you're expecting projects that you can create from instructions in this book, you'll be disappointed. The few projects that are included are as interesting as it would be to sew two bandanas together to create a pillow cover.

----Vibrantly illustrated, the book underscores design's practical side, with information on budgeting money and time, a shopping resources list, and "how-to" projects in every chapter.-----
Yeah, right.There are two minor projects - an envelope cushion cover and something equally forgettable. That's it. I am really feeling ripped of. Yes, it is a pretty book. Otherwise it would have had one star! But a lot of it is merchandising for her patterns and fabrics. PAges upon pages of pictures of her bags, clothes made from her fabrics, soft furnishings made from her fabrics.....
So, if you are a big Amy Butler groupie, this is your bible. If not, ignore the editorial on top - it's totally cockeyed.

This is my first Amy Butler book and I must say that I'm very impressed with it. It is beautifully presented and the photography (by Amy's husband) is fabulous. You can see that the two of them (and their cats) had a great time putting this book together. The book takes us on a journey through the gorgeous Butler house and studios and the inspiration behind Amy's designs. There are few projects here but there are plenty of ideas not just for sewing but also for creating a living space that is fresh, colourful and interesting. Fans of vintage style will also love this book. A lovely book from a talented couple.