Fantastic decorating book! The pictures in the book are as lovely as seeing Bunny William's home in person. I recently toured her home and garden in Litchfield County. It is a beautiful, charming estate. The book is a wonderful memory and reference for me. Very inspiring!

I have always loved older homes. Every room in this book tells a story. This book is a great tool in preparing you for lifes journey in restoring an older house. When you decide to make you your house a home, and your dreams a reality. The author reminders the readers that it takes time to accomplish your goals. The pictures are just amazing. I will treasure this book for years to come.

Many design books only use words to describe the pictures. While reading these types of books, I find myself only paying attention to the pictures. However, "An Affair with a House" captures Williams's personal story while still vividly displaying her passion for design. If only we could all feel the connection for our houses as she has for her's.

This is an interesting book in a lot of ways. On the one hand the architecture and grounds of BW's Connecticut digs are quite beautiful (with the exception of the atrocious pool house that's a Greek temple made outta logs . . . .). On the other hand, the stuff that's crammed into her rooms makes for suffocating interiors. Too many dog pillows (yea, we know she loves her mutts, but please!). The looks presented herein are not edited, not clean - it's rather grandmotherly. The exception to this is the barn that from what I understand having read the book, was really more or less her husband's take on the situation and it's quite wonderful. Perhaps it's not fair to compare a low ceilinged Connecticut Federal house to a loft-like barn space but seeing as how the two are put in the same book, I guess it's open season. But this is a much better book than her latest called Point of View or as I call it, Pointless View.

Thanks, Amazon, for taking this book back.
It was a turn-off to witness such an enormous collection of stuff in one person's house. Mrs. Williams' husband deals in antiques, and it seems she just can't say no to any of it. And why do so many of us buy into the idea that old and overpriced makes so much junk attractive? Ugh.
This house is owned by accumulators, and I got out quickly.

The picture on the book cover looks so fresh and inviting. The affair does not suit the house. It is unbecoming and dishonest.

The one star then is for the book's pretty cover, the house itself.

Am enjoying the copy, photos and ideas presented by decorator Bunny Willilams in this book!

I'm still poring over this wonderful book and enjoying every page! This is the perfect book for anyone who can't get enough of beautiful homes, goes to every open house, reads all the remodeling magazines. Ms. Williams' home is beyond anything most of us will ever own, but her descriptions of the process she went through to make it the home she so obviously loves are so much fun to read, and the pictures are gorgeous!

I am not your typical reviewer of this book as I have had "An Affair with a House" for quite some time. The fact that I continue to pick it up for inspiration prompted me to share my opinion. Bunny William's personality shines through every page. I like that she shared a bit of the history of the house and how she came to acquire it. What is obvious is that Bunny's house and gardens evolved over time. Her book will inspire you to make the very most of what you have with your own house. I love this book and I am so glad to be able to refer back to it often. I also purchased her book "On Garden Style". The only thing that would be better than reading these two gems, would be to take a personal tour! Thank you Bunny and John. From one dog lover to another, I loved the pictures of your "babies".

I was looking for Decorating Inspiration and this didn't provide much. It just goes through what this woman went through in buying the old villa and restoring it. My home is almost new and not that big and the decorating help was minimal.

This book was beautifully presented and written. I absorbed it all! Would love to live with Bunny and John. As wonderful as the presentation, I found it reassuring how down to earth the decorating and recepies were communicated.

Billie (GA)

First, I fell in love with the cover shot. Then the barn. Then the guest house. And the decorating isn't even my style! But I'm on my third read - every word read and every photo examined. Guess I love the thought of it and wish it were me! Now I don't have the money - and I don't have the time. But I can certainly appreciate her love for this house.

This is a wonderful book---and the text is as wonderful as the photographs. The chicken house is my hands down favorite part. Bunny's husband's pancakes are great (we've tried the recipe) and the guest barn is totally charming. Oh how I wish I had Bunny's gardeners! I dream of her gardens, but feel like they are out of reach for us. There is a lot to learn from this book--even if you can't accomplish all of this for your own home or property. It's my favorite coffee table book ---and I never tire of looking at it. Congratulations Bunny---this book is a clear winner!!

I read every word and loved it all. Can I live in their amazing barn?!

I love the title of this book....so fitting for me! Can't get enough ideas and suggestions! Beautiful photographs from beginning to end!!

I love the title of this book....so fitting for me! Can't get enough ideas and suggestions! Beautiful photographs from beginning to end!!

I found the photographs lovely and the text boring. She does redeem herself at the end with her words about gaining a little wisdom and compassion as she ages and has accumulated about all anyone could house.

I read the book cover to cover. I enjoyed the descriptions of this incredible remodel. It's a beautiful home filled over time with such love and dedication. The beautiful photographs transport you there. I would recommend this to any person who is interested in reading about the time and talent required to make a house a home.

This is a beautiful book but it lacked something for me. For one thing, there is a lot of gardening and recipes - I skip these sections in magazines and am not much more interested when they appear in a book. The house is stunning but I would have liked a bit more explanation of how the house developed over 30 years as well as more photos of the interior. At the end, I didn't feel that I knew the house very well. I feel this book is for people who like very cluttered "money is no object" decorating with antiques. I much preferred "Winter House" by Charlotte Moss.

I'm one third of the way through this book and absolutely enjoying every page. It's full of wonderful ideas from a lady who truly lives in and enjoys her home with her husband and friends. Each page gets better and I can't wait to pick it up again. Well worth every cent.

My sister, an avid collector with the incredible gift of using great taste to create a homey atmosphere, recommended this book and I can see why. The author's love of "home" permeates every stunning page. Those wanting a "how-to" book should look elsewhere; this is the book for "why-you-should". It teaches one of the biggest lessons one must learn when creating a home, that of patience.

Of course, like any "affair", the object of affection will barely be tolerated by some. If you don't understand why you wax the legs of a chair with a hole in the arm, don't buy this book. If it's strange to you that someone is satisfied with a color that fits the room rather than matching the Pottery Barn palette, you'll be happier with a few copies of this month's decorating magazines. Otherwise, invite the dogs to curl up next to you while you slowly turn the pages, luxuriating in the lovely fun, at least vicariously, of knowing how you want to live and having the means to do it.

I am a collector of reference books on home decorating and an avid gardener. This is a wonderful book that not only consists of warm and tasteful decorating ideas, but every detail including storage, floral arranging, table settings and fascinating yet practical gardens. Beautiful photography....every page was a delightful surprise. Thanks to Bunny Williams

This book is not only beautiful, but includes a great text! With helpful hints on everything, I refer to it on a daily basis.
An Affair with a House is gracious, understated, and exquisitely tasteful!!!

If you are not Donald Trump and your house is not Mara Lago you may be a tad dissapointed. I was expecting an affair w/ this book. According to the author, what every guest room needs is Egyptian cotton percale sheets w/ a 400 thread count. Ok..lol...shoot me...I buy my sheets at Target. I found the book a bit stuffy for my taste.

When I bought my new home in Italy I wished a book which could give me ideas for decorating the rooms in country style. I chose this by Bunny Williams and I am relly satisfacted because there are a lot of nice suggestion and beatifull pictures.
An Affair with a house is a best book of mine from now on.

Just adore this book -- I keep it by my bedside to review as often as possible. Can't wait for the next book!! Thanks Bunny!!

This book is a masterpiece- I loved every word and every picture. I have always wanted to renovate an old historic home-this book gives me the impetus to get going. I LOVED IT...

After many years of being a fan of Bunny Williams work, both at Treillage, Gumps, and several decorator show houses, it was great to compare her personal taste to that of her work. Neither is a disapointment. Her sage wisdom in decorating is what makes her house a home. I looked at the pages of this book and never once thought the house had that all too omnipresent "done" look that I see in so often in many decorators work. Not only was it beautiful, but it was a good read. What a treat!

What a great read. I didn't feel like I read a book. I felt like I'd been a house guest and a well looked after one at that. Written in a warm and inviting way, it was as though I'd actually spent time visiting in each of the rooms.

This book attracted me because I'd heard of Bunny Williams, but also because I'd recently moved into an 18th cent. house in the South which somewhat resembles hers. As someone with a new/old house, I found this far more helpful than any other book I've seen yet. While she doesn't walk through plans and tactics, clear themes emerge -- these themes are far more helpful than books which take a more direct 'how to' approach, since they provide pathways for one's own self-expression, without being a bit rigid. Examples: make the gardens a series of surprises; find a unifying principle for your collections; choose fabrics that go together but aren't all matchy-matchy. I also love that she is realistic about how long it takes to get something that feels wonderful to you. I'll be referring to this book for years, as I make my new house into a wonderful home for me and my family for the rest of our lives, one that respects the 200+ year history of the place, and one that is constantly changing and bringing us all deeper levels of happiness and fulfillment.

The exterior shots are wonderful. This book is very well written-I enjoyed the written journey. Maybe I had too high expectations for this book, but there were interior photos that I flipped thru really quickly in a ho-hum fashion. I really wanted to love this book bit by bit. Usually I pick one book per year and share with all my friends for gift giving; I regret this will not be the one.

If you are interested in gardening and decorating this is a book that will motivate you to do something with your own home. There are good ideas and tips for those of us that are not as talented in interior design.

Normally, I would study the photos in a coffee table book;skimming the print, not so with this. I read every word and hated that it came to an end! Please Bunny Williams, get another in the works ASAP! This was great.

This lavish book is a document of the author's 30-year restoration of her sprawling 18th century country house in Connecticut, complete with a guest barn, pool house and aviary. While many of us don't have the access or funds for beautiful antiques or a head gardener, Williams is refreshingly unpretentious. She wisely took her time, taking each room in her home at a time, lovingly creating rooms with vibrant color and immense charm. Outstanding photography and design make this a book to savor and return to again and again for inspiration. In addition to the outstanding photographs, there are recipes, advice on living with dogs, and integrating exotic plants into the garden.

Not only is this a lovely book about Ms. Williams' and Mr. Roselli's country estate, it is a wonderful lifestyle manual with great ideas for entertaining, setting the table, cooking and a host of other ideas. This is a book where you will actually become engrossed in the text (unlike many books where only the photos are interesting). In a totally down to earth, unpreachy tone, Ms. Williams takes us on a chapter by chapter tour of the entire property, and what a property it is. But the greatest part of this volume is the total comfort radiating from every page. Other designers and decorators should take note, for this kind of decorating, so full of talent and experience, is very difficult to achieve. Congratulations, Bunny!! This book is a must have.

This is a really beautiful coffee table book and inspires you to rush out and make your own home cosier and more gorgeous. Bunny lives in a world of perfection- even the dogs look divine. It reminded me a lot of the format in the Martha Stewart gardening book- some anecdotes, some history of the house and garden, entertainment tips, how she gardens, recipes, that type of thing. It is clear that a staff helps Bunny maintain all this beauty and we do see a gardener in a potting shed. I love this book, it is a truly lovely coffee table book with some nice recipes and fantastic photos. You will not be disappointed.

"I am not sure if I believe in destiny, but I do know that after years of looking for a house, my palms began to perspire as I turned onto a tree-lined driveway in a small New England village." This is the beginning of a beautiful tale that grows in the telling, as Bunny Williams invites the reader into a creative journey that is uncommonly rich, deep, and satisfying.

The author has in fact woven a number of story lines together into a seamless fabric of exceptional beauty. Each chapter begins with a piece of the actual love story - the room by room accounting of how Williams transformed a dilapidated 18th century manor house and the property on which it stands into a masterpiece of surpassing elegance and style. This is followed by a photographic exploration of each area in which every image is a composition that would stand on its own as fine art. Captions to the illustrations are instructive and helpful without deconstructing the harmony of the spaces that Williams has created. And, interspersed throughout it all, are practical tips and advice on a variety of subjects such as hunting for antiques, arranging flowers, and even setting up for a picnic.

Totally absent is the self absorbed, prissy, and obsessive tone that often attaches itself to the work of great decorators. Instead, this is an intimate celebration of life complete with dogs, chickens, vegetables, flowers, and a very beloved husband. Williams makes the point that a zest for living and a keen understanding of human behavior underscore every successful design.

This book is beautifully conceived, beautifully written, beautifully illustrated, and beautifully executed in every aspect. I give it my highest recommendation.

WOW! This gorgeous book was absolutely worth waiting for (two months)! The text is so informative and interesting to read and I love the way Bunny talks to you like you are sitting across from her having a cup of tea. I have never enjoyed a decorating book more (and I have hundreds of them) and the entertainment and knowledge learned while reading this outstanding book. I cannot wait to sit down again and slowly pour over each beautiful page. Thanks Bunny, your home is amazing!

I've enjoyed seeing other decorating by Bunny Williams in various magazines. A couple of years ago I saw her conservatory dining room featured in a magazine and fell in love with it. Wonderful!!! I understand the concept of the "decorating" done in the main house but wish it would have been a little more - can't think of a good word - maybe polished. Would love to see the whole compound. Especially loved the Barn. What a wonderful room to enjoy alone or with lots of friends. I am much in favor of a large room with difference sitting areas. Makes much more sense for enjoying and entertaining when everyone can gather together in one area rather than in 2 or 3 rooms. LOVE IT!

If you love home decorating and interior design, this is a must read. Filled with wonderful anecdotes and useful tips on decorating any room in the house (there are even recipes for entertaining out of town guests), this visually stunning book deserves a place on every coffee table. Ms. Williams shares her decorating expertise with readers while taking them on a tour of her magnificent country house. Along the way, we learn everything from setting the perfect table, hanging art on the wall, arranging flowers, the art of placement, and where to find the best antiques and other furniture finds. This is a book you can read over and over again.