Sacred Spaces is not only a glimpse into the homes of those interviewed, but also into the stories of their lives. This was a unique and uplifting book, providing the takeaway to never give up and to always have faith.

I was initially attracted to Carley Summer's book Sacred Spaces because of its beautiful cover. However, the content of the book was not what I expected. I was hoping for a book with pictures and ideas for decorating and creating sacred spaces. Instead, the book focuses on why and how people create sacred spaces and what they mean to them. Although the book was inspiring, I would have enjoyed it more if it had provided tips on creating a sacred space instead of showcasing examples of what others have created. Nevertheless, it is a stunning book that is worth checking out.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Beautiful photos and inspirational stories!

Thank you NetGalley and Convergent Books for the ARC.

I loved this book. It is comforting. In a time when things in the world seem unpredictable, "Sacred Spaces" creates hope that we can all curate our own sanctuary just like the inspiring people within the pages.

This book contains an important message. This book is more than just pretty pictures of beautiful homes.

This book can help you from the inside out. The inside of you to the outside of you and the inside and outside of your home.

This book teaches you about freedom.

You will find gorgeous, stunning photography and thoughtful design inspiration. The Unique styles of all the designers and homeowners will leave you in awe.

But there is so much more! The stories....

The writing and interviews are conversational and approachable.

The peace these people have feels like something I can accomplish.

One of my favorite quotes:

"The victory, even as I am sitting here talking with you, is that everything I see here in my home now I truly love. And there’s a reason for each item. There’s nothing here that I pick up or touch that makes me question why it’s here."
EDDIE ROSS

Thank you for reaching out and inviting me to experience and enjoy this stunning book.

Not the design book for me. I was expecting more photos and inspiration. I was disappointed in the writing and content. It did not fit what I personally was looking for.

Sacred Spaces

Great pictures and descriptions! With both included, it's easier to see what to do.

Filled with stunning pictures, this book is a series of interviews with people who have transformed their houses and apartments into sanctuaries, seeking refuge from their past. Many of them have had enormously troubled childhoods, such as Anna Kovalenko, a Russian immigrant to America whose brother was murdered, and Mark, a celibate gay man, rejected by his father when he was young because of his sexuality.

The book features homes from Morocco to Normandy. It will be a big help to anyone interested in interior design, especially those looking for assistance in finding hope by seeking new lives.. It is full of ideas and stories with inspirational pictures.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book is an extraordinary wellspring of inspiration and a gorgeous visual sourcebook. I thoroughly enjoyed the heartwarming, healing stories as well.

This was not exactly what I was expecting, but I still found the concept interesting. I not only love to look at beautiful homes, I love to know more about the people in the homes and how they make that space work for them. This table top book really dives into the latter and I found some of the interviews fascinating. I would definitely pick in up and read it for a while if I found it on the coffee table.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of Sacred Spaces by Carley Summers.

This book showcases beautiful and personal stories from a dozen people on their lives and their homes.

I've followed Carley for years on social media and really admired her style. Her new book is actually even more about the stories behind the spaces along with some curated pictures of the homes. Many similar design books are brief but this one has many homes included. Fun read!

I am a sucker for personal stories. Something about hearing a story told by the one that experienced it hold such power and helps connect you to that person on a deep, primal level. When I picked up Sacred Spaces I was expecting gorgeous homes and the lives that inhabit it, but what I wasn’t expecting was how personal the stories would be, almost like we are traveling to forbidden places, making these beautiful homes have so much more meaning.

The book is done in an interview style with photos of the person’s home accompanying the narrative, which bring a unique depth and gives the the overall story such life. I found myself not only falling in love with the homes but also those that inhabit them. I also love how a person’s home can be a reflection of who they are, where they’ve been, and what they desire.

Aside from the inspiring storytelling, I found myself getting ideas for my own home through the mesmerizing photography. I found myself gazing at several photos, seeing myself in that space, and seeing some of my own desires mirrored there. Sacred Spaces touched me in ways that I wasn’t expecting, which was a pleasant surprise.

I really wanted to like this, but something about it just felt flat to me. The homes had a certain sameness to them and the stories weren't at all as interesting as I expected.

I loved the unique take on this book. I thought it was really neat how the author talked to the homeowners and found their why. Not just “look at these pretty spaces”.

Sacred Spaces is a cozy, immersive look into several inspiring lives and the homes that they've built, both physically and mentally. I received an advanced Kindle version, but this would definitely be most enjoyed in book form for the photography.

The stories are expansive, covering spaces as close as my neck of the woods in Pennsylvania, all the way to a Guatemalan oasis. Reading these feels like Chicken Soup for the Homemakers Soul. Loving decor and interior design, I loved the combination of the raw, real stories and advice of the interviewees with the beautiful, peaceful photos of their dwellings.

While I can't relate to the stories heavily tied to their faith in God, I don't think it was distracting enough to not identify with their life reflections.

An unusual and fascinating look at homes from a different angle. Home as a healing place , a sanctuary, a safe place. It took me a while to read this book and understand where it was coming from (I was expecting more Home and Gardens) but glad that I made the effort. A spiritual exploration of what makes a home with many examples. A comforting book I will cherish.

SACRED SPACES: Everyday people and the Beautiful Homes Created Out of Their Trials, Healing and Victories. By Carley Summers. Releasing April 18, 2023

“I need to be surrounded by things I love.”

I get inspired looking at photography books of beautiful home interiors. Sacred Spaces goes beyond the coffee table décor book, showcasing 14 homes and their owners, all of whom have suffered great emotional adversity. The designer/photographer/author Carley Summers tells her story of recovery from addiction and alcoholism, then goes on to share stories from around the world of gorgeous homes and their owners who created sanctuaries for healing within them.

“I think everyone needs a corner of their home where they can just dream.”

Some of the stories are religious, some spiritual, some are about healing from abuse, trauma, abandonment or self-doubt, but all end with the solace of a home filled with beauty and grace. The styles of décor are as varied as the storytellers, each with special touches that express the personality of its inhabitants, from minimalist to ornate.

“The end result is so satisfying—taking something that was tarnished and dirty and making it shiny and beautiful.”

Some of my favorite homes were located in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Bath, England, Los Angeles, California, Arles, France, and Essaouira, Morocco, a small beach town I was fortunate to visit and deeply loved. Each owner shares their gathered wisdom in order to inspire and help others to grow, learn, get creative and move forward.

“It’s whole, filled with everything that matters: friends, family, beautiful textiles—everything is in there.”

I recommend Sacred Spaces to all who love to gaze at interiors and to create calm and beauty and a sense of freedom in their own homes. Out today!
“Finally I have a home full of life and love.”


Hardcover 304 pages

This book was a very interesting exploration of the idea of home, going through the homes and life stories of some intriguing people.

The whole work has a very specific vibe, despite the uniqueness of each home they all have certain similarities: the interiors featured here are all maximalist, all feature a lot of old objects, and a lot of the people featured here are - if not into antiques, at least into giving new life to old finds.

A thing that contributes to the unity of the book is perhaps the same interview - each home owner answers the same questions. They all have gone through hard times, difficult periods and they all have come to a place where they own a home that each one has decorated, it seems most of the people are part of the interior design world.

It was interesting seeing these interiors, being inspired by the objects people had in their homes and how it reflected their life stories. It was also intriguing to have such a view into different peoples' lives, all stories that went into big emotional depths and the featured home owners shown a lot of vulnerability in shining a light onto them. I, specifically, liked that they all end in a positive way, and the people present in these pages have words of encouragement and advice for the readers.

The very specific vibe of this book is also expressed by the Christian atmosphere it goes into. Many of the people featured, including the author and her mother (also featured), mention a lot their faith and their practices. The book is dedicated to sacred spaces, but it only features people of Christian faiths, and other people who don't specifically talk about their religion. So it's not that much a view into very distinct sacred spaces, but into sacred spaces that happen to lean more into the Christian world.

All in all, this was a nice and inspiring read, but only up to a certain degree. However, I think anyone who dreams of big homes filled with whimsical and antiqued finds will appreciate this book greatly.

This book is a different kind of book about making your home into yours. This is a book of pictures and stories of how people turned spaces in their homes into a sacred space that helps them heal. This book is beautifully photographed and the stories are wonderful.

I admit that I was expecting Sacred Spaces to be more of a design book filled with glorious home photos. It is that, but so much more.

Carley Summers travels to several locales both within the United States and abroad not only to photograph homes, but more importantly to hear each homeowner's story and why their present-day home is now their sacred space. Like Summers, these homeowners have dealt with difficult circumstances and have found peace in their lives, which is reflected in their homes -- testaments to how far they have traveled and how much they have overcome throughout their lives.

A beautifully written book filled with stunning photos and inspiring stories. Thank you to #NetGalley and Convergent Books for this ARC of #SacredSpaces.