Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living

by Matt Maranian

You have a futon left over from college, some dingy end tables that Aunt Miller left you, and an apartment whose carpeting dates back to the Me Decade. The decorating magazines and TV shows never seem to talk to you. So what? With some attitude, know-how, and a lot of your own style, your place can be transformed into a fabulous Shangri-La, a swanky venue fit for living and entertaining well. The Guide to Ultra-Living is filled to bursting with hip, affordable projects for every room in the house and shows how to use basics like lighting, plants, mirrors, and paint to enhance even problem areas. Numerous testimonials from real people with real living spaces demonstrate how a little spaces demonstrate how a little spunk and individuality can overcome the limitations of the average urban dwelling. Offering a complete lifestyle package, Pad has instructions for building your own home bar, ideas for party themes and recipes--and even collateral hangover cures! This total living guide will have your place all spruced up--and the envy of guests--in no time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Reference, Design, How To

216 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lauryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those shiny, shiny ridiculous coffee-table books full of photographs of people's living rooms. So why the Hell is it one of my favorite books? I dunno, it just is. I love how totally effed the decorating schemes are in this book. I love that there are people in the world who decorate their bathrooms with a Catholic/Gayboy theme. I love that weirdos exist and THEY DECORATE! My copy of this book is well-worn and slightly tatty after years of thumbing through it lovingly, like a kid with the JC Penny's Christmas Catalog, fantasizing that someday, all of this could be mine. Only in this case "this" is a living room with a tree growing through it and a front hallway aglow with blacklight sensitive screenprint posters for punk bands.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geez, I sort of miss my Goodwill/Salvation Army Days. Now that I'm shacked up with someone who has money and who is generous with money, it's sort of hard to go back. Well, really, it's hard to go back to my thrifting days because the thrift shops in Argentina suck and my partner has very particular taste in things. Sigh! Still, I can reminisce and draw inspiration from these very funky people! Argentine design is like super-boring, homogenous design. Walk through the Design Center in Recoleta, and everything bloody looks the same! This book keeps me rooted and balanced.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the decorating book for those of us who don't have a huge suburban home, four spare rooms, and can't make any permament changes to our apartments. The book showcases the interesting ways various people have rescued their homes from bland rental living. Every time I flip through this I find it inspiring and interesting.

[Reilly Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank god I did not have this as a kid in the 90s-2000s. The last thing my mom needed was for me to go through a faux fur and rattan phase.
This book has Jon Bok and Rick Owens in it, which I think is worth the price of admission. Rick Owens has BEEN doing this shit. Anyone with a sense of whimsy, creativity, gayness (my husband described this book as, “gay people doing gay shit”) or design will enjoy this.

[Alexandra Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. It offers a look under the covers and behind the door of your favorite weird artist friend, who you secretly wish you were brave enough to live like! So many times I've turned to this book to give me creative inspiration and courage. I've hauled it around for years. And someday, some day, I'll make my own psychedelic hand-cut carpet.

[Kelly Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

DIY projects and ideas for interior decorating. Fabulous book. Took away one star because I'm way too lazy to attempt any of the projects so I'm blaming it on the book.

Highlight: random full-frontal nudity

[Nikki Macinnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for years...it's full of super funky interior design that is always fun to come back to. There are also tips on how to make playing cards coasters, build a tiki bar, care for your house plants, and mix a drink.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good it's practically edible. One that I would read over & over, if only I hadn't lent it to someone I promptly never saw again.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A time-tested reference book for decorating. Great ideas for poor people!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the projects were waaaay out there, but they were very funny. I liked Pad Parties much better, but this was entertaining.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this book.
I loved this book.
I abandoned this book
In Vancouver.
I want it again.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite my thing - could generate some ideas.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coolest easy DIY ideas for themed decorating I've seen yet.