The New Decorating Book

by Denise L. Caringer (Editor)

For nearly 50 years, home decorators have turned to Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Book to transform their houses into warm, personal havens for their families. The tradition continues with this all-new edition. It's your personal guide to the styles, colors, textures, fabrics, wall and window treatments, flooring, lighting, and accessories that define today's interior design. More than 900 photographs, 100 illustrations, and friendly, informative text offer you ideas for every room in the house: the kitchen, living room, family room, dining room, bedrooms, guest room, kids' rooms, baths, home office, and even outdoor areas. A fun, insightful quiz helps you discover your unique style, while a showcase of 12 houses introduces you to a diversity of decorating approaches. In addition, there are useful tips on maximizing storage, arranging rooms, and accomplishing room makeovers. Easy-to-follow descriptions make projects and quick decorating solutions a snap. This updated classic-a dream book, workbook, room-by-room planner, and design primer bound into one volume-is guaranteed to show you how to achieve fresh, affordable style throughout your home.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Design, Interior Design

408 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s really dated. There are many better options out there!

[Manny Villa]

254857

[M]

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[Kyleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this book. I came to the book a novice to formal decorating, but with strong ideas about color, furniture, and surfaces. What I was looking for was something to help me bring a cohesiveness to the style of a room and of many rooms together. This book did that and so much more![return][return]It was very good at presenting concepts that one could use to build upon. It had a few rooms that were very specialized, but for the most part it presented ideas and considerations.[return][return]The book does tend towards more of a country look. Lots of antiques and florals, and little consideration is made for more modern schemas. However, I had no problem envisioning the book's suggestions and ideas with other colors, patterns, and furnishings.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12878437

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew I might be in trouble when the first interior was titled "Tulsa, Meet Provence" and the first large photo shows a little footstool with three books stacked upon it. I guess I have a pet peeve against books being used as decor props instead of as BOOKS. Most of the interiors featured in this book are dated - too full of stuff compared to now, over 15 years later. There is still much to learn from this text, though. Although the rooms are stuffed, many of the little details in these interiors are very nice: re-purposed wrought iron, beautiful chandeliers, tufted upholstery, generous mirrors. The built-in makeover on pages 258-259 is remarkable, although I doubt the new photo shows it filled with the "owners' favorite things" and it's also shown on page 308-309 with different tchotchkes in it. Typography design in here is definitely dated!!! All in all, this book is worth a look.