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Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers
A practical how-to guide from the author of Mad About the House, the bestselling book and UK s number 1 interiors blog. This easy-to-use dictionary of interior design answers all those questions you wanted to solve but were afraid to ask.
The book begins with the most important questions of all: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? And When? The aim is to answer these before you start any decorating scheme and you will avoid the most common mistakes, save money and, most importantly, create a home that works for you and the people who live there. Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers is the super-practical guide that allows you to dip in and out so you can solve all your decorating dilemmas.
The chapters focus on Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Windows, Doors & Skirtings, Furniture Layout, Lighting, before finally a round-up of Fixtures & Fittings. In addition to the no-nonsense practical answers, there are checklists and step-by-step guides to key decorating challenges everything from How to Hang Wallpaper, to Arranging a Gallery Wall, How to Choose a Mattress and What Makes the Best Work Surface.
The book begins with the most important questions of all: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? And When? The aim is to answer these before you start any decorating scheme and you will avoid the most common mistakes, save money and, most importantly, create a home that works for you and the people who live there. Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers is the super-practical guide that allows you to dip in and out so you can solve all your decorating dilemmas.
The chapters focus on Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Windows, Doors & Skirtings, Furniture Layout, Lighting, before finally a round-up of Fixtures & Fittings. In addition to the no-nonsense practical answers, there are checklists and step-by-step guides to key decorating challenges everything from How to Hang Wallpaper, to Arranging a Gallery Wall, How to Choose a Mattress and What Makes the Best Work Surface.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2020
25 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 24, 2020
This book stands out as, unlike many follow up interior design books from the same author, it still manages to have new and fresh information and not feel like a regurgitation of the same ideas.
That being said it also, thankfully, holds true to the style of the first book by being less prescriptive and more encouraging the reader to find their own style.
I enjoy this book for its quick ease of reference and concise but thorough answers to practical questions I had encountered already.
While the first book gave me the information and confidence to develop a style this gave me the practical advice on how to achieve and maintain it.
That being said it also, thankfully, holds true to the style of the first book by being less prescriptive and more encouraging the reader to find their own style.
I enjoy this book for its quick ease of reference and concise but thorough answers to practical questions I had encountered already.
While the first book gave me the information and confidence to develop a style this gave me the practical advice on how to achieve and maintain it.
June 4, 2021
We are starting some renovations in our home, and my favorite sections/questions related to paint & the kitchen, as that is where a lot of our work & my thoughts revolve around. I appreciated her perspective on statement walls, painting the ceiling (& thinking of it as your fifth wall) and painting doors or trim to go with your space (as opposed to the default white or wood). I enjoyed the illustrations, but I wish that there had been more. Considering that design is so visual, I found it odd to not have more examples.
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July 6, 2020I've read this book before I started remodeling my house in Cyprus. I wanted to make everything in the Mediterranean style but I have not even imagined how to do this. Thanks to this book I have got some ideas which I discussed with my agency https://interior-design.cy/. Recommended. This book will be really useful for everyone who plans to redesign their homes.
January 13, 2023
A good book to dip in and out of if you're renovating/redecorating, though some people may find the author's no-nonsense tone a bit off-putting at times (personally I liked the authority from which she spoke, despite perhaps not agreeing with everything that she suggested style wise).
April 28, 2020
Very informative and well laid out.
June 11, 2020
Love Kate's books!
July 23, 2020
This is basically a Q&A book. Only artistic renderings, no inspiring before and after pictures. Or pictures at all.
July 28, 2020
Offers some general advice but very short on substance.
August 16, 2021
Kate is just the best! Her tips will help Kevin the confusing world of home renovations. Will now listen to her podcast
August 29, 2021
The ultimate interiors guide and pure heaven on paper - simply delicious! This book will follow me wherever I go and I will follow Kate Watson-Smyth wherever she writes!
February 24, 2022
Useful, but read a second one on the topic
July 7, 2023
I enjoy the author's podcast with Sophie Robinson, "The Great Indoors", and enjoyed this too.
May 13, 2024
Total house renovation.
An excellent aid to renovating a house and immensely readable too. I could not recommend it more highly. Thank you so much. Sarah
An excellent aid to renovating a house and immensely readable too. I could not recommend it more highly. Thank you so much. Sarah
August 11, 2024
Great book, full of useful interior design tips.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews