The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining, and the Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency--on a Budget!

by Kate Payne

“I am a hugefan! Kate Payne has nailed it in this humorous and creative guide for fabulous,chic and easy-on-the-wallet ideas for your home. . . . another must have for mygirlfriends.” —Kim Barnouin,co-author of the #1  New York Times  bestseller,  Skinny Bitch  

“Anencouraging, non-perfectionist, step-by-step guide for creating a pleasurablehome without killing yourself (or the planet).” —Sally Schneider, Founder of TheImprovisedLife.com,and author of  The Improvisational Cook

Artist, creator,and self described “half-assed domestic goddess” KatePayne delivers a savvy and resourceful guide to creative home living. With aknowledgeable, encouraging, and no-nonsense tone, the Brooklyn-bred, Austin-baseddomestic guru dispenses her need-to-know advice on thrift stores, flea markets,Craigslist, interior design, decorating, cooking, crafting, and the best waysto embrace an artistic lifestyle.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Gardening, Food, Personal Development, Self Help

266 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2011

About the author

Kate Payne is the blogger and author behind forthcoming book, The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking (HarperCollins, Spring 2011). She lives in Austin, TX and hosts food/jar swaps and invites friends over often to watch and participate in canning adventures. She posts small-batch canning recipes, gluten-free baking projects, DIY cleaning ideas and other creative home improvisations to her blog.

Reviews

[Lindsey Stinnett McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

The homemaking suggestions in this book aren't groundbreaking. The author has a perspective, and I appreciate that, but this book didn't inspire me as I'd hoped. Some things seems specifically catered to NYC flat dwellers and people that are basically adult infants. Some umpteen page explanations of ordinary tasks were not helpful to me, I'm sorry. Milk crates and chopped up towels aren't the answer to most of my homemaking questions, but to each their own.
The cover is super cute though!

[Skylar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently I'm not hip anymore. I probably would have loved these ideas when I was 22. But now I'm 32 and have a rambunctious baby, so I'm probably not going to be repurposing milk crates and window panes from the side of the road.

[Brianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cool thing about Kate Payne's book is that she doesn't assume everyone knows how to do everything automatically. Admittedly I get judgy about this - who the hell doesn't know how to do the goddamn dishes? - but taking into account that I don't know everyone's story, it's good to remember that there are some things that seem basic to some of us that were never part of the growing up experience for others for whatever reason. My point is that this book, which I did not read cover to cover but skimmed and am using as a reference guide for a lot of things, runs the gamut. No, I did not need a tutorial on doing the dishes, but did I need a whole section about preserves? You damn right I did. And I loved it.

There's a lot in here and it's one of the few home/lifestyle books that I do think is truly viable for everybody - there's something for everyone in here, and Kate Payne's informal but smart style makes her easy and fun to read. She doesn't talk down to you but she's not overtly coddly either - "I won't assume I know your individual style, that's what HGTV and Apartment Therapy are for" cracked me up. I found this super useful and do recommend it highly, whether you're looking for the finer points of basic home maintenance or trying to pick up new domestic skills.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is for people who have absolutely no clue how to be an adult. Might be helpful for late teens/new adults. Maybe.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is breezy, fun, and incredibly reassuring to someone like me who wants to have a clean and cheerful home but isn't great at cleaning/decorating/home stuff besides cooking. Payne provides a nice overview of all the basics. I especially like that she highlights strategies that are both green and inexpensive. This is no pressure homemaking - ways to keep your apartment clean and make it homey but without crazy injunctions like "move the refrigerator o clean behind it once a week."

The downside of this book is that it doesn't go into great detail about almost anything. It's a good overview, but if you have questions about how to clean/fix/decorate a specific area/item of clothing/room, there's a good chance you won't find what you're looking for. I think she tries to cover too much in one short book (cleaning, decorating, laundry, mending, gardening, cooking, canning, etc.) and so the specifics suffer. I also found the illustrations frustratingly unhelpful, particularly in the sewing section.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea but I felt like it didn't live up to its potential. There was one section that was obviously an earlier draft of a page that came just a couple of pages later which was odd and sloppy. I felt like some points and topics were glossed over rather quickly, I would have rather some more in-depth info than page after page of bulletpoints. Maybe someone like a young teenager who was totally new to cleaning and cooking would get more out of it? It seemed geared at adults though but I can't imagine someone who was interested enough in "homemaking" to pick up a book about it wouldn't already know most of this info.

It might be worth noting the content in the book is really geared towards larger city living. I live in a major city but in a house with a yard, some storage space etc. Most of the tips were geared more to loft/small apartment living. I don't think that was made clear in the title or description.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me want to reorganize my kitchen and try making my own pickles. So yay for that.

The book definitely takes a green approach, but all the "chemicals and plastic are evil" stuff got preachy after a while. I like the environment as much as anyone, but you don't need to tell me 35 times that storing food in plastic containers is bad for me. I did appreciate that the author told you how you can make your own green cleaning products on the cheap rather than buying pricey environmentally-friendly brands.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright. I like Payne's blog better. There were a few good tips about cleaning but otherwise, nothing new for this lady in her prime! At first, I thought it might be good for someone in their 20s. I have 3 sisters in their 20's and I think it's too hip(pieish) for them. The big irksome tip was about using milk crates for shelving. Ack! That should only be allowed in college and then you move on to something more creative (even salvaging wood off the street would be better than milk crates!).

[Relyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was a dud. I guess I should qualify that statement. I am a BIG fan of shelter and homemaking magazines and books. I read them - all of them. Ok, maybe not all, but tons. And I have for twenty years. I think the "hip" part was just a marketing ploy - of course it was. But, I thought I'd read it anyway. Then, it was a bunch of recycled, old ideas. I really didn't get anything new or different from it. Well, except that it included websites. Hmmmm...


Yup. Still a dud.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 20% of this was interesting and applied to me
We do not have the same decor style and I didn't need some of these tips, like how to can
But I loved the green cleaning tips! That was my favorite chapter

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Payne has written a fun book about homemaking on a budget. I found lots of tips, new blogs/websites to view, and new books to read. I liked Kate's voice throughout the book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well compiled book for those interested in improving their domestic prowess. Lots of great advice; this would be a good reference book to have on hand.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting fun ideas.

[Jane]

I kind of skipped around in this one. I wanted to get a lot done over the summer, but as usual, not much happened.

[Miry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference for someone first living on their own

[Jessica (thebluestocking) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from the publisher. All content and opinions are my own.

I've been on a bit of a "homemaking" kick lately. I've been trying to organize my household, plan meals and shopping trips better, and decorate my home more to my taste. So, I thought this book would be a fun read. And I was right. This is one of my favorite passages:

I'm not an interior designer, nor a home decor specialist. I just like pretty things. I like to surround myself with things that make me happy. That's it! As our old pal William Morris said, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." If something's beautiful to you, find a way to make it work.

Doesn't that William Morris quote make you want to embroider a pillow? And something about Payne's book and style makes me believe that I can conquer my homemaking goals. And you can too. Here's how the book is divided:

Part I - Room-by-Room Guide to a Homey House, Homie
Chapter 1 - Kitchen and Dining Rooms
Chapter 2 - Living Areas
Chapter 3 - Bed, Bath, and Between

Lots of good decorating and repurposing tips here. This part make me want to take a trip to a thrift store.

Part II - Impressive Acts of Domesticity
Chapter 4 - Outdoor Spaces
Chapter 5 - Cleaning and DIY Suds
Chapter 6 - Managing Cloth
Chapter 7 - Tapping the Tool Kit

Good stuff abounds here, too - from growing what you can in the space available to you, to thinking through the chemicals you clean with, and from laundry options and strategies, to conquering simple household repairs and projects.

Part III - Life After Restaurants
Chapter 8 - Cooking at Home
Chapter 9 - Preserving Food at Home
Chapter 10 - Entertaining Projects

This part felt the most home-y to me. There's something about food that creates that atmosphere. These chapters are full of good ideas on how to cook and entertain at home, as well as to preserve and maximize your food resources.

So, I thought this book was well-written and informative, though the "hip girl" talk turned out to be a minor annoyance. And Payne has a lot of good tips. Of course, not every tip will be for every person, but there are plenty here to choose from. I was particularly inspired by the idea of preserving even small quantities of food at home, by the idea of mixing your own cleaners from basic ingredients link vinegar and borax, and by repurposing beautiful items into your decor. But I'm sure each reader will be inspired by different things.

Beware before purchasing that there is a definite " extreme green" tilt to the writing (Payne has no microwave, uses glass Tuperware, and makes all of her own cleaners). Also, most of the suggestions are geared to large-city, apartment dwelling, though many of them are adaptable to other living situations. Still, as a suburban house dweller, I was a little disappointed at the narrower scope of the book.

Overall, this is a good book that would make an excellent wedding shower gift or a nice present for yourself if you need some ideas to spicy up your domestic life.

[Nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon seeing this book in my local library I was thrilled. A book about homemaking with a lean towards sustainability and self reliance? Right up my ally. Once I got into the book, I was a little less thrilled. It read easily enough and the author definitely put her own personality into her writing, but the information is just way too basic. It may be useful to a privileged upper middle class kid just starting or fresh out of college, but for those of us who had to grow up improvising, or who have even a touch more life experience, a lot of the tips and tricks in this book are just things that make you go "duh!" I did pick up a handful of useful tidbits that I hadn't thought of before but what really saved this book from being more of a letdown was its inclusion of additional resources. At the end of every chapter there were lists of books and websites that all seemed very interesting and useful after the author's description. I have added several books to my "to-read" list on Kate's recommendation. The last two chapters get more interesting as she delves into canning and demystifies what has been an overwhelming project that I've been afraid to tackle in the past (I think that demystifying was her aim with all domestic topics that she covered but with the others she just got too basic for me.) and proposes some cool party ideas. Overall, I finished the book with a positive feeling. I can't say I learned much, but it was a decent read and it motivated me to check out the author's blog which is excellent.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really wanting to like this book after reading Adulting (different author but some type of book), like I would continue to learn. I was hoping this could help with decorating, gardening and general homemaking, but it just seemed preachy to me. Now I will say some of the advice was good but it is mainly for people in bigger cities, living in apartments not people like me who are in a small town with lots of yard and space between neighbors living in a house. When I was in college living with my parents I had the cinder block book shelf but living 'on my own' with my husband I do not think that would work too well. I also understand the importance of going green but Kate is shoving it down your throat in this book. I get that chemicals are bad, and that cooking things from scratch are healthier for you, but not everyone has the time or energy to do so. I work 45 minutes away from my house which I know is not the longest some people have to commute but with a husband who does not eat lunch (unwinnable battle trust me I have tried) by the time we get home at almost 6 he is starving and does not want to wait for me to make everything from scratch. I will on the weekends make homemade lasagna, or other meals that require lots of time to prepare and that is usually the most delicious meal but on weekdays we (HE) wants quick easy meals. The saving grace of this book was the last chapter, she talks about having get-togethers and how we should continue to learn and grow which is something I believe in.

[Bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book and resource! I HIGHLY recommend The Hip Girl’s Guide especially to my fellow friends living in a small space. This book is a fantastic resource. It’s basically a guide to all things related to home – Kate Payne covers decorating, organizing, gardening, cleaning, canning, fabric care, hosting, and more. I especially loved her chapters on organizing and decorating. She is a big advocate of keeping things low cost and utilizing garage sales, Craigslist and thrift stores. I have always hated thrift stores, but I like her advice: ignore all the ugliness in order to find the gems! Her cooking advice was super helpful as well. I was introduced to CSAs in this book, Community Supported Agriculture. You can buy a share in a local farm and have yummy, fresh, organic fruits and vegetables delivered to your home on a regular basis. I’ve looked into a couple in the Sacramento area and have found several for only $16 per box of produce. Way cheaper and more delicious than grocery stores and I will be supporting local farmers!

There is so much I could say about this book. I feel like there is so much home care knowledge out there that has been lost to my generation. Kate has this positive, upbeat, can-do attitude that is super inspiring and motivating to attempt homemaking feats you only thought your grandmother could do. I LOVED this book, read it, read it, read it!

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I owe a debt of gratitude to Kate Payne for the Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking. Before I had a chance to read the book, we had friends over for dinner. As I cleared the dishes I was horrified to find a red wine stain in the middle of the hand-embroidered tablecloth that had belonged to my parents for many years. I went to Kate's book seeking a solution to keep the wine from staining and her advice worked.

The book is easy to read and well organized. It is also eco-friendly. It is chock-full of helpful hints. Yes, most of us know not to use chlorine and ammonia in proximity but did you know that toxic fumes can also be created using vinegar near chlorine bleach? I've washed mirrors with a variety of sprays including vinegar. There is always a film and streaks left behind. I've used rags, paper towels, and newspapers to no avail. Kate Payne suggests using coffee filters. I'm going to give it a try. My book is filled with sticky notes marking tips for cleaning and decorating that I hope implement.

My question to the author is "Do you have to cuss, to be a hip girl?" The profanity in the book is mild but it really didn't seem appropriate in the context of the book.

[Margaret Heller · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you don't know anything about keeping house, then not a bad way to get started, though she does have some fairly pseudoscientific opinions. I.e. there is really no reason to be terrified of having a microwave. And a catch-all "don't expose yourself to toxins" kind of stuff. Do your research on each individual component and decide whether or not it's appropriate to use that. For instance, I will use boric acid, but won't use chlorine bleach.

In any event, I was raised learning how to clean, garden, mend, cook, bake, etc., and do all of those things even more extensively than my mom does now, so I don't think I am the right audience for this book. If you were raised differently and are in your first place out of college with no money, this is aimed at you.

The main thing I wanted from this book was her advice on folding fitted sheets, and that I got. Whether or not I will actually follow it remains to be seen, as wrinkled sheets are pretty low on my list of household worries.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I refer to this book more than I do to the Bible. (I should probably step up my Bible reading a bit).

I think this book is cute and fun. It's given me tons of ideas. I'm surprised at all the commenters whose homes are evidently so well put together that they learned nothing. My home is not well put together, so I learn something each time I open the book. It's great for learning about green cleaning and simple living. I'm also thrilled to see a home management book geared towards low income apartment dwellers, a growing niche which has largely been ignored by the Martha Stewart crowd.

I'd also like to put it out there that I don't recall coming across any cussing. Maybe it depends what your definition of a cuss word is.

[Lisa Urso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the guide I needed when I moved into my first apartment. It is simple, breaks things down into "can-do" tasks, and is not intimidating. For those reviewers who were expecting something more, I don't think this book was meant to be chunky or too all-encompassing. It is a beginner's guide to homemaking, but has tips and tricks that anyone can use. I found the chapters on furnishing and cleaning to be quite helpful.

Each chapter ends with a list of resources, both print and online, if you want further information.

Kate Payne has written a sequel, The Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen, which is on my "to-read" pile. Looking forward to learning more about preservation and canning.

[Ashley]

Eh...I couldn't really get into this book. I think it would be good for people ~10 years younger than I am, headed to college or perhaps just having graduated, but at this stage of my life I am more interested in saving up for relatively quality pieces of furniture, etc., that will last me for a long time, and less interested in repairing broken pieces that I pick up off a street corner. (Where by "relatively quality" I mean things like "from IKEA, but real wood, not particle board"...so I have a pretty low threshold, haha.)

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read that I breezed through in a day. This book isn't for all audiences, but I could relate to the obstacles of city living. Everyone in NY is always looking at ways to take advantage of space and save costs while trying to create a cozy home. Some of the chapters didn't capture me and I skimmed over them. Maybe at some point I'll reference them. Other chapters inspired me to try new things like planting an urban garden, canning or becoming a member of a CSA. I am always up for a book that motivates me to try new things and encourages me to look at things in a new perspective

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a GREAT RESOURCE! Payne makes a great point when she says (I'm surmising here) the difference between owing the books and pinning it is that you are more likely to put it to action immediately than let it sit on a board waiting for a rainy day. My favorite sections are the room-by-room guides to practical placement/storage/cleaning/maintenance and finally decorating. Of course it is a great resource a-z for all things home-related for those who are seeking to make the most of what they have!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a few issues. Overall, I wasn't impressed.

In the bread section the author accidentally (I assume) repeated several sentences (202 and 204 had repeats).

There were some clear opinions that the author had the for someone with my taste found to be more cluttering than productive.

The author is obviously very green which I wish I had realized before I picked this book up. Pretending that it is cheap and easy to eat organic and clean organic is not a reality. I feel like nobody ever told this author about a food desert or anything.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was nothing really wrong with this book, it was probably just intended for a younger audience. It might be perfect for someone just graduating from college, moving to the big city, and figuring out how to run an apartment on their own, not a thirty-something woman with some life experience looking to improve the running of a household. In the several hundred pages I read, I only came away with two helpful hints from her margin notes that I didn't know about before.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginning guide. Payne even says whole books could be written on each chapter. Her positive attitude and "I'll give it a try" attitude are contagious. The book is easy and quick to read and worthwhile for the few tips that can be picked up.
She gets a bit "holier than thou" on her efforts to be green - It might be better to win people to the benefit of green living than to condemn with suspicious "scientific" claims.

[Lori Lynn Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

started out really liking this book but the more I read it the less I loved it. The "Hipster" talk was getting to be a little much. And seriously, do you have to cuss to write a Homemaking book??? I don't hate the book but I don't love it either. I would consider buying it for reference but I don't know that I could manage.reading it all the way through again. I had super expectations for this book but honestly it left me saying "Meh."