Softcover, 288 Pages, Published 2003
Customer Reviews:
Great for Non-Decorators.......2006-07-30
This book is a great education for those of us who lack any decorating knowledge. It explains how to use color, texture, fabric, lighting, the room shape/design, window treatments...etc. etc. to make your home beautiful. Even if you think you know how to use these things, this makes you think about them in an entirely different way. It's not an "idea" book, but a true home decorating how-to book. Based on reviews I actually bought another book and got this one to get the free shipping, but actually this book is much better. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to spice up their home.
A Smart Approach to Home Decorating.......2006-06-20
This book contained many ideas for a . Many photographs to show simple traditional and contemporary home interiors. The text covers everything starting basic room layouts to explaining everything there is to know about decorating a nice home.
Good tips for decorating.......2006-02-17
It is usually difficult to asses a decor book on the internet. I usually spend hours in a books store to purchase the right decor book. However I was very pleased with this one.. It contains a variety of decor information.. more like a course on decor... Well explained, good information, explaination of many techniques, and styles, good photos... A good buy.. only complaint the book was printed 2003, however decor styles and rules can be applied to general decor style..
Photos very stylish, good quality book... no regrets for purchase.
Good Technical Foundation.......2004-05-18
I am in the process of buying my first home (a condo) and have no clue about decorating so I randomly checked a bunch of books out of the library, including this one. At first I did not like it and found it boring and elitist. The decorating pictured was exponentially more expensive than anything I will ever be able to afford and way too fussy for my taste, and she constantly talks about using little nooks that you just happen to find in your enormous mansion (e.g., putting a desk on the stair landing...um, my bedroom is about the size of that landing!). There are no unused nooks in my 1100 sq ft condo, I assure you!
However, as I read through the whole book I realized that I was getting a very thorough education in the basics of home decorating--an education I didn't even know I needed. The book covers everything from very basic details such as what height bar stools to get depending on your counter height, to a comprehensive description of the types window treatments, to more technical information on the five different types of lighting, and onto esoteric remodeling considerations. When I reached the end I realized that it was the most informative resource I have looked at (and I've looked at a LOT of decorating publications at this point), and I ended up buying a copy.
This book's strength is *not* loads of pretty pictures with decorating ideas you can steal. I actually liked very few of the decorating ideas and can afford none of them. BUT, if you want to feel more confident implementing your own decorating ideas with an educated and technically-sound approach, I highly recommend it.
I've learned a lot from this book.......2004-02-25
Gee, Amy Hilliard was way too critical.
I think it's all in what you're wanting to get out of the book. This is a wonderful book if you're wanting to learn what makes a nicely decorated home. Elements such as color, patterns, scale, lighting, furniture, window treatment, etc. all play a role, and it explains how you can use each to your advantage. Then it also goes into each room of the house and talks more specifically about what's more important for that room. One thing I love about this book is that it's filled with pictures, that, as with all books, keeps me captivated. So the "smart approach" here is to learn what things your need to focus on in decorating your home and how to manipulate those elements so that it fits your own home and your own style.
I've yet seen another decorating book that is this thorough and concise.
Book Description
Creative Homeowners best-selling The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design is updated in an all-new and revised third edition. This book includes inspirational ideas of the latest kitchen styles with an updated chapter devoted to new kitchen appliances and technology. Fantastic ideas from more of Americas best kitchen designers help readersthink like a professional. The latest trends are covered, such as sleek, new European cabinetry. Fully illustrated in gorgeous color photography, The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design also includes popular Smart Steps and Smart Tips, with the latest information about the products, materials, and design know-how that it takes to create anyones dream kitchen.
Book Description
Create a pleasant, safe, and useful haven for baby with
The Smart Approach to®
Baby Rooms. The latest title in our best-selling The Smart Approach to® series explains all of the aspects of design as they relate to newborns, infants, and toddlers, including how to analyze space, use color, and select furnishings. Other topics that are covered in the book include: sleeping options, an overview of infant-related products from changing tables to baby monitors, storage, safety, and special needs. A series of Smart Steps and Smart Tips throughout the book provide guidance for accomplishing design goals and achieving professional-like results.
Customer Reviews:
Great designs and picture full of ideas.......2005-09-13
This book is very colorful and gave me ideas of how to do a room but on a cheap scale than in the book. The book has varies themes and wallpaper murals. However, after recently removing wallpaper from a baby's room I decided painting would be easier and more functional. Children grow so fast and a nice light color with updating enhancements can give a room a fresh new look for your child-toddler-preteen. I choose a nice light blue for my daughter. She has a nice cherrywood bed and the blue looks nice together. Also many of ther toys can be incorporated into her room of color until a theme is selected.
I love this book.......2005-07-19
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for nursery ideas. The pictures and ideas are beautiful!
This is the baby room book to own!.......2005-05-18
This is a complete resource for planning a baby's room. It goes beyond the visual decor and provides practical advice for for everything from flooring to bedding. As the youngest of 4 siblings I've been around & babysat several babies and toodlers, yet the smart tips feature proved to be very educational as I prepare a room for a baby of my own.
Book Description
The latest addition to Creative Homeowners best-selling Smart Approach series, The Smart Approach to the Organized Home is for homeowners who want to learn the principles of effective organization and how the rules apply to every room in the house. The book covers all of the fundamentals of home storage, including the importance of cataloging items accurately for storage, the pros and cons of built-in and retrofit arrangements, and general strategies for locating storage areas. Like other books from the Smart Approach series, Smart Steps and Smart Tips illustrate how these methods apply to individual areas of the home. Packed with full-color photography, this book is essential for readers looking for solutions to their home storage dilemmas.
Customer Reviews:
unique perspective.......2006-02-25
I work in the library and have read hundreds of "get organized" books. This item provided a unique perspective with great ideas. I am donating it to the library so all can enjoy. Highly recommended.
Book Description
The Smart Approach to Bath Design, third edition, is revised and updated to present the latest information on bath design trends. Readers will find spa features for every budget level, showing affordable ways to take a break from a fast-paced lifestyle. Also included are glamorous fixtures and finishes that create a relaxing and elegant environment. In addition to soothing spa amenities, compartmentalization is discussed as a way to create better functional space in a bathroom of any size. Still packed with tons of great information and the best advice for designing a bath like a professional, this new edition showcases hundreds of fabulous new bathrooms from todays most innovative designers.
Book Description
An updated version of a backlist best-seller, The New Smart Approach to Kids' Rooms offers sensible advice to parents who need help decorating and furnishing their children's rooms. The book presents hundredsof ideas for solving the issues of working with space and color, developing a budget, and selecting age-appropriate design themes. It provides sensible advice for buying a mattress, selecting furniture, and choosing window treatments and flooring. In addition, there are many ideas for organizing play, work, sleep, and storage areas, as well as how to create a room that will be shared by two. Individual, age-specific chapters focus on the needs of newborns, toddlers, young school-age children, and teenagers. 260 lavish color photographs accompany lots of 'Smart Steps' and 'Smart Tips' throughout the book.
Customer Reviews:
Very Helpful with Basic Advice.......2006-03-09
Wonderful advice with clear illustrations. The sample budget listed in the book is financially on target-unless, the reader is looking for something really posh. (www.poshtots.com for most beautiful furniture). Excellent resource guide is listed in the back chapters. Economical but good unpainted furniture similar to what is illustrated, can be found at (www.woodyou.com). City Furniture at www.cityfurniture.com has excellent choices for beds.
For the "murals" shown in the book, the reader can probably use wallpaper or partial "stick on" to create a smilar look, in order to keep cost down. Items can be found at local Art/Craft Store (Pearl or Michels).
More than a coffee table book
Gotta Love This!.......2005-10-26
This is a magnificent idea source for decorating a child's room. Everything is in color and what colors they are, too! There are one to three pictures per page. All ages of children's rooms are represented and they even have a small section on children's bathrooms. I first saw a library copy, but fell in love with the book so much that I decided to buy one for me. I'm a librarian and this is the nicest book I've ever seen on the topic. Happy reading and looking.
Packed with color photos and many different ideas and options.......2005-09-05
Megan Connelly's The New Smart Approach To Kids' Rooms updates a best-selling book on designing spaces for children, from using color to producing rooms both parents and kids will enjoy. From comfortable, easily-cleaned flooring kids will play on without worry to room plans which work with furniture choices, New Smart Approach To Kids' Rooms comes packed with color photos and many different ideas and options.
Book Description
An updated version of a backlist best-seller, The New Smart Approach to Window Decor offers consumers the latest ideas in window dressings and design. Whether changing the look of a room with window treatments or adding privacy while maintaining the view, the reader will be able to accomplish his or her design goal with the ease of a professional. An abundance of rich color photographs and illustrations offer inspiration and design ideas for curtains, draperies, blinds, and shutters. Accents such as valances, swags, and cornices, as well as decorative and functional hardware and accessories, are also included. - Over 500 inspirational window treatment concepts - More than 250 full-color photographs - 175 color illustrations - 78 black-and-white templates - Ideas on how a window treatment can transform the look of a room relatively inexpensively - Includes information on accessories as well as window treatments - Smart Tips included throughout the book provide practical decorating ideas and solutions - Extensive resource guide of window treatment products - Comprehensive index and glossary provide easy reference
Customer Reviews:
More of an Idea Book and there are better ones out there .......2005-12-07
I am reviewing an older edition "The Smart Approach to Window Decor" which I did not find on Amazon site, I guess because there is a new edition out.
I was expecting a book that included many how-to's since this is part of the Creative Homeowner series, but alas, there were few. There is a chapter called "Make Your Own Curtains", but it was only 7 pages. This chapter showed illustrations of:
~how to sew a corner of a curtain
~what the different tops of curtain look like (rod pocket, bow tie, tab, button top) but NO photographs or illustrations on how to make them, just brief text.
~how to make a rosette but no details of tips of integrating it into the valance.
There is a photo of a scarf valance with a rosette, but there is no info on how to attach the one they illustrated to the scarf seamlessly. The photo shown seems to be a rosette that was created with one length of fabric, not two separate pieces.
The pictures were nice, but some of the treatments were quite unattractive. For example, on page 144 there is a dormer window where the illustration shows floor length curtains. The top is on a rod above the window and another curtain rod is at the base of the short window ACROSS the middle of the curtain! On page 140, there is an illustration of a circular window and a straight swag was hung above it! UGLY.
Hopefully, there are improved suggestions for odd-shaped windows in the "New" edition of this book. I am so glad I borrowed it from the library and did not purchase it. I did give it 3 stars because some of the windows were very nice.
Great Photo Reference.......2004-09-25
This is a great book if you need ideas for what kind of window treatment you want. It has beautiful photos of all different types of living spaces and treatments. However, if you are looking for a book that tells you how to make the curtains that you see, this not the book for you. There are not how to instructions provided. This is purely a photo book with brief descriptions - but worth having to get ideas!
Average customer rating:
|
The Smart Approach to Country Decorating (Smart Approach)
Margaret Sabo Wills
Manufacturer: Creative Homeowner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Home Décor
| Furniture & Décor
| Categories
| Home & Garden
| Area Rugs & Accessories
| Artificial Flora
| Artwork
| Candles & Holders
| Christmas Décor
| Clocks
| Decorative Pillows
| Fireplaces & Accessories
| Gift Baskets
| Holiday & Seasonal Décor
| Home Décor Accents
| Home Fragrance
| Indoor Fountains
| Mirrors
| Nursery Décor
| Party Décor
| Photo Albums & Accessories
| Photo Frames
| Scrapbooks & Accessories
| Slipcovers
| Tapestries
| Window Treatment Hardware
| Window Treatments
Furniture & Décor Style (style_browse-bin)
| Furniture & Décor (1057794)
| Refinements
| Home & Garden
| Casual
| Contemporary
| International
| Traditional
Similar Items:
-
Room by Room: Country Interiors
-
Comfortable Country
-
Country Kitchens
-
Jessie Walker's Country Decorating
-
Cottage Style Decorating
Product Features:
- Creative Homeowners #279685 Country Decorating
- CREATIVE HOMEOWNER PRESS
ASIN: 1580110819 |
Product Description
The sixth title in the best-selling Smart Approach series, The Smart Approach to Country Decorating addresses this popular decorating style. All loyal fans and converts to the cozy country look will enjoy the lively, informative text and handsome photographs. The Smart Approach to Country Decorating is both a useful reference and an inspirational "dream" book. This book explores the roots of country and lays the groundwork for creating the look in any home. Through words and pictures, you will see the details, both interior and exterior, that add up to this well-loved style. In addition, the book surveys a wide menu of timeless fabrics, finishes, and furniture. To sum up the country spirit, there is an ample sampling of country accessories and evocative collections from rustic to refined. Friendly "Smart Steps" and "Smart Tips," plus practical general decorating advice, explain what you need to know to bring the unassuming charm of country decorating to your home. More than 200 gorgeous photographs of American and European country-style homes Smart Steps and Smart Tips throughout to guide the design process Simple advice for creating the look in any style home Recommendations for countless country-style home products and materials A handy resource guide of related Web sites, manufacturers, and professional associations Index and glossary Softcover, 176 pages, Published 2001
Book Description
The Smart Approach to Home Renovation is the latest title in the best-selling series of The Smart Approach To books. Author Susan Boyle Hillstrom counsels would-be remodelers about the process, from planning and budgeting through completion. She also tells the stories of real-life homeowners and their makeovers that include kitchens, baths, additions, exterior updates, and outdoor living spaces. These Case Studies are followed by picture-driven Design Workbooks that illustrate important design features within the projects. In all, the book contains hundreds of photographs that include both before and after shots of remodelings, plus plenty of inspirational shots.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of Good Words.......2007-03-22
I like the opening sentence of this book, 'Before you take a single step toward fulfilling your remodeling dreams, do a thorough reality check.' Having been through a serious remodel (after a fire) I can assure you that the advice she gives is well founded. Her ideas on working with contractors are very good, but I'd add one more thing to check - contractors are bonded. Find out how big the bond is. If it's say $20,000 and he defaults on four projects, you're only covered to $5,000, max.
Kitchens, this book, and most other books on remodeling show kitchens that have commercial grade gas stovetops. They're really neat, but wait until you see the price of new ones. However, restaurants go out of business and the stoves last forever, you might get a really good price on a used unit. Or in my kitchen I got one that had been used by the restaurant supply company at a trade show. It wasn't new, but the price was less than half.
Tile floor in the kitchen? It looks great. Don't drop anything. A jar of mayo that falls on a carpet is usually OK. On tile, it's a mess.
All in all, lots of good words here that if heeded can save you a bundle of money, of aggravation.
Books:
- The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter
- The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
- The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
- The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty
- Tile Style: Creating Beautiful Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors with Tile
- Traditional Mexican Style Interiors (Schiffer Design Book)
- Universal Principles of Design: 100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design
- Wandering Home: A Long Walk Across America's Most Hopeful Landscape:Vermont's Champlain Valley and New York's Adirondacks (Crown Journeys)
- Window Style (Traditional Home)
- Windows and Doors (Build Like A Pro)
Books Index
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The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design (New Smart Approach)
Design Ideas for Bathrooms (Design Ideas Series)
The Bathroom Idea Book (Idea Books)
Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build
Baths: Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling (Remodeling Series No 9)
