Be Your Own Home Decorator: Creating the Look You Love Without Spending a Fortune [Paperback]

Pauline B. Guntlow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

This inspiring guide proves that it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive to decorate with charm and taste. Presented with an infectious can-do attitude and clear step-by-step instructions, Guntlow explains how to customize kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and baths, and offers ways to maximize storage space. Whether a home needs a massive overhaul or a "quick-fix" solution to problem areas, this book provides dozens of unique possibilities.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The reason I like this book more than most books on interior design and home decorating is that the author is sensitive to the fact that not everyone can spend thousands of dollars to fix up their home interiors, and she also understands that we need to start where we are by taking a look at what we have already and working with it creatively. Unlike store-sponsored decorating, where the idea is to sell you as much new furniture, drapes, carpet, and materials as possible, the emphasis here is working with and around your current belongings and working within your practical budget. You'll find none of the old "gut the place and start from the bare studs" that one so often sees in decorating magazines. This is a decorating book for regular folks.

From Library Journal

Guntlow, a licensed contractor, gives how-to tips on constructing shelves, curtains, tables, and the like to avoid the high cost of remodeling. Lacking is an explanation of style, color, texture, and tone, shown in Creative Interior Design (LJ 10/1/94), or the planning guidelines to consider when redoing a home, shown in Joanna Wissinger's The Interior Design Handbook (Holt, 1995). Guntlow does, however, share advice derived from her personal knowledge of home remodeling, which makes her book a worthwhile addition where interest in this topic is heavy.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882669451
• ISBN-13: 978-0882669458
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,825,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Use this book only in extreme emergency!, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Be Your Own Home Decorator: Creating the Look You Love Without Spending a Fortune (Paperback)

Fortunately there are a lot of good books on the market. Personally, I don't see how this one got published. There is, in my opinion, a lot of wrong information contained in this book, and I would strongly advise anyone except the most decorating challenged to stay away from this publication. I am not a novice, but a professional with more than 20 years in the design field. I'm sorry to see that books like this get to market. For anyone wanting to decorate on their own try one of these books. Laurie Ward's "Use What You Have Decorating", Waverly's "Inspirations", "The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design" or Jennifer Raffo's "Fabrique Technique." These are books in my professional opinion that will truly help the do-it-yourself decorator.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing. No new ideas; projects looked "tacky", May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Be Your Own Home Decorator: Creating the Look You Love Without Spending a Fortune (Paperback)

This book was very disappointing. None of the ideas were terribly creative or unique. Many of the suggestions and finished projects looked unprofessional and "tacky". Also, there were many typing and editing errors in the copy I received.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Be Your Own Home Decorator: Creating the Look You Love Without Spending a Fortune (Paperback)

I guess it's because there are so many good decorating books on the market that this one stands out for its lack of quality, both in ideas and in execution of those ideas.