New Decorating Book (Better Homes & Gardens) [Hardcover]

Better Homes and Gardens (Author)

Book Description

Series: Better Homes & Gardens | Publication Date: February 15, 2003

For nearly 50 years, home decorators have turned to Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Bookto 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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Better Homes and Gardens; 8 edition (February 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0696214016
• ISBN-13: 978-0696214011
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, but not what I was looking for, March 9, 2000

By 

Arielle (State College, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R)) (Hardcover)

The book is absolutely beautiful with great color photographs and lots of information. The only thing I would caution against is that the book is mainly focused on traditional/classic and country/cozy type styles. There are a few contemporary designs featured, but anyone who is looking to design their entire house in a contemporary/modern style (think Ikea furniture) may be disappointed.

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book jump-started my decorating plans, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R)) (Hardcover)

When we moved into our first home, I didn't know where to begin. I admit I didn't know much about decorating and wasn't even sure of what my own tastes were. I also didn't know much about what my options were. I mean, I'm clueless when it comes to furniture styles, colors, arranging furniture and that sort of thing. We got this as a wedding gift, and I'm using it all the time. At first my husband and I used it as a kind of dream book, and we'd look at the pictures and make wish lists of how we wanted our home to look. (There are sticky notes sticking out all over the book now!) Then, I started reading,and I realized it's like a little textbook on decorating. I'm getting braver now, and our home is looking better, little by little. And, I know it sounds as if I'm in some kind of commercial, but we never put this book away. Thank you, Better Homes and Gardens.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, helpful, fun, informative, September 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R)) (Hardcover)

I am loving this book. I admit I did not buy it but received it as a housewarming gift. We have decided it is the best gift that we received, because we've already spent many evenings looking through the book together. (I never thought my macho husband would look at a decorating book. But it's not a cutesy, paint-this-and-that book. I knew he was getting into it when he started bookmarking pages.) The color pictures are worth the money all by themselves. Dreamy with lots of variety. I don't want my style dictated to me, and seeing all these different kinds of rooms and furnishings is great. The quiz on finding our own style is fun. We both took it and compared notes. Right now, I'm into the room arranging section, which has gotten me to redo our living room without spending any money at all. All I did was rearrange the furniture and it made the room so much cozier.Now I know what to get friends when they have housewarming parties.