Customer Reviews

Eclectic Living: Ideas for Creating Your Own Unique Homestyle (Bari Lynn at Home)

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A beginner's guide to home decorating for the budget-minded among us, especially those who need a little reassurance. We're not all Martha Stewart, nor want to be, and Bari Lynn and Abbe Aronson expertly hold our hands and tell us it's okay. Their quick-tip guide, a kind of decorating for dummies, makes the point that it's our house, our apartment -- and it's supposed to be comfortable, not some kind of sterile showcase. The text starts off by letting you know that you really can do it yourself, and that you don't need a six-figure income to pull it all together. Just a little imagination. And the pictures supply a lot of energy and mix and match ideas. Best yet, all the while they're holding your hand, you never get the sense they're talking down to you. You get the sense there's no 'wrong' way to do a home. What works for you works, and that's really all that counts.

I found Bari Lynn's first book to be full of fun, great looking and inexpensive ideas. Her how to instructions are very thorough and all the color pictures illustrating key steps are a great help. I, for one, can't wait for her next book!

Eclectic Living by Bari Lynn shows her unique eclectic vision. Throughout the book her easy,cost-conscious creative ideas kept me saying "I can do that!" Looking forward the next of her series.

This is a collection of projects you can do in a short period of time, such as on a weekend. One or two, not ALL of them. I've done the simple bed canopy and I love it. Didn't take long, either! I've been doing flavored vinegars for Xmas gifts for years, and everyone loves them. The projects are easy and leave a lot of room for creativity and personal expression, and no right or wrong way to do them. They're also not as expensive as you might think. This is a good book for people who think that "decorating" means lots of loud flowery wall paper with upholstery fabric to match, new objects de art, and of course, lots of money. No, these are neat things that you can do to "redecorate" without "refinancing." There are great gift ideas as well, although I've not tried glass etching just yet! May I respectfully suggest that you do a good spring cleaning before considering decorating. Can't tell you how many people I know that want to redecorate, but never think of cleaning up first. Clear out your closet, neaten it up, donate or dispose of unneeded things, (See Suze Orman's The Courage to be rich), repair anything that needs repair (upholstery, vacuum cleaners, replace a picture frame's glass, furniture/chair/sofa legs, etc.), then think about the colorwashing on the walls, or something else. Then start thinking color and coordination, or not!

Eclectic Living by Bari Lynn shows her unique eclectic vision. Throughout the book her easy, cost-conscious creative ideas kept me saying "i can do that!" Looking forward to the next of her series.

Bari Lynn takes you through each project step by step in easy to understand language and uncomplicted directions. Also what I found helpful is that she provides the information where to purchase the supplies you need. In one weekend you can change the look of your house with very little effort and money.

This Martha Stewart wannabe has neither her idol's imagination nor her flair. Tacky and time-consuming. Skip it.