First Home with Style (Better Homes & Gardens) [Paperback]

Better Homes and Gardens Books (Author), Brian Kramer (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Better Homes & Gardens | Publication Date: January 6, 2004

Decorating ideas for kitchens, dining areas, work spaces, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms

A decorating primer discusses hanging wall coverings, adding architecture details, and more

A special chapter shows how to create a total look throughout the home

Helps homeowners size up the house shell, take inventory, and work within a budget

Shows how to tackle prep work for making decorating changes, adding built-in storage, and injecting personal style

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Better Homes and Gardens (January 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0696216302
• ISBN-13: 978-0696216305
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,118,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for New Apartment or House, October 20, 2004

By 

MichelleFromPA - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Home with Style (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

Whether you're moving into your first apartment or buying your first house, this book provides many ideas and tips for making it easier.

The book has a nice layout and beautiful photos, although the decorating styles tend to lean toward a combination of Ikea and Pottery Barn. It mainly focuses on ideas and options for budget-conscious decorators.

I like it that it FHS is helpful for both new apartment renters and new house owners. For the apartment dweller, there are handy room-by-room checklists for things you need and want; and for house owners, it covers just about everything for beginning your decorating challenges. The first chapter gives advice on "Where to Begin" and offers lots of good planning and budgeting advice. The book also advises on furniture buying and room layouts.

Throughout FHS, the authors and designers take the following factors into consideration:

*Your style change over time so remember that when you're planning your decor.
*Most people have mixed styles, not just one that fits into a category such as modern or country.
*Readers are encouraged to create both a place to work (i.e. office) and a place to relax. I like it that they emphasized the importance of this.
*Most of the projects presented look easy to do.
*It emphasizes using all our senses when decorating: what the room smells like, music, texture, etc.

There are only a few things that I didn't like. One thing I found odd is that it recommended dining in bed if you don't have a kitchen table. I'm sure they could have come up with a better idea than that. Another is the advice to repaint your whole house in white before doing anything else to "visualize your color ideas." That seems like a lot of work! Also, like most decorating books and magazines, they don't show TV's in the living room. That always seemed bizarre to me. What home doesn't have a TV and why is it suggested that it should be hidden or very tiny sitting on a bookshelf?

Then there's the "Style Quiz". It isn't helpful, but might be fun for people who like to take quizzes. Here's one of the questions to help you find your decorating style:

"You have time for only one TV show this week. Which will it be? a) West Wing b) CSI c) Survivor d) Jackass."

Huh? I have no idea what that's supposed to tell me!

Overall, First Home Style is pretty good and I would recommend it to the new apartment or house dweller.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First homebuyers essentials, December 13, 2004

By 

M. Prado (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Home with Style (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

I pretty much went off the only review. Purchasing our first home (condo) I enjoyed their suggestions. Most of the furniture in the book seems to come out of an ikea catalogue. If you've just purchased your new home and own much of nothing this book is a great guide. Especially if your on a strict budget and can't afford much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential manual for a new apartment or house, August 10, 2005

By 

Moji (Oakland Park, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Home with Style (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

I'd give this book to a college grad on his/her start in the real world for a new apartment or to anyone on the hunt for a new apartment or home. First home (FHS) is loaded with ideas on how to dine, live, relax and work in your space. I like the scrapbook look showing "what you'll need" and "what you'll want." The "Style Quiz" which made me raise an eyebrow of its relevance to my style ended up been quite accurate in the results of what look I go for in my home. FHS is a great find . . . I wish I bought it earlier but better late than never.