Frank Fontana's Dirty Little Secrets of Design [Paperback]

Frank Fontana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2010

Interior design is difficult enough without the added stress of doing it on a budget. Frank Fontana—nationally renowned design expert and guru of low-cost, high-style design—is HGTV’s go-to guy for chic make­overs on a dime. In a witty, conversational tone, Fontana shares his techniques, breaking down the process room by room, project by project, and divulges his secret tips and tricks for how to create high-style homes the low-cost way. Fontana analyzes several beautiful homes, dissects the individual design components of each room, and applies his “Look for Less” principle to help readers build their own look on a budget. The book also includes DIY projects that are accessible and doable for readers of various skill levels, as well as advice on how to be a savvy shopper when looking for home decor items or furniture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Fontana is the host and lead designer for one of HGTV’s longest-running, top-rated design shows, Design on a Dime, and is regularly featured on NBC’s Today show. Fontana is a contributing writer to OPRAH.com’s “home 4 design” section. He is also a contributing expert to design-related publications and media outlets nationwide. Fontana lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584798556
• ISBN-13: 978-1584798552
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.8 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A regular fixture on NBC's TODAY Show, and a Home Style contributor to Oprah.com, many recognize the N.Y. born author, Frank Fontana as Americas "High Style-Low Cost" Decorating Guru best known as the host and lead designer for Home & Garden Television's (HGTV's) longest running, top-rated design show, Design on a Dime.

Prior to hosting "Design on a Dime" for HGTV, Frank was the lead designer of HGTV's hit home improvement show, "Takeover My Makeover" and has been featured in numerous HGTV specials like- The "Change the World" campaign, HGTV's Christmas special "Decked for the Holidays" and the highly popular HGTV design competition, "Showdown".

As the real life "Italian Stallion" of the lifestyle & design world and underdog winner of ABC's 2004 reality competition, "The Great Domestic Showdown". Fontana, earned his design chops through the highly acclaimed "School of Hard Knocks" as the lead designer for his own design firm for the last 15 years. His design firm Frank Fontana Designs is now headquartered in downtown Chicago and services clients nation wide.

In his much anticipated first book, "Dirty Little Secrets Of Design," Frank combines his years of experience both in front of and behind the scenes of high style-low cost TV design and home decorating to reveal the secret tips and tricks that allow him to create masterful designs for mere pennies on the dollar.

For more information on Frank visit www.frankfontana.net.
Follow Frank on Facebook & Twitter

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars You can decorate on a budget November 9, 2010

By wogan TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Frank Fontana is known as an expert on helping anyone design rooms that do not look as if they were done on a budget. He shows room by room and individual projects. One of his main philosophies is to establish ideas and especially the components in each room, using the feel of the space; knowing that what a person sees in the first 30 seconds gives the central impression.

All of the ideas are good to remember. If you have decorated before, most of these will not be new ideas. He does give pictures and descriptions of different design styles, but not that much variation is shown elsewhere in the book.
One of his great thoughts is using the ceiling as a 5th wall, a design element most forget. However, much of his projects show a heavy hand in the decorating elements with massive frames, sometimes with no pictures or candle sconces with wood plaques and elaborate cross designs.
He does give terrific DIY (do it yourself) directions and ideas throughout. Again what is missing are ideas and style that include personal memorabilia, pictures or collections, there is hardly any evidence of that in any of his room's pictures.

There are some great suggestions, especially for those who have not attempted many design projects. There is a resource list, a DIY index and essential tools list. Included are ideas for walls, entryways, sleeping areas, kitchens, office, outdoor and entertaining spaces.
Those wishing a book to help them plan a living area might find helpful ideas here.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A designer who knows how the rest of us live.... November 1, 2010

By Jeannie

Format:Paperback

We hosted Frank Fontana at an event here for the Peoria Art Guild at the Women's Lifestyle Show in Peoria, IL. He was a fantastic speaker - very engaging and personable; wonderful to work with. He even wove the principles of Quantum Physics into the element of design - right up my alley! But most importantly - he was full of fascinating design ideas that WORK for the average person. Gorgeous, innovative results that truly are "on a dime" reasonable to accomplish. This new book is full of those same ideas - and includes a section to help you determine your own design style; which - as Frank pointed out - is critical to producing a cohesive, appealing result for yourself. If you've ever looked at your household and wondered why nothing worked - this book is for you. If you want showcase results and your budget is more like $100 instead of thousands - this book is for you. His clients include Halle Berry, Dennis Quaid and Jeff Goldblum, but this truly is a design book for "real" people. I can't wait to be creative!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Ehh. It's a bit boring. January 8, 2013

By C. J. Gandy

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me first confess, I had no idea who Frank Fontana was. I do NOT have cable and never saw his show. I bought this in the Kindle version which does not please me so far for any type of reference book as I can never flip over to a referenced page number(ex: a 237 page book in print becomes 1047 pages in Kindle). This could contribute to one star lost.
Overall, this is Frank touting Frank's 'method'. Not enough photos either. I imagined more of a do this and NOT this type of design secret reveal. Not so much. Check it out from the library.