Material World: Home Decor Projects for the Fabric Obsessed (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls) [Paperback]

Cat Wei (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

Are you a do-it-yourselfer, or do you want to be? Are you looking to easily improve the decor of your home? If you're searching for inspiration, look no further! Material World takes you into the creative minds of 20 DESIGNERS from around the world to bring you unique home decor projects. Each fun project has a common thread -- THEY ALL USE FABRIC as a main ingredient!

This beautifully illustrated book will take you on a journey from inspiration to materialization, with step-by-step instructions for projects to decorate and personalize every room in your habitat. It provides simple solutions for design dilemmas -- upholstering furniture, sewing slipcovers, window treatments, bed trimmings, light fixtures, floor coverings, pillows, room partitions -- even a bed for your dog! Perfect for a DIY novice or a seasoned professional, Material World covers a variety of exceptional SEW AND NO-SEW PROJECTS for terrific results.

New York City architect, interior designer and co-host of DIY Network's "Material Girls", Cat Wei, curates a recipe book of project ideas (including many of her own designs) to beautify your home for better living.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cat Wei is an architect, interior designer, television host, design consultant, and an inspiringly creative person, with a full resume of design-related jobs and projects. After receiving her BachelorÆs of Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Cat moved back to the northeast, and into New York City to earn her Master's of Architecture degree from Columbia University. While in graduate school, Cat worked for such high-profile firms as Agrest and Gandelsonas, and Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. Upon graduation, Cat honed her interior design skills at several boutique design firms, including UT (a.k.a. Richardson Sakeki), the firm that is best known for the Bliss and Skinklinic spas. Cat kept attuned to the architecture world, by teaching architecture studio at the New York Institute of Technology.

In January 2004, Cat joined the cast of "Trading Spaces Family" as a designer, and recently finished filming "SheÆs Moving In" for the WE Network. As co-host of "Material Girls" on the DIY Network, Cat showcases her craftiness as a member of the "seam team" by demonstrating to the homeowner and the viewers how to completely transform a home, using fabric. Cat lives in New York City with her husband, Joel, and her miniature dachshund, Duke.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592533582
• ISBN-13: 978-1592533589
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,161,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Upholstery & Fabrics

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Material World Projects: Most are great. Some really bad., December 7, 2008

By 

D. L. Rowell (Christmas City, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Material World: Home Decor Projects for the Fabric Obsessed (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls) (Paperback)

Was really excited to receive this book as a gift as I was told it was a fantastic reference book for the kitschy crafts I like to make. First off, it has some great projects inside. I esp. like the bear rug and image transfer pillows. The reason why I'm giving it 4 stars is for the authors err when allowing guest crafter/artists to throw in some of usual craft projects one would find on HGTV or DIY. For example: The rope waste basket. Overplayed and frankly, quite lame. All and all, a few crappy projects are not going to deter me from being inspired by the others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars design career inspiration, December 19, 2007

By 

Carole D. Kheder "Tea & Crumpets" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Material World: Home Decor Projects for the Fabric Obsessed (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls) (Paperback)

This is a gift for the older teen in my family who is so artistic and crafty and thinks she is interested in interior design as a career. The ideas are hip and fun and achievable!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars really cute ideas ,, December 7, 2007

By 

madame poisson (southeast coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Material World: Home Decor Projects for the Fabric Obsessed (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls) (Paperback)

really cute ideas. this book is for teens or twentysomethings, maybe a little too 'cute' for a mature sewer.which is the reason i am not giving it five stars.still,i found the ideas,like the take on the bear throw...a great idea for the many young children in my extended family.it can be made from scraps and would make a sweet gift. and there are other projects just as creative. so the book is worth the money because it will work for the young, or the young at heart.