Customer Reviews

The Pocket Decorator

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This little book has been a really great asset. The Pocket Decorator is a clear reference book of interior design terms, especially helpful for a decorating hack like myself. It shows things like the difference between styles of windows, which if you're renovating or building OR want to impress your home depot guy, is very useful information to have! There are smart design tips here too. For example, wall mounted lamps should be mounted 42 inches off the floor (Who knew?) and it also tells you how much clearance to allow for ceiling light fixtures over a table. (Like I ever would have even thought to think of this?) Because of this book I now have pink light bulbs in my boudoir. What more could a girl ask for? This book rocks.

To all the people on here who are complaining this book is "not what it seems," did you not read the product description? This is an encylcopedia, it says so itself. And it is a good one at that. It's got all the terms, many illustrations, and is a great tool to refer to for quick answers. It's very helpful when learning about the basics. No, it's not going to show you how to decorate your living room--it gives you information for you to do that yourself.
There are many many decorating books that have full page glossy pictures of other people's designs. This is not one, nor does it claim to be. This is something to help individuals make educated choices about their OWN styles.
It's an extremely good book and shouldn't be judged against things that are not in the same category.

This is a book of decorating terminology for those who are interested in breaking down the sometimes daunting decorating verbiage. The uses of this book are varying and vast. For example, the book is particularly useful if you are into buying antiques and want to verify furniture styles and periods fast and easy. You just take the book with you on your weekend antique escapades. It is also really helpful if you are dabbling in decorating for yourself or looking to restore an old home. If you are new to decorating, this books will help you begin to see the range of furniture styles, fabric types, flooring options, hardware, etc... that are on the market. If you are already an established designer this book is great to work with your clients to help them understand simple things like the difference between a bergere and a fauteuil or the vast array of lighting options. Use the book the way you need to and want to. I bought the book for my sister-in-law who just bought a house and wants to replace the old fixtures, add new lighting, and collect some antiques. She loves the book because it gives her a guide to work with when making decisions and researching her needs and personal style preferences. Decorating is a fun pursuit but can be overwhelming with options and terminology. This book helps to break down the terminology and guide you towards your personal style. Use it the way you need and want to! Be creative!

This isn't a helpful "pocket decorating" book but a lazy-writer's idea of what makes a good book. All it is is a listing of terms and decorative elements with no help at all in how to decorate a room or how to choose from among the items in that listing of furnishings, molding types, etc. In other words, it's a kind of dictionary of terms or super-mini encyclopedia but not a decorating book at all. And it's way overpriced for what you get. If you're an interior decorating student, you might find this helpful as a little "cliff's notes" of what's what. If you're a regular person looking for decorating help, this definitely is not the book for you. Mine went straight into the trash. What a waste of money.

I already have a few books that show different ideas, glossy photos of dream houses. But I needed a tool to help me put together MY dream house-- and this is it. It helped me locate the exact finish for the floor, and find the title for the chairs that I saw in one of the other books. Its to help you make your own house exactly how you want it.

My husband recently gave me this book for my birthday because he has seen me ripping out pages from design magazines of things I would love to have when we buy a house. I have a folder of these ripped out pages from design magazines highlighting rooms and furniture that I love. Coming from a world of finance and not decorating, I never knew what a certain chair or table was called, I just liked it. With this book I can identify the chair with the correct name so that when I research and buy the items I won't look like an idiot bringing my ripped out pages and asking, "do you have something like this?". I will be an educated consumer with some knowledge. The book is easy to carry with me on the train to work while I build my dreams for my new home.

I just picked up the Pocket Decorator after reading about it in House Beautiful. This guide I feel perfectly arms me with the vocabulary to discuss and weigh my options in fixing up our old townhouse. The Pocket Decorator addresses every aspect of a decorating job explaining all possible choices for each area- floors, lighting etc. It may not tell you how to decorate but instead informs you to make your own educated decorating and design decisions and allows you to articulate those decisions with any decorator, contractor or salesperson you may encounter along the way. Very handy.

i've found this book really helpful shopping for my new apartment. to find what you're after you've got to know what it's called. that's where i found this book useful. since everything's in categories it's easy to use. then the illustrations lead you to the entry on what you're after.

-ps i just read a couple of the bad reviews for this book here. they seem to be complaining about receiving a 'dictionary or encyclopedia'. well, the book description calls it an 'encyclopedia' and it is subtitled 'an illustrated a to z handbook to the essential language of interior design'.

This is exactly the kind of book I've been looking for. It's invaluable. I'm in the midst of a yearlong home-remodeling process and it's been so hard to even know what to ask for! So now I've been carrying my dogeared copy around in my purse as I shop around for new cabinets and lighting. The great thing about The Pocket Decorator is that it is timeless and it does not try to push trends on the reader. A very helpful guide. It's well-written and the illustrations are great.

My husband and I are just starting renovations on our new house and were given a copy of this book by a decorator friend two weeks ago. It's proven extremely beneficial.

It's a visual dictionary of furniture, floors, finishes, etc., broken down into categories with elegant little illustrations. I know the effect I'm after and by leading me to the correct terminology for the details I want this book has already proven its worth in saved money and time.

Most books of this sort try to tell you how to design. If that's what you want, this is not the book for you. I like that this one sticks to its brief, uses clear, precise prose and doesn't try to steer you into some pre-packaged "style". Perhaps it's not for those who want hand-holding.