Trade Secrets from Use What You Have Decorating (Hardcover)

by Lauri Ward (Author) "Having a home as beautiful as those you see in decorating magazines does not have to be a fantasy..." (more)
Key Phrases: common decorating mistakes, cohesive look, closed storage (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
In this follow-up to Use What You HaveR Decorating, Ward gives more advice as well as a reiteration of her ten decorating principles. The helpful-hints format is punctuated with real-life examples of the success of Ward's decorating approach from her clients as well as from guests to her web site. The lack of "before and after" photographs, which appeared in her previous book, is a disappointment, since they illustrated her ideas so well. A list of resources for products mentioned in the text concludes the book. For its wealth of practical decorating advice, this book is highly recommended for any size public library.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Ms. Ward provides a foundation of unassailable basics, from decorating to streamlining a room overstuffed with paintings and photographs. -- The New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 189 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (April 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399148094
• ISBN-13: 978-0399148095
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #633,008 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful but flawed, November 3, 2003

By	Sonja Harken "useyourlibrary" (West Coast) - See all my reviews

Ms. Ward once again presents a useful tool for those struggling with such basicdecorating dilemmas as furniture placement, window treatments, light & color, and floor coverings. In her first, invaluable, book she noted the ten most common decorating mistakes and how to solve them. This book recaps much of what was said in her first. The best points in this book are her true-life examples of problem solving. The primary flaw is the lack of photographs or detailed illustrations. Ms. Ward prides herself on giving useful decorating advice, which she does extremely well, as opposed to those coffee table decorating books that require huge outlays of money to achieve anything like the proposed results. Nevertheless, photographs would greatly enhance the text and the reader's understanding of the principles she espouses. Another flaw with the book is the title "Trade Secrets" - it is hardly a trade secret that Hold Everything sells organizers. A better title would be "Tips from Use What You Have Decorating." This book reinforces whot one has learned from the first, and I must say that "Use what you Have Decorating" is one of the best books in this genre.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, what a difference!, April 19, 2003

By	Liz Benson (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

This book has lots of easy, inexpensive tricks that only professional decorators know about.
I purchased it along with Use What You Have Decorating because I wanted to fix up my house but could not afford a designer. The results were amazing! Now my home looks more open, feels more comfortable and is really pretty! Even my husband says it looks great, which is a first.
The best part is that the only purchases I needed to make were new pillows for my sofa and a big urn for my dining room.

If you are short on money but want to give your home a whole new look this book along with her first are must-haves.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you, Lauri Ward!, May 20, 2002

By A Customer

It is so refreshing to find a decorating book that you can use! I don't know about anyone else, but the "eye candy" variety of decorating book leaves me feeling frustrated and dissatisfied - much like a high fashion magazine!! Lauri Ward's new book may not be goregous - but after reading it, I made a few adjustments that made my home look a whole lot better. The section on outdoor furnishings was particularly helpful - and timely! Anyone who has approached a flooring showroom with the same trepidation as a used car showroom will feel better equipped after reading her chapter on floors! This book is a great resource.