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Barbara Flanagan
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Flanagan's Smart Home: The 98 Essentials for Starting Out, Starting Over, Scaling Back Paperback – November 1, 2008

by Barbara Flanagan (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
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Purge the clutter.  Outfit your home with care: The 34 essential kitchen tools. The 9 essential cleaning and fixing products. The 13, and only 13, things a bedroom needs to make it a haven of rest and privacy. Each item has been field-tested and rated for its environmental, social, and aesthetic impact. There is high-tech: the miraculous microfiber mop, the low voltage electric blanket, the truly responsive iron. And there is low-tech: the French press coffeemaker, the can opener, and the feather duster. Practical, entertaining, opinionated, Flanagan's Smart Home is a timely remedy for the age of excess. Above all, it’s necessary. Behind the bath mat, soupspoon, sofa, and lamp lies a far deeper question: how to live.
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  1. Print length
    216 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Workman Publishing Company
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.63 x 7.96 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0761144609
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0761144601
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barbara Flanagan is a writer and designer trained as an architect at Yale. She is the author of The Houseboat Book (Rizzoli) and has written extensively for The New York Times, as well as The New York Times Magazine, Elle Décor, Metropolis, and I.D., where she is a contributing editor. She has designed products for the MoMA Design Stores, and also designed her own tiny, high-tech house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Workman Publishing Company; Original edition (November 1, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0761144609
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0761144601
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.63 x 7.96 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

About the author

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Barbara Flanagan

Barbara Flanagan

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J. Howells
5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
I found this at the local library, read it, and liked it so much that I bought a copy for myself. It tells you the best of, and least amount of, everything you need for your home. When I need to replace something in my home, I always go to this book first to find out what and where to get it. For example, that's how I found my wonderful suede potholders!
2 people found this helpful
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Jordan
3.0 out of 5 stars From a minimalists's view, not so minimal.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2016
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It is very easy to be critical of this book. Initial thoughts: Why no Kindle version for a smart home/declutter book? Not very many smart ideas also. For instance, smart ideas to me would be hooking up your AC/heat system to your phone or using a $20 remote control outlet to turn on lamps without getting up. What she means by smart is a green home, which is oftentimes not simple. Read on for examples and highlights.

I am 24 and a die-hard minimalist. I blog about it and film videos on it, but this book was not written with the minimalist in mind, but instead for the average American woman demographic that reads the magazines she contributes to, or to college students/newlyweds. However, the only people still reading this book are most likely allured by the “declutter” sentiment and bare bones proposition.

She assumes you share her sentiment for many things that are completely irrelevant and is even insulting at times if you do not agree (how could you want to digitize books! no linen napkins?). She is forward-thinking sometimes (with her unique views on what some technology could eventually offer), but not counter cultural.

She has a way with words, which shines in the salt and vase chapters, but the chapters can be unnecessarily long. She goes from imaginative to scientific to historic, giving us a background on a specific company behind a product recommendation for the chapter, for instance. Worrying about trends, that guests have every beverage possibility, the perfect product, and tying intelligence with books is not at all minimalist philosophies - rather, ideas magazines float that encourage consumerism and anxiety. At least seven things on her list of 90+ things could be eliminated if you stick to water for health and the planet, for instance. So she bakes very little like me, but then has seven things just for flavored beverages.

She conspicuously leaves out things that I would find indispensable as a minimalist: portable scanner, blanket for the couch, clock in the living room, plunger, pen, curtains (to insulate the house in winter and block out light while sleeping). Others may say blender and water bottle.

Here are things that are in no way necessary to living a healthy life:
electric blanket (bad for skin, causes dryness and itchiness especially in winter)
floor lamp in bedroom
alarm clock with a timer and lamp (does NOT simplify life)
a mirror that specifically is not mounted
head lamp (the most ridiculous suggestion, next to archives, turntable, and a sugar bowl)
two rugs (custom cut and haggled for ideally)
dresser
paring knife
salad spinner
wine opener (she calls it)
kettle
teapot
dish drainer (which is just a Speedo piece of cloth that dries quickly)
coffeemaker
dessert plates
wineglasses
serving platter
sugar bowl (what in blue blazes)
creamer
book holder (recommends getting one custom built into your wall or at least buying an expensive one)
picture frame
archives (just to store memories out of sight)
file cabinets (I advocate being paper-lite, fitting all my papers into one small folder, even though I work from home)

Here are the things that are questionable, but could possibly be a necessity to some:
mattress pad
serving bowl (already has a mixing bowl on the list)
bread knife
grater
small spoons
mugs
table knives
pot holders
doormat (just take shoes off before entering)
printer
microwave oven
reading chair
desk

Here are the iffy specific recommendations:
clothes hangers - ugly plastic ones with the metal that rusts from retail stores
ironing board - recommends one that is $140+
clothes hamper - mesh (which I’ve owned before and doesn’t transport clothes well at all)
nu scup measuring spoon - claims that it eliminates all measuring spoons when it is unable to hold liquids (and has a poor rating online)
can opener - recommends a really cheap one (instead of the OXO one, which is the gold standard)
toaster oven - recommends a giant one, not nice compact bread toaster
trash can - recommends an expensive one that is not SimpleHuman, which is the gold standard (especially since their new design holds bags in the back)
bowls with rims (what? not minimal in any way) - bulky, expensive
music device - old-fashioned record turntable LOL (how are CDs minimal, much less vinyl), where are you going to put it since she has only one piece of furniture in the living room? - over $500
coffee table - skinny end table is far more minimal, combined with a couch that has a leg rest built in
phone - no smartphone (even though a smartphone can replace laptop, alarm, to-do list, all books (Kindle), camera, and most recipe cards in Google Drive)
napkins - no disposable napkins in her house (which is green, but NOT simple, recommends ironing or smoothing out each after washing)
vacuum cleaner - recommends spending $600+ (whereas I recommend and use a cordless vacuum that you’ll love to use instead)
cast iron dutch oven and pan to replace everything - not at all simple, hard to clean, store, heavy (I recommend just using less heat so your food doesn’t stick and more butter/oil in a regular lightweight pan)

Here are the HIGHLIGHTS that I completely agree with or didn’t know about:
get wood furniture with simple lines (dining chairs included) that won’t show scratches or need placemats/coasters
dining chair - Vienna cafe chair was a best-seller for a reason (easy to transport with backrest handle/lightweight/comfortable)
do not get cotton couches (microfiber is way easier to clean, in a dark color), do not get a sofa bed couch
get a bath/hand towel with a waffle weave - not as comfortable, but dries easily and best at drying you
get a good iron, chef knife, bed, and sofa - splurge
linen sheets and dish towels
Japanese do not need humidifiers because they just run a pot on the stove to steam the room
advocates only metal for cooking spoon, spatula, and tongs
uses microfiber towels for cleaning/dusting (with a little water) - favorite tip
most everything can be cleaned with ONLY water and air
ostrich dusters are old-fashioned and the best
pot holders in leather hold up best (unnecessary though)
replace mugs with double-insulated Bodum cups with no handles (beautiful cups)
proper soup etiquette is scooping away from body
make sure spoons/bowls/plates/cups/knives aren’t heavy
buy simple plates that are hard to break (I like Corelle brand in plain white)
use OXO dust pan since brush does not hold on to hair and dust, use OXO vegetable peeler

Here are the biggest problems and criticisms:
(1) way too long (200+ pages)
(2) does not come off as relatable/friendly
(3) does not know audience, which are minimalists, not average American woman demographic, scientists, or historians (goes into history of individual companies at times, for instance, or composition of a mug)
(4) overly detailed about a lot of things that don’t matter, complicating life with unnecessary information and encouraging readers to be concerned about the unimportant (exact bulbs, lampshade fabric, fabric of everything you own, brands)
(5) ends each chapter with a paragraph with something silly and superfluous. Here are two examples:
Ending table knives chapter: If you don’t stick to age-old dinner-party etiquette banning talk of religion and politics, be prepared for some dueling.
Ending creamer chapter: Vertically shaped, they take up little space on the table, where they will amuse your guests — which is your job, geisha or not.

Buy used or borrow. I tried my best to cover all the high and low lights, so I hope I covered everything you’d want to know without reading the book. Save your $4.
4 people found this helpful
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Carole O'Connell
5.0 out of 5 stars Rethink What You Own
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2010
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. If you are longing to declutter your home and wonder what possessions to keep or discard, this book will get you sorting. You may not agree with the author's choices, but she makes a convincing case for each "essential" item, and with a sense of humor about it all.
One person found this helpful
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A.C.
4.0 out of 5 stars great concept, but not all ideas are great
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
I bought this book because I'm in the beginning stages of purchasing everything I need for my first apartment and I want to buy items that are good quality and space efficient. I'm not going to have a lot of space in my first place and I don't want to waste my limited money buying things I don't really need or that will break or ware out within a few months.

Overall, it's a great concept: stop buying stuff you don't need that won't last. Save the money and the space by buying only what you need and will use frequently in high quality form that won't need to be replaced within a year. She has ten questions to ask yourself before you buy anything, for example "Can I wash it in household machines or basins? Does it require professional care or fancy chemicals?" and "Does it improve with age? Or will it need to be tossed after a short life span?"

The book is separated into chapters for each of the things we do at home- sleeping, bathing & dressing, cooking, dining, cleaning & fixing, and reading writing living. Each chapter starts with an inventory of all the things you need, followed by a detailed explanation of the history, purpose, best type, or even specific recommendation for each item. She's constantly going back to her original ten questions in her descriptions for each of the 98 items.

My main issue was that this book is written for someone who is outfitting a permanent home, yet most people already have a full set of housewares before moving into a home they plan to stay in for many years. Although some items, like most things in the kitchen and bathroom, are the same no matter what type of home you have, other items just aren't going to move well from first apartment to upgraded apartment to starter home to permanent home. She does not even address this issue or how to handle it. The ideal thing I suppose would be to find high quality and inexpensive second hand items that fit your space then sell them when you move- but this isn't always possible or affordable.

She doesn't consider pets and barely considers children. In my opinion, for some items she spends too much time going over the merits and intimate details of a specific brand and model she suggests. Although in some cases the suggested specific item is extremely unique, like the ironing board, other times it's really not that different from what else is out there, like the water glasses.

It's a good guide, though not one I'm going to follow exactly. Especially because I'm going to be moving into a very small (about 300 sq ft) apartment, and won't live there forever, several of her recommendations are either unnecessary, impractical, or just not suited for a small space. I'd recommend reading this book, and probably even buying it (or at least taking notes when you read it, or else, whats the point?) and referring to it before buying anything for your house. I'd also suggest doing other research on the topic of smart home goods, though, because a lot of what's in this book probably won't suit you.
4 people found this helpful
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ann hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a smart book - I know it's in the title
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
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Such a smart book - I know it's in the title, but really - it's just a simple list of the things that really make sense for your home.
One person found this helpful
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Beadyeyed Shopper
5.0 out of 5 stars Help in editing your possessions
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2013
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Whether you agree with the author on every item or not, this book will help you think about what you really need and what's just taking up space in your home.
2 people found this helpful
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J. Worth
3.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This is a good book to use as a reference when you’re in the mood to declutter. The categories of listed items my notes be for everyone, but it will get you started in the right direction.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Encourage anyone starting a home and wanting good use of space.
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016
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This book offers sound advice about what we really to maintain our homes. Keep it simple!
One person found this helpful
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