DIY and design tips for remaking your space

REVIEWS BY LINDA M. CASTELLITTO

Most of us don't have Ty Pennington on call for home makeovers of the extreme kind. And of course, not everyone has the experience, know-how or confidence necessary to ensure that changes to a home's decor, structure or design actually qualify as improvements. Fortunately, these new books speak to the interior designer or handyperson in all of us, via a nice mix of wisdom, creativity and common sense.

Readers who appreciate the singular allure of a chaise longue or the architectural lines of a 1950s ranch home will savor the eye candy in Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams' Let's Get Comfortable: How to Furnish and Decorate a Welcoming Home. But let's be clear: this book is not resting on its gorgeous laurels. Gold and Williams, partners in their eponymous 18-year-old furniture company, have created a sourcebook for "a welcoming home for you, your family, your guests, and of course, your pets." (The "of course" is an homage to company mascot Lulu, an English bulldog.) Their efforts are successful: Inviting photos illustrate how to create a variety of looks in a single room by employing slipcovers, rearranging sectional furniture or considering cherry wood vs. antiqued mirror finishes. Clever copy explains why wood plus white is always appealing, and elucidates why a settee might work when a sofa won't do.

This book's tips for straightforward yet high-impact updates make it an excellent resource for readers who seek insight as to why certain elements work better than others, or how color can evoke a feeling or reaction. It is also a spot-on gift for the interior design junkie you know and love.


Ponder first, decorate later

Sharon Hanby-Robie, QVC's home decor expert and frequent on-air personality, shares her 30 years of interior design expertise in Decorating Without Fear: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Home You Love. She recommends a personal, thoughtful approach: "Your home should tell the story of your life. . . . I want you to learn to trust your instincts and follow your heart."

The book's language may veer into cliché territory, but Hanby-Robie's principles are sound: Before embarking on a design project, it's wise to consider which styles are appealing and appropriate, how the rooms function, where the light falls and other essentials. She offers suggestions for making rooms more efficient, as well as techniques for rendering challenging areas (ceiling too tall? space too open?) more livable. And it's refreshing that the loads of color photos—including plenty of before-and-afters—are of livable, not-too-fancy rooms, rather than the shots of palatial homes and fussy furniture found in many interior design books.

Reading Decorating Without Fear does require commitment: The text is plentiful, but so is the good advice. And isn't it better to spend more time sussing out what works now, rather than scraping off an unfortunate wallpaper choice later?


Power via power tools

You may recognize JoAnne (JoJo) Liebeler's name—she's hosted and/or produced several home-centric shows, such as HGTV's "Room for Change" and TLC's "Home Savvy." Her television experience, plus her work as a comic performer and writer, gives Do It Herself: Everything You Need to Know to Fix, Maintain, and Improve Your Home an approachable feel. The book was "produced by women, for women!" and the author photo shows Liebeler using her toolbox as a pedicure table. Of course, femininity can coexist with construction tools and sawdust; thus, this book is packed with plain talk about everything from radon detectors to replacing a ceiling fixture. And that's Liebe-ler's point: "Understanding how house systems work gives you knowledge. Knowledge gives you power. Power enables you to do things on your own and save money." Up-front information about home-improvement endeavors—how long they'll take, must-have tools and maintenance—gives readers an idea of what they're in for. Liebeler's humorous anecdotes and conversational tone keep things fun—and confidence-inspiring.


As the title promises, 52 Weekend Makeovers: Easy Projects to Transform Your Home Inside and Out is a DIYer's delight. Projects range from painting trim to de-cluttering the laundry room to building a barbecue-ready patio. The introductory section provides a list of must-have implements for indoor and outdoor work, plumbing-kit recommendations, and more. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by large, close-up photos that should instill confidence, even in tile-grouting or shelf-installation novices.

52 Weekend Makeovers has sidebars galore, including the preemptive "What Can Go Wrong" and "Safety First," and the acquisitiveness-inspiring "Cool Tools." Readers who like comparing the shortest vs. the quickest route on MapQuest.com will appreciate the "Do It Right vs. Do It Fast" options.

This book doesn't focus solely on building how-tos, though; it addresses color, design and style as well. In the "wainscot" chapter, several photos illustrate what beadboard might look like in a cool-hued bathroom or a sunroom with a built-in bench. However, no matter how clear the photos are, or how simple the instructions seem, take this to heart: "Preparation is key to the success of any job. . . . And don't forget to call for help when you need it."


A carefully designed life

Florence Broadhurst was a glamorous wallpaper designer born in Queensland, Australia, in 1899. She also was a dancer named Bobby in 1920s Shanghai and, later that decade, a London socialite named Madame Pellier. In the 1960s and '70s, Broadhurst settled into the role of artist and designer. She presided over her Sydney studio until 1977, when she was murdered; no one was ever convicted of the crime. It's fitting, then, that journalist Helen O'Neill's biography, Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives, depicts a woman devoted to reinvention and fabulousness.

Nearly 100 of Broadhurst's vivid, large-scale silkscreened patterns appear in the book. They aren't for the faint of heart: Covering walls with the lush "Florentine Tapestry" or the pop-alicious "Turnabouts" requires commitment and a sense of adventure. Even as Broadhurst's work continues to sell (often in the form of fabrics for dresses and linens), her design skills—and ethics—draw questions. Nevertheless, with its clever silkscreened cover with embossed wrap-around, this book will look smashing on a coffee table.


Linda M. Castellitto longs for a chaise longue.

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