Trade Secrets from Use What You Have Decorating

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Summary: Trade Secrets
Review: It is wonderful to have a follow-up book to Use What You Have Decorating! The book is full of sound advice that is easy to understand and follow. If you are beginning the decorating process or just want to refresh what you already know, this book is for you. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: A great companion to "Use What You have Decorating"
Review: Lauri ward has done in again! This is the perfect follow up to her previous book. It has practical suggestions that are easy and have wonderful results. Thanks to Lauri's books I get compliments from everyone that enters my home. The best thing about her books: they are great for renters and mobile people. We are a military family that moves every few years. With Lauri's guidance on "the basics" I have avoided buying unnecessary pieces of furniture and have a classic, updated home. Thanks a million to Lauri Ward for these wonderful books!!!

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Summary: You did it again!
Review: Lauri Ward's book is the perfect little weapon for all decorating problems, especially non-obvious ones! After reading her first book I was thrilled to get my hands on her second book and learn even more. I'm so glad someone out there has made me feel like I can take my home into my own hands. It's very rewarding to beable to fix my decorating problems in minutes whether I'm just taking a break from my work, or in an artsy mood. Thanks!

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Summary: If You Lack Taste and Imagination, Buy This Book
Review: Lauri Ward's books appear to be excellent guides for people who lack talent in interior design and would like to improve the appearances of their houses, apartments, etc. One look at the "Before" pictures will confirm that fact. Of course, the "Afters" look great in comparison. Just about anything would be an improvement. (Hard to believe that these are authentic pictures.) Her books could also be classified as "Decorating for Scaredy Cats" since she doggedly adheres to rules that no one with guts or taste would obey - e.g., Don't put your books on the shelf in alphabetial order (as a reader would); place them by size....or Never put an any rug on wall to wall carpeting. Oh c'mon. People with a bit of taste and a real interest in new ideas about interior decorating with individuality and flair would do better to read "Breaking the Rules" (as one reviewer already said) or Tracy Porter's or Susie Coelho's books.

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Summary: help from someone who knows what she's doing
Review: Lauri Ward's classic design principles are the "gold standard" as far as do-it-yourself home decorating. You MUST know the rules FIRST. If you wish to break them, that's up to you.
Trade Secrets takes over where Use What You Have left off. Both books, together, give you the foundation for tasteful decor. TRADE SECRETS is a definite MUST BUY!

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Summary: Useful but flawed
Review: 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.

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Summary: Useful but flawed
Review: 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.

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Summary: Make changes in your home today!
Review: Read this new book by Lauri Ward and you will be able to walk through you home and make significant changes today! Ward's new book provides her readers and many devotees with her years of experience as an interior designer and founder of the successful Use What You Have concept. Her tips and "Trade Secrets" offer valuable information for the creatively challenged as well as the experienced decorator. Perhaps most important, in this book, she teaches us all how to have a more peaceful, meaningful, stress-free home. Today, who doesn't strive for that?

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Summary: Great Ideas
Review: There are lots of easy to do suggestions in this book. The focus is redecorating quickly and spending little if any money. Ms.Ward, the author who pioneered the one day interior makeover concept more than twenty years ago, once again gives do-it-yourself home decorators more of her practical, affordable advice.
For those who liked Use What You Have Decorating or anyone who is interested in fixing up their home, this is a must-buy.

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Summary: The Best Book!
Review: 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.