First Home With Style (Better Homes and Gardens)

Rating:
Summary: First homebuyers essentials
Review: I pretty much went off the only review. Purchasing our first home (condo) I enjoyed their suggestions. Most of the furniture in the book seems to come out of an ikea catalogue. If you've just purchased your new home and own much of nothing this book is a great guide. Especially if your on a strict budget and can't afford much.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for New Apartment or House
Review: Whether you're moving into your first apartment or buying your first house, this book provides many ideas and tips for making it easier.

The book has a nice layout and beautiful photos, although the decorating styles tend to lean toward a combination of Ikea and Pottery Barn. It mainly focuses on ideas and options for budget-conscious decorators.

I like it that it FHS is helpful for both new apartment renters and new house owners. For the apartment dweller, there are handy room-by-room checklists for things you need and want; and for house owners, it covers just about everything for beginning your decorating challenges. The first chapter gives advice on "Where to Begin" and offers lots of good planning and budgeting advice. The book also advises on furniture buying and room layouts.

Throughout FHS, the authors and designers take the following factors into consideration:

*Your style change over time so remember that when you're planning your decor.
*Most people have mixed styles, not just one that fits into a category such as modern or country.
*Readers are encouraged to create both a place to work (i.e. office) and a place to relax. I like it that they emphasized the importance of this.
*Most of the projects presented look easy to do.
*It emphasizes using all our senses when decorating: what the room smells like, music, texture, etc.

There are only a few things that I didn't like. One thing I found odd is that it recommended dining in bed if you don't have a kitchen table. I'm sure they could have come up with a better idea than that. Another is the advice to repaint your whole house in white before doing anything else to "visualize your color ideas." That seems like a lot of work! Also, like most decorating books and magazines, they don't show TV's in the living room. That always seemed bizarre to me. What home doesn't have a TV and why is it suggested that it should be hidden or very tiny sitting on a bookshelf?

Then there's the "Style Quiz". It isn't helpful, but might be fun for people who like to take quizzes. Here's one of the questions to help you find your decorating style:

"You have time for only one TV show this week. Which will it be? a) West Wing b) CSI c) Survivor d) Jackass."

Huh? I have no idea what that's supposed to tell me!

Overall, First Home Style is pretty good and I would recommend it to the new apartment or house dweller.