Rating: 
Summary: gawd-awful
Review: This is so bad that I thought it was a joke when I opened it. I love edgy design and mix a lot of stuff, from gypsy to Bauhaus to '50s, in my home. But this book isn't about that at all. It's just a junky mess obviously put together by someone who does not know anything about design. If you want an excuse to create a mess, buy this book. If you're looking for really cool, well-designed eclectic decorating, keep looking for another book. We're talking bad taste here. Tacky, pure and simple.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the coolest design books out there!!
Review: As most of the previous reviewers have already said, this is a way cool book. A feast for the eyes. Lots of great design ideas that will keep you inspired for months to come. A beautiful book with easy to follow instructions for creating your own "pad."
Rating:
Summary: Fun and funky and cheap
Review: What a nice change of pace after seeing so much Architectural Digest/Restoration Hardware/Pottery Barn/Pier One stuff. Yes ..., there are people out there who are creative, that like their homes to have style, who are not rich, and did a great job making their houses cool.
Thanks Matt for putting this book together - I'll be looking for Pad2 - More Ultra Living!
Rating:
Summary: Be careful...be very, very careful...
Review: Not so much a how-to or a DIY...but rather a "why not?" kinda book...one designed to get the funk juices rolling and your mind a-spinning and let loose some creativity and FUN!I felt better for having read it...believe it or not...even the porno lamp made me re-think some of my decorating ideas. And any time a simple design book can make me re-think my basic design fundamentals...that's a book I've just got to recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Turn your home into a 'Pad,' you'll feel so much better!
Review: I do think the reviewers who gave this book a bad rating are really missing the point. With Martha Stewart hawking her wares at K-Mart and a Pottery Barn catalog in every home, the yuppie, shabby-chic, pastel, country casual look has almost become the Official State Decorating Style. To me, a lot of the rooms in decorating magazines look like stage-sets without actors; rooms to be admired but not lived in. ("Oh my God! Someone knocked the ottoman out of alignment with the chair!") "Pad" encourages the reader to let loose in their surroundings, to put their interests & collections front & center without concern (or care) that others will think them eccentric. As others have said, these are not rooms to be copied. One of the 'presenters' is a drag queen in a Barbarella bubble-bra, for crying out loud! But, s/he also gives you some hints on how to make a mosaic floor rug. Take the idea and run! If you are thinking about buying this book, consider this. People either love it or hate it. That means it HAS to be interesting & challenging at the very least. If nothing else, it's a great coffee table book to look at with friends & giggle over the excess! To the people who hated the book & now "'can't even think of anyone to give it away to." Try someone with a sense of humor, if you know anybody like that.
Rating:
Summary: What a waste of money
Review: If you want a house that is cluttered and cold, buy this book. If you want edgy, modern, fun, break-the-rules ideas that are WELL-DESIGNED, keep looking. The premise of this book is good, but the execution is truly terrible. What a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Tacky,tasteless and totally cool!!
Review: This is one of my favorite books which I have owned for awhile and still browse through and find inspiration.The easy-to-follow handyman and decorating tips alone make it worthwhile.
The people who diss this book are missing the point, i.e.FUN. They obviously don't read or understand the word IRREVERENT, which appears on the back-cover.
The author hasn't put the profiled rooms up on pedestals and said "copy these".They are what they are - examples of how some original,creative people have chosen to decorate their homes on next to nothing. Tasteful or not - who cares!
If you want a serious design book look elsewhere.
Totally recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Pad is Fab
Review: I enjoyed "Pad". The pictures of all these talented people's home decorating creations inspired me. The how to projects were a fun mix of bohemian, kitsch, and retro with endless possibilities. Some projects were on the easy side while others (like making and wiring your own lamp) were a bit more diffacult. Great if your looking to create, refurbish, or redecorate. Definatly worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Finally! A fun decorating book for the DIY crowd
Review: I loved this book! Some people may find the homes profiled in it to be tacky, but the DIY projects and advice are fabulous. Matt Maranian gives great inspiration and advice on projects to make your home your own. A great alternative to the Martha Stewarts and Bob Vilas of the world.
Rating:
Summary: Home Decorating with Barbarella
Review: I watch the show "Trading Spaces" religiously, and it's given me more confidence to try home decorating projects instead of buying everything. I've also decided on a "retro" theme for my house, and I knew that I had to get this book as soon as I saw the instructions on how to make your own tiki bar. While it's true that this book is full of tacky kitch (is that redundant?), there are also a lot of great ideas and inspirational photos. This book is not necessarily for people who love flea markets, but it's great for people who want to recreate the "retro" look.
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