Favorite Decorating Books

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Every so often you'll come across books that are not only beautiful, but informative and inspirational as well. The following books fit well into that category. They're filled with wonderful ideas, lavish photographs, clear instructions, and simple projects that can assist you in turning a 'house' into a home that is a unique and personal expression.

From Alexandra Stoddard, a talented designer and prolific writer, is Creating a Beautiful Home which includes chapters about each room with 'Grace Notes' of style ideas and practical considerations.

Mary Engelbreit's Children's Companion is another in her series of guides to whimsical, colorful, and personal interiors. Like her other Home Companion books (see these in more book selections), you'll find fresh inspiration in the photos, descriptions, and projects.

If you love flowers, entertaining, or setting beautiful tables, you'll be fascinated by Barbara Ohrbach's Tabletops. She shows simple ways of creating elegant looks for everyday, holidays, and special occasions.

Carolyne Roehm has a gorgeous set of Four Seasonal Notebooks that are a combination of lovely photographs, decorating and entertaining ideas, recipes, gardening tips, and ideas elegant living. These make wonderful gifts, for yourself or a treasured friend.

And finally, Fabrications is a wonderful reference for do-it-yourselfers, explaining how to save money and create one-of-a-kind decorator items from fabric.

Any of these would make wonderful gifts, for yourself or your best decorating friends. I hope you enjoy them!

Creating a Beautiful Home
by Stoddard, Alexandra
Subtitled: "From Starting Fresh to Freshening Up - Inspiring Ideas to Help You Turn Your House into a Warm & Welcoming Home". This celebrated designer takes us along as she decorates her own Connecticut cottage, and rethinks home in the 90's. A lovely book, interestingly and personally written, and packed with tips and style ideas in the 'Grace Notes' at the end of every chapter.

Mary Engelbreit's Children's Companion
by Charlotte Lyons, Mary Engelbreit, Barbara E. Martin
Mothers and grandmothers alike will adore this book. Taking a fresh approach to decorating children's rooms, Mary Engelbreit brings a sense of beauty, order and whimsey to decorating. Inspiring sections for infants, boys, and girls. Chapters on parties, playhouses, and projects are an added bonus. A wonderful shower gift. Beautiful!

Tabletops: Easy, Practical, Beautiful Ways to Decorate
by Ohrbach, Barbara M.
Visually gorgeous and packed with photos and instructions for creating wonderful tables for holidays, entertaining, and special occasions. Ms. Ohrbach coordinates linens and tableware, decorates with incredibly simple (easy to do) yet uncommonly beautiful flowers and provides directions for making easy accessories, centerpieces and decorations. This book is simple, elegant, and a perfect gift for any flower lover, including yourself!

Carolyne Roehm's Set of Four Seasonal Notebooks
by Carolyne Roehm
Get the entire set of seasonal books, with elegant ideas to decorate, entertain, garden, and enjoy the special times of the year. Keep them by your bed to get a glimpse of color and style every day.

Fabrications
by Cargill, Katrin
An excellent resource for home decorators, subtitled "Over 1000 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Fabric". 450 photos and instructions for decorating every room with fabric. Clear directions for sewing projects that include drapes, and pillows, as well as how-to projects for cornice boards, window shades, lampshades and more. Patterns, techniques, and glossary. Home sewers will enjoy this as well.

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