- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (Sep 10 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 060960970X
- ISBN-13: 978-0609609705
- Product Dimensions: 25.7 x 23.1 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 907 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,430,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Lowell, the host of an eponymous home decorating show on the Discovery Channel and the author of the very successful Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Design, has a vivacious, flamboyant persona that's garnered him a considerable squadron of fans. His forte: inspiration on the psychological side, and re-design on the physical. Taking a room in a modest house or apartment, for example, he applies a theme ("Theater Living," say, or "Zen-sational Office") to liven it up; "every dream, like every good room," he writes, "needs a theme." Unfortunately, most theme projects provide an opportunity for cliché: "Martini Lounge" means zebra print pillows and bar stools; "Moroccan Mystique" translates into hanging tapestries and paisley prints. The unifying style that Lowell achieves is something cramped, gaudy, and busy to the point of exhaustion, flooded with the brilliant color spectrum of the mall teen-furnishings store. On the other hand, he does empower his fans to pursue their home decorating fantasies in whatever wild and potentially wonderful direction they may lead.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
Emmy award-winning author Christopher Lowell is back with his second groundbreaking book, ready to inspire his millions of fans with hundreds of ideas that can transform their homes—and their lives. With his first book, Christopher Lowell’s Seven Layers of Design, Lowell introduced design basics layer by layer, demystifying and reassuring the first-time home decorator. Now he takes the process one step further, encouraging readers to discover their own hearts’ desires so they can turn their dreams into unique realities.
Taking us by the hand, Lowell starts with his own experiences of self-discovery as a guide for the dreaming process. Next he provides a questionnaire that helps you identify your own sources of pleasure and fulfillment. Finally, he illustrates the process with exciting design projects built on particular themes. The longing to entertain friends in a cozy cocktail room transforms an awkward space into a “Martini Lounge”; dreams of living
by the seashore become “Coastal Living”; the desire for travel and theatrical surroundings informs “Moroccan Mystique”; and a nostalgia for the mid-twentieth century finds its creative expression in “Retro Chic.” Each of these imaginative rooms not only expresses the creative spirit, but also feeds the soul.
As Lowell explains it, no matter what your budget, no matter what your talents, if you begin to understand the relationship between the interior of your mind and the interior of your home, you can create beauty in both. The sense of satisfaction promised by a home that you yourself decorated is not beyond your reach or your budget, if you follow the simple steps of America’s favorite design guru.
Taking us by the hand, Lowell starts with his own experiences of self-discovery as a guide for the dreaming process. Next he provides a questionnaire that helps you identify your own sources of pleasure and fulfillment. Finally, he illustrates the process with exciting design projects built on particular themes. The longing to entertain friends in a cozy cocktail room transforms an awkward space into a “Martini Lounge”; dreams of living
by the seashore become “Coastal Living”; the desire for travel and theatrical surroundings informs “Moroccan Mystique”; and a nostalgia for the mid-twentieth century finds its creative expression in “Retro Chic.” Each of these imaginative rooms not only expresses the creative spirit, but also feeds the soul.
As Lowell explains it, no matter what your budget, no matter what your talents, if you begin to understand the relationship between the interior of your mind and the interior of your home, you can create beauty in both. The sense of satisfaction promised by a home that you yourself decorated is not beyond your reach or your budget, if you follow the simple steps of America’s favorite design guru.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christopher Lowell's If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It:,
By
This review is from: Christopher Lowell's If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!: Dream Decor on a Budget (Hardcover)
Christopher's done it again! Fabulous book! It helps you look at decorating in a whole new light. It's fun and fresh. If you love Christopher Lowell this book is a must have!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christopher has done it again,
By A Customer
This review is from: Christopher Lowell's If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!: Dream Decor on a Budget (Hardcover)
Another excellent book by Christopher Lowell. I really enjoyed reading Christopher's personal history. I have a 27 inch television yet the pictures in the book are even better than those shown on the television show. I took it to work and my co-workers (all men) and I really enjoyed this book. I only gave it four stars because I want it to be bigger and contain more pictures. I never wanted it to end!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Chris's Real Talent,
By Sharon Lynn Farley "sharlyfarley" (Colton's Point, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Christopher Lowell's If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!: Dream Decor on a Budget (Hardcover)
"That is the ugliest room I ever saw" "Why on earth did he do that?" "I would certainly have done something different there" are some of the thoughts I had while reading this book. Precisely. What a springboard he is! While looking closer (in order to argue better) I noticed something else. Every single one of these rooms Worked, and worked well. Chris Lowell's real genius (aside from his showmanship) is furniture design and placement. You can see this in the drawings and plans for a freestanding desk, a headboard/vanity, and other ingenious plans. You wish for more instruction on how to build some of this stuff, or get that paint effect. Maybe that can be his next book. I wouldn't choose his colors or fabrics a lot of the time but I'd love to have those built-ins. Nobody breaks down the functions of a room so brilliantly. Nobody adds functions to a space better -- see "Family OnLine". So he inspires two ways - function and taste. You find yourself thinking outside your own boxes, and that's quite a gift. Thanks, Chris!
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