Doug's Rooms: Transforming Your Space One Room at a Time [Paperback]

This is a rarity; a decorating book that you'll read cover-to-cover instead of just looking at the pretty pictures. Doug Wilson walks you through rooms he decorated (about 10 pages per room). He explains his thinking for solving different problems in the room and meeting the owner's needs. You really get good tips this way and it opens your mind to new possibilities.

The show piece rooms are very sophisticated with innovative paint treatments. Even though the results are not something I would copy, the way of thinking and getting ideas is quite useful.

The last 30 pages tells you how to do some of the effects (tissue paper walls, no-sew window valance, stenciling curtains, covering a dresser in fabric, making a padded headboard).

Wilson has a way with words, besides being Richard-Gere handsome and familiar to many from the TV decorating shows. I'm glad this wasn't just a quickie HGTV fan book. It really delivers some solid decorating information.

If you want to decorate or redecorate a room in your house, but you're not confident that you'll create a room that will please you, this book is for you! Doug's Rooms gave me a lot of helpful information and inspiration to decorate my new and very empty house!

The photographs are incredible, and there are several. (If you find yourself drooling over the décor, you'll be happy to know he also tells you where he found much of the furniture and decorative items in an index at the end of the book.) He favors modern, contemporary lines, and I find that style attractive. However! If you abhor that style, don't count out Doug's Rooms. He by no means wants you to decorate exactly like the rooms photographed-- especially if modern/contemporary style isn't for you! He wants you to find your style, adhere to a few certain rules (e.g. just say no to café curtains), and he demonstrates how you can find your decorating inspiration and build your room around it.

I love the section where he builds the décor of a room around ONE ITEM. There's a room built around a scarf, an heirloom pitcher, a handbag, as well as other things. Perhaps there's an item that you really like. From the items' characteristics (color, shape, texture, etc.), get inspired to choose flooring, furniture, paint, etc.! Make the room please you! Don't limit yourself creatively. Steer clear of "predictable matchy-matchy rooms that say a lot about a retailer's merchandising abilities and very little about your individual taste and style." (Pgs 57-58)

I always love watching Trading Spaces' participants create their own art. Doug is a big advocate of creating your own art (photography, painting, etc.). Why cough up a bunch of money for things that are in several people's homes when you can have something original? (He also uses a lot of inexpensive furnishings and items.) I recently made my own artwork. I used inexpensive canvas from Hobby Lobby and acrylic paint. With the help of a yardstick, pencil, and painter's tape, I made some really cool geometric art. It was simple and fun to do---- plus it tickled my creative side.

All of Doug's advice (e.g. color, lighting, furniture placement, scale/proportion, etc.) was inspiring and clearly stated--- and, believe me, his legendary Trading Spaces wit comes through in almost every sentence. As I read Doug's Rooms, I could hear him say every sentence, and his comments made me chuckle often.

Regardless of your preferred style, you will enjoy Doug's Rooms. The writing is witty and concise. The book is well organized. The pictures are gorgeous. Check it out!

I must start off by saying that I have never watched the show Trading Spaces, I thought it was a little strange turning over your home to your neighbor. The book however was a delight. I normally glance over photos to see if I like something and just stash it away with the other 5 million decorating books that I own. This guy actually had something to say. He showed pretty pictures but also gave solutions on how to achieve a great look home (one room at a time). I'm inspired by this book. He doesn't make me want to copy his ideas but really research my own with this book as a guide. Easy reading!!

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