Customer Reviews

Debbie Travis' Decorating Solutions: More Than 65 Paint and Plaster Finishes for Every Room in Your Home

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is full of tacky, ugly and ridiculous ideas. I bought it and I'm sorry. I looked through the book one time and I doubt I will ever open it again. I wasted my money on this one.

This book is a great resource of wonderful ideas; very imaginative and helpful.

Some amazing decorative effects. The "leather" walls are unbelievable.

The author gives both paint and plaster finishes for walls, ceilings and floors. Lots of creative ideas...there's bound to be something you'll use if you like faux finishes. A great complement to "The Painted House" by the same author.

One word of caution...don't let yourself be prejudiced by the rather unorthodox color schemes the author uses in some of the photographs. Use the colors YOU like and you'll love the results.

I colorwashed my bedroom walls and am absolutely in love with the new look.

If you have bought Painted House then there is no need to buy this book as there is little difference. Does not live up to it's advertising. Looks better on TV than in real time

I actually preferred this book to "Debbie Travis' Painted House." This book is particularly useful for those renovating older homes, which often have a ton of existing cracks and flaws in the plaster. It is also a super book for those redoing an older apartment. With the transcient turnover of tenants, most apartment owners seem to think white is the eternal answer to everything; therefore, we often find white-washed institutionalized walls in every room. The nitty-gritty of the matter is that white paint can be relatively cheap, and for many landlords cheap comes first on the list of priorities if, in fact, painting is even on the list at all!

This book will help you spruce up those hum-drum boring walls, floors, and even stairways. I particularly liked the kitchen and bathroom concepts. Generally, when you do buy an older home or rent an older apartment, these two rooms tend to be a tenant's worst nightmare. Debbie has some great concepts for these areas, especially with kitchen cabinets, and she even has advice for redoing a fireplace.

The only downside of the book is similar to "Painted House." Many of the colour schemes are simply too trendy for my taste and appear outright garish. Some walls almost jump at you. However, the various finishes and techniques make up for what the book lacks in colour co-ordination.

She has pictures of the finished product,but she doesn't show you step by step pictures of the process to get there.

I have been a fan of Debbie Travis for a while. Unlike some instructional books for faux finishes which are complicated and use items I will not be able to find in my small hometown, Debbie's instructions are easy and I can find everything at my local paint store. As some have noted, some of the colors used are a bit garish. However, these are just an example. I followed the directions for the tinted venetian plaster (which in the book is a hideous green and yellow combination) in neutral umbers and it came out beautifully. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking to add some color and texture to their home.

I saw Debbie Travis on Oprah, and thought the redecorating she did for the show was outstanding. It was on the strength of that work that I bought this book. What a disapointment. The examples in this book, and the colors she uses are the absolute opposite of elegant and understated. Wild purples, oranges, reds, colors I don't want in my house. Some of the work looks amateurish. I was not impressed, and am going to return the book.

I love this book! Not as much as Debbie Travis Painted House...that's 5 stars! But I love this book! I disagree with the Halloween review...color is a personal choice...some people are at the other end of the spectrum (can you say "Martha Stewart"?) This book gives great instructions in easy to understand language. I finally colorwashed my bathroom and 1/2 bath and was confident enough not to even practice first! This book makes it that easy to grasp. I really miss seeing Debbie's show...I can't find it anymore on PBS. Too bad! She's a great teacher.

Okay - I read the "halloween review" as well. To expand on the comment made by a fellow reviewer: you don't have to use the same paint colors Debbie Travis uses (she has a "thing" for some pretty wild colors)! The book is a guide and a wonderful tool that provides easy to follow step by step instructions on the latest faux finishes and some of the more intimidating plaster finishes as well. With your personal color choices and this book - your home is going to look unbelievable!