Customer Reviews

Decorating for Good: A Step-by-Step Guide to Rearranging What You Already Own

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

After spending hours looking through piles of interior design books and spending a small fortune on home decor magazines, I purchased Decorating for Good. It will be my final purchase. I love it! I am in the process of getting some new items for my living room and dining area and had not a clue where to start. I had a decorator in (an exasperating experience) and will probably never do that again! After reading through the basic principles in the book, my daughter and I had the living room rearranged in 15 minutes and I knew exactly what I will need to purchase and what I can wait and purchase later. I was able to better define one end of the living room, which must function as a foyer as well. THANK YOU CAROLE!!!WEll Done!!!

There are a lot of decorating books out there, most of which I have and "Decorating For Good" is on top of the "mountain". Precise and easy to understand. My home has FINALLY been transformed. Even the landscaping guidelines have changed the way my husband designs his plantings in his landscape business. Great book - don't be fooled by its simplicity. It works!

I wish I had, and saved myself some money. This book is frustrating! She talks about selecting architectural focal points as a start to your redesign. But the line drawings (not photos) that are supposed to help you understand her principles don't show you what the selected focal point was or why it was chosen. The other thing that struck me as odd was that she tells you to look at your furniture as shaped objects, rather than functional objects. Well, in a small living room with a TV, you have to look at your furniture's function! I am sure she has a lot of natural talent and her rooms probably look nice--but that doesn't translate to paper here. Buy Lauri Ward's books instead.

The ideas in this book seem as though they were pulled out of the air and not based on solid design principles. Yet the author tries over and over to convince us that her "scientific" theory works. Nothing here supports her claim. One furniture arrangement is supposed to solve all decorating woes, but in fact seems uncomfortable and rigid. Ironically, this decorating is not good.

We are a middle class family with a very nice home filled with items I had meticulously chosen. Nonetheless, I was constantly moving furniture, re-hanging pictures, re-arranging table top items, etc. in an effort to achieve the "decorator" look that you see in magazines. It was hopeless. I, like many of my friends, assumed that I simply had bought the wrong furnishings. I stumbled upon "Decorating for Good" and miracles began to happen. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started using Carole's formula. My husband immediately asked how much money I had spent. Imagine his delight when I quoted the price of the book! At long last I feel my home is settled and PERFECT! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, CAROLE!

Too bad this book promises so much and delivers so little. Not much in the way of new ideas or originality. A little too much selling on the part of the author.

After reading a newspaper article about Carole Talbott, I finally 'Visually' saw what I have been looking for. I ran out and purchased this book. I have an L shaped room that we use for entertaining and like to have everyone in sight. I have been stumped with this decorating dilemma for over five years. High ceiling here, fireplace there, waterfront property on the oppisite side, nothing seemed to balance out. I had to see what this book could do for me, so I sat down and read it CAREFULLY. I found it very easy to read and understand. Each chapter is a new step. She starts you where you need ot start, and keeps on going to the last detail. Then, I got busy and the transformation was unbelievable. I can not express to you what a wonderful feeling the room has now, just by following this step by step guide. So, if you are serious about wanting to redecorate without a decorator, this book "Decorating for Good" is what you need. Maybe some of today's decorators need to take some of Carole Talbott's advice. I had hired the best in my area and never felt the warmth and comfort I now feel after using the steps I learned in this book, "Decorating For Good." Enjoy it-I did! P.S. It is my favorite gift for giving this Christmas, everyone is getting a copy.

If anyone has any interest in decorating at all, you have probably already seen just about all there is out there in the way of ideas, just with a new twist here and there. This is not what this book is about. What I loved about this book is that it is a "formula" of HOW to put your furnishing and accessories togehter to show them off to their best advantage. It's as simple as that. The fact that there are no pictures did not make a difference to me, since the items that I have to work with, would not be the same as whatever pictures may have been shown. Like I said, this book is ALL about using a "formula". I have found it EXTREMELY helpful and easy to understand.I find myself going back to reread certain chapters, to keep my rooms looking "fresh".

In the overcrowded decorating book market, there is nothing new in "Decorating For Good." It looks as if Ms. Talbott is trying to copy Laurie Ward's book "Use What You Have Decorating." Personally, I was very disappointed in the book's content. (No photographs, and only amateur line drawings.) I feel the book is overpriced for what you get.

I have been looking forever for a book that would help make my home more beautiful and comfortable. I love all my things but for some reason I just couldn't get it to feel right. I didn't know if I needed to start over with new furniture or if I had the wrong things to begin with. Decorating For Good helped me step by step with placing everything in my room. After following all the guidelines I couldn't believe the transformation! It looked amazing! I realize now what a difference the correct placement can make. This book truly is a god-send.