Home renovation and extension / self-build Books

Book SynopsisFeaturing an array of beautiful homes, Hidden Homes of Tuscany and Umbria is a spectacular celebration of one of the best-loved and most alluring regions of Italy. Steeped in history, Tuscany has always exerted an irresistible hold on the romantic imagination. Its rich cultural legacy is reflected in the local interior style, which confidently borrows from other eras and places, resulting in a look that is chic, original and always easy to live with. This inspiring book is divided into four parts. Natural Charm features rustic houses, characterized by an earthy decorative palette, whose interior design is rooted in the ancient rural traditions of Tuscany. Stylish Simplicity looks at modern interpretations of Tuscan style – from a high-ceilinged barn, now a light and airy loft, to a converted village school. Classic Elegance focuses on country houses restored according to a grand decorative design, yet still warm and welcoming, while Idyllic Artistry is devoted to a more eclectic, colourful approach to Tuscan living. Combining inspiration with a wealth of practical suggestions, Hidden Homes of Tuscany and Umbria offers myriad ideas for interior design that can easily be transferred to any home.

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Book SynopsisDiscover lagom – the Swedish idea of balance, harmony, beauty and sufficency. Our love affair with all things Scandinavian shows no signs of letting up. Having embraced the Danish concept of hygge, we’re now looking to Sweden and one of their essential philosophies, lagom. It’s best described as ‘not too much, not too little; just the right amount’, which, in practice, is balance – and isn’t that what we’re all looking for? In this delightful book, Elisabeth Carlsson, a Swede who has been living in the UK for many years, lets us in on the secrets of the enviable Swedish lifestyle and shows us how we can all be a little more lagom. She explains what lagom means to the Swedish and then explores how it can relate to all areas of our life, starting with our separation of work and home and how we manage our time. She suggests taking a more balanced approach to how we eat, never depriving ourselves but not overindulging and avoiding waste. Elisabeth also explains what makes a home more lagom in style and function and how we can take care of it sustainably. We also need to appreciate and look after our bodies with moderate exercise and care. Lagom has the potential to change our approach to life as a whole and help us realise that what’s good for the world can also be good for us, too. Filled with advice and ideas, this thoughtful guide provides the key to a lagom way of living – healthy, harmonious and happy.

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Book SynopsisAt Home with Country celebrates the romance of Cabbages & Roses and shows how Christina Strutt's evocative vintage style is equally at home in city apartments, rural retreats and seaside cottages. From urban high-rises to coastal hideaways, the great manor homes of England to the smallest beach house on the other side of the Atlantic, the beauty of the Cabbages & Roses brand is the gentle but highly visible vintage design. This lavish book embodies all locations – country, city and coast. Chapters encompass Classic Country, Modern City, Island Country and Outdoor Country. Homes that bring together the old and the new, evoking the atmosphere of each season, sit beside city spaces where urban living combines with vintage style – think faded florals and ticking fabrics softening an industrial space, splashes of colour to enliven it and contrasting textures to add interest. Coastal dwellings are fresh, breezy and dreamy – beautifully suited for beach living. The book shows that the country can come to the city, that the city can benefit from coastal settings and that the Cabbages & Roses style is a gentle, unassuming and, above all, beautiful asset to any home as it easily complements all environments.

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Book SynopsisBe present and connected in your home with feng shui and mindfulness techniques. Feng shui teaches that we are interconnected and interdependent. This includes the spaces that we live in and engage with every day. We are not separate from our homes, our spaces or the objects and people that surround us. How can we begin to connect to and appreciate our world, and see the beauty in each moment? In Mindful Homes, Anjie Cho explains how we can start by paying attention to the details around us. Feng shui and mindfulness can help us to slow down, be more aware and create spaciousness to give birth to more joy, creativity and community. Learn simple practices to cultivate a healing living space, including creating sacred areas for rituals, incorporating crystals, mindful meditation and offering gratitude to deities and to your home itself. With stunning photography throughout, Mindful Homes will inspire you to look at your environment with fresh eyes and create a space that enhances happiness and wellbeing.Trade ReviewMindful Homes invites us into heightened awareness of our living spaces to discover natural arrangements of elegance and beauty. Anjie Cho is a gentle guide, skillfully leading us on a path of simplicity and mindfulness in our homes and workspaces. This is a joyful celebration of home, community, and world. – Gaylon Ferguson, Ph.D., author of Natural Wakefulness: Discovering the Wisdom We Are Born WithThis book is a jewel. Both beautiful to look at and soothing to read. Taking the time to read through this book is an act of self-care. Mindful Homes offers simple and graceful feng shui teachings through a meditative lens. – Laura Morris, co-founder of the Mindful Design Feng Shui School and the co-host of the Holistic Spaces podcast When it comes to creating space that heals, Anjie is one of the most considerate, grounded and contemplative people I have ever met. Her book Holistic Spaces was a gem that I was grateful to be able to introduce to my community who received with resounding praise. I am looking forward to doing the same with Mindful Homes and am so happy that Anjie is sharing more of her wisdom and light with the world! – Deborah Hanekamp, "Mama Medicine" and author of Ritual Baths: Be Your Own HealerThis book is a fascinating journey through the symbolic language of feng shui and will forever influence the choices you make in creating your environments. With a compelling voice of warmth and compassion, Anjie Cho invites us into a deeper relationship with our living and working spaces as she takes us into the heart and spiritual essence of form. Her visualizations and contemplations further attune us to body sensations and energy flow; and through the many color photographs of kitchens, bedrooms, offices and more we see new meaning beneath every color, texture and shape. – Joan D. Stamm, author of The Language of Flowers in the Time of COVID, and Heaven and Earth are Flowers: Reflections on Ikebana and Buddhism.Anjie Cho’s new book is a beautiful invitation to explore the senses within ourselves and our space. She provides simple ways to create harmonious spaces while gently guiding the reader to align with mindful curiosity. This book is a powerful reminder of the interconnection we have to the spaces we live in, and the ability to heal from within. – Dr. Tamsin Lee, founder of Elemental Archetypes, a space sharing Daoist living to deepen the practice of healingWith impeccable timing in a chaotic world, Anjie nudges us to alter the space around us, to risk the uncommon and allow change to happen naturally. She moves beyond the rules and prescriptions of current feng shui offerings, and her golden threads of compassion and wisdom encourage us to be wholly ourselves. The guidance is gentle, simple, and easy—a gracious invitation to practice. – From the Introduction to Mindful Homes by Katherine Metz, founder of Feng Shui Storyboard, an archive of the teachings of His Holiness Grandmaster Professor Lin YunAnjie Cho is a rare gem. Her grounded and gentle approach shows us how to improve our spaces and lives by moving furniture, as well as the impact of understanding light, color, and space. Her work in creating holistic spaces is incredibly important to me and I’m stoked about all the new wisdom she’s put into Mindful Homes. Reading it will support you in all parts of your life, not just your home. – Katie Dalebout, author of Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling and host of Let It Out PodcastIf you're curious about how mindfulness can be applied to your home, Anjie Cho's delightful book guides you through mindfulness practices that include our physical spaces. Mindful Homes applies the Buddhist teachings of how we are interconnected and interdependent with our inner and outer spaces. – Ethan Nichtern, author of The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path

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Book SynopsisWhat is lived-in style? It's laid-back, comfortable, no-fuss and uniquely you. It could bring to mind the comfy chair you curl up in beside the window. Maybe it will get you thinking about your freshly made bed, topped with a vintage blanket or quilt. Or perhaps it will elicit a smile over the collection of mementos and found treasures displayed on your mantel. Author Ki Nassauer sets out to visit 12 beautiful and eclectic lived-in homes full of vintage and repurposed treasures and hear how their owners put them together. Tips and hints give an insight into how to shop vintage, source art and antiques, introduce a sense of personality and have fun with decorating. As the owners of these homes demonstrate, Lived-In Style is about slowly amassing pieces over time—and truly loving each piece you gather. The result is a joyful and personal home—a cozy yet chic spot where everyone will want to put their feet up and stay awhile.

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Book SynopsisFilled with space-saving storage and decorative details, these unique homes under 1,200 square feet prove that bigger is not always better. In recent years, many have turned our backs on the trend for oversized houses and embraced small-space living. Cosy, compact dwellings have so much to offer; they bring families closer together and make it easier than ever to express personal style. In Small Spaces, Big Appeal, Fifi O'Neill captures the zeitgeist by showcasing homes across a spectrum of styles and locations, and stories of contented homeowners who have created unique, imaginative spaces. Living in a small home doesn’t preclude having an elegant aesthetic. In fact, it allows you to focus on the elements you truly appreciate and the spaces you will use the most. Whether classically furnished or boasting a happy informality, the little gems featured in this book are more infused with a spirit than put together according to a set of rules. Rooms are airy yet intimate, with nooks and alcoves that offer daydreaming spots and built-in storage in spite of their modest footprints. Whatever your preferred look – nostalgic, romantic, modern, country, coastal, urban, minimalist or maximalist – living small has big advantages. It encourage us to live more simply and, best of all, to create spaces with style, grace and versatility that rival homes of many times their size.

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Book SynopsisIn Romantic Irish Homes, bestselling author Robert O'Byrne celebrates Irish houses with an abundance of character and personality. Quixotic, often whimsical and definitely quirky, they provide a sanctuary from the Irish climate, which can be cold and damp. No wonder, therefore, that over the centuries Ireland's domestic architecture and interior design have developed a distinctive personality in which colour and vivacity are highly prized. Romantic Irish Homes presents 15 of the finest examples of the Irish home, each one of them distinctive yet sharing the same unique spirit. From ancient castles to sturdy Georgian manors and modest farmhouses, the homes featured here offer a unique insight into the Irish temperament and an exploration of a style of decoration that, while adapted to meet 21st-century demands, still retains an historic integrity. Romantic Irish Homes is every bit as charming and memorable as the Irish people themselves. First published in 2013, this is a new edition.

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Book SynopsisUse your shelves to display your favourite finds and create evolving works of art with inspirational ideas from expert stylist and keen collector Geraldine James. Find out how you can use what you already have in a stylish and unexpected way to revitalise a room. Whether you want to group a collection of colourful vases against a dark wall, use picture rails to line up a selection of prints, or organise plants and treasured finds from the natural world, any shelf can be a stage for artful arrangements with this innovative guide. You can find a home for all your prized possessions, and the best thing about shelves is that you can change a display whenever the mood takes you. Chapter by chapter, discover ideas for how to arrange virtually anything and begin a journey into colour, textures and themes to create elegant focal points that give a home character and charm.

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Book SynopsisFind the right interiors recipe to personalize your home with colour expert and best-selling author Annie Sloan CBE, the creator of Chalk Paint™. In Find Your Style with Annie Sloan, the renowned paint effects guru and colour expert considers what makes a successful interior. Style and colour lie at the heart of the matter, but both can be stumbling blocks for the amateur decorator. Annie reveals how to achieve your chosen style by creating moodboards and understanding key factors, such as scale, display and layout, before examining nine timeless decorating styles: French Elegance, Neoclassical, Traditional Swedish, Vintage Floral, Modern Retro, Boho Chic, Coastal Style, Rustic Country and Warehouse Style. She also addresses the techniques you’ll need to recreate these styles in your own home: colour theory, using storytelling with pictures and collected treasures, style fusion (combining your favourite styles) and, of course, paint techniques. With a wealth of practical advice, this book will inspire you to identify and decorate using your own particular style. Find Your Style with Annie Sloan is a fantastic new edition of the previously published Annie Sloan's Room Recipes for Style and Colour.

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Book SynopsisBBC Interior Design Masters finalist Siobhan Murphy brings you a fearless home interiors handbook that celebrates maximalism and shows you how your taste in fashion can influence your home decor.'For me, maximalism is about using colour, patterns and textures in a happy and joyful way. It's about showcasing your personality and the things you love, both in the way you dress and in the way you decorate your home. It's decorating from the heart, going with your gut and not worrying what the neighbours will say.' Siobhan MurphyThis first-of-its-kind interiors handbook encourages you to think about the colours, textures, patterns and prints that bring happiness into your life, then shows you some clever ways to work these elements into your home decor. A celebration of bold fashion and maximalist interiors, More Is More Decor showcases key maximalist influencers of the past and present, from Jayne Mansfield to Jonathan Adler, before demonstrating how fashion and other interests such as travel can inspire your interior design choices. Fully illustrated throughout with photos of Siobhan's incredible art deco home, as well as all of her favourite influencers, it's a feast for the eyes and a book that can be pored over or dipped in and out of. With Siobhan's guidance you'll find the confidence to experiment, be bolder with your style and curate a space that fills you with joy. It's time to banish the beige, ditch the drab and throw the interiors rule book out of the window.Chapter breakdown: 1. What Is Maximalism?2. Inspiration From Places and Things3. Inspiration From Influencers Past4. Inspiration From Today's Influencers5. Playing With Colour6. Pattern and Print7. Accessories: The Jewellery of the Home8. Mood Boarding and Sourcing

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Book Synopsis'A handsome yet joyful manual for easy, stylish living.' - Architectural DigestTerence Conran always believed that objects - and surroundings - that are plain, simple and useful are the key to easy living. By being practical and performing well over time, they are as much the antidote to superficial styling as they are to the shoddy and second-rate. Applied to the home as a whole, this discerning approach results in interiors that are effortlessly stylish, confident and timeless, with plenty of room for the expression of personal taste. Plain Simple Useful is organized according to the main activities that take place at home. Inspirational interiors, many of which were Conran's own, provide all the guidance you need to tailor-make your own storage. The book also features iconic examples of classic designs that will enhance any home, as well as a peek behind the closed doors of those well-ordered cupboards, larders and other stowing spaces that contribute so much to easy living.This updated edition of the book features a new chapter on plain, simple, useful style outdoors with elegant contemporary ideas for eating and relaxing spaces outside.Trade ReviewSir Terence Conran is something of a demigod in the design world. The author, entrepreneur, restaurateur, shop owner, and designer is known for an effortlessly chic aesthetic that has influenced the industry for decades. * Architectural Digest *One could fill a fashionable shelf with the lifestyle books written by Sir Terence Conran, the designer, restaurateur and retailer who founded the European home furnishings store Habitat a half-century ago. * The Houston Chronicle *This beautifully packaged tome shows yet again that Conran (How to Live in Small Spaces) has an uncanny ability to provide people with exactly what they want after they want it. Now that the tiny house movement has exploded, and spare is the new lux, Conran presents his version of a pared-down aesthetic. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisIn January 2015 Dick and Angel Strawbridge embarked on the journey of a lifetime when they swapped their cosy two-bedroom flat in East London for a derelict château with 12 acres of land in the Loire valley.Where Sunday Times bestseller A Year At The Château told the entertaining and heartwarming beginning of the family's French adventure, as they found their forever home and began to restore and renovate the dilapidated castle, Living The Château Dream is about the years of hard graft that followed. Dick and Angel leapt into action transforming Château-de-la-Motte Husson into both a thriving family home and a sustainable business, and began making their dream of rural life in a fairytale castle a reality.From throwing open the shutters to new suites to exploring the walled garden, launching their wedding business and hosting guests for food lover weekends, no stone was left unturned. From the day-to-day tasks like installing a lift to the beginnings of lifelong traditions and memories such as investigating the seasonal delights of the surroundings and having a family sleepover on the moat, this much-anticipated follow-up includes many firsts for the Strawbridge family. As Dick and Angel recount stories of the renovations that took place over the next four years at the château, we start to understand the true extent of the work and skill that it has taken to make this incredible house into a much-loved home.With stories of remarkable discoveries and unexpected challenges, amazing transformations and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations, this book is sure to delight, entertain and inspire fans in equal measure.

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Book SynopsisUndertaking a building or renovation project can be a bit daunting. But with the help of this book you will be in control at all times, confident in your decision making, and sure of getting the job done on time and to a high standard. It includes proven and simple-to-use management techniques that would suit projects ranging from one thousand to one million pounds.Contents: Introduction; About the author; 1. Getting started; 2. Know your requirements; 3. Contacting contractors; 4. Establishing credibility; 5. Obtaining and agreeing quotes; 6. Starting the work; 7. Financial arrangements; 8. Operation and maintenance manuals; 9. Good working relations; 10. Record-keeping; 11. Professional and site teams; IndexTrade Review'Undertaking a building or renovation project can be daunting, but this book provides everything you need to know in an easy to follow step-by-step guide.' PERIOD IDEAS 'The author's plain speaking style has produced a clear guide through a potential minefield, which will give you the confidence to get the job done.' SEAN O'NEILL, MANAGING DIRECTOR HARRY NEAL (CITY) LTD 'Aimed at the lay client this book gives a practical step-by-step insight on matters that even experts in this field frequently fail to appreciate. Project management is partly about methodology and partly common sense. This straight forward guide is a refreshing approach to a diverse subject and keeps both of these factors in perspective.' JEREMY F EMMETT FRICSTable of ContentsIntroduction; About the author; 1. Getting started; 2. Know your requirements; 3. Contacting contractors; 4. Establishing credibility; 5. Obtaining and agreeing quotes; 6. Starting the work; 7. Financial arrangements; 8. Operation and maintenance manuals; 9. Good working relations; 10. Record-keeping; 11. Professional and site teams; Index

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Book SynopsisBuilding a Garage is a practical, step-by-step guide which covers all aspects of building a garage from the planning and design stage through to construction and completion. Whether you would like to build a garage yourself or employ a builder, whether you want to construct a double or a single garage, whether you wish to build with bricks or wood, and whether you require a garage just to house your car or also to provide storage and workshop facilities, this is the book for you.

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Book Synopsis'Zero Carbon' is an abstract concept for most people, but we have lived energy-profiligate lifestyles for too long on finite fossil-fuel resources. We now face potential environmental catastrophe from climate change and global warming, with a continuing exponentially expanding global population that doubles every four decades. The capacity of the planet to reabsorb carbon dioxide is about two to three tonnes of carbon equivalent per person at current population levels of seven billion and therefore there is a desperate need for us to reduce our carbon footprint. One way of helping to achieve this is to live in a zero-carbon house, and this will become legislation in the UK for new homes by 2016.

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Book SynopsisBrimming with design ideas, drawings and photographs of exemplary projects, this is a must-have, highly visual guide to extending a Victorian terraced house for designers, architects and homeowners. An essential resource for designing and delivering a wide variety of extensions, it features case studies from the full gamut of nineteenth-century terrace house types. Detailed plans reveal, floor by floor, a range of options for extending and/or reconfiguring space. Colour-coded, before-and-after plans show at a glance which walls have been removed or changed in each option. This is complemented by extensive colour photography of realised, built work. Ideas and inspiration are supplemented by practical guidance with ‘rules of thumb’ for design and key information on permitted development rights. All plans are drawn to scale, so that they may be measured from and used for planning any renovation project. Covering different types of briefs and design solutions, this indispensable guide to renovating Victorian terraces features extensions, loft conversions, basements and interior remodelling. It contains over 150 floor plans and 100 full-page colour images.Jacqueline Green is a London-based architect with over 20 years’ experience of residential projects. She is a founding director of Green & Teggin Architects. Featured architects include: Alma-nac Scenario Architecture Yard Architects Table of ContentsGlossary and keyIntroductionDesign ConsiderationsRules of ThumbPermitted DevelopmentCase Study 1 – A‘half house’Case Study 2 – A two-storey house with perpendicular stairsCase Study 3 – A ‘two up, two down’ terraced houseCase Study 4 – A two storey family homeCase Study 5 – A three storey family homeCase Study 6 – A split level three-storey house with basementCase study 7 –A large split level three-storey semi-detached house with basementConclusion

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Book SynopsisDriveways, paths and patios are an essential part of most properties and this comprehensive book provides a detailed explanation of exactly how they are designed, planned and constructed. Discusses the design of driveways, paths and patios with reference to their planned use, style, size, gradients and special features such as steps, ramps and terraces. Considers the range of materials available including block paving, flags, slabs, setts, cubes, cobbles, loose aggregates, plain & patterned concrete and tarmac. Analyses how to estimate costs and making the choice between the DIY approach and using a professional contractor. Examines the critical issue of drainage. Lays bare the mathematics associated with accurate setting-out and levelling. Describes the range of tools and equipment needed. Details the correct constructions of kerbs and edging and laying methods for flags, block paving and much more.

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Book SynopsisAs the modern world changes and evolves, so does the modern lifestyle. Our levels of home comfort, desires, and overall life satisfactions are being defined in new ways, often contrasting with notions of the 'traditional' house design. We aim to live simpler lives yet somehow manage to have more material possessions than before; and we opt to reside in open-plan homes that provide a sense of freedom. All too often traditionally designed homes are no longer able to satisfy our contemporary living needs. The restoration of living spaces is usually to restore existing buildings that may have become impractical over time, if not outdated. These days, the challenge is how to adapt and transform these existing buildings to modern standards, all the while maintaining what may still be useful, special features or design characteristics, or what we like most about the space. This book showcases a selection of examples of how people from around the world have ingeniously refurbished an old house to meet their needs for a modern lifestyle. With vivid descriptions, detailed drawings and rich photography (including befores and afters), this book provides designers and architects, as well as owner-builders of old houses several excellent strategies on how to approach their restoration, and how to convey a modern life concept, revitalizing, and refreshing the houses for the next generation.

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Book SynopsisRenovation continues to be an important and fundamental part of modern architecture, whether it be through a desire to preserve history, or resurrect an old family home. This book provides a useful overview of nearly 30 case studies from across the globe, providing inspiring examples of how to refresh an old structure through sensitive modifications without changing the original architectural type. An inspiring guide to the daunting task of renovation, this book covers the whole process of renovating an old house, and provides fitting examples of work from around the world. Covering the entire process of renovation, the book includes "before" and "after" photos to clearly illustrate the skillful work involved in adapting an older residence. The decision to renovate rather than rebuild brings its own set of complications, but this book reminds us that this is not a hopeless endeavour but rather one that refreshes the architecture and provides a revamped home, perfect for the modern world.

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Book SynopsisThis book is for anyone who wants to get onto and climb the property ladder. And for anyone buying, letting, improving or selling their home. This book will help you to put yourself in the right place at the right time - and most importantly with the right attitude / It will enable you to be streetwise in the biggest investment you are probably ever going to make / Georgina Burnett, the fully-independent and nationally known housing adviser draws on her extensive recent experience of having been-there-and-done it more than once. She has rented, bought, renovated and sold properties. She knows what's what! / By doing what she has done you can soon move up that ladder and live where you want to. / Every key property issue - such as how to get a deposit together; getting a mortgage; and insurance - is covered carefully. /The book gives many insider-tips (such as how to improve your credit rating) which will give you a powerful new approach to buying, improving and selling your home. It covers the many 'what-if' questions which people ask. It guides you on how to do well on property too, and how to think-ahead. / The book is as up-to-date as it has been possible to make it. / If you are a first-time buyer it should have just about everything you need to know. / If you just want to buy in a savvy way and improve your home so that you can enjoy it for as long as it fits your lifestyle, this book is relevant. / It will even be suitable for you if think that you will never be able to afford to buy your own home. The author does some typical sums to show how you can move from the rental to the home-owning market. / If you already own property, or have done so in the past, this strategy for moving on up will still work for you. / If you are selling, the book offers street-wise advice on how to do so in the most cost-effective ways. As tax-laws and government policies and markets change it gives guidance to recommended links to find the most up-to-date information online.

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited next instalment from the authors of Australia's number 1 home improvement bookAustralia's favourite Birds are back with BIGGER home transformations, BOLDER extensions, BREATHTAKING new builds and hundreds of new tips.Jam-packed with reno goodness, this book is a visual feast overflowing with ideas and inspiration from Three Birds projects in glorious detail, including their most ambitious new build to date: a family home that channels an idyllic island getaway (year-round staycation, anyone?).Go behind the scenes to see how the Birds make over their own spaces for work and play. First up, a tour of Three Birds HQ guaranteed to spark ideas and help you turn a humble home office into boss-worthy territory. Next, their spin on Christmas decorating - stuffed full of frugal and festive DIY hacks - will come in handy every year whether you rent, own or live in a caravan.The cherry on top of this inspiration smorgasbord comes courtesy of their very own savvy students! In a bonus chapter, graduates of the Birds' super-popular online Reno School share images and advice from their own incredible projects - dream spaces created using tips and money-saving tricks learned from the Three Birds. Proving, once again, that anyone can make reno magic with the right know-how.Why not you?Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter one: Colour me HamptonsChapter two: Mediterranean farmhouseChapter three: The bold extensionChapter four: Contemporary cottageChapter five: Australian staycationChapter six: Three Birds HQChapter seven: Christmas with the BirdsBonus chapter: Reno School rock starsIndexThank you

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Book SynopsisHome: The Way We Live Now is an innovative new sourcebook for modern living. Interiors expert Kate Watson-Smyth looks beyond the estate agent's floorplan and shows how to use the space you have to revolutionise the way you live, whether you own or rent. Use the space you have to revolutionise the way you live. A unique and innovative split-format page design allows you to mix and match ideas and plans for working from home, making the most of small spaces and finding temporary solutions in a rented space. By choosing from over 250 practical solutions, you will be able to make your rooms multi-purpose and get the most out of your home, at every stage of your life. The three key elements to the way we live now – the rising rental market, the issue of working from home and of living in small spaces – are inextricably linked. This book allows you to configure the sections to what you need from your home: temporarily zoning an open-plan kitchen, working in a small bedroom, decorating a tiny rental. By using this book, you will avoid costly mistakes, so you can buy furniture, storage and decorations well and buy once. Packed with invaluable tips and ingenious space-saving solutions, and accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, Home also includes in-depth advice features from hoteliers, interior designers, bloggers and influencers. With helpful hints and intelligent knowledge on building regulations, lighting, multi-functional furniture, getting around rental regulations, finding space for office equipment and using decor to improve your mood, Kate explains how to use the space you have to change the way you live, for a happier, more productive home life.Trade Review For Mad About the House: ‘We’ve long admired Kate Watson-Smyth’s on-point interior design skills, and her book Mad About The House is a staple on our coffee tables.’ – Stylist ‘[Kate Watson-Smyth is] the ideal guide to getting it right in the troublesome world of interior decorating.’ – The Simple Things ‘A must-read for anyone trying to figure out their house style.' –Independent.co.uk 'Full of design hacks for every budget.' – Metro 'This book should be on every homeowner’s bedside table.' – Your Home ‘There’s something for every interiors enthusiast in Kate Watson-Smyth’s new book.' – House Beautiful ‘A cult interiors classic.’ – Stylist For 101 Interior Design Answers: 'Kate Watson-Smyth [is] a perennial oracle of interiors.' – Living Etc 'Journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth has the answers – all written in her warm, friendly and oh-so-readable style and illustrated with pretty line drawing.' – Reclaim

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Book Synopsis"I loved the 70s - and that's both the 1970s and the 1870s. There's obviously always something about a decade that starts with a seven that means the design dial is turned to 11; colours get bolder, shapes get badder and style flies its freak flag. So, thank goodness resplendent 70s temptress Estelle Bilson has committed pen to paper so that the world can enjoy her take on the era of soft squares, teak, shag and Artex." - Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen"[Estelle Bilson] gives people the courage to use [her] products without fear - [she is] brilliant - I think [she] is the most important creative look since Conran." Barbara Hulanicki OBEFrom disco and glam to space age and psychedelic, there's no denying the huge impact the 70s had on style and design. But how do you bring the era's maximalism to your interior without it looking like a cluttered junk shop or a period pastiche?Estelle Bilson aka @70shousemanchester transformed her unremarkable 3-bedroom terraced home into a 70s wonderland, using a thrifty eye and vintage know-how. In her first book, she shows you how to bring the same creative magic to your home with her expert advice, tips and tricks on choosing colour, pattern, shapes and materials - whether you're after a few nods to the era, or the full 70s fantasy.70s House is the definitive guide to the most daring decade in design, covering everything from shag carpets and supergraphics, to Hornsea ceramics and G Plan furniture. The book is split into three sections: 70s influences - what shaped the era?; How to bring the 70s to your interior design; and At home with 70s House Manchester. And of course, it wouldn't be the 70s without a good old-fashioned shindig - Estelle also reveals her secrets to throwing the grooviest get-together, complete with vintage recipes and record selections to match.Part interiors guide, part manual for living, this loud-and-proud book will bring not only 70s colour and kitsch to the modern day, but also the rebellious spirit, pure joy and freewheeling energy epitomised by the era.Because the 70s is so much more than the decade that taste forgot.

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Book SynopsisHome Improvement Made Easy is full of practical advice and hands-on worksheets to help homeowners save time, money and stress! This guide includes more than 100 pages of comprehensive information and tips to get started on any size home improvement project. Plus, it includes more than 100 easy-to-use worksheets to help the homeowner document each project, such as contact information for everybody involved, sources and brands of all materials purchased, warranties, and more. Homeowners can also use this book to keep track of important home facts, such as basic ownership information, housing finances, budgets, renovations, interior design, large purchases and more.

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Book SynopsisInstagram star and founder of Inspire Me! Home Décor shares her creative and elegant interior design secrets so you can create a glamorous yet cozy home without spending a fortune. Farah Merhi launched Inspire Me! Home Decor in 2012 as a creative outlet during a transitional time in her life. Farah was about to graduate college and planned to attend law school. Going through the motions and feeling unfulfilled in her career choice, she built up the courage to face her truth. Taking time off to figure herself out, Farah, through a remodel project in her home, had her “ah-ha” moment. The importance of taking care of your home, specifically in the way you clean, organize, and design, was instilled in her at a young age, but she didn’t realize how much of an impact her upbringing had until she owned her own home. Farah knew she had found her passion and calling, and was determined to inspire home owners to live their best lives in their homes. Farah believes that taking care of your home is essential to your peace of mind. Her design style is elegant and glamorous but infused with warmth and coziness, creating a welcoming feel with neutral color palletes, soft and inviting fabrics, and exquisite design details that can work in any room. She believes you can make a statement without sacrificing an inviting feel to your rooms. There is no right and wrong when it comes to designing your home and Farah encourages you to focus on the overall look and feel you desire, and her tips and advice will help guide you through the process. Starting with her most frequently asked questions about paint color versus wallpaper, lighting and rugs, home organization, and of course styling, Farah walks you through every room in the house from the mudroom to the kitchen and kids’ bedrooms. Along the way, she includes quick seasonal updates on a budget, suggested routines for maintaining your space, and her unique reward system, which includes small styling vignettes around your home. Woven throughout are Farah’s personal stories that will feel like you’re getting design advice from a close friend. Everyone deserves to walk into a beautifully decorated home every day—now you can, with the inspiration and practical tips in Inspire Your Home.Trade ReviewPart memoir, part how-to guide, Inspire Your Home breaks down topics like furniture arrangement and accessory pairing, all from Merhi's personal voice, which feels accessible and confident at once—appropriate given her attitude that, with the right nudging, anyone can create a home they love.” —House Beautiful

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis endlessly informative and inspiring guide to interior design shows how sensory perception is the key to creating a happy place inside your own home. What do you see, hear, and smell when you walk in your front door? Do you feel safe and relaxed? Is it too warm or too cold? As people spend increasing amounts of time in their homes, it's more important than ever to feel at peace there. Achieving that feeling of comfort can mean different things for different people but, as interior design expert Marion Hellweg shows us, there are basic principles of home design that work for every style of life and architecture. Gorgeously designed and presented, this book first explains how our sensory perception affects us and influences our wellbeing. It then follows up with lavishly illustrated sections that explore a variety of ways to optimize our sensory perceptions throughout our homes: the language of color and form; the influence of natural and artificial light; the basics of room layout; haptics and acoustics; incorporating plants and nature; optimal sleeping conditions; the importance of a healthy kitchen; common spaces and privacy; ergonomics and furniture design. There are interviews with a wide range of experts who offer deeper insights into each subject; there are links to sources; and countless practical tips and advice. Filled with visual ideas from contemporary living spaces across the world, this book shows how stimulating the senses in the right way will help make our homes as comfortable as they can be.

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Book Synopsis

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