[.uk] Haven: Finding the Keys to Your Personal Decorating Style (ISBN 1400051371)

Good for true beginning decorators:
Many people are familiar with Chris Madden's work by now, particularly if they are Oprah fans or pay any attention to the style world. If so, this book won't be much help in refining or defining their personal decorating style. However, if the thought of decorating your home space is overwhelming, if your rooms look like a mish-mash of things that likely shouldn't be there, this will help you sort through what you are drawn to, and make better long-range decisions in purchasing furniture, paint, and the trickiest part for most people, what to include (and edit out) in accessories to "make a mood" in your home. My biggest gripe about this book is that each category she defines--Romantic, Adventurous, and Serene--have more overlap than not. Her "Adventurous" bedroom is more romantic than not, and many of the "Romantic" rooms fit into the Serene category, based on her definitions of color and texture. This is fine for those of us who don't like labels, and who shift between categories without getting all worked up over decorating principles. Yet, if you're not confident in your skills and are looking for solid advice, this will be completely confusing. All the more reason to not take this, nor any book of decorating tips, too seriously. Homes are meant to be lived in, and the best advice anyone can give--which Ms. Madden has always done--is to go with what you love, edit out what you don't, and keep looking at pictures and products to keep your ideas fresh and away from looking like a set period piece or junkyard!

Old news:
There is nothing new here, and what is here is a mess when it comes to how the book is organized. The author (and I admit I don't know who she is) doesn't seem to know what she's talking about because her style categories are ill defined, so the book comes off as an anything-but-helpful mishmash of pretty rooms. If you want real decorating help, keep looking.

Finding the Keys to Your Personal Decorating Style:
The book is not only beautiful, it's good as resource or reference material for the many people I assist in decorating their homes.

I haven't read this book yet.... but:
I can't wait to read it!!! I think she is just FAB... and I'm sure I'll get tons out of it! *RAH*