Amazon.com
Paint is often seen as the magic wand we can wave over rooms to change them into something completely new. To a great extent this is true: with a little bit of practice and a limited investment, just about anyone can manage startling paint-induced room transformations. With exquisite photos and expert advice, Better Homes and Gardens’ Paint Ideas & Decorating Techniques explores both the aesthetic considerations behind choosing the right paint treatment and the specific how-tos of achieving them. Dozens of photos showcase a wide array of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, while extensive captions analyze the paint effects in each one, from bold solids to subtle textures, stripes to plaids. The techniques explained are the usual ones: ragging, combing, sponging, faux leather and suede, checkerboard and diamond patterns.
The success of these rooms often depends as much on the well-chosen furnishings and accessories as on the paint treatments, and these considerations are addressed here in only the broadest terms. Would-be decorators seeking this type of specific advice had best look elsewhere, but anyone hunting for easy, attractive paint solutions shown in good-looking room settings will find plenty of ideas in these pages. --Amy Handy
From Library Journal
The people at Better Homes & Gardens tackle a variety of painting methods. The major portion of the book features various techniques and how they look in a finished, furnished room. The first chapter shows how three homeowners have used paint techniques to complement traditional, cottage, and Far Eastern styles. Subsequent chapters show how the techniques are used in living rooms, bathrooms, etc. For each technique shown there is a page reference to the instructions in the back of the book. The instructions give skill level, time needed, supplies, and helpful hints for each technique, including ragging, double rolling, and freehand decorative to name a few. The numerous photographs of finished rooms, the qualifications, and variety of techniques included make this a good, comprehensive choice for any size public library. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
When a fad hits Better Homes and Gardens, you know it has been universally accepted. This time, the trend is "next-generation Jocasta Innes" --that is, one step more advanced than straight stenciling, sponging, rolling, and ragging. Because of the parent magazine's wealth of editorial content, there are lots of finished rooms to emulate. Editors start with three different ways to apply decorative paint, then move into various rooms and specific applications. The bulk of the book is reserved for how-tos; included among the two dozen or so techniques are faux textiles (leather, chambray, and suede), two-in-one ideas (sponged-stamped bricks, color wash, and tape stripe), and patterned patterns (checkerboard, plaid, and flower border). Each technique features skill level, time, supplies, helpful hints, and step-by-step photographic instructions. Barbara Jacobs
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