Styling for Entertaining: 8 Simple Steps, 12 Miracle Makeovers
- Book Review,
by Susie Coelho
From Publishers Weekly
"If you want to whip your house into shape or even just get the place clean, throw a party!" That's the premise behind Coelho's second book, a fun volume devoted to domestic makeovers for entertaining. Following an introductory chapter with eight "easy" steps for getting a place party-ready in a day or less, Coelho focuses on preparing four spaces commonly used for company (living room, dining room, patio and lawn) with three different themes in mind. Coehlo's eight steps-from thinking about the occasion to styling the food and table-are designed to be accomplished in one day, though certain steps require ongoing attention. For instance, step 4 involves creating a style board; the author suggests "pasting, tacking, or sticking small items to the board that have inspired your style. These may include fabric swatches, small ornaments or accessories, paint samples, tear sheets from magazines, pictures from your Style File, and recipes and food photos that can fan the creative flame." In other words, it's not so easy. But the themes, such as a star-spangled summer celebration on the patio, are imaginative and the results-for anyone with time to follow through-will likely be beautiful.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Is it a cookbook, decorating tome, or a crafts manual? A little of each, as self-proclaimed stylist Coelho follows her first book, Susie Coelho's Everyday Styling (2002), in preparing for parties and gatherings of more than one person. The subtitle seems a bit daunting--and scary as well. After all, how much work/time is involved in making over four "rooms"--lawn, patio, and living and dining rooms? Quicker than you can say "Martha Stewart," Coelho first explains her eight-step process, then creates a dozen different entertaining scenarios, from vintage romance to champagne wedding. And, yes, each features instructions, craft ideas and directions, plus fairly simple recipes. Asian Fusion, for instance, teaches the art of Japanese paper collage combined with Vietnamese spring rolls. At Christmas, there's a how-to guide on fashioning the perfect pom-pom accompanied by a recipe for ricotta pancakes with honeycomb and banana. Two-dozen-plus recipes and easy-to-follow one-day fabrication instructions make for some unusual and inexpensive parties. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
In Styling For Entertaining, Susie Coelho reveals how ordinary spaces can be easily transformed into settings for casual entertaining or extraordinary parties -- with minimum effort and maximum effect. Susie Coelho is today's freshest force in lifestyle. As a bestselling author and television host, her accessible philosophy and inspiring personality have made her a trusted authority on styling advice. In this hands-on guidebook, Susie styles four areas (living room, dining room, patio, and lawn) in three different ways. Using her signature styling philosophy, Susie reinvents each space for a casual entertaining get-together, a seasonal party, and a special, one-of-a-kind event. You'll see that when the emphasis is on styling (which uses things you already have) rather than decorating (which generally means a lot more time and money), almost every makeover can be done in as little as one day and may cost next to nothing! Styling success is inevitable when you use Susie's formula. You'll see all eight steps in action: planning the occasion; envisioning the ideal setting; developing a makeover style; creating a style board and using a "style file" (Susie's great organizing tool); painting your color palette; gathering your styling supplies; styling the space (by laying the foundation, softening the lines, and personalizing with details); and finally, styling the food and table. Susie shows you how to make a living room come alive for a vintage-inspired birthday party; how to transform a dining room for a festive Thanksgiving; how to dress up a patio lunch with French flair; and even how to turn your lawn into an exotic Moroccan lounge for a summer gathering. Lavishly illustrated with 200 full-color photographs, each of the twelve makeovers are as inspirational as they are informational. Full of quick-results styling tips for pulling any event together with economy and flair to spare, Styling for Entertaining eliminates the need for hiring caterers or renting spaces. This essential stylebook will help you transform even the simplest occasion into an opportunity to express yourself, entertain your guests with ease, and most important...have fun!
About the Author
Susie Coelho is one of the most sought after lifestyle experts in the country. Her new television show, Outer Spaces, an outdoor style show for Home & Garden Television, is the follow-up to her top-rated series, Surprise Gardener. Her first book, Susie Coelho's Everyday Styling: Easy Tips for Home, Garden, and Entertaining, was received with critical praise. She was a regular lifestyle contributor to NBC's Today show and appears on many other television shows including Oprah. She is frequently featured in national magazines and newspapers such as Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, USA Today, and The New York Times. She's a former Ford model, actress, and entrepreneur-having owned two restaurants and a retail store, A Star Is Worn, which sold celebrity collectibles. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children.
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