Product Description

Christopher Lowell has done it again! In response to thousands of letters requesting a book on small-room decorating, the Emmy Award-winning star of the Discovery Channel's most popular decorating show applies his innovative thinking to the challenge of turning cramped quarters into a comfortable, stylish home. He takes the Seven Layers of Design system introduced in his first book one step further by applying it to small spaces and inspiring readers to create extraordinary rooms out of the ordinary.

With his trademark energy and innovation, Lowell guides us through two modular homes, one designed in a traditional style, the other in a more modern decor, but both intended to offer the reader a myriad of design options and ideas. The traditional home features a Nantucket-style master bath, a sunroom with faux stone walls, a French-influenced guest bedroom, and a separate dining room. The modern home contains a kitchen finished in sophisticated stainless-steel paint, a living room-guest bedroom partitioned with sliding bookcases, and a Zen master bedroom with a space-saving platform bed.

Room by room, Lowell tackles such problems as how to make the most of tiny master bedrooms, how to create several rooms from one, what to do with narrow hallways, how to conserve space by creating multipurpose rooms, and how to renovate a guest bathroom for under $100. Before and after pictures show how anyone can perform miracles just by "thinking outside the box." Once again, Christopher Lowell inspires readers to dream big, no matter how small their space.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #217660 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-09
• Released on: 2003-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From the Inside Flap
Christopher Lowell has done it again! In response to thousands of letters requesting a book on small-room decorating, the Emmy Award-winning star of the Discovery Channel's most popular decorating show applies his innovative thinking to the challenge of turning cramped quarters into a comfortable, stylish home. He takes the Seven Layers of Design system introduced in his first book one step further by applying it to small spaces and inspiring readers to create extraordinary rooms out of the ordinary.

With his trademark energy and innovation, Lowell guides us through two modular homes, one designed in a traditional style, the other in a more modern decor, but both intended to offer the reader a myriad of design options and ideas. The traditional home features a Nantucket-style master bath, a sunroom with faux stone walls, a French-influenced guest bedroom, and a separate dining room. The modern home contains a kitchen finished in sophisticated stainless-steel paint, a living room-guest bedroom partitioned with sliding bookcases, and a Zen master bedroom with a space-saving platform bed.

Room by room, Lowell tackles such problems as how to make the most of tiny master bedrooms, how to create several rooms from one, what to do with narrow hallways, how to conserve space by creating multipurpose rooms, and how to renovate a guest bathroom for under $100. Before and after pictures show how anyone can perform miracles just by "thinking outside the box." Once again, Christopher Lowell inspires readers to dream big, no matter how small their space.

About the Author
Christopher Lowell is the host of The Christopher Lowell Show (formerly Interior Motives), the most popular daytime show on the Discovery Channel. His eclectic background as an actor, artist, classical pianist, creative director, and teacher of interior design has given him both the skills and the authority of someone who has truly paid his creative dues. On his show, Christopher brings his practical experience and talent to people looking for problem-solving ideas. He delights in teaching them to decorate their homes with fabulous projects and improvements that are achievable, affordable, and fun. Loyal viewers tune in twice a day and still can't get enough of Christopher; their response has inspired a line of decorating products and custom paint. As Christopher would say, "Love that!"

Customer Reviews

This book is the benchmark in small space decorating!
In the past 20+ years I have researched and reviewed literally thousands of pages on decorating small spaces. This book hits the mark-especially if you have a small space and have many challenging obstacles-lack of wall space, storage space, rooms that seem to go nowhere, or misaligned structures-windows, fireplaces, doorways. I do not agree with the reviews that state that this book does not cover the way that most of suburbia live. Not in all areas of the country perhaps, but the growing majority, due to downsizing and strained budgets, are living this way. Tract housing and pre-fab construction is on the rise. I have this book, and have suggested it for preferred reading at the colleges and libraries in my area. It is one of a kind, and worth twice the price!

Some good ideas in the sketches
My chief complaint is the photographs used to illustrate how Lowell's ideas and sketches were carried out DO NOT at all compare to the photos of the empty original rooms. It is extremely hard for the eye to determine the angle and placement. Several photos I couldn't even figure out what area of the room I was looking at. The AFTER photos are too close up and it's impossible to use them as a reference or anything more than a vague idea. BAD PHOTOGRAPHY.

I did get a few ideas for small spaces. I found a lot of use of the same colors over and over again, same plush fabrics and lawrence-of-arabia style draping. A bit lush and overdone for the typical home perhaps? I like his ideas very much though about clutter and making the most of your surroundings. But please re-issue with better photographs of the results of his ideas and works! What a disappointment in that regard.

Beautifully Done & Well Written
This book is a must-read for anyone attempting to decorate a small living space (no matter what part of the house it is). If you are just flipping through the book looking at the pictures you won't learn much. That's no different than looking through a magazine. However, if you take the time to read each chapter and apply his know-how, you will learn a tremendous amount from Mr. Lowell. He causes you to think about your space, how it is going to be used, and how you can make it a beautiful place all your own. The "seven layers of design" are also explained in each room decorated. Also, there are two looks for the same room. This book saved us from making costly mistakes in our decorating, sparked our creativity, and remained practical all at the same time. We love the change in our home. Loved this book!!