Book picks similar to
Not So Big Remodeling: A Better House for the Way You Really Live by Sarah Susanka
non-fiction
home
nonfiction
architecture
Real Simple 869 New Uses for Old Things: An Encyclopedia of Innovative Ideas for Everyday Items
Real Simple - 2010
It showcases how to repurpose everyday items in clever ways. These ideas appeal to readers because they're a) economical, b) green, and c) surprising.Over the past decade, Real Simple has developed 800-plus ideas for all sorts of common items, from accordion files to zippered plastic bags. It seems fitting that in honor of their ten-year anniversary, they'd give readers the opportunity to enjoy these ideas in one convenient place.
The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room
Ana White - 2012
As a young mom on a tight budget, Ana learned to make her own well-designed pieces inspired by the styles in her favorite stores—saving thousands of dollars in the process.Now, in this reference for woodworkers of all skill levels, Ana shares everything she has learned along the way. Inside The Handbuilt Home you'll find:• Plans for 34 versatile furniture projects for every room in your house—from beginner-friendly home accessories to sturdy tables, a media center, kids’ items, and storage solutions• Comprehensive information on using off-the-shelf lumber and basic equipment—almost every project can be made with a drill, a saw, and some hand tools• Easy-to-follow instructions, costs, and time estimates to guide even the most amateur of carpenters through any projectYou don’t need to be physically tough or superstrong to make your own furniture, and it’s okay if you don’t know that a 2x4 doesn’t actually measure 2 by 4 inches. All you need is the determination to create a better home for yourself or your family and the confidence to say, “I can build that.” Also available as an eBook
Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify
Francine Jay - 2011
Jay breezes from practical topics, like “What’s in a Minimalist Kitchen” and “How Many Shoes are Enough,” to more philosophical musings, like what the Japanese or ancient Greeks can teach us about simple living. Along with valuable tips and advice, the author shares her personal stories about decluttering and living with less. Her warmth, humor, and encouraging tone make you feel like you’re chatting with a good friend over a cup of coffee—a friend you’d love to invite over to clean out your closets!These essays are a wonderful introduction to minimalist living, written by someone with a genuine passion for the topic. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your clutter, or disenchanted with consumerism, you’ll find a kindred soul (and a wealth of advice) in Miss Minimalist. Best of all: you’ll likely empty a drawer or two by the time you’ve finished reading!
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life
Deniece Schofield - 1994
This newly expanded and updated edition offers homemakers hundreds of ideas and techniques on how to unclutter their homes and take control of their lives.
Three Birds Renovations
Erin Cayless - 2019
Today, with many incredible house transformations under their toolbelt, they're a power trio turning neighbourhood ugly ducklings into swans.If you lust over images of beautiful homes but feel stuck when it comes to your own space, these 'birds' have your back. The book is packed with gorgeous details from their projects, friendly words of encouragement and more than 400 reno tips to help you avoid budget blow-outs, manage trades and timelines, and style without stress. Whether you're starting small or going all-in with a whole-home reno, this is destined to become one of the most useful books you own.Turn your reno dreams into reality!
Hill House Living: The Art of Creating a Joyful Life
Paula Sutton - 2021
No one knows this better than stylist and blogger Paula Sutton, who is behind the beloved Instagram account Hill House Vintage. Like many people, Paula gave years of her life to the busyness of the city until she traded catwalks for dog walks and couture for manure after leaving office life a decade ago.Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, this book gives you a full glimpse into life at Hill House. Inspired by Paula's love of all things vintage, and filled with simple, stylish, and thrifty tips and tricks for every area of the house, this book will bring the best of country life into your home, wherever you are.In a world that often moves too fast, Hill House Living is an invitation to take a moment to style, make or cook something nice for its own sake--and yours. Slow down, cozy up, and join the quest to making each day more intentionally joyful.
The Little Book of Living Small
Laura Fenton - 2020
It features twelve case study homes in which style-savvy, small-space dwellers (from singles to families of four) open their doors and share their design secrets. Stylistically these homes range from urban to rural, minimalist to bohemian, with the unifying thread that they are all real homes of 1,200 square feet or less and offer clever solutions for you to use in your own home.Highly engaging with lists, tips, and actionable advice, The Little Book of Living Small shows readers how to make the most of limited square footage—with grace and style—and serves as the cheerleader readers need to help themselves feel satisfied and proud of their choice to live with less.Laura Fenton is the author of The Little Book of Living Small and the former lifestyle director at Parents magazine, where she oversaw all the home content for the publication. A writer with more than fifteen years of experience, her work has appeared in major publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and on leading home websites including Remodelista, HGTV.com, ElleDecor.com, Curbed, and Refinery29. Through her writing she has explored the topic of living small for more than a decade. She lives small with her husband, a photographer, and their son in Jackson Heights, Queens, in New York.
Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore
Patric Richardson - 2021
But to Patric Richardson, laundry isn't just fun—it's a way of life. After years of running Laundry Camp at the Mall of America for thousands of eager learners, he's ready to share his tips, tricks, and hacks—bringing surprise to this commonly dreaded chore.Facing expensive dry cleaning bills? You'll learn how to wash everything—yes everything—at home. And those basically clean but smelly clothes? Richardson has a secret for freshening those too (hint: it involves vodka, not soap). Richardson’s handy advice shows us how to save time and money (and the planet!) with our laundry—and he intersperses it all with a healthy dose of humor, real-life laundry stories, and lessons from his Appalachian upbringing and career in fashion.
Your Creative Work Space: The Sweet Spot Style Guide to Home Office + Studio Decor
Desha Peacock - 2017
This desire is embedded into our soul, a gift at birth, our own Northern Star in a galaxy full of the unknown.Your physical setting can either hamper or inspire this creative calling.Known for her eclectic style and helping others see the possibility within themselves, their homes, and personal style, Desha Peacock offers you tips on designing a creative work space that will also inspire you to do the work you are meant to do.Peacock’s design tips cover how to:Use your work space to inspire your best work.Choose the right color to enhance your mood.Create a cozy virtual office no matter where you live.Work with a tiny space in a closet or other nook.Mix vintage, modern, and thrift store finds so you can create the style you crave, no matter your budget.Gain more clarity so you can focus on what’s most important to your business or creative life.Your Creative Work Space features full-color photographs of unique, creative work spaces from the traditional home office to the artist’s studio or writing salon.
A Well-Crafted Home: Inspiration and 60 Projects for Personalizing Your Space
Janet Crowther - 2017
Here are 60 projects for high-quality furniture, textiles, and accessories to enjoy all through the house--plus all the techniques you need for dyeing or sewing fabric, cutting leather, antiquing mirrors, working with wood, and much more.A Well-Crafted Home includes simple, creative details that will tailor a space to your taste. More than just -DIY- crafts, these carefully designed projects call for good materials--like linen, leather, and wood--so the finished product will last you a lifetime. Ranging from beginner to more advanced, each item elevates a room in a way you'd never expect: a large-scale painting with an effortless -dot- design looks like a modern piece of art, flax linen bedding sewn with a few easy seams is gorgeous way to set off the bed (and is more affordable than you would think), and a copper pipe rack for hanging clothes is so pretty, you'll want to keep it on display. There's something for every room in this book: The Entryway: Dowel Wall Hooks, Reclaimed Wood Bench, Woven Leather Basket, Soft Planter Cover, Block-Print Pillow, Looped-Tassel Wall Hanging The Living Room: Dyed Fabric Ottoman, Tassel Wall Banner, Bleach-Dot Lumbar Pillow, Flange-Edge Throw Pillow, Tied Shibori Throw Pillow, Gemstone Box, Air-Dry Clay Bowl, Rolling Trunk Storage, Glass-Cover Pendant Lamp The Kitchen: Wooden Herb Planter, Rustic Footed Cutting Board, Quilted Cushions, Leather-Loop Tea Towels, Ombre Ceramic VaseThe Dining Room: Heirloom Linen Tablecloth, Indigo-Stripe Napkins, Leather Napkin Rings, Clay Candlesticks, Boro Stitched Trivet, Beaded Light Fixture, The Bedroom: Framed Cane Headboard; Linen Bedding with Duvet, Shams, and Pillowcases; Simple Stitch Throw Pillow; Sewn Leather Pillow; Trimmed Waffle-Weave Blanket; Modern Latch-Hook Stool; Dyed Fabric Art in Round Mat; Natural Jute Rug; Painted Ceramic Tray; Acrylic Side Table; Refurbished Table Lamp; Boro Stitched Memory Quilt The Closet: Copper Garment Rack, Leaning Floor Mirror, Wall Shoe Display, Thread-Wrapped Pendant Light, Liberty Print Hamper, Antiqued Mirror TableThe Bathroom: Natural Wood Stump, Oak Tub Tray, Knotted Rope Ladder, Terry-cloth Towels, Leather Wastebasket The Outdoor Oasis: Simple Sewn Hammock, Painted Wood Stump, Restored-Frame Tray, Ice-Dyed Blanket, Colorwash Sheepskin With beautiful photographs of rooms styled with all of the projects, A Well-Crafted Home proves that even the smallest touch of handmade can make a house a home.
Pottery Barn Storage & Display
Martha Fay - 2004
Whether you want to keep things out of view or showcase them in the spotlight, Pottery Barn`s Storage & Display provides practical advice and creative inspiration. From family rooms and kitchens to entryways and utility rooms, this invaluable guide offers ideas to keep every part of your home organized-and to do it with ease and style. With more than 250 specially commissioned photographs and helpful tips that demystify the principles of arrangement and organization, Pottery Barn`s Storage & Display will help make creating a beautiful, clutter-free home a pleasure.
31 Days To A Clean And Organized Home: How To Organize, Clean, And Keep Your Home Spotless
B.J. Knights - 2013
When people think of cleaning they often imagine long days of labor, sweat, and sometimes tears. The problem is that most people will wait until their living situation is so messy it become unbearable. We find that most people will hide their junk, garbage, and clutter in their closets, dressers, and drawers. They will only take action once these areas are full and they have no where else to put their clutter. This can lead to long weekends of deep cleaning and organizing. This problem is only further compounding if you are trying to keep a clean house and you have a large family. This book will change the way you view cleaning!.This book will cover:
How to break down the cleaning process into manageable chunks
Why most people fail to keep a clean home
The step-by-step process to clean your home in 31 days
How to keep your home clean after you have completed the course
Over 50 tips and tricks you can use to keep your home spotless
much, much, more!
What if we told you that by just changing your daily cleaning habits you can keep your home clean and organized once and for all. By just spending twenty to thirty minutes each day on one task you can obtain the clean house you always dreamed of. Our lives are shaped by our daily habits and this applies to cleaning as well. This book will break down the usually tough cleaning job into small bite sized chunks. Each day you will be presented with a new cleaning objective, a secondary objective, and step by step instructions on how to accomplish your cleaning goal. After thirty-one days you will have cleaned your entire house! Once you have completed a month you can start over and go right though the list again. This will help you develop strong cleaning habits and it will allow you to avoid those large cleaning jobs. So download now and learn how to clean and keep your home clean in 31 days.
Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter
Lloyd Kahn - 2012
The real estate collapse, the economic downturn, burning out on 12-hour workdays – many people are rethinking their ideas about shelter – seeking an alternative to high rents, or a lifelong mortgage debt to a bank on an overpriced home. Homes on land, homes on wheels, homes on the road, homes on water, even homes in the trees. There are also studios, saunas, garden sheds, and greenhouses.There are 1,300 photos, showing a rich variety of small homemade shelters, and there are stories (and thoughts and inspirations) of the owner-builders who are on the forefront of this new trend in downsizing and self-sufficiency. You can buy a ready-made tiny home, build your own, get a kit or pre-fab, or live in a bus, houseboat, or other movable shelter. Some cities have special ordinances for building "in-law" or "granny flats" in the back yard. There are innovative solutions in cities, such as the "capsules" in Tokyo.If you're thinking of scaling back, you'll find plenty of inspiration shown by builders, designers, architects, dreamers, artists, road gypsies, and water dwellers who've achieved a measure of freedom and independence by taking shelter into their own hands.
A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life
Tara Button - 2018
Not only has consumption risen dramatically over the last 60 years, but we are damaging the environment at the same time. That is why buying quality and why Tara Button’s Buy Me Once brand has such popular appeal.Tara Button has become a champion of a lifestyle called ‘mindful curation’ – a way of living in which we carefully choose each object in our lives, making sure we have the best, most classic, most pleasing and longest lasting – kettles, desks, pots & pans, scissors, coats and dresses, instead of surrounding ourselves with throwaway stuff and appliances with built-in obsolescence. Tara advocates a life that celebrates what lasts, what is classic and what really suits a person.There are 10 steps to master mindful curation and each is explained in this book, from understanding and using techniques to freeing yourself from external manipulations. Finding your purpose and priorities and identifying your core tastes and style. Learning how to let go of the superfluous and how to make wise choices going forwards.Mindful curation is a lifestyle choice that will make you happier, healthier and more fulfilled spiritual as well as helping save the planet.
Simply Spaced: Clear the Clutter and Style Your Life
Monica Leed - 2019
Broken into projects by room, across a “year of clear,” the 3-step method inside will dispel the myth that you can’t learn to be organized. Simply Spaced will teach you to think like a professional organizer. Learn to Simplify like a pro by implementing the failsafe method to declutter any space, keeping only what you love, need and use. Streamline your home and take back control by optimizing space with strategic storage. And finally, Style your home to inspire creativity and connection. Monica Leed, CEO, and owner of Simply Spaced will reshape how you think about your home and belongings. Her practical tips make getting organized desirable, achievable and sustainable. She’s made this all possible through a belief that simplicity and order create the mental and physical space we all need to thrive. Complete with checklists and tear-out worksheets, Monica shares her best advice on how to create a home that “rises up to meet you.” Each chapter includes 5 clutter culprits, plus 5 pro tips to combat clutter, 15 things to let go of now, and style tips for every room. From kitchens and closets to kids’ spaces and storage, Monica will inspire you to conquer one room at a time, overcoming overwhelm and organizing it all.The Simply Spaced method, born from the LA-based professional organizing service and lifestyle company Simply Spaced, has helped countless clients tap into their creativity for profound change. Get ready to be inspired as you clear the physical and mental clutter that’s been holding you back from living your best life. It all starts at home.