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Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure
From not enough space and too many things to not knowing what color to paint the living room walls, many of us struggle with our homes. Now Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, frequent makeover expert on HGTV’s Mission: Organization and Small Spaces, Big Style, shares the do-it-yourself strategies that have enabled his clients and fans to transform their apartments into well-organize...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
March 28th 2006
by Bantam
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An interesting take on home design and organization. I enjoy the apartmenttherapy website, and so had to take a look at this book. Gillingham-Ryan definitely wants you pare back what you have, and to plunk down quite a bit of cash on what you choose have. While I like the idea of choosing once and choosing good quality when it comes to larger items, his cost suggestions (for sofas, lamps, etc) seem high to me. But then, I'm really not in the position to buy or renovate.
On the other hand, my favo...more
On the other hand, my favo...more
I learned a lot of things from this book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I never really think about how I'm affected by my living space. Small touches go a long way. More than anything else I learned that getting rid of stuff you don't need is essential. Although I doubt I'll place candles around the house or buy fresh flowers every week, the advice about color, artwork, and furniture placement will be useful once I settle down a bit.
Interesting tips:
Always leave the shower curt...more
Interesting tips:
Always leave the shower curt...more
I've never really given much thought to interior design; my apartment has been mostly just functional.
However, I've decided to make improvements, so I started with this book. I enjoyed the friendly and encouraging tone of the book and the helpful suggestions.
My main criticism is the structure. In my opinion, the 'Deep Treatment' and the 'One Room Remedy' parts should not have been in the same chapters, especially since they were often not related. It would have been better to have two halves to...more
However, I've decided to make improvements, so I started with this book. I enjoyed the friendly and encouraging tone of the book and the helpful suggestions.
My main criticism is the structure. In my opinion, the 'Deep Treatment' and the 'One Room Remedy' parts should not have been in the same chapters, especially since they were often not related. It would have been better to have two halves to...more
It is not often that I read a book more than once - in fact, pretty much never. There are too many books in the world to do that! This book is an exception. It also catapulted me into action one Sunday. I rearranged our living room and reconfigured our guest room. Watch out, this book is dangerous!
The author is a consultant who calls himself an Apartment Therapist. He goes into peoples' homes and helps them create a home they are happy with. He has a very holistic way of looking at the home whic...more
The author is a consultant who calls himself an Apartment Therapist. He goes into peoples' homes and helps them create a home they are happy with. He has a very holistic way of looking at the home whic...more
I just reread this book after reading it for the first time in 2008. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, this book changed my life. It completely changed my way of thinking about what a home is and how to take care of it, and the results have been positive. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five is because the examples in the book are kind of ridiculous - for example, the author describes working with someone furnishing their Manhattan apartment so they have a place to go when th...more
I found this book really useful, and will definitely be using it again when I move to a larger apartment. It made me think a lot about living spaces, and the creation of home. It has also inspired me to pay more attention to cleaning my kitchen!!
I haven't spent a lot of time on the apartment therapy website. From what I saw, I thought that the website was basically just pictures of different cool, not necessarily expensive apartments. I didn't really know what to expect in this book.
Turns out it's about half DIY redecorating guide, half self-help book. It's not the first time I've seen this combination, but I never find it that compelling.
There are some assessment questions toward the beginning of the book meant to help you figure out w...more
Turns out it's about half DIY redecorating guide, half self-help book. It's not the first time I've seen this combination, but I never find it that compelling.
There are some assessment questions toward the beginning of the book meant to help you figure out w...more
Although the specific tips in this book are mainly non-revolutionary, the author suggests a good system for a complete reworking of one's home to suit one's needs better, no matter how good or bad the home may start out. In other words...if you live in a home that more resembles a trash heap, you can use his advice. But if you live in a perfectly decorated home, you can also find helpful tips inside.
Most helpful, however, is the basic attitude of observing one's home in different ways. The idea...more
Most helpful, however, is the basic attitude of observing one's home in different ways. The idea...more
if you are twenty-something and interested in "nesting" in your apartment, this book is the guide. a great read and a great reference.
Picked this up when I was newlywed, in my late 20s, and the book had just come out. It gave direction and focus in setting up our nest, and was the first to truly help me feel comfortable with giving away stuff I didn't use. It was the first place I heard "Do I use it? Do I need it? Do I love it?"
The edges are worn, and got some water on a couple pages, but this one is a keeper for me, and I refer to it when we've moved, or it's time to refresh my home. Unfortunately, I don't get around as much...more
The edges are worn, and got some water on a couple pages, but this one is a keeper for me, and I refer to it when we've moved, or it's time to refresh my home. Unfortunately, I don't get around as much...more
nest: a place of rest, retreat, or lodging
nest: to build or occupy a nest: settle in or as if in a nest
I have a latent nesting impulse that I was seeking to cater to by reading this book. I envision caring for myself and others through the creation of a lovely home. I didn’t complete the actual interior design for the most part but picked up some good tips and was able to spend some time thinking through how I might create the home I dream of, one that’s a warm, cozy, neat, well-organized, and w...more
nest: to build or occupy a nest: settle in or as if in a nest
I have a latent nesting impulse that I was seeking to cater to by reading this book. I envision caring for myself and others through the creation of a lovely home. I didn’t complete the actual interior design for the most part but picked up some good tips and was able to spend some time thinking through how I might create the home I dream of, one that’s a warm, cozy, neat, well-organized, and w...more
Really good! Apartment Therapy was as enjoyable to read as it was edifying.
I'd recommend this book to a person interested in improving his or her lifestyle via a living space revitalization.
While its language is at times a bit trendy, the basic message is really timeless - this isn't some Hippest Apartments of 2008 piece of trash that is going to lead you into creating some dated disaster. It's a sort of primer for making your home more "homey" and healthy for living, regardless of your design p...more
I'd recommend this book to a person interested in improving his or her lifestyle via a living space revitalization.
While its language is at times a bit trendy, the basic message is really timeless - this isn't some Hippest Apartments of 2008 piece of trash that is going to lead you into creating some dated disaster. It's a sort of primer for making your home more "homey" and healthy for living, regardless of your design p...more
If you are a big fan of Apartment Therapy, then this book is actually probably NOT for you. This book is designed for people who are just entering the home design realm - it gives a realistic, simple plan for quickly creating a home you love. I did learn some really good tips, and it was a quick pleasant read. It touches lightly on a whole range of home-improvement, and even self-help, topics. It's designed to whet the appetite for these things, but doesn't go in depth in any one subject. Overal...more
there were a lot of reasonable design tips provided in a pleasant voice, but nothing was terribly useful to me and it included a lot of common sense doled out like as if it was advice. there were also a lot of tips that didn't seem particularly relevant or like the author was in any better position to provide them than anyone else (at one point he recommends gilette razors in order to enhance your bathroom and shaving experience). it's a quick read, though, and inspired me to clean up and purge...more
Apr 21, 2008
Kerri
marked it as never-finished
Recommends it for:
anyone with a general, unidentifiable, dissatisfaction with their home
Recommended to Kerri by:
apartmenttherapy.com
I'm not going to rate this book with stars because I feel it would be unfair. I've been a big fan of apartmenttherapy.com, and purchased this book as soon as it was released, which also happened to be right around the time that I purchased the townhouse we'd been living in for years, so I was really excited about bringing it to its full potential. Well, I forget about the book for a couple (few?) years, and just recently remembered it when it came up in discussion again. Since that time, I've pu...more
This book balances precariously between being profound and precious.
On the profound side, it collects in one spot a great deal of useful information on arranging furniture, choosing paint colors, handling lighting, and decluttering. And it sets everything into a schedule to help you not bog down.
On the precious side, there are embedded assumptions that you're seeking an idealized lifestyle that involves tenderly cleaning your home with organic cleansers, strolling to the organic market to get th...more
On the profound side, it collects in one spot a great deal of useful information on arranging furniture, choosing paint colors, handling lighting, and decluttering. And it sets everything into a schedule to help you not bog down.
On the precious side, there are embedded assumptions that you're seeking an idealized lifestyle that involves tenderly cleaning your home with organic cleansers, strolling to the organic market to get th...more
Very helpful and interesting. I got this after seeing the apartment of a friend that is very small and unimaginably cozy, welcoming and warm. I moved to a new place and this helped me do a lot of decorating. It also helped with joke-making because most of the way through the book, I discovered my apartment is riddled with parasites and vermin. i hope he puts in a warning-signs chapter. Beware layers of paint, overfriendly roommates, giving landlord who lets you skip steps.
Still, "don't put your...more
Still, "don't put your...more
Informative and probably quite helpful if read at the proper time. By this I mean, anyone interested in tackling a home project may want to put off reading this until you are actually ready to start the project (so perhaps if I reread this while working on a home project, I may be inclinded to add a star to the rating). Otherwise, it is filled with some good ideas, tips, and suggestions, but a lot of it will be a quite useless if you are not actually following his 8 week plan. Also, be weary, th...more
Kind of "woo" at times with hints of New Age nonsense, but not overly so. Regardless, the book includes enough actual content to make it useful. The pacing is nice, and the author goes into just the right amount of depth to make his advice actually useful. I'm not sure how much of it I'll heed, but the information is presented in nice nuggets that make it easy to pick and choose what to implement.
Nov 13, 2008
Marcy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Marcy by:
In a roundabout way, Kirstin -- it was on Amazon next to another
This book has torn my life apart for the last 2 months as I "flip" my whole apartment, go through everything I own and start over with a "NEW" apartment. It gave me the justification I needed to put some money into a rental and I think once the wood floors in my room are finished and the new countertop installed in the bathroom, (there are new floors, paint, lighting, and window treatments throughout!!!) I will feel like a brand new person. Even with all of the organize/feng shui/declutter/home...more
Sep 13, 2007
Kristine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who lives in an apartment
Shelves:
reference
This is a real neato book that can be applied to both apartment dwellers and home owners I think. This is great for anyone who wants to makeover their apartment and can benefit from an 8-week makeover plan. I participated in the Spring 07 cure and now I'm participating in the Fall 07 cure.
At times, the book can be a little hokey and "hippy-ish," encouraging readers to perform exercises such as running their hands along the walls of their apartment to determine "hot" and "cold" areas. However, if...more
At times, the book can be a little hokey and "hippy-ish," encouraging readers to perform exercises such as running their hands along the walls of their apartment to determine "hot" and "cold" areas. However, if...more
I'm feeling cluttered and i was hoping it would get me out of my slump. But I realized I already have the tools i just need to get out of bed and do something. so it wasn't really for me, i feel like i already know all the information from different sources. I think if you have no idea where to start, it's better. the website is awesome, though.
I agree with a lot of his fix it, clean it, toss it ideas. That said, this book suffers from a smug tone and a narrow audience focus. Many of these ideas are too cumbersome for those with small children. Of couse, you can think up alternative strategies but I'm tired and would have preferred the expert to do it for me.
I LOVE to read apartmenttherapy.com so it's kind of surprising that this book did absolutely nothing for me. Too Feng Shui-y and lots of hippy talk about feeling the "bones" of your home (literally, he wants you to touch the walls and communicate with your apartment). Blech.
I'll stick with the website.
I'll stick with the website.
Like Clearing Your Clutter Through Feng Shui and the old Unclutterer forums (that is, before the destructive redesign this month), this is a good prod to upfurbishing your nest. If you have the time and money (lots of money) to carry out the full cure, it's probably quite effective. Just reading it casually induced me to fix and throw out some things. Editors might want to cut the statements of the obvious, the useless forms in the back, and the blatant product placement next time around. Also,...more
The book has some useful tips. I especially liked the list of things to do daily that help you feel good about your apartment. Skip the anecdotes (conveniently in a contrasting typeface) unless you want to read about how the author thinks his work has cured loneliness and sterility in his hapless "patients".
I liked this book because it contained a lot of information in a concise way. How to unclutter your stuff. How to position your furniture so you room can breathe. How to use color to enhance a room. I enjoyed the "Bones, Breath, Heart, Head" approach to space.
I give this book five stars not necessarily for the content it self, although there was great advice and wonderful ideas, but mostly because it motivated me to deep clean, de-clutter, and start decorating with confidence. It was just the boost that I needed.
While I enjoyed the spirit and intent of the book, I felt it was too step-by-step. The book would have been stronger if the author had gone deeper into some of the themes that he touches on, such as scaling down, and gaining your own sense of style.
Jul 08, 2008
Liss
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone vaguely dissatisfied
Shelves:
other-non-fiction
This book changed my life-literally. One of the points Max makes is that what goes on in your home is going on in your life. In one of the first chapters he shares how his apartment was stuffed and so was his life-with a languishing relationship, an unfinished thesis, and piles of work-when he pared down his apartment so did his life-the relationship ended amicably, the thesis was finished, he had time for a social life. Each time I take the course I move within the 8-week period, this has happe...more
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