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The House Always Wins: America s Most Trusted Home Columnist s Guide to Creating Your (Almost) Perfect Dream House
More than 7 million readers of Marni Jameson's weekly home design column have already discovered how Jameson entertains and inspires, while imparting well-researched and personally validated DIY advice. Now, in her first-ever book on home improvement, she offers a compulsively readable, zanily humorous, yet also completely practical guide to a headache-free home makeover for everyone decorating a new house or updating an old one.Jameson has designed, built, and decorated three homes from the ground up. In The House Always Wins , she brings us along as she decorates, furnishes, and landscapes her current home. Though rooted in her own experience, this is no navel-gazing memoir. Rather, Jameson is like a favorite sister who has learned it all the hard way and is now here to prompt and inspire you to figure out your own personal style, make a design plan, and create your (almost) perfect dream home-one step at a time. With Jameson as our guide, we navigate through the seemingly endless maze of choices and decisions every home improver wall color, flooring, cabinetry, window treatments, furniture, bargain hunting, home accessories, rugs, kids -- spaces, special purpose rooms (like the garage and guest, laundry, and mud rooms), landscaping, outdoor living spaces-and that's just to start. Along the way, Jameson injects insights into the relationships and realities that dog every home improvement project. She also pauses to share hard-won secrets and money-saving tips distilled from her own redecorating experience and from interviews with dozens of renowned home-design experts.For anyone dealing with budgets, time constraints, unreliable contractors, a cheap spouse, kids, and pets-and who would appreciate having someone to commiserate with about the unattainable perfection featured in glossy magazine spreads- The House Always Wins will comfort (it can always be worse), inspire (who knew?!), and be absolutely indispensable.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 1, 2009
In The House Always Wins: Create the Home You Love–Without Busting Your Budget, author Marni Jameson takes readers through the process of creating a home by sharing her own home-ownership experiences. She shares the struggle of creating a stylish and inviting home that is functional for her family, offering up what she learned from her mistakes as well as advice from the pros. The result is an entertaining read than first-time home owners will find helpful as a guidebook to creating and maintaining a home.
Although Jameson is an award-winning nationally syndicated home design columnist, her stories humanize her and demonstrate that even people who deal with home design for a living are prone to the same issues run-of-the-mill folk face in appointing their homes. She details agonizing over the multitude of different floorings available to choose from at the home design center, as well as the disaster of fly-by-night landscapers taking off with her money after creating a giant sink hole in her yard.
Like any contractor, Jameson begins with a foundation, building her book from initial decisions a homeowner must make that can be expensive, time-consuming, or down-right impossible to change. For example, location is key, and it does not matter how richly appointed an interior is if you hate the city you live in, and that is not easily changed. Similarly, finishes like flooring and cabinetry are very difficult to change, but at the same time can have a huge impact on what you can do with a space, so they need to be chosen carefully. Once you’ve got a backdrop to work with, she brings in furniture, providing insight into buying quality pieces that will work for you without getting ripped off. Finally, she discusses accessories and other finishing touches that make a room feel warm and inviting. She even provides information for holiday decorating and specific-purpose rooms. And all of this keeps in mind the fundamental process of determining one’s own personal style and keeping it in mind so as not to be swayed by fads or styles that may look great in the showroom, but ultimately will not appeal to the homeowner over time.
The book does lack a level of specificity. I found myself from time to time thinking, “ok, I see this is something I need to look into, or watch out for, but how do I do that?” However, given that it covers such a broad range of topics, this is a minor shortcoming. One book cannot possibly cover in depth each and every topic Jameson addresses. This is not so much a how-to book, but a general overview of what a homeowner will need to know and/or learn in order to be successful in creating a pleasing environment. In other words, it might not have all the answers, but it helps you figure out what the questions are and where to start looking for answers.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read that provided a considerable amount of useful and interesting information about choosing a house and appointing such that you get a functional end product you are happy with. I would certainly recommend it to anyone just starting on the process of creating a home.
2009 © The Beehive All Rights Reserved
Although Jameson is an award-winning nationally syndicated home design columnist, her stories humanize her and demonstrate that even people who deal with home design for a living are prone to the same issues run-of-the-mill folk face in appointing their homes. She details agonizing over the multitude of different floorings available to choose from at the home design center, as well as the disaster of fly-by-night landscapers taking off with her money after creating a giant sink hole in her yard.
Like any contractor, Jameson begins with a foundation, building her book from initial decisions a homeowner must make that can be expensive, time-consuming, or down-right impossible to change. For example, location is key, and it does not matter how richly appointed an interior is if you hate the city you live in, and that is not easily changed. Similarly, finishes like flooring and cabinetry are very difficult to change, but at the same time can have a huge impact on what you can do with a space, so they need to be chosen carefully. Once you’ve got a backdrop to work with, she brings in furniture, providing insight into buying quality pieces that will work for you without getting ripped off. Finally, she discusses accessories and other finishing touches that make a room feel warm and inviting. She even provides information for holiday decorating and specific-purpose rooms. And all of this keeps in mind the fundamental process of determining one’s own personal style and keeping it in mind so as not to be swayed by fads or styles that may look great in the showroom, but ultimately will not appeal to the homeowner over time.
The book does lack a level of specificity. I found myself from time to time thinking, “ok, I see this is something I need to look into, or watch out for, but how do I do that?” However, given that it covers such a broad range of topics, this is a minor shortcoming. One book cannot possibly cover in depth each and every topic Jameson addresses. This is not so much a how-to book, but a general overview of what a homeowner will need to know and/or learn in order to be successful in creating a pleasing environment. In other words, it might not have all the answers, but it helps you figure out what the questions are and where to start looking for answers.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read that provided a considerable amount of useful and interesting information about choosing a house and appointing such that you get a functional end product you are happy with. I would certainly recommend it to anyone just starting on the process of creating a home.
2009 © The Beehive All Rights Reserved
July 1, 2016
Author Marni Jameson is a home design columnist, and her book, The House Always Wins, is essentially a collection of her weekly columns. The chapters are short, and placed in the proper order for designing and decorating a brand new home. Topics include: finding your new home; wall, flooring, countertops and cabinetry; furnishings; finishing specific use rooms; and landscaping. Advice is given in a humorous vein, and the reader can learn from the author’s mistakes. Although the book contains some good advice, the format makes it somewhat difficult to read.
Each short chapter also contains what would be a sidebar in a newspaper column. Usually, such sidebars contain brief highlights or practical tips to supplement the main subject text. These sidebars, however, contain a lot of narrative information, such that both the main text and the sidebar are often continued over several pages. It is hard to keep track of two subjects over these pages, and the sidebar information could be more useful if incorporated into the main text or placed at the end of each chapter.
There is quite a bit of good information for people who are building or moving into a new home. For those who are fixing up an older home, the order in which renovation tasks should be done is helpful. However, there are quite a few bits of information that the average homeowner might never use, depending upon how “tricked out” s/he wants or can afford the home to be. All in all, this book is still a series of newspaper columns, an overview targeted towards the general public with helpful hints scattered throughout.
If you’re considering redesigning your home, you might want to take a look through this book to develop an overall plan to progress logically through the work. It’s possible that certain important details will pertain to the particular work that your home needs. I would recommend, after perusing this overview book, reading a few books that target your specific home projects as well.
Each short chapter also contains what would be a sidebar in a newspaper column. Usually, such sidebars contain brief highlights or practical tips to supplement the main subject text. These sidebars, however, contain a lot of narrative information, such that both the main text and the sidebar are often continued over several pages. It is hard to keep track of two subjects over these pages, and the sidebar information could be more useful if incorporated into the main text or placed at the end of each chapter.
There is quite a bit of good information for people who are building or moving into a new home. For those who are fixing up an older home, the order in which renovation tasks should be done is helpful. However, there are quite a few bits of information that the average homeowner might never use, depending upon how “tricked out” s/he wants or can afford the home to be. All in all, this book is still a series of newspaper columns, an overview targeted towards the general public with helpful hints scattered throughout.
If you’re considering redesigning your home, you might want to take a look through this book to develop an overall plan to progress logically through the work. It’s possible that certain important details will pertain to the particular work that your home needs. I would recommend, after perusing this overview book, reading a few books that target your specific home projects as well.
Read
April 4, 2013I found this book while browsing home design books at the Wasilla Public Library. I thought it might be a funny/timely read, as Shane and I are working on buying our first house, but it turned out to be a bust. The author writes a newspaper column about houses and home decorating. The idea of the book is neat; each chapter talks about a different part of the house and how it can be improved or designed. What I didn’t like about the book was that the author would complain about having little to no money to spend on decorating or house improvements, but would then spend $5000 on blinds or hire an interior decorator for $200 an hour. We don’t really have the same kind of lifestyle, :) so the book wasn’t that great. It was interesting to see how much money you can spend on a house though! And it’s encouraged me to find some more DIY inspired books to read.
June 19, 2017
great info - fun
March 18, 2008
Marni Jameson is a delight; witty, self-deprecating, and crack-you-up funny. At least, she'll crack you up if you've ever bought a house, moved in, looked around, and said "Now what?"
It's obvious that the bulk of the book is previously printed columns, so maybe as original book-length prose this will disappoint some readers. But I had never read Jameson's columns--in fact, I'd never heard of her--and hey--reprinted columns have the advantage of being short.
And Jameson is no Martha Stewart. She doesn't own four houses, each more glamorous than the next. She is concerned about what things cost. Most important of all, we don't have to wade through misty, nostalgic descriptions of growing up in Nutley, NJ.
It's obvious that the bulk of the book is previously printed columns, so maybe as original book-length prose this will disappoint some readers. But I had never read Jameson's columns--in fact, I'd never heard of her--and hey--reprinted columns have the advantage of being short.
And Jameson is no Martha Stewart. She doesn't own four houses, each more glamorous than the next. She is concerned about what things cost. Most important of all, we don't have to wade through misty, nostalgic descriptions of growing up in Nutley, NJ.
December 11, 2009
Okay, I think the 3 star rating is fair because I didn't fully read this book, but I did skim quite a bit and read a few chapters through. The author has a great voice and is fun to read. However, this is a book that is strongly geared towards those building a house from scratch. It is also more useful as an entertaining story than as a way to get tips for your own home. I had picked it up because I thought it would give me some tips for decorating and remodeling my house. It's not that type of book.
Also, the materials and projects that the author did were well WELL above the average homeowner. So I would say if your house costs less than $200,000, you cannot use her advice on any sort of literal level because she spent over $5000 on blinds for her house.
Also, the materials and projects that the author did were well WELL above the average homeowner. So I would say if your house costs less than $200,000, you cannot use her advice on any sort of literal level because she spent over $5000 on blinds for her house.
May 14, 2009
I enjoyed the first several chapters of this book, which is organized as little vignettes about the author's experience with decorating her homes, interspersed with sections summarizing tips on different aspects of home design. Towards the end, there are some really silly parts, and there were some sections, like the section on weeding, that seemed as though they were put in because someone thought she should, not because she had any real experience with gardening. But it was entertaining, and overall, there is some good information about renovating/decorating one's home.
April 22, 2013
I love reading books about home design and this one is a keeper. First, there are no photos--this is no coffee table book. But there is really good, really specific advice about every aspect of home building, renovation, and maintenance. And she writes from her own experience, which even includes a sinkhole opening where her back steps used to be, in her newly built house in Colorado.
and she is so funny!
look for the wonderful anecdotes about her wallpaper hanger and the painter!
My copy now has lots of underlining and lots of stickies marking useful info that I plan to refer back to.
and she is so funny!
look for the wonderful anecdotes about her wallpaper hanger and the painter!
My copy now has lots of underlining and lots of stickies marking useful info that I plan to refer back to.
September 14, 2013
I was introduced to Marni Jameson when her column began to be carried in my newspaper every Saturday. I really enjoy her voice. The House Always Wins reads like a collection of her columns, but longer and funnier and more educational. After reading the chapters, Floored By The Options and Selecting Artwork and Area Rugs, I reread both and made myself some notes for the next time I go flooring and rug shopping. I learned a ton! She covers every part of creating a perfect dream house; there is a lot of information given in this fun book. You will, no doubt, learn something new.
January 26, 2015
This book gives you a good foundation for creating the home you want. Marni Jameson uses her new construction house as an example and teaches you the best order to do things, suggests ideas for organizing your plans for each room, and provides little side columns with advice from professionals in various fields (decorating, flooring, etc.).
She gets to do everything from scratch, though, so if you are buying a pre-existing home you have to sort of translate her advice into working with what you have (unless you are doing a gut renovation). Still a solid title. Not mind blowing, but solid.
She gets to do everything from scratch, though, so if you are buying a pre-existing home you have to sort of translate her advice into working with what you have (unless you are doing a gut renovation). Still a solid title. Not mind blowing, but solid.
September 21, 2008
This book is for anyone who has decorated a room, remodeled or bought a house.The author is funny, realistic and candid about her budget and decorating mistakes. Jameson lets you in on the photograph secrets of shelter magazines (they airbrush the photos), what happens to your new house before you move in and brings you back to earth when your feeling suicidal over decorating decisions. Its an easy read that contains alot of common sense.
Want to Read
July 31, 2012I was looking for the 2008 edition of this book by the same name, and this one (the 2009 edition) came up. It looks absolutely great for figuring out how to design/decorate your house. The subtitle of the 2008 book is "American's Most Trusted Home Columnist's Guide to Creating Your (Almost) Perfect Dream House. I don't know if the 2009 edition has the same focus or not...
November 20, 2008
This is a great resource if you are building/buying a new house. It takes you through the process of decorating literally from the floor up; complete with self-deprecating stories to make you feel good about your level of common sense.
April 13, 2011
Marni has some good decorating sense combined with a fun sense of humor.
She sure spends a lot of money--but she talks to lots of professionals in the
interior design arena. If you like her newspaper column, you'll like this book
She sure spends a lot of money--but she talks to lots of professionals in the
interior design arena. If you like her newspaper column, you'll like this book
August 3, 2012
I would recommend this book for anyone buying a home or redecorating their
current home, inside or out! Her sense of humor makes it a hoot to read.
Comments are down to earth, really useful. I intend to purchase a copy for
myself.
current home, inside or out! Her sense of humor makes it a hoot to read.
Comments are down to earth, really useful. I intend to purchase a copy for
myself.
September 19, 2013
The House Always Wins was comprised of anecdotes from the author's own experiences. There is some helpful info at the end of each chapter. After a while, I became tired of the format so I stopped reading the book.
July 17, 2008
Only for people who haven't been watching a lot of HGTV or reading the real estate section in the paper.
October 1, 2010
Fun, Practical, Funny. I own it and read it all the time.
October 20, 2010
Quick, fun read about home stuff. Witty but pretty standard info.
October 22, 2010
I gave up halfway. She doesn't create her dream house herself, she spent every third page calling her $100 an hour designer. She's ultra-annoying and whiny.
August 11, 2011
Funny.
October 15, 2012
I love reading anything that Marni Jameson writes - she has a marvelous sense of humor! I'm not much into home decorating, but I find the things she discusses quite entertaining.
January 13, 2013
Marni Jameson makes me laugh. I love her weekly column in the Denver Post. So true to life. I would love to do what she does - decorating and writing.
January 17, 2013
I thought this book was hilarious and laughed out loud many times.
February 11, 2016
I liked her humor
April 22, 2017
I started reading this while standing in the stacks of my library and got hooked by the author's breezy writing style. We're finishing up a renovation and are in the process of buying furniture. The book's tips on decorating and furniture buying were great, but a bit dated. Online furniture shopping just got a cursory overview. I suppose when the book was published 7 or 8 years ago, Houzz and Pinterest definitely were not as mainstream as they are now. The other thing I didn't really like was that the author continually mentioned how she kept to a strict budget...and then hired decorators (such as a Christmas banister decorating expert) for hundreds of dollars an hour.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews