Upscale Downsizing: Creating a Stylish, Elegant, Smaller Home

by Leslie Linsley

Less CAN be more!
Whether because of a change in circumstances, an empty nest, or simply an itch to start from scratch again, people are downsizing their space . . . while remaining upscale in taste. Decorating with style is crucial when every square inch counts, and fortunately downsizing elegantly is an art you can learn. Using examples that range from 600-square-foot apartments to a small cottage-style house, home-style guru Leslie Linsley shows you how to achieve maximum aesthetic results even in a minimal space. She offers solutions to every problem—storage tricks, entertaining in small spaces, flexible layouts, ideas for arranging art and collectibles, living with what you absolutely can’t live without, and more—all lavishly illustrated with over 200 full-color photographs.

In addition, inspirational real-life stories from downsizers reveal how others have successfully handled the challenges—so you can do the same.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Interior Design

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2017

About the author

Leslie Linsley has published more than 70 books on crafts and decorating. Her articles have appeared in Family Circle, where she was the contributing craft editor for 15 years, Woman’s Day, Victoria, Country Living, Redbook, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, O, and HGTV online. Her newspaper column, “At Home With Leslie Linsley,” appears weekly in the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror and The Key West Citizen.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love house books, books on home decorating and new ideas, thrifting, loving old, paring down.
So I thought this book looked fun. But as I perused, it seemed more like I'd picked up a book published circa 1992. It was all old hat (and fashioned) made to sound new.
Kitsch is Kool! she exclaims.
Starting every word with a K isn't!
The rooms are decorated in styles that are reminiscent of decades-old Country Home magazines - check out the bathroom on page 73 or the window seats on page 27. Yikes.
I was confused - is this a reprint? Maybe it's not my style because of stuff like this:
As a rule, use 5 pillows on a queen size bed and 6 on a king size bed.
I hate rules.

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfectly in line with where I am in life - downsizing, moving, and figuring out where all the stuff goes! The rooms featured here are not modern-decor perfect, but look like real homes where people really live, cook, and make messes and where they kept furniture and accessories from former homes and lifestyles, with an emphasis on quality and meaning. Not bad ideas to keep in mind, for everything.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this is downsizing, what was it like before?
So much furniture and stuff, so much room. Not a book for the average person.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this was too general, but it got better. We recently downsized and can shed some more things yet. There are good ideas here.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

some good ideas

[Angie Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The major theme is “Leas is More”. Only keep the things you truly love. It is a helpful guide to help people with the task of downsizing.

[Irene Adler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't really interested in the words - looked at the pictures and read the captions which was a pleasant way to spend an hour.