Discovering Home With Laurie Smith

by Laurie Smith

Laurie uses her own home, personal design journal, and classical training to teach design techniques.Inspirational, full-color photos capture Laurieas before-and-after design process.

Gives homeowners confidence to work with any homeas architectural "bones."

Strategies to arrange furniture, choose colors, and play with patterns to create rooms that reflect personal interests and tastes.

Expert advice for window treatments, lighting, fabrics, color schemes, and accessories.

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2005

Reviews

[Shelah]

Laurie Smith was far and away my favorite decorator back when I was addicted to Trading Spaces. She was nice to her clients, hardworking and organized, and her stuff always turned out great. When Stephmodo recommended her book, I signed up for it at the library. The premise of the book is simple: she takes us through pretty much every room of the Mississippi house she and her husband recently bought, renovated, and decorated. She goes through all of the little details that make her work special (techniques like mixing multiple fabrics, raising doorways, not matching artwork to the color scheme of the room, adding something vintage to each room, and mixing woods and furniture styles). I love the voyeuristic quality of being able to see every bit of her personal space, which is impeccably well done.

[Michelle]

We have been redoing some things in our house and I picked this one up to get a few ideas and to look at pictures.

A couple of things bug me about these kind of books.

1. Unlimited budget to remodel homes in a new and better shape.
2. Over-decorated. The playroom in this one had no sign of a kid and the kid bedroom was just too precious. I can't imagine living in and maintaining a house like this.

[Elaine Gardner]

I have adored Laurie's decorating style since her Trading Spaces days. I could count on her rooms being filled with clean, classic design. This book gives you a photo essay of her home from the original purchase design through her remodel. I am thinking of asking her if I can live there with her family or break into and live undetected for the remainder of my life. Neither would be awkward.

[Leslie]

I really just flipped through this - it's all about her home in Jackson, MS and how she renovated and decorated it. Pretty to look at, but I didn't spend any time reading the text. I'm a fan of hers from her Trading Spaces days.

[Cynthia]

The best designer on Trading Spaces. Her fabrics have filled my home in the way of drapes and pillows. My favorite colors are citrus colors--orange, green, and yellow, just like Laurie's.

[Notdorothy]

Discovering Home with Laurie Smith: Find Your Personal Style by Laurie Smith (2005)

[Carol]

A home dec. book with great pictures. A lot of white which I love. Gary loves color so we'll see how our re-model turns out!

[Jane Dugger]

Rounded up from 2.5 stars