Giveaway & Review: At Home With Laurie Ann

Title: At Home With Laurie Ann: A Decorator’s Guide: Turn the Place You Live Into a Home You Love
Author: Laurie Ann McMillin Ray
Publisher: Laurie Ann Publishing, Inc
ISBN: 978-0-9840748-0-8
Audience: Everyone
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

These days few can afford to hire an interior decorator.

No need. A copy of At Home With Laurie Ann and an open mind are the only requirements to give your home the professional, yet melt-into-a-sofa look and feel you’ve always wanted.

Starting with the basics, At Home With Laurie Ann cracks the code to creating the home of your dreams on the budget you have. The instructions are simple and straightforward, and the look is cozy and comfortable. It’s practical because Laurie starts with what you already have, moves a piece of furniture here, makes a substitution there, adds unexpected color and tops it off with inexpensive (but expensive-looking) purchases. The result is a thrifty transformation!

Written in a non-intimidating, down-home style to appeal and inspire many to redecorate, this book is ideal for everyone from the first-time buyer or third-time home owner to the perennial renter, newly married to the long-time bachelor and lively family to the single sophisticate.

About the author: Laurie Ann McMillin Ray began by decorating model homes for her father, well-known builder Corky McMillin. His philosophy was simple – everyone deserves to own a house.

Following cues from Corky, Laurie operates by a similar principle – everyone deserves to make a house his or her home, and she's dedicated her career to this goal. For more than 25 years Laurie has built a solid reputation in Southern California as an interior designer, and as the owner of several decorating stores. Visit www.laurieann.com.


My Comment:

I've been married more years than I'd like to admit, and I've learned a LOT of things during those mumble, mumble years, however, decorating wasn't one them. Mind you, it wasn't for lack of trying. I checked out every book out of the library that I could find, searching for help and answers. Sadly, what I found were decorating guides for the rich or famous, and certainly not for a one-income family's budget. Sorry, I can't afford to throw out everything and start over, no matter how much I would have liked to!

There were those that taught you how to make things look like a magazine layout - nice and sterile and far from my idea of "homey". I could also go the route of making everything match, like ordering my rooms out of a mail-order catalog. My want for homey and my ability to produce that didn't happen. However, there's now hope!!!

"At Home With Laurie Ann" is a lovely book that has stunning photography and gorgeous font and themes throughout it's pages. Certainly a beautiful book that would be a treat to find on anyone's coffee table - but don't you dare put it there without reading it!! As beautiful as this book is, it was made to be used.

Laurie Ann takes you through processes to help you find what YOU like and what YOU want to make a house a home. She shows you how to work with ANY budget and with what you have and love. She writes with a personal and friendly style that is instructive and non-intimidating.

I have had this book for a while, putting it to the test, and I have to say I am very impressed with her methods. I see them working for me, and I'm using her suggestions, and finding out what my style really is. I can actually see my house turning into something besides the eclectic mess that it is now.

Besides the normal decorating tips and elements of design, she has also included a nice section on holidays and seasons. She has included not only decorating themes but recipes (delicious ones at that!) and really nice ideas for birthdays and anniversaries.

This is truly one book that everyone, who wants their home to be a reflection of "who they are", needs!

A review copy was supplied by Paula from AME Virtual Tours.

Now, what you've all been waiting for - the giveaway.....

Thanks to Paula from AME Virtual Tours, I have an amazing giveaway package to offer:

One lucky recipient will recieve:
* A hardbound copy of "At Home With Laurie Ann" by Laurie Ann McMillin Ray
* A beautiful decorator candle with cross (pictured)
* A set of mini candles (not pictured)

To Enter:

1. You must be a follower of this blog.
2. You must have an US address.
3. You must leave your email address.

Extra entry - Blog, Tweet, FB, or Sidebar about this contest and leave the URL(s) in your comment. (you can get up to 4 extra entries!)

Contest ends March 17th at 11:59pm EST.
Good Luck!!!!

(Please note: These will be sent directly to you from AME Virtual Tours. I will not be mailing this prize, but will be passing on your mailing information to AME.)