The House Book

Every home needs repainting, updating or repair work to keep it looking fresh, stylish and in good condition.

Whether renovating an old house or looking for decorating ideas, this book provides all the guidance, expertise and inspiration needed for complete success every time.

There are more than 250 projects and over 95 techniques to transform your home. These are shown in over 2000 photographs and diagrams - perfect guides and professional tips for everyone from the novice to the experienced enthusiast.

Within the book are the key skills required for any practical home improvement schedule - simple-to-follow instructions for painting, paper-hanging, tiling, laying floor coverings, making soft furnishings and instant makeovers.

The first half of this book outlines how to assess the existing decor and condition of the home, how to plan the work and choose new decorating materials. Practical chapters contain all the instructive and problem-solving information needed to complete any given task from shelving, painting and paperhanging to tiling, insulation, and ventilation.

The second half contains masses of instant makeover tips to quickly transform your home without spending a fortune. Projects include creating stylish new window dressings or revamping furniture - all self-contained, easy-to-follow ideas that are achievable in a weekend.

This book covers all the essential do-it-yourself skills and teaches all the decorating tasks so that you can make the very best of the projects you are planning: with its wealth of professional instruction and its intense visual approach, it is the only house maintenance and home improvements book you will ever need.

About the Authors

Mike Lawrence has been writing about home improvement and decorating for many years, contributing to articles regularly to all the major magazines in this field. He has also written or contributed to many books and edited three major practical partworks.

Sally Walton studied art in London, and is the author of several books, for both adults and children, on design styles, crafts and interiors. Sally's previously published books include The Colourful Home, Step-by-Step Gift Wrapping and The White Home, and, in collaboration with Stewart, Folk Art, Glorious Country and Eco Deco.

Stewart Walton is an acknowledged expert in the field of interior design. He has designed a best-selling range of stencils, appeared on television as an authority on interior decoration and contributed to a number of books. Stewart has contributed to numerous books, including 100 Quick Home Transformations That Will Last, Folk Art, Glorious Country and Eco Deco.