A Girl's Guide to Decorating is a hip, practical decorating guide full of insider advice, cool and original ideas, fabulously glossy photography and clever tips for turning your space into a fabulous stylish pad - without spending a lot of money. Internationally renowned designer and stylist Abigail Ahern imparts her expertise on all aspects of home decoration - from the initial planning of a space to make it work for you, right through to the small details that will add a touch of glamour and make it unique. Abigail includes simple suggestions for how to approach every room in your house and all major decorating techniques are fully explained - from hanging wallpaper and painting walls, windows and doors, to creating shelving and achieving different lighting effects. Easy to follow step-by-step instructions and accompanying photography will inspire you to try your hand at every suggestion. Chapters are based around the fundamental elements of home design: space, colour, light, texture and the individual touches that make it your own. Abigail encourages you to be brave with colour and pattern and to make a bold statement with your home. With Abigail's insider knowledge, you can effortlessly turn something cheap from the high street into a unique and luxurious focus piece. With her low cost tips and idea adding instant glamour that are super easy to put into practice, Abigail proves that style has nothing to do with money.
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""If you are toying with going dark but haven't yet had the courage,go for it" So urges Abigail Ahern, author of fabulous new interiors tome 'A Girls Guide to Decorating'. Inviting and elegant, dark colours will transform a shy flower of a room into a head-turner." -- The Times Magazine, 25th April 2009
"Abigail Ahern is a women who 'buys paint like other people buy clothes' but there is one shade in her 'wardrobe' of colours she keeps coming back to - a deeply flattering dark grey.... given a starring role in her inspirational new booK, A Girl's Guide to Decorating."
-- STELLA, 10th May 2009
"Create a bold, glamorous look without calling in an expert...easy...if you use Abigail Ahern's step-by-step guide." -- Guardian Weekend magazine, 16th May 2009
"Fan's of Abigail's bold design style can now tap into her expertise direct....A Girls Guide to Decorating is full of her clever design ideas." -- Easy Living, June 2009 -
"Given confidence and a grasp of the essentials, boiled down in the book to 'planning'', 'glamour', 'texture'' and 'light'you too can create your own joyously individual yet stylish space." -- The London Magazine, June 2009
"If you can't afford a major overhaul, revamping the decor is the next best thing, and this is what `A Girl's Guide to Decorating' is all about. Step-by-step instructions show how to make cabinets, hang pictures, and put up shelves (including shopping lists).... there is also a reference section of tools and techniques." -- Daily Telegraph - The Property, 23rd May 2009
"The emphasis is on DIY, not paying others to DI for you....in 'A Girls Guide to Decorating' from interiors stylist Abigail Ahern."
-- The Bookseller, 3rd April 2009
"a comprehensive handbook to inject style into your home.... advises on everything from painting a wall to accessorising a bookshelf."
-- Vogue, June 2009
"Abigail Ahern is a women who 'buys paint like other people buy clothes' but there is one shade in her 'wardrobe' of colours she keeps coming back to - a deeply flattering dark grey.... given a starring role in her inspirational new booK, A Girl's Guide to Decorating."
-- STELLA, 10th May 2009
"Create a bold, glamorous look without calling in an expert...easy...if you use Abigail Ahern's step-by-step guide." -- Guardian Weekend magazine, 16th May 2009
"Fan's of Abigail's bold design style can now tap into her expertise direct....A Girls Guide to Decorating is full of her clever design ideas." -- Easy Living, June 2009 -
"Given confidence and a grasp of the essentials, boiled down in the book to 'planning'', 'glamour', 'texture'' and 'light'you too can create your own joyously individual yet stylish space." -- The London Magazine, June 2009
"If you can't afford a major overhaul, revamping the decor is the next best thing, and this is what `A Girl's Guide to Decorating' is all about. Step-by-step instructions show how to make cabinets, hang pictures, and put up shelves (including shopping lists).... there is also a reference section of tools and techniques." -- Daily Telegraph - The Property, 23rd May 2009
"The emphasis is on DIY, not paying others to DI for you....in 'A Girls Guide to Decorating' from interiors stylist Abigail Ahern."
-- The Bookseller, 3rd April 2009
"a comprehensive handbook to inject style into your home.... advises on everything from painting a wall to accessorising a bookshelf."
-- Vogue, June 2009
Review
"The emphasis is on DIY, not paying others to DI for you....in 'A Girls Guide to Decorating' from interiors stylist Abigail Ahern."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Holly Becker
Format:Hardcover
I'll admit, I tend to seek out light and bright spaces over edgy, slightly dark ones but Abigail Ahearn has made me a firm believer in her deliciously dark style and lured me in with, A Girl's Guide to Decorating. Her rooms are as if Oscar Wilde or Edgar Allan Poe could be lurking somewhere in the shadows...
Her style is both edgy and smart, quirky and sexy, salty and sweet, bold and still. The gorgeous rooms in this book provide for lots of eye candy and inspiration. Many make me feel like I'm walking onto a film set because they have an almost cinematic element to them.
I love the way Abigail uses contrast and plays with scale to create interest - and always a dash of bold color to liven the mood - genius! Her book is filled with inspiring images and some great DIY ideas for the home that I found useful.
Abigail has put me in touch with my dark side (we all have one) and instead of letting it hide, she encourages us to tap in and experiment with rich texture, bold pattern, saturated color, grand scale... I enjoy her unconventional color schemes the most along with her love of texture. Chalky paints, saturated furniture, bold canvas prints, black wall paint, nothing about this book says "shy" or "common". This is a fantastic gem and I highly recommend it to all!
Her style is both edgy and smart, quirky and sexy, salty and sweet, bold and still. The gorgeous rooms in this book provide for lots of eye candy and inspiration. Many make me feel like I'm walking onto a film set because they have an almost cinematic element to them.
I love the way Abigail uses contrast and plays with scale to create interest - and always a dash of bold color to liven the mood - genius! Her book is filled with inspiring images and some great DIY ideas for the home that I found useful.
Abigail has put me in touch with my dark side (we all have one) and instead of letting it hide, she encourages us to tap in and experiment with rich texture, bold pattern, saturated color, grand scale... I enjoy her unconventional color schemes the most along with her love of texture. Chalky paints, saturated furniture, bold canvas prints, black wall paint, nothing about this book says "shy" or "common". This is a fantastic gem and I highly recommend it to all!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Really disappointing if you follow her daily blog. NOT as inspiring as promised, WAY too MANY DIY photos.
14 Nov 2012
By Florence
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just received my paperback copy from an amazon seller, glad I only paid £7. I follow her blog and caught up with all her past blogs since 2009, ONLY there you will photos to inspire how to decorate your house, unlike this book.
The pages are extra thick giving you the impression it is huge in contents but not really. Some of the photos aren't even inspiring with very plain bedrooms in white shades. Now we all know Abigail raves about dark and dramatic shades!
Too much DIY photos about how to hang a nail etc. I can google that on youtube myself no need to tell us or show us.
What we do need is photos, more more and more photos of how stunning one can decorate rooms with ABIGAIL AHERN'S blooms, animals objects, oversized lamps, great patterns and texture, vintage and new finds. You will find very little of this in her first book and I am seriously hoping she will take this into account for a forthcoming book in 2013!
So my advice, don't bother, go to her blog instead or make a London trip to her shop on Upper Street where you will be truly inspired. I have spent probably over £400 in that shop in one year alone! on her wonderful flowers & couple of vases, they have turned my house into something else! Follower her blog and her facebook page, and you will be better off than this book.
This is coming from a true fan.
The pages are extra thick giving you the impression it is huge in contents but not really. Some of the photos aren't even inspiring with very plain bedrooms in white shades. Now we all know Abigail raves about dark and dramatic shades!
Too much DIY photos about how to hang a nail etc. I can google that on youtube myself no need to tell us or show us.
What we do need is photos, more more and more photos of how stunning one can decorate rooms with ABIGAIL AHERN'S blooms, animals objects, oversized lamps, great patterns and texture, vintage and new finds. You will find very little of this in her first book and I am seriously hoping she will take this into account for a forthcoming book in 2013!
So my advice, don't bother, go to her blog instead or make a London trip to her shop on Upper Street where you will be truly inspired. I have spent probably over £400 in that shop in one year alone! on her wonderful flowers & couple of vases, they have turned my house into something else! Follower her blog and her facebook page, and you will be better off than this book.
This is coming from a true fan.
By Lucia Temple
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this book for its practical tips - easy to follow and like Abigail's take on colour - creating a sense of theatricality combined with quirkiness.
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2.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Really inspiring book. We are doing up our place and this book has lots of good tips. It makes you want to decorate all day long!
Published 1 month ago by cecile mairat
5.0 out of 5 stars
AA is Fab
Would recommend this book for people who want ideas about unusual colour tones but it's not for those who would prefer white or beige. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Socrates
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love love love!!!
Abigail Ahern can do no wrong in my eyes!!! Eagerly anticipating the new book out in march. Just buy it...you won't be disappointed!!
Published 4 months ago by Mid-century mummy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Great book, many full colour inspirational photos and lots of helpful step-by-step guides how to do simple DIY. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Janey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
I love Abigail Ahern's decor style - this is her first book, focusing on the practical issues around decorating, like painting, put up wood paneling, painting floorboards, shelving... Read more
Published 12 months ago by bluebellgirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Girl's guide to decorating
I was pleasantly surprised by the content of this book. Even though I'd bought it in good faith and lots of anticipation, I do find some interior design/ decoration books can be... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Becs
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty but not very practical
This is a beautiful book filled with gorgeous photographs that will inspire you and I love the idea of a book which combines ideas with how-to advice. Read more
Published on 25 April 2011 by orpheus78
2.0 out of 5 stars
For (very) shabby chic fans only
Abigail Ahern's style of decorating is about knick-knacks, piling things up, and general clutter.
Aside from a few pages of practical advice about putting up shelves,... Read more
Aside from a few pages of practical advice about putting up shelves,... Read more
Published on 9 July 2010 by Rosey Lea
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous!
Gorgeous! Every girl needs a copy! If you're used to someone else doing all technical jobs in the house (like me) and you suddenly find yourself having to be that person this book... Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by ajl_86
4.0 out of 5 stars
i enjoyed it!
The imges and use of colours in the book are fantastic for inspiration. My head is absolutely buzzing with ideas, thats all it was for me a picture book, quite a few of the images... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2010 by B. Manfo
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