A plan of attack with a sense of humor
A plan of attack with a sense of humor

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By Joy Tipping

Published: July 5, 2008

Syndicated home-design guru Marni Jameson perfectly translates her wryly humorous style to book form with "The House Always Wins: America's Most Trusted Home Columnist's Guide to Creating Your (Almost) Perfect Dream House.”

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Jameson delves into everything from finding your own style and picking paint colors to creating the perfect guest room, all while watching your budget.

She strongly emphasizes planning.

"Not having a plan … is like flying an airplane without a destination; you set out for Orlando and end up in Des Moines,” she writes.

For instance: Say you've fallen in love with a traditional eggshell-blue sofa in the Ethan Allen showroom — you'd better think ahead to how it's going to fit with the Marrakech-meets-New Mexico look you've currently got going.

Building from the ground — or floor — up also takes precedence.

That means wall color, flooring, counters, tiles and cabinetry must come first, whether you're starting from scratch or contemplating a makeover.

"Eat your vegetables before dessert, my mother used to say. The same principle applies to home decorating. You have to tackle the tough part — selecting the backgrounds — before splurging on the fun stuff like that new artwork or silk floral centerpiece.”

Her own tales of decorating woe add humor to the narrative, such as when she recounts her horror at being told by experts that her beloved books, arranged alphabetically by author and subject, are … well, ugly.

"We separate paperbacks from hard covers, and then arrange by size,” the home-design expert sniffs.

She was stunned to find that they really did look better as rearranged: a clear case of alphabetization trumped by decoration.

Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, House and Home