Review: The Big-Ass Book of Home Decor

Hoo, Boy – it’s been a long week. Over last weekend, I was knocked in the head by some kind of icky virus, and have been down for the count until today.

So, I have no podcast for you this week, and no Google Analytics tutorial. But I do have a cool craft book review!

No beating around the bush either: I freaking love The Big-Ass Book of Home Decor, from Mark Montano.

For one thing, there’s a metric ton of great ideas in here. Not just pretty stuff, not just trendy shapes and colors, but actual, innovative, original ideas.

(Case in point: this gorgeous chair modification, which is layers and layers of small vinyl patches.)

Not only that, these original ideas involve such simple materials and processes. This frame is made from nothing more than layers of cardboard and glue.

I know, right?!

I think Mark’s genius is in looking at everyday stuff with a fresh eye, and then boiling the concepts down to a really accessible form so you’re itching to try them.

…Especially once you’ve looked at the step-by-step photos and seen how simple this stuff really is to make. Mark’s done an awesome job of documenting nearly every project with photos of the crucial steps. This is a crafty reference I can use again and again.

Can you guess what this light fixture is made from? I’ll give you a moment.

That’s right it’s lucite plate stands. How seriously genius is that? Makes me want to trail around after the man while he shops, just so I can see how his creative brain works.

You know those annoying subscription cards that fall out of magazines? Here, they’re transformed into modern art. The painting process involves – wait for it – a record player.

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

Yup, those are broken mirror shards, made into a wall sconce. Mark has a process in the book for removing the sharp edges. Beautiful, eh?

I also love this crazy Bollywood dresser. The paint treatment uses a big sheet of lace as a stencil. Plus, if I could get away with it, I’d bejewel all my furniture.

So by now, you may have noticed that although this is a home decor book, there are crafty concepts by the score you could use in lots of other contexts.

(That, my friends, is a fabric plant. How cool is that?)

Last but not least, I have to say this is just about my favorite piece in the book. I don’t have the right kind of apartment for it at all, but it made me burst out laughing with delight when I first saw it.

Definitely, give this a flip-through in your local bookstore, because there are way, way more cool things to see. I didn’t even show you the wall treatments, pillow ideas, IKEA hacks, tables, dishware, or sculpture! (Like the title says, Big-Ass!)

Also, check out Mark’s blog, where he shares equally-awesome projects.

(A few disclosures: Mark sent me a review copy, the book link above is an affiliate link, and at this moment, I have no clue when I’ll get the new podcast done. But I hope you have an awesome weekend.)