Finger-tabbed sections on paints, paint finishes, plaster and concrete, wall coverings, tile, wood, and glass and metal, each about 20 pages long, provide the basic information you need to start planning: Will you have to use an undercoat with satinwood paint? What's involved in polishing or waxing a plaster wall? What are the advantages and disadvantages of laminated wood flooring? Can you effectively integrate a trendy rubber or industrial-metal floor into your kitchen design? As a general reference, the book answers these questions adequately; if you're looking for more detailed advice on how to use, say, glass blocks or antique tiles, check out one of the many books dealing with the specific project you have in mind.

At the end of each section are two sample projects. Some are simple, like painting vertical stripes on the wall (using a plumb line); some are more complicated, like laying a patterned border in a tile floor, but the directions for all of them are straightforward, and the final results are tasteful and attractive. --Liana Fredley

The book is divided into sections on various materials and finish types such as types of wood, paint types, paint effects, and glass styles. Each section includes background information and sample pictures. I have lots of interior design reference books and I found more examples I liked in here than in many of the larger books. A chart listing all the finishes in the chapter and their applications concludes each section.

Each section includes one or two full projects as well as many other ideas. The projects are rated by difficulty, but they are very brief and do not include step-by-step demonstrations. Some projects include colorwashing a wall, tinting and polishing plaster, using fabric as a wall cover, making a tile border, creating tongue and groove paneling and building a copper paneled cupboard.

In the back there is a nice section on putting it all together. Here you find advice on everything from using texture to choosing upholstery. It also helps you choose your own style and decorate every room in your house. There is also a good list of suppliers. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys creatively decorating their home.