Author and TV personality Chelsey Brown started her award- winning blog, City Chic Decor, when she realized how little information there was about decorating and designing rented spaces. Chelsey’s blog eventually turned into her first book, Rental Style, which was released in Spring 2020. Chelsey and her work has been featured in countless publications, print magazines, and other outlets, including Today, the New York Post, CBS, ABC, NBC, Architectural Digest, Domino, MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, and more. Her oh-so-relatable sense of humor and unique spin on interiors makes her a powerhouse figure in the world of decorating. (A fun fact about Chelsey: She’s also a globally recognized “heirloom hunter,” who discovers and returns lost family artifacts while she searches for interior design pieces.)
Interior styling blogger/TV personality Brown presents an easy-to-use book that seeks to help readers redesign their homes in a budget-friendly way. The book is organized by ""Redesign Objectives"" that range from small spaces to large rooms. Brown offers pro tips, ideas for ""decorating for free,"" and DIY instructions. There is also a ""Where and How To Shop"" section with advice and bargain-hunting options, such as thrift stores and online stores. This part is especially ideal for readers who may have wondered how to start their design and decorating journey. The photographs in each section include befores and afters for some of the projects. VERDICT Best for readers who want to make their spaces look expensive for less. A great addition to any DIY collection, with the potential to fly off the shelf.--Noelia Martinez ""Library Journal"" (10/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) From millennial interior designer Brown (Rental Style, 2020), readers can expect solid, on-abudget decorating hacks that will save some major dollars: ""champagne taste on a Diet Coke budget."" First, she says, establish the business case for a redo, for which she creates five different categories: spaces that are outdated, gloomy, too small, odd or just wrong, or otherwise desperately renovation-worthy. With an abundance of color photographs that prove her points and sidebars covering pro tips, working with what you have, and DIY, readers will find an abundance of choices. Wallpaper options, for instance, could be prepasted, temporary, or a fullfledged DIY install (with Brown's magic ingredient: liquid starch). Pragmatism rules, i.e., if the space is too dark, try washing the windows first. A fan of IKEA, she advocates for shopping online and getting help from TaskRabbit, among others. Truly, there's advice in every sentence, from setting aside an extra 10 percent when budgeting to looking for wall d�cor in Etsy, Unsplash , and museum and archive collections. ""Where and How to Shop"" closes out this useful guide.--Barbara Jacobs ""Booklist"" (10/15/2023 12:00:00 AM)