Q: I am a huge fan of this site, and frequent peruser of your books. I *finally* am moving into my own apartment, and I am wanting to buy a book. My budget allows only one. Would I be better off with the Eight Step Home Cure or the Small, Cool Spaces book?
Sent by Samuel
Editor: Thanks, Samuel! The Cure is a step-by-step plan to work on your home (text-based) and the Small, Cool book is more of an inspiration book (lots of photos!). They complement each other well because the formats are so different. I'll throw the question out to the readers as to which they would recommend for your first book purchase - please let Samuel know which one you think he should pick up for getting his new home ready.
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I second what missmilla said.
I bought the Cure book and it is a great read... lots of things to get you started.
Speaking of ... when will the Fall cure start?? I actually have time this fall to do it!
If your budget is really tight starting out, I'd recommend getting both books from your local library (or requesting them from any networks your library belongs to if your local branches don't have copies).
If you use resources like your library, borrowing things from friends, etc, you will need less space and storage in your new home, and you'll have more wiggle room in your budget.
None of the above. Get "Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions."
I think it's a great hybrid of the two books.
PS: The first book is available ion Kindle, and since it's mostly text, a better fit for Kindle than the more coffee-table-y nature of the other two.
Check the library. Save Money. Save Trees.
I've only read the Cure book, but it definitely is geared more toward tailoring a space that you've been living in for a while accommodate to your current and future needs. You really NEED to (a) be familiar with your space (b) have discovered solid "pain points" to ameliorate, and (c) be mostly-completely settled in your apartment to do a cure successfully. It would just be too stressful (for me) to deal with during a move.
My impression is that the Small, Cool book would probably be better way for inspiring you as you create a fresh space (no pics in the Cure!).
I'd recommend you go with Small Cool right now while you're in process of researching/acquiring initial move-in things, and invest in the Cure once you've been in your place for six months to a year.
If you're a packrat, have no idea what your personal taste is, have a limited budget, and have issues with keeping you space clean and organized, get the cure. As the title implies, this book is about helping solve perennial and universal problems that have less to do with design and more to do with our habits and thinking.
If on the other hand, you have no stuff, are neat and organized, and are ready to design your space and just need help with ideas and inspiration get the book of spaces.
You might also consider looking for used copies of each on ebay or amazon if you can't find them at your local library. Both books are worth reading, but they address different needs.
"8-Step Home Cure" it should be a breeze since you're just moving in. will help you to see what you do and don't need and to avoid getting hooked on acquiring stuff to fill the space.
Small Cool!
Cure first and to own - so much good information - I keep referring to it for things like "best way to hang pictures" and to get re-inspired to keep clutter under control.
I second the suggestion to get the other two books out of the library and then you'll know which one you want to own eventually.
To me it depends. If you're moving into a brand new place I look at it as a blank slate. If you don't have a lot already and have resources to invest in new things to decorate with (not necessarily brand new, but new to you at least) I'd think the Small, Cool Spaces would be a better bet. It's filled with pictures to provide you with plenty of ideas on how to make a space look great, especially if you have limited space.
If you already have everything and are just moving it to a new place then the Cure might be better. The Cure to me is more so to improve the space you already have. Many of the steps focus more on decluttering, cleaning, optimizing your arrangment and making a few small improvements.
If I was moving itno a brand new place, I'd go with Small, Cool places to start off, then do the cure after I'd been living there for a bit... there are always things in your home that could use some improving.
I'd say the Cure - after all it can be used and reused in different ways by each individual. But I think that kimg924 made the absolute suggestion.
8 step, without a doubt. I re-read it every 6 months.
I read the "home cure" book and didn't like it AT ALL. the advice seemed obvious and not deep.
I do love the donald kauffman "color" book, if you're painting/decorating.
haven't read the other AT books
I agree with Patrick (the other one) - "Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions" is fantastic. I kept it on my kitchen table and read it cover to cover over a bunch of breakfasts. Lots of amazing inspiration from REAL apartments and for REAL budgets.
I have read both and LOVED the 8 step home cure. I keep the "big book" on my coffee table for inspiration and the 8 step on my nightstand.
:)
The only one I have read is the Cure book, and I would recommend it even though you are moving soon. I did the spring cure last spring even though we had just moved.
I can't wait to do it again this fall.