A while back I received a copy of Abigail Ahern’s book, A Girls Guide to Decorating, in the mail. As soon as I had turned the cover and flipped through the pages, I knew this was a book many of you have been waiting for. A hip practical guide to taking your pad from drab to fab! I have been dying to share my thoughts about this excellent resource with you since.
Abigail is a designer, stylist and owner of an interiors store in London. In A Girls Guide to Decorating, Abigail compiles years of her experience as an international designer into a handy reference for anyone looking to take on their first decorating project. If you are style conscious, budget restricted, and want to make sense of decorating, this book promises to be your best friend. 
A girls guide to decorating is a must have if you are looking to do small DIY projects to glam up your pad but dont know where or how to get started.
I found the room analysis sections particularly helpful. Abigail has rough sketches next to real photographs that aid in visualizing the thought process.
A whole section in the book is dedicated to choosing the right lighting for the space. An excellent piece of info – each room needs three types of lighting types: general background or ambient lighting, task lighting for cooking, working, reading etc, and feature accent lighting such as chandeliers etc.
Of course, there are pages and pages of beautiful interior photographs by Graham Atkins-Hughes to inspire your projects.
With a hands-on approach, Abigail shows you how to choose your style, plan your space, work with what you’ve got, create a wow-factor, add personal details and play with colors, textures, and lights, and offers wonderful tips and techniques throughout the book. You will also find a list of essential tools that no girl on a decorating mission should be without.
A Girls Guide to Decorating is available in hardcover on amazon
images: manvi drona-hidalgo
manvi, this post is awesome. the pictures are supernice and i will order this book now. the review made me curious 🙂
I’ve got to add this book to my ever-growing list! It looks wonderful, both informative and with beautiful images. Thanks!
– your fellow BYW classmate, Flavia
Your photography is stunning – I love your etsy shop & gorgeous blog. I’ll be reading!
Looks great! I’m a sucker for decorating books…I hadn’t seen this one at barnes and noble so i am assuming they dont carry it. I’ll just go to Amazon, thanks!
Jen Ramos
‘Cards & Prints You’ll Love…’
http://www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
Lovely photos and review, this book is definitely going on my wishlist!!
What a lovely find! I just posted how I am in need of some *lighting help. I may have to pick this up.
What a great book and great pictures too – lovely blog – glad I found you – fellow classmate…I love English decorating and have started collecting decorating books…Amazon is great and don’t forget to check the used books – some are really brand-new at lower prices! see you in class!
xx