Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living

by Matt Maranian

You have a futon left over from college, some dingy end tables that Aunt Miller left you, and an apartment whose carpeting dates back to the Me Decade. The decorating magazines and TV shows never seem to talk to you. So what? With some attitude, know-how, and a lot of your own style, your place can be transformed into a fabulous Shangri-La, a swanky venue fit for living and entertaining well. "Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living" is filled to bursting...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811826538
• ISBN13: 9780811826532
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

don't knock it if you don't get it.

It seems like so many people have reviewed this book on the basis of one or two of the rooms in it: the comments about clutter and nightmare "before" rooms are applicable to perhaps 1/4 of the homes shown in the book, and some lovely examples of the opposite have been ignored. PAD is not about junk-hunting at flea-markets or creating a "look", unless the look you want is retro-modern-surrealism. It is very much about subcultural decorating and lifestyles, and unlike most current design books I've seen, it has some very original and interesting projects in it. The flame pit is great (and extremely adaptable); the resin coasters are something you'd pay big bucks for in a hip little downtown store; the porno lamp is probably a really bad idea and I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. A decorating pitfall that people fall into is purchasing ill-made basics with no personality from cheap chain stores; PAD will rescue you from ugly chintz bedcovers. Many negative reviews of this book have failed to mention that it is text-heavy, which both expands on the photos and puts them in context. A book with a page of cocktail garnishes, plants it might be hard to kill, and directions on how to make a shag-fur covered television cabinet is definitely *NOT* aimed at the Tasteful Decor crowd, so I don't know why those people bothered and why they're bothering to complain: this is Urban Outfitters, not Pottery Barn. This book is for kitsch fanatics, art freaks, and people with a little bit of punk rock in their soul... all others should beware.

If Martha Stewart was a punk hipster...

...she would have written this fab little book.Do you enjoy:- French country decor?- Rachel Ashwell and her "Shabby Chic" lifestyle?- extreme minimalism?If so, you might not "get" this book.If you're looking for fun, wacky, goofy, off-the-wall concepts of how a person's living space can be decorated, you will probably get a kick out of this book. I did. I don't know if there are many people who would try and duplicate (in their own homes) the rooms shown in this book - many look pretty unlivable. Then again, the same could be said of the opulent (and often overdone) showhomes in any issue of "Architectural Digest."I love this book because of the creativity and the total abandon with which many of these rooms are decorated. I wouldn't paper the walls of my powder room in cheap, dime-store toys, or re-do my living room with velvet couches, swag lamps and statues of David...but there are some who have the moxie to do so, and it's all here for you to gawk at in full glorious color.

A book for inspiration, not imitation

Looking at this book is like watching a high-fashion runway show. The things you see will be way over the top but, ideally, will challenge your ideas of what goes with what and encourage you to make bolder choices than you might otherwise. This book is very inspirational in that I found projects I could do easily and cheaply and I simply adapted them to suit my own style. For instance, I have no intention of creating a Turkish opium den in my living room but that section of the book did inspire me to make richly colored and textured curtains to hide an eyesore of a fireplace. Likewise, a coat of paint and some fun fabric saved a cheap white cabinet from the trash.The book offers easy to follow, step-by step instructions for many projects and encourages you to find low cost and imaginative ways to spruce up a dreary place.The purpose of this book is to fire your imagination and, on that note, it succeeds admirably.

Simply Divoon!

Upon the arrival of PAD on my doorstep last week, I must admit, I had no clue what a true surprise and treat I was in for. This book is unlike anything else I have ever read and is nothing short of explosive. With its luscious Technicolor photographs and top-notch writing, 'PAD' has already become a favorite in my collection. Entertaining while remaining informative, Matt Maranian finds the perfect balance among style, wit, and instructional guidelines. 'PAD,' consistently thorough in approach, even includes an index of instructions on such things as how to change light fixtures for those of us who don't know. Every project (and there are many) includes very clear and descriptive instructions, along with a series of concise drawings for further illustration. Completely original, even the most professional decorators and style fiends will find limitless inspiration from the book's instructional offerings. Opening the cover of PAD is like opening the door to another world. Even the cover, with its shimmery letters, looks ultra-exotic in itself, and its promise of ultra-glamour is indeed fulfilled. Dim the lights, grab a cocktail, and allow PAD to work its magic!

Great home decor projects & advice, unique interiors

I received this book as a gift and at first glance I wasn't sure it liked it. However, the more I looked at it the more I grew to love it. In fact, it's now one of my favorites. The décor is imaginative, wild, eclectic and truly original. It inspires you to look past the traditional and ordinary to create you own style.There are design ideas for every room of your home including the living room, bedroom, office, bathroom, patio and entertainment room. Throughout the book over 20 different homes are shown and the owners share their design ideas and tastes with the reader. The homes reflect the owners' own unique personal style. There is an office decorated with wall-to-ceiling zebra prints, a bathroom featuring walls covered with cheap toys, and both a bathroom and bedroom come alive with psychedelic colors. There are a few more moderate rooms like a postmodern living room and a Moroccan style guest room. If nothing else some of these room will make you laugh. Even if you hate all the home's décor the book is worth the price just for the projects. Some of my favorites include a framed mirror, flame pit, minimalist style disk partition, a flaming volcano centerpiece and "Cousin It" tissue box cover. There are lots of lighting projects as well, including a "Hawaiian Eye" swag lantern, a birdcage lamp and cocktail mug lamp. It also shows you how to easily make custom curtains without using a sewing machine and create an inlaid area rug. There is also lots of helpful advice on growing things. This includes a list with care information of hard to kill indoor plants as well as advice on growing herbs and vegetables in containers for those that don't have a yard. A list of what alcoholic beverages to store in your home bar, advice on how to garnish and variety of punch mix recipes are also included. There is even advice on picking party music and transforming an ugly room into something wonderful and affordable. As a bonus you get an excellent resource list including most major flea markets in almost every state across the U.S. A warning for those who are sensitive, there are a few sexual pictures and words in this book. If you looking for a book with unique decorating ideas, great home décor projects and great advice on everything from choosing carpet to making drinks this is the book to get.