CHECK IT OUT

Spent all your money on holiday gifts and can’t afford to give your

living space a lift? Between January sales and library resources, it may

be easier than you think to give old rooms new life.

There are hundreds of ideas for turning vintage finds into stylish

accessories in “Flea Market Decorating.” From using surveyors’ tripods as

lamp legs to fashioning one-of-a-kind tables supported by bowling pins,

find suggestions for re-purposing objects in Better Homes and Gardens’

new offering.

For serious do-it-yourselfers, 15 simple to complex projects are in

“Marvelous Murals You Can Paint.” Along with practical advice, finishing

experts Gary Lord and David Schmidt detail how to create decorative

silhouettes, designs from wallpaper and fabric, stenciled swags and a

faux sky in their guide for novice and experienced artists.

You’ll need more attitude than expertise for the hip schemes in “Pad.” In

his guerrilla approach to home decorating, Matt Maranian reveals how to

fabricate such funky dazzlers as a bird cage lamp and a “wipeout coffee

table” made with a surfboard. Aimed at “the empowered, the inspired and

the creative,” this is a guide for creating “living wombs” that truly

make a personal statement.

Less trendy types may be better served by “Country Chic,” in which Liz

Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell explore New England, Shaker and “Modern

Ethnic” country styles. More than 200 photos provide inspiration for

pulling together an eclectic atmosphere that melds old-fashioned

traditions with contemporary twists.

Those more comfortable with contemporary style will find a fresh approach

to incorporating natural materials in “Naturally Modern.” In her how-to

guide for fashioning sleek schemes with wood, stone and leather, Ros Byam

Shaw emphasizes simplicity that extends beyond fashion vagaries.

There are books that focus on specific rooms and others that tackle

design challenges. Uncover 100 trade secrets for creating an intimate

oasis that makes the best use of color, light and space in Dylan Landis’

“Elegant and Easy Bedrooms.”

If there’s less than 2,000 square feet under your roof, maximize function

with Better Homes and Garden’s “Small House, Big Style,” featuring

before-and-after plans of a remodeled 1930s cottage, a 1940s Cape Cod

residence and a 1950 ranch-style home.

Some of the most current information about home design is in the library

magazine sections, where such periodicals as Architectural Digest, House

Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living and Metropolitan Home are shelved. Even

more cutting-edge advice is available from building and design

specialists listed in “Los Angeles Home Book.” In this comprehensive

reference for the Southland’s home industry, sources for just about

everything that has anything to do with designing and decorating may help

you create the home of your dreams.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Sara Barnicle. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers

by accessing the catalog at o7 www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

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