The Pocket Renovator / I Miss Queer Eye
Remember way back when, when I recommended a book called The Pocket Decorator? No? I’m deeply offended. Anyway, recently I was very excited to find that the mother-daughter team of Pamela and Leslie Banker had written another book called The Pocket Renovator. This book is the answer for all of us who fear power tools, don’t know a butt joint from a box joint, and dread dealing with subcontractors like we dread a root canal. It has the answers to all of your questions, will prepare your vocabulary for building speak, keep your budget expectations realistic, help you navigate the murky legal waters of permits, zoning, codes and contracts, guide you in reading plans and help you keep you and your home green, healthy, and financially viable. From I-beams to pot fillers, from load bearing walls to bidets, these authors have exhaustively included every possible question that could come up from before you look up a contractor until you move out of the house.
Even Thom Filicia says “before a hammer and nails, the first tool I recommend for the ‘weekend renovation warrior’ is The Pocket Renovator.” Ah, Thom Filicia, God I miss Queer Eye. I wish those guys would dump their own shows and get back together. By the way, did you catch Thom’s amazing lake house in the August issue of Domino? It made the whole issue worth the price - that man really knows how to do chic-comfortable-manly-nautical-rustic without being too kitschy. Alright, obviously I need to re-read The Pocket Decorator and figure out what the heck to call his style:
This one is kinda Straight Eye for the Queer Eye - there are some Paul Bunyon-sized accessories and rough edges, yet the final effect is a beautiful perfect-in-its-imperfections bar. A big rope or driftwood lamp would be expected, which is what makes that big fat gorgeous mercury glass lamp all the more stunning:
The kitchen and stairs have kept their original cabin feel, but I see stainless appliances, no dust whatsoever, and very cleverly re-purposed door knockers as cabinet pulls. That peppermill is making me think of the Sex and the City episode I saw last night and is making me giggle:
This is kind of Ralph Laurenesque but crisper and more modern - wonderful textures, symmetry, and animal heads. Usually you see animal heads in dark paneled boys club smoky trophy rooms. I don’t usually love taxidermy, but it does contrast well with the light colored walls and ceiling. Those perfect blue doors remind me of Nate Berkus’ apartment renovation in the Village. I wonder who would win in a fight, Thom or Nate? I just love both of them so much. I wonder if they are friends. I wonder if they are, if their dogs are friends. I wonder if that is Thom’s dog in the magazine or if it’s just a stunt prop dog the photo stylist brought it to the shoot. I wonder who Oprah likes better, Nate or Thom. I wonder if watching Design Star WITHOUT a glass of red wine in my hand is what’s making me so stupid tonight?
top image via amazon.com. All of the charming illustrations in the book are by George Marshall Peters.
remaining images from Jonny Valiant for Domino. You can catch the entire house tour here.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:17 am
The Pocket Renovator is great. It’s been a HUGE help to me - now I can only bluff contractors into thinking I know what I’m talking about.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Great post. Will have to check those books out!
July 15th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I so enjoy your emails. I miss queer eye too.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
That is Thom’s actual dog, Paco. Not a prop dog.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Very interesting book it will help a lot in many ways.