Downtown Chic by Robert and Cortney Novogratz, $52, Rizzoli, hard cover, 175 pages. Fifteen years ago, the authors (a former stockbroker and a former actress) bought a derelict New York townhouse, and soon found themselves on a new career path as designers of residential and commercial spaces. They share what they learned in this book:
Step 1 Find a wreck. They suggest following arts communities, which always seem to be the first to discover up-and-coming neighbourhoods.
Step 2 Decide how much you're willing to commit to renovating, then hire a contractor. They also added an engineer, lawyer and insurance broker to their crew. Better to be safe than sorry, in their opinion.
Step 3 Create a wish list of what you want, like a stainless steel kitchen, and what you're willing to sacrifice to get it.
Step 4 Pick up great stuff for your home, from flea market buys to travel keepsakes.
A Warm Welcome by Amy Elliott, $34, Ryland Peters & Small, hardcover, 128 pages. If your previous attempts at accommodating your overnight guests included blowing up an air mattress and putting out your best unmatched towels, it's time for an upgrade. Elliott offers tips that will help you be the perfect host – for instance, send guests a map to your home, find out if there's anything special they like to eat or drink (she includes yummy recipes for mushroom lasagna, brownies and Pimm's cocktails), childproof (if necessary) – plus a few etiquette pointers, such as who should get the sofa and how to keep visitors entertained once they've arrived. Your guests will be so comfortable and looked after, they may not want to leave. Don’t worry – exit strategies for hosts are also included!
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