Darren Palmer (Murdoch Books) 2014, 216pp, RRP $39.99
Easy luxury certainly sounds very tempting…
Yet while the design of the book is high quality and the images attractive, I wasn’t immediately drawn into reading it because the text is just so dense and tiny. However, when I finally psyched myself up to read it, I found a really useful book with plenty of universal style tips for the ages.
Darren Palmer comes across as friendly, enthusiastic and engaging, and his passion for design is not in doubt. He is happy to share style secrets and really wants you to make a difference and bring happy harmony into your styling space. 
Most of all, Palmer emboldens you to be brave with your design choices – he advises how, and why, to take big risks. After reading his book, I made a few edgier style choices with my home than I may have done otherwise and I was really pleased with the result. I also now understand why some of my (almost accidental) styling had worked and have been able to correct where it failed.
There’s only one DIY project featured in the book, which in itself seems a bit incongruous – maybe it could have been left out. But, no, in a winning kind of way, Palmer can’t help himself as he’s so keen for you to know how to make a headboard. It’s kinda cute.
I would’ve liked to have seen visuals of all of the apartments he references, and also an inventory of where all the pieces he includes are from. Even if such pieces may no longer be in stock by the time the book is purchased, it would still be good to know the sources.
Overall, this book is a good introduction to styling your house, which delivers real results.
Jenny Thompson
This title is available through Allen & Unwin and Murdoch Books. Click here to purchase your copy.
