Editor's Note: When I saw my husband paging through his older copies of Black&Decker's Guides to Plumbing and Wiring, we decided to ask the publisher for copies of some of the newer volumes to review.  Below are two of the reviews, with more to follow; the reviewer is experienced in home decorating projects for her two homes, but not a professional:

Because the Black&Decker Complete Photo Guide to Home Decorating Projects covers so many different types of projects — 130 do-it-yourself (or “DIY”) decorating solutions, as the subtitle informs us, that it can seem a bit of a miscellany, but this hardback tome with its 448 glossy color pages intersperses solid background information (such as tips about color theory, an introduction to home décor tools, and a quiz to help you discover your style — if you haven’t figured it out by now) with quite clear instructions on how to complete household projects such as installing molding, replacing a towel bar, tiling a backsplash, hanging bifold doors, creating faux finishes, or reupholstering a chair.

Some of the projects do seem a bit off the mark  — the short section on Ceiling Décor includes instructions on how to gild your ceiling with aluminum leaf — but there are many more that are  useful, such as how to heat-strip paint, hang a picture without creating unnecessary holes in your walls, or calculate yardage for curtains. The book’s most extensive sections are on window treatments and on slipcovers and upholstery.

The choice to mainly use men as models in the photos for projects that require power tools is disappointing, as is the fact that the models are not ethnically diverse, but the photo sequences are clear and capture the most relevant information. Any book that covers so many projects in a relatively small space can’t offer extensive details on each, but this book would make a good gift for anyone who is just starting to take on DIY projects.

For an even more ambitious DIYer, consider
Black & Decker The Complete Outdoor Builder: From Arbors to Walkways: 150 DIY Projects . Unlike The Complete Photo Guide to Home Decorating Projects, the emphasis here is really on building, not décor, so you won’t find gardening tips. Projects include making patios, walkways, and decks; fences and walls; arbors, sheds, outbuildings, and porches; and — perfect for grandkids — treehouses and play structures. As a consequence of the projects’ scope, many require using power tools but, once again, Black&Decker offers lots of clear color photos (featuring a slightly more diverse group of models) to guide a careful reader through the process.

Speaking of reading, one power tool that might be needed when using this book is a pair of reading glasses; the trade-off for having all the large color photographs is that the type size  in these books could be larger.  But because projects in the book like building a foundation or framing a shed or outbuilding require a greater emphasis on safety than, say, sewing a seat cushion, reading all the details before beginning is an important first step.

Sometimes DIY books take you no farther than some armchair daydreaming, and these solid books will offer a reader that enjoyment. But for those on your gift list this year who might want to get out there and really make things, these two books should definitely equip them with the ability to make some of their daydreams reality.

Tomorrow we'll cover  two additional books in the Home Series:
Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement: More Than 200 Value-adding Remodeling Projects (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide) and
Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair: with 350 Projects and 2000 Photos (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide) both by the Editors of Creative Publishing.

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