One of the most popular monthly features in the magazine Martha Stewart Living is "Good Things"--a collection of easy projects and clever tips that, according to Stewart, are "simple, smart, and sensible" in presenting novel ways to enliven homes and gatherings using easy-to-find materials. Martha Stewart's Very Good Things culls the best of the best from more than 30 years of Martha Stewart Living, resulting in a beautifully designed, lovingly photographed and immensely entertaining book.
The lushly illustrated book divides these tips, projects and ideas into six broad chapters: Decorating, Homekeeping (making household chores more manageable), Organizing, Cooking, Entertaining and Celebrating (holiday-specific tips and DIY projects). Happily, most of these projects and tips are extremely simple and explained in a single paragraph. Recipes usually have four or fewer steps. The projects are attractive, functional and surprisingly easy. Creating a floating bedside shelf is simple and useful, wallpapering stair risers adds excitement to a staircase, and replacing bed headboards with curtains mounted on the walls is innovative. The Cooking chapter focuses on time savers and eliminating waste. The Entertaining chapter highlights cooking-for-crowds favorites, grilling game changers and fuss-free desserts.
Sprinkled throughout are "Classic Good Thing" tips that should have readers muttering, "Why didn't I think of that?" For instance, a rubber band stretched over an open paint can to wipe excess paint off a brush. And only a fool will not photocopy (and laminate) the two-page stain chart which gives individual solutions to removing stains caused by grease, grass, wine, ink, blood and more. Stewart's beautifully designed and easy-to-use handbook is a very good thing. --Kevin Howell, independent reviewer and marketing consultant