Carter Oosterhouse - Carters Way: A No-Nonsense Method for Designing Your Own Super Stylish Home

I was just eleven years old when my dad sat me down next to the family Ford, facing the left front tire. He said, We need to replace the brake pads. By we, we both knew he meant me. He made it clear that he was trusting me to do this, laid out all the tools I would need, and gave me a quick, easy-to-understand summary of how brakes work and how to replace brake pads. Did I mention I was eleven?

At first I was as excited as any kid would be. Every boy wants the chance to prove himself, to be like his dad. Then it hit me just how important a brake job really is. Cars can run well or they can run badly, but no matter how they run, they absolutely have to be able to stop.

I got nervous that I would screw up. No matter what my dad had said, brakes still seemed pretty complicated. It didnt even matter that he was going to inspect everything after I was done, or that he wasnt going to punish me no matter how it came out. Even though I knew all that, I felt entirely overwhelmed.

I dont think I can do it, I told him, sitting there with a screwdriver in my hand.

I bet if I gave you a million dollars to do it, youd find a way.

Everybody has their aha moment. That was mine. A light clicked on. Put it that way, and a brake job starts to look pretty easy. So I went to work. I was careful and I concentrated on everything I did. I put everything I had into that brake job. Do it right, after all, and I would walk away with a million dollars. So I figured out how to take everything apart, how to put on the new brake pads, and how to reassemble everything just the way it was before I started. I finished up and went and found my father. He looked over everything, making these little noises in the back of his throat that meant he was really thinking about things. Finally, he gave me a big smile and a thumbs-up.

I can do a rock-solid brake job to this day, but the most valuable thing I took away from that experience is what I call The Million Dollar Perspective. All of us face big challenges at one time or another. The way around those challenges is to trust yourself, use all the information you can lay your hands on, and never let yourself get defeatedyou always have to remember that theres an answer somewhere. The idea that I can look at everything with the Million Dollar Perspective has helped me throughout my life. I used it in college, to get good grades in subjects that were hard for me. I used it to master carpentry. And I used it to rock my first home-design project.

Home design, decorating, and remodeling can be tricky. There are many ways to go about improving your interior space, but only one will lead to just the look youre after and a room that says exactly what you want it to say about your style. This much is true: You are totally capable of designing the home of your dreams. You dont need a design degree, an open-ended budget, or your own professional. You just need a basic philosophy and the proper inspiration for approaching the challenge, backed up by a rock-solid method you can easily follow. My philosophy and inspiration come from the Million Dollar Perspective. My method is what I call Carters Way. Its a process that has worked for me in dozens of different rooms and homes. Now I want it to work for you.

Stunning marble tiles, sharp-looking cabinets, plenty of accessible work surfaces, and energy-efficient appliances positioned perfectly for efficient workflow you can design a kitchen this terrific using Carters Way and the Million Dollar Perspective.

Natural materials, such as the real wood, leather tables, the sisal rug, and natural fiber upholstery shown here, form the core of an environmentally friendlyand really stylishroom.

Im writing this book because of all the people who come up to me at events, or write me, saying things like, I wish I could make my kitchen look like the one on your last show, or, If only I could have you work on my living room! You dont need me in person. You dont need anybody else. You need my perspective and my method.

The book you hold in your hands isnt like any other home-design book. Its not about showing you all the cool rooms Ive worked on in my career. Its not about listing every possible decorating and design option. You can find more options than you can count at any big home center, paint outlet, hardware store, or furniture showroom. Thats not this book. This book is all about empowering you and giving you a method that will be the ultimate design tool, like a Swiss army knife for home decorating and remodeling.