THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR LENGTH: 489 words HEADLINE: Book stresses using pieces more effectively; BYLINE: KELLY KENDALL; STAFF WRITER BODY: Or maybe you love your furniture and accessories, but something just doesn't feel right. These decorating dilemmas are why Lauri Ward wrote the new book Use What You Have Decorating (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $ 25.95). The 226-page volume promises to help transform any room in less than an hour - "using the space you have, the things you like, the budget you choose. " Through photographs and conversational instruction, the book highlights common decorating mistakes - such as inappropriate lighting, awkward furniture placement and ineffective use of accessories. Ward emphasizes using basic design principles to create a look that's comfortable, stylish and your own. The book's an offshoot of Use What You Have Interiors, a New York-based design company Ward founded in 1981. During the three years she spent as a conventional interior designer, she felt guilty telling people to clear out their houses and start from scratch. "When I walked into people's homes, I found they had perfectly nice things, they were just being used wrong," said Ward during a telephone interview from her New York studio. "I felt bad telling them to get rid of it and spend money on new furnishings. I thought, 'Why not build on what they have as a great foundation? "' Her approach was a hit - within six months, Use What You Have was getting calls from around the world. Since then, its layouts and ideas have been featured in McCall's magazine and on ABC and CBS news programs. The reason she did the book, says Ward, was to make her company's ideas accessible. Though Ward's rates are relatively low - in the New York area, her firm charges $ 295 for most rooms - she realized that such prices are out of reach for many people. "I truly believe everybody deserves to have a pretty home," she says. "I wanted this to be for real people, and have them say, 'Gee, that looks like my house, and gee, I made the same mistake! "' Using before-and-after photographs of clients' homes, the book demonstrates how a simple action like moving furniture or getting rid of dated wall hangings can instantly enliven a room. Each set of photos is accompanied by an inventory of what Ward banished, borrowed from another room or bought. In many cases, nothing needed to be purchased. Ward emphasizes that the key is to use what you have more effectively. "Once people know what the rules are, suddenly their homes start to feel better, and they haven't even spent any money," says Ward. "Use your imagination. The comment we hear from 99 percent of our clients is, 'I never would have thought of that! "' For more information, call (800) WE-USE-IT or visit the Use What You Have Web site at: WWW.redecorate.com For more information, call 1-800-WE-USE-IT GRAPHIC: PHOTOS; Before: The dining room chairs' placement does not allow comfortable conversation.; After: Emphasizing "less is more," the tablecloth is removed and plates are grouped.; G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS |