5 things we learned from ...

Byline: Chris McNamara

"Rescue From Domestic Perfection: The Not-So Secrets of Balancing Life and Style" by Dan Ho (Bulfinch, $19.99 paper)

Dan Ho's philosophy is as simple as his name: Less is more. Ho, labeled the "anti Martha" by Time, is a lifestyle expert in the truest sense. His second book attempts to address one's entire life, with broiled lamb recipes beside basement-organization strategies.

1. Focal points are foolhardy. "You can be neither cozy nor intimate in a room where the color, furniture and accessories have been intentionally placed so that a mirror . . . demands your attention."

2. Metal vegetable steamers are ideal to steam hamburger buns. "It's downright garish to have a professional kitchen if you don't feed at least 30 people a day."

4. Heirlooms should be maintained but not necessarily by you. "If your misguided sister won't use it, find a cousin and tell him or her how important it is that he or she help carry on the family history."

5. "Think of your annuals as mobile plants." Move them to different locations as the seasons change.

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