Part celebrity memoir and part self-help book, Better than New goes behind the scenes with an entrepreneurial single mum who worked her way from waitress/real estate agent to home renovation expert, preservationist, and television star. With eight chapters in the book - eight lessons told through her life story and through several of the homes she has remodeled - readers will get to see another side of Nicole Curtis, including the private and personal struggles that are not seen on TV. Working in Detroit and Minneapolis, Curtis has opened her fans' eyes to the beauty of older homes and the value of reclaiming and reusing authentic original materials rather than sending dumpster loads to the local landfill. Curtis applies the same principles to her personal life - valuing old friends, rescuing dogs, and advocating for the wounded, the elderly, and the disadvantaged. Readers will find inspiration to apply to their own lives supplemented with never-before-seen photos of Curtis and the homes she renovates. Better than New is a visual treat, packed with more than 75 colour photographs from Curtis's personal collection, ranging from family photos to before-and-after photos of the rehabbed homes' interiors and exteriors.