Book Description

This book surveys landscape plants in Eastern North America. It examines over 1500 species and many additional varieties and cultivars and includes information on nomenclature, plant size, growth rate and form and function. It also explores the environmental needs and limitations that must be considered in selecting and maintaining these plants. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Invaluable reference for the landscape professional
As a landscape designer, I use this book almost daily as a complement to Michael Dirr's texts. The line drawings of each plant in youth and maturity provide a better idea of its habit than most pictures ever could. The "Problems and Maintenance" section has helped me avoid many potentially inferior plants, and the "Adaptability" information gives a nuanced understanding of wind tolerance, pH, light and water requirements. Finally, the "Seasonal Interest" symbol provides a finely tuned assessment of the plant's attractiveness throughout the year: I use it to find plants with year-around interest. This is a book for professionals who have to live, and die, by their plant recommendations. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume deals with the religious practices of the family inthe ancientBabylonian, Syrian, and Israelite civilizations. On thebasis of a wealth ofdocuments from both the private and the literaryrealm, the book gives anexhaustive description and analysis of therites of the ancestor cult and thedevotion to local gods. The authordemonstrates the role of these two aspectsof family religion in theidentity construction of its followers. The sectiondealing withIsrael pays particular attention to the relationship betweenfamilyreligion and state religion. The emergence of the state religion under King Saul marked the beginning of a competition between civil andprivatereligion. Though the two had great influence upon each other,the tensionbetween them was never resolved. A study of theirinteraction proves to be akey for the understanding of thedevelopment of Israelite religion during themonarchic period.Thebook is of particular importance to biblical scholars, Assyriologists, and all those interested in the history of ancient Near Easternreligion. ... Read more

Book Description

Everywhere you look, the look is Brunschwig.From grand rooms in the White House and the Palace of Versailles to romantic retreats in country cottages and seaside homes, Brunschwig & Fils fabrics, wall coverings, and furnishings are used to create timeless, personal, and beautiful interiors. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

considering granite, limestone, travertine? read this
This book lays out all the wonderful and vulnerable properties and characteristics of natural stone in a home. Flooring, countertops, tiles - and maintenance...... it's all in here. The one place you really should look if you're considering these gorgeous organic looks for your home.

ALL you need to Know
If you are looking for a book to explain the exspansive world of natural stone, this is the book! Every question I had was answered in great detail and the photos are incredible. I got so many new ideas from this book and can't wait to start some new projects.

Extremely Informative Book - A Must-Own
This book is an excellent resource for those seeking to utilize stone decoratively and functionally around their homes! It is beautifully illustrated, well written, and thorough. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in taking advantage of the beauty of stonework in their residence! WELL DONE!

Comprehensive and Beautiful
I was quite surprised at all the material this books covers. Anyone planning a custom designed home or remodel could certainly find great inspiration and clever ideas not usually seen in homes in the USA. Additionally, the in-depth info on various natural stone products is a real education. The last part of STONE has a helpful photo index of illustrations of the various types of stone. Since many ceramic tile products attempt to emulate natural stone, this book and especially it's fine examples of mosaics would be quite inspirational for those who work with manmade tiles as well as natural stone. I find the elegant pared down interiors in this book quite refreshing, a breath of fresh air. As a fan of classic, enduring architecture, I am pleased that this book promotes the idea of a home as a structure expected to last centuries--an unusual concept in the States.

A wealth of information!
I bought this book because I am in the middle of building a new home and am using quite a bit of stone. Let me tell you, it is quite nice to walk into the tile showroom and know more about the material than the people selling it to me. "STONE" covers it all...everything you need to know and more. I am actually reproducing one of the bathrooms featured in the book in my own home. There are hundreds of beautiful photographs that not only give you ideas for using natural stone, but also for the home's architecture and interior design. It is truly several books rolled into one. Anyone planning to build or remodel a home with stone countertops, floors, showers, walls, venthoods, backsplashes, fireplaces, etc...etc...etc... should get this book. Avid do-it-yourselfer's will find the step by step stone installation section invaluble. ... Read more

Book Description

This inspiring and beautiful book takes the reader on a journey of 35 of the most recent homes designed by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects of Newport Beach, CA.From an early Cailfornia home in Coro de Caza toa California Cottage on Balboa Pennisula toan Old World Tuscan Adaptation in Ranch Santa fe, this collection reveals some of the finest examples of what admiring critics are calling "The New California Tradition" in American housing. ... Read more

Book Description

This award-winning reference offers clear explanations of the relevant sections of codes that affect the design of interiors. The new edition has been extensively revised to cover the new International Building Code, and also provides a more in-depth treatment of ADA requirements. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Informative
The Codes Guidebook for Interiors is a simple, straight forward guide to understanding how building codes regulate design. The guidebook builds a chapter by chapter systematic approach to code research and application that can be followed by every practictioner regardless of building locale. ... Read more

Book Description

Since its release in 1946, this has been one of the most widely recognized and respected resources for architects, engineers, and designers, bringing together the knowledge, techniques, and skills of some of the most well-known experts in the field

The new Eighth Edition takes a fresh, visual approach to the information architects need to access quickly, helping them save time and money by assuring they get it right the first time.

Readers will find timely, new chapters on building security, natural disaster mitigation, building diagnostics, facility management, and much more. The accompanying CD-ROM contains the complete contents of the Eighth Edition. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Architectural Lighting
This is an excellent book. It provides a comprehensive overview while supplying specific design applications on the topics of natural and electric lighting. It illuminates many technologies and design principles with straight forward language and clear reinforcing graphics.
I teach architectural lighting at the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii. I have reviewed many lighting books for this class and have found the Egan and Olgyay text to be very appropriate for the beginning and advanced student as well as a very useful desk reference for design proessionals. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Sumner Greene and brother Henry Mather Greene defined the Arts & Crafts movement in America. From their offices in Pasadena, they created "Ultimate Bungalows," finely crafted homes characterized by the integration of architecture and interior design into a harmonious whole. Though both brothers had long and distinguished careers, the highpoint of their work came between 1903 and 1909, when they created such lasting masterpieces as The Gamble House in Pasadena, the Pratt House in Ojai, and the Thorsen House in Berkeley. Greene & Greene: Masterworks presents their work in this era in loving detail. Bruce Smith, who wrote the text for the book, is an authority on the Arts & Crafts movement, and is currently working on a biography of Charles Greene. Alexander Vertikoff's lush photography is the perfect accompaniment to the text, beautifully capturing the sweeping grandeur of each house as well as capturing the subtle details that make each Greene & Greene home a treasure. After an overview of the Arts & Crafts movement and a brief biography of the of the brothers, the book turns its attention to various details that characterized the brothers' style. In the section on entryways, for instance, they point out that

Rarely in a Greene and Greene house is there an abrupt division between inside and out. One enters by transitions, in stages. Brick steps my lead up from the garden to a porch. Shelter comes from a gabled overhang or sleeping porch that extends from above--one is covered but still able to feel the breeze. The pattern in the door's art glass evokes the natural world being left behind. Stepping inside, one still does not feel totally enclosed; across the entrance hall are doorways framing a vista of gardens beyond.

Reviews (7)

Greene Giants!
This is my first introduction to Greene & Greene's work. If your a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright or the Art's & Crafts movement you will be very pleased at what you see inside this book. Lots of history on Greene & Greene and lots of beautiful colour photos. This book should inspire any architect and it also makes a great coffee table book. A good investment for your library.

A magnificent introduction to two great architects
The Greene brothers were architects who designed in the Arts and Crafts style. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, their style was so distinctive that they are not considered as examples of a type, but as architects whose style stands by itself. Unlike Frank Lloyd Wright, the Greene brothers' practice was almost completely limited to personal residences. This has probably limited the reach of their reputation. Outside of the Gamble house, which has been made into a museum, the work of the Greene brothers is generally not accessible to the public. All but one of their houses was in California, most of them in Pasadena. One wonders how well known Wright would be had he never designed the Guggenheim, or the Marin County Civic Center, or if he had never ventured outside of Chicago.

This book addresses the problem by taking us inside twenty-five examples of Greene and Greene's work. The text is accompanied by the breathtaking photography of Alexander Vertikoff. I own a large collection of books on the architecture of this period, and those illustrated by Vertikoff stand in a class by themselves. His photos are magnificent, doing justice to the material he portrays. I doubt if there is a finer photographer working in this field today.

With photos like these, it would have been easy to turn this volume into nothing more than a glorious picture book. Instead, Bruce Smith provides an engaging story of the careers of the two architects. The best writing is found in an extensive introduction, where the author discusses the Greene and Greene style in general terms. One can see at a glance how the style starts with Arts and Crafts. Indeed, there is a wealth of Stickley furniture in many of the houses. It is equally obvious how the two went beyond the plain craftsman designs so common further east. The Japanese influence was much stronger here, and the craftsmanship in the wood joinery was much more refined. There is more woodworking than carpentry here. The woods included Burmese teak, Honduras mahogany, Port Orford cedar, oak, maple and redwood. In some cases, the brothers were able to design furniture, landscaping and gardens to go with the architecture.

For the remainder of the book, we get a tour through twenty-five houses designed by Greene and Greene. Each house is presented in the order of its design and construction, with a history of the entire house to the present day. In some cases, this includes restoration after some abuse. Some of these houses were created on a budget; others were done with no apparent limits on the imagination of the architects. All are works of art, created as a labor of love by all concerned. For anyone unfamiliar with the work of Greene and Greene, this is an excellent introduction. For those who are already captivated, this book is a must, if only for those magnificent pictures.

Greene with Envy
As an aspiring woodworker with apparently very little natural talent, I can only view Greene & Greene's work with a mixture of awe and jealousy. While I find much of what Wright has done to be at times inaccessible and dated (primarily because so many others have attempted to copy or incorporate his style into theirs - and failed miserably by the way), the Greene's work is absolutely gorgeous, and would fit in with many current styles.....But then again you all know that. The question is why buy this particular book?

If you are looking for wonderful, full-page color photographs this is it. The first 50 pages are devoted to the G&G style; there is a page or two devoted to Materials, Joinery, Lighting etc. Descriptions are quite brief, and include a couple of pics.

The next 170 pages are devoted to 25 different houses with narration about the original design process, the ensuing history, and the current state. Again tons of color pics, and lots of shots of the furniture they designed to go with the particular house.

If you are looking for an in-depth discussion, check out Randall Makinson's "Architecture as a Fine Art/Furniture and Related Designs. These two books (now available in one edition) cover the G&G history in detail, but have less photos (many in black and white). They do have many front on center views of the furniture (as well as early drawings) so if you are interested in building their furniture, these books make a suitable companion to the one being reviewed.

I love this book!!!
Those of us that love G & G have to love this book. The pictures are just great and I have to pick-up the book every time I see it. If you want to know why G & G are so loved, just read this book and you will be heading down the slippery-slope too! Their homes are Craft, made Art.

The Greenes literally turned living spaces into works of art
For those of us fortunate enough to live in Southern California and actually see a Greene and Greene work of art first hand, we know that there is nothing to hold against it in comparison. Nothing, this is, until the publishing of this wonderful book through the collaborative efforts of Bruce Smith and Alexander Vertikoff. For as long as I can remember I have found the Greene & Greene homes in the Pasadena, California area to be the most uniquely beautiful structures imaginable. Two years ago my wife and I toured The Gamble House, and were overwhelmed by the workmanship, the level of detail and the thoughfulness incorporated into its construction. There is nothing like physically being inside a Greene & Greene home. Smith and Vertikoff provide us with second best; the opportunity to see the inside of these works of art. The exterior views and the interior photographs provide a wonderful insight into these magnificant structures. Bruce Smith provides the reader with just enough description as to leave one wanting more. My concluding reaction to their superb effort is to want more. More photographs, more narrative, diagrams of the homes, and understanding owners willing to open their homes, their charges, to a public filled with appreciation for this type of beauty, so seldom experienced. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT® and find out where to draw the line

Tour AutoCAD’s new features, make CAD standards rule, and find the friendlier xref

Once upon a time, architectural drawings were created with – gasp –pencils, paper, and T-squares. Then came AutoCAD, with all its capabilities and complications. While this book won’t turn back the clock, it will make it easy to explore AutoCAD 2004’s new interface, conform with CAD standards, get the lowdown on 3D, and discover all the amazing things you and AutoCAD can do.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Reviews (6)

...to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous criticism!
Are we looking at the same book?! At the risk of sounding like the defensive, whiny author (again!), I humbly submit:

A reader from Mc Lean, VA writes: "I picked up the manual that came with AutoCAD. The manual that came with the software was better than this book!" That's strange, since AutoCAD 2004 doesn't come with a printed manual.

wizard621 from Denver, CO writes: "There are so many typos, grammatical errors and mismatches between the examples and the software...." That's strange, too, since I recently went through the book in order to correct errors in preparation for a new printing. I found exactly five misspellings, no grammatical errors, and a handful of places where the description didn't match the software.

sbruce28 from Sandston, Virginia writes: "Doesn't anyone proof read [sic] anymore?" Yes, I do, the copy editor does, and the proofreader does. This kind of criticism is suspect when it comes from someone who doesn't realize that the verb is spelled "proofread" and who spells "AutoCAD" two different ways, both incorrect, in the same sentence.

I will agree that this book expects readers to be somewhat familiar with a few basic drafting concepts - such as scale, the representation of three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional sheets of paper, and how real-world objects are shown on (printed) technical drawings. If you don't understand or aren't willing to learn a little bit about how technical drawings are presented in your industry, then you probably aren't ready to use a CAD program.

In fact, several parts of the book review basic drafting concepts and connect them to corresponding AutoCAD concepts and practices. For example, Chapter 3 explains how drawing scale (a fundamental drafting concept) relates to drawing scale factor (an essential CAD concept). And Chapter 12 describes how many AutoCAD drafters represent printed lineweights (drafting) with object colors on the screen (CAD).

Buy something else
I bought this book as a true beginner and wanted to learn as much as I could before getting started on a project. I read the book and it only further confused me. After an exausting read I picked up the manual that came with AutoCAD. The manual that came with the software was better than this book!

Save your money
My copy ended up in the trash. There are so many typos, grammatical errors and mismatches between the examples and the software, that I should have returned it for a refund. It reads like a rough draft of what could be a book. And to the good people at "Dummies", PLEASE use a proofreader next time.

It should be AutoCad 2004 for intermediate users.
This book should be re-title "AutoCad 2004 for Intermediate Users", because it sure wasn't directed at beginners. I was very disappointed in the lack of content and the excessive number of errors. Doesn't anyone proof read anymore? This books makes the assumption that you have at least some sort of CAD knowledge and that you are also very familiar with drafting concepts. I found it difficult to read and very difficult to follow some basic concepts. This book doesn't seem to have a logical flow of ideas or concepts. There were some good tips scattered thoughout that would benefit the experienced Autocad user, who has just upgraded to AutoCad 2004.

What's new in this edition
Okay, so it's more than a little vain for me to rate my own book, but I'd like to correct some misstatements by a previous reviewer and provide some accurate information on what the book does - and doesn't - cover.

At the risk of sounding defensive, I have to say that "A reader from Somerville, MA USA" doesn't accurately represent the book - or AutoCAD. There never was an AutoCAD R3.3. Perhaps this reader means Architectural Desktop 3.3, which was built on AutoCAD 2002.

AutoCAD 2004 doesn't offer new ways to xref. As Chapter 1 of the book describes, AutoCAD 2004 does provide some welcome improvements for working with xrefs, including "a simple method of opening xrefs for editing, more sensible xref search paths, xref change notifications, and a Reference Manager utility." The book addresses all of these changes in Chapters 13 and 15.

AutoCAD 2004's plotting system is in almost all respects identical to the one that Autodesk introduced in AutoCAD 2000 - in other words, plotting didn't change substantially in AutoCAD 2000i, 2002, or 2004. Nonetheless, Chapter 12 of the book does discuss the new shaded viewport plotting options and the incompatibility of AutoCAD 2004's new True Color capability with traditional color-dependent plot styles (CTB files).

So this reader is mistaken about what has changed in AutoCAD 2004 and whether what *has* changed is covered in AutoCAD 2004 For Dummies. Those who want to see what I regard as the most important new features in AutoCAD 2004 and where they're covered in the book can see for themselves on pages 15 and 16 of the "Look Inside" sample pages available from this Web page.

I will agree that this book is not for someone who is well-versed in a recent version of AutoCAD, although I think that the book will help people who are upgrading from old versions (e.g., AutoCAD R14) or whose skills have grown a little rusty. The coverage of new and advanced features is in most cases brief because this is a concise book for beginners rather than a 1200-page tome that attempts to cover everything.

The most important changes in this edition of AutoCAD For Dummies are:

- Coverage of the interface and command changes in AutoCAD 2004, including the new tool palettes, xref improvements, and mText tabs and indents.

- A new "Introduction to 3D" chapter that describes the concepts and commands required in order to get started creating 3D models in AutoCAD. (This one-chapter introduction doesn't pretend to make you an expert in 3D modeling - full treatment of the subject requires a separate book.)

- A new "CAD Standards Rule" chapter that introduces readers to the "why, what, and which" of CAD standards and then discusses the CAD standards checking and enforcement tools in AutoCAD 2004.

- A significantly updated "Drawing on the Internet" chapter that covers the new Reference Manager, PUBLISH, and drawing protection features.

As with the previous edition, this book is for users of AutoCAD 2004 *and* AutoCAD LT 2004. I'm not writing a separate LT book this time around. Instead, I've noted the differences between AutoCAD 2004 and AutoCAD LT 2004, which are few for the purposes of a book of this type.

And as with all of the previous editions, AutoCAD 2004 For Dummies is not just about how to run commands. Throughout the book, I emphasize real, practical techniques for creating technical drawings with AutoCAD. In my view, that's the real strength of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

A celebration of early American house forms, the Colonial Revival emerged in the late 19th century and was quickly embraced by the American public. It has remained the nation's style of choice for well over a hundred years, appearing in banks, post offices, schools, libraries, and a majority of suburban homes. Marked by dignified symmetry, large column-supported porticoes, and Palladian windows, Colonial Revival architecture is found in virtually every city across the United States.

In this beautiful volume, Richard Guy Wilson, the foremost expert on the subject, leads the reader on a tour of 40 of the finest examples of the Colonial Revival, illustrating its evolution, from its earliest sources, as well as its regional variations. Including exquisite, antique-filled houses by many of America's greatest domestic architects, from McKim, Mead & White to Robert A.M. Stern, this landmark survey is filled with 275 gorgeous photographs that capture the elegance of this much-loved style. The only book of its kind, The Colonial Revival House is a must-have for design professionals, architecture enthusiasts, and Americana buffs. AUTHOR BIO: Richard Guy Wilson holds the Commonwealth Professor's Chair in Architectural History at the University of Virginia. He has served as an adviser and commentator for a number of television programs on PBS and A&E, most recently more than 65 segments of America's Castles. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Gorgeous Book Commemorating America's 1st Public Park
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Central Park, photographer and historian Sara Cedar Miller celebrates the aesthetic, cultural and historic significance of America's first public park with the book "Central Park, An American Masterpiece." This is the park's definitive illustrated history, and offers some of the most gorgeous photographs I have seen on the subject - a difficult task given the number of pictures that have been drawn, painted and photographed of the Manhattan landmark. The book includes over 200 color illustrations, original plans and drawings alongside modern photos, giving the viewer/reader an historical perspective.

Accompanying Ms. Miller's work, portraying the park throughout the seasons, is a well written text which highlights the conception and creation of the park and its art and architecture. This is a big, beautiful picture book that would make a wonderful addition to any home or library. It's a wonderful gift idea. I know as I have given it numerous times.

Ms. Miller is the parks official historian and photographer and has been since the mid-1980s.
JANA

A book as worthy as the park it celebrates
Sara Miller has put together an outstanding book: a book as vast and detailed as the Great Park itself. For those not familiar with the park and its history, this is an invaluable introduction to the political, demographical, economic and, especially, aesthetic thinking that went into the creation of 800 acres of gorgeous park space in the middle of Manhattan. For those seasoned veterans of NYC history, this is a welcome reminder of the enormous vision and efforts of Calvert Vaux and Fredrick Law Olmsted, as they conceived the park.

Nota Bene: A lot of books have gorgeous photos but the print job is miserable ... Others have high-qualtity prints but the photos aren't that interesting ... This book has glorious prints and an expert print job. Pick up this book.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points and The Five Points Concluded ... Read more

Book Description

Inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman-style homes captured America's heart at the turn of the 20th century. Bungalows and larger houses with broad roof overhangs, comfortable porches, and hand-hewn wooden details grew out of California's warm climate and influenced a range of other building types, from resort hotels to churches and schools. Today Craftsman-style structures can be found as far east as New York State. Intricate woodwork gives them a timeless handcrafted look, and rustic materials tie them to the earth. Behind each element lies a hint of a craftsman plying his art.

This handsome volume is a celebration of Craftsman-style architecture, which flourished in America from about 1895 into the 1920s. It took on a more natural and rustic form on this side of the Atlantic than its British counterpart, in keeping with the rugged American frontier ethos. Robert Winter, one of the country's leading authorities on the Arts and Crafts movement, has supplied the informative text, which complements the gorgeous color photography by Alexander Vertikoff. ... Read more

Book Description

Create professional-quality building design projects using the newest release of Autodesk® Architectural Desktop! This concise manual focuses squarely on the rationale and practicality of the Architectural Desktop (ADT) process through lessons that emphasize why as well as how to help readers complete their projects successfully.The author, an experienced architect and instructor, discusses the features and functions of Release 2004 in an easy-to-understand fashion that conveys a clear sense of its value, including each tools potential.The resulting up-to-date resource is chock full of real-life, tested advice from a certified professional on the usage of the software that will help shorten the learning curve for readers and instill confidence. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Aubin's Mastering ADT very thorough and easy to follow
Paul's book, after working through the Comprehensive Tutorial by H. Edward Goldberg, is like reading Proust in English for an English as a first language speaker compared to reading Proust in French for an English as a first language speaker. The steps are small enough that a person who is new to the program can follow along without difficulty. Plus, Paul's accessibility is invaluable.
Great resource and learning tool.
The reviewer who said there must be a better book out there somewhere might consider writing one for the office in which he/she works so as to have one to recommend for new employees.
I, too, would be interested in reviewing the new attempt.

Help at Last for the CADaphobes!
I'm an architect who's worked with CAD for 10 years...got dragged into using it, literally kicking and screaming!! I needed 3D capabilities to stay competitive, but the thought of learning another CAD program struck terror in the very marrow of my bones! I took took hours and hours of classroom and on-line classes to try to learn ADT and VIZRender, and I feel like it was money up in smoke. Out of sheer desperation I bought Aubin's book, and have found it to be one of the....no, THE clearest, most straightforward CAD guide I've ever, ever, EVER read!!Starting with the basics, and guiding the reader through step-by-step tutorials in plain, non-technical language, Aubin has developed a guide that even a technophobe can clearly understand.

I'd give the book a full 5-star, but it's a little lacking in trouble shooting. If things don't work out the way they're supposed to, it would be helpful to have some suggestions on what might be wrong.

After only one day of working through the guide, I could design a simple building in 3-D. After a full week, the sunshine was pouring through the windows. Well worth the money.

Could have used an editor and some better examples.
After working with various versions of AutoCad for the last 7 years, this was my first introduction to Architectural Desktop. I have worked my way through this book over the last week. It is quite possibly the LEAST-well-written Cad book I have ever used. Paragraphs are repeated, steps are skipped over, words are missing in the middle of sentences.

The tutorials give you the false impression that you are accomplishing something, without teaching you how to apply the concepts to the actual projects you will be required to work on in the real world. One man in my office described the tutorials this way: "It's like 'This Old House', Bob takes the camera crew into the bathroom as Norm finishes caulking the tub. Bob turns to the camera and tells you that now you too can remodel your bathroom."

There has to be a better book out there on this program. I just don't know what it is. Don't spend your money on this, take your chances on some other book. Best of Luck.

Best Resource
When I have a question, I go to the Aubin book first. The help menu and the official Autodesk books never have as much of what I need.

Learn ADT2004 from the Master
I am new to ADT and Mastering ADT2004 was recommended to me by others that had used Paul's other books. I have not been disappointed. This book is so easy to follow and learn from. It is a real pleasure to be using this book while learning ADT. The methods he uses to introduce the different features of the program are very well done. The step by step instructions are very detailed with plenty of illustrations to make sure you know you are understanding what he has written.

I also am enjoying the real world exercises that are used in the book as you are working and learning while following along. The CD that came with the book has the files needed to follow along with the instruction and the software loaded perfectly and is well organized.

I was even able to send an email to the author asking an additional question and received an answer in a few minutes. This is not something that is offered as part of buying the book, but I was impressed that I not only got a response, but that it was from Paul himself and was so timely.

I can't imagine a better book for learning ADT2004. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A lavish survey of the work of one of the world’s leading interior designers. ... Read more

Book Description

$19.95 gatefold paper * 1-58685-255-8 * April

8 1/2 x 10 in, 160 pp, 140 Color Photographs, 30 Black & White Photographs,

Rights: W, Design

Now in paperback, Mexican Country Style is the classic that helped launch the popular Mexican design revival. Authors Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr navigated coastal villages and old colonial mining towns by bus and burro, bumping down narrow cobblestone streets in search of simple and utilitarian elements like country tables, workbenches, storage trunks, corral gates, and heavy old doors. Intrigued by the diversity they encountered, the authors documented the wide variety in style, design, and shape of each object they encountered. Weathered coffee mortars, milking stools shaped like animals, and sculptured sugar molds reflect a rich local history as well as the ingenuity of the hands that crafted them. Mexican Country Style is the result of those fascinating journeys and boundless discoveries, a celebration of a rugged, romantic beauty and magical antiquity that continues to make its way into the contemporary interiors, gardens, and commercial settings across the country.

Award-winning authors Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr have been at the forefront of the Mexican design movement for over twenty-five years as interior designers and antiques dealers. Their Mexican design book series includes six titles: Mexican Country Style, The New Hacienda, Casa Adobe, Adobe Details, Casa Yucatán, and Mexican Details.

Based in Austin, Texas, Carr and Witynski are the owners of Texture Antiques, an interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture, and architectural elements. Their design work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and dozens of other magazines and newspapers. Individually, Witynski photographs homes and gardens for national publications and Carr is a hacienda consultant and furniture designer. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mexican Country Stlye
Mexican Country Style was received as a a Christmas gift in December, 2000. Originally used as a "coffee-table" book, once I started to read the descriptions with each photograph I was hooked. Not only will you be able to navigate the architectural terminology like a pro, you will also get a glimpse of the past as only a tourist does when he travels with a guide from the area. Joe and Karen's personal travels' are documented with breathtaking color photos and detailed accounts of their visits into the heart of Mexico. Once you begin reading the book, you will not want to put it down until the very last page!! Mexican Country Style is a great read and an educational journey for the soul.

The definitive book on Mexican country decor!
Beautifully photographed with a pallete of colors that invite you to decorate a small space or an entire home. Mexican Country Style is the definitive volume for those of us who seek southwestern/south of the border interior design, furnishings and accessories. Sumptuous photos that invite you to sit down with a margarita and explore this comfort feel decorating style. Authors, Witynski and Carr, have an enthusiastic love and flare for this style decorating and this book showcases their skills.

A Stylish Presentation on Style
With the proliferation of websites offering Mexican furniture, it has become difficult to tell the real from the ersatz - and especially when it comes to antique furniture, and in the colonial style. The authors have taken all of the doubt out of the search process through an amazing inventory of furniture, accessories, and hints for discovering provenance. It's a must-read for those considering furnishing and decorating their homes in the Mexican style.

It is also an important companion volume to Mexicolor; and to those years-ago titles published by Architectural Publishing.

For the would-be the hunter of these pieces, however, this book makes one fact quite clear. The treasure troves are to be found outside the major Mexican cities, out in the provinces. But with the skills to be learned in this book, the search will be more rewarding.

An excellent book for those interested in Mexican furniture.
Mexican Country Style is a very informative guide to furniture, handicrafts, textiles, and much more from South of the Border. A must read for anyone slightly interested in the colorful world of Mexican living. Karen Witynski doesn't leave you hanging, the book also comes with many references as to where one can find such pieces that are pictured in the book. I'm already planning a trip to Mexico! Thanks for opening my eyes to the colorful world around me!

Architectural Digest, Sept. '97
"In Mexican Country Style (Gibbs Smith), antiques dealers Joe Carr and Karen Witynski, who scour the Mexican countryside for tables, armoires, doors and storage trunks (bought by such designers as Naomi Leff), show how the salvaged antiques look in modern and country houses for clients, who include James Havard in Santa Fe and Ted Turner and Jane Fonda in Montana..." ... Read more

Book Description

At last, a mathematical explanation of how art works presented in a manner we can all understand. Kimberly Elam takes the reader on a geometrical journey, lending insight and coherence to the design process by exploring the visual relationships that have foundations in mathematics as well as the essential qualities of life.

Geometry of Design-the first book in our new Design Briefs Series-takes a close look at a broad range of twentieth-century examples of design, architecture, and illustration (from the Barcelona chair to the Musica Viva poster, from the Braun handblender to the Conico kettle), revealing underlying geometric structures in their compositions. Explanations and techniques of visual analysis make the inherent mathematical relationships evident and a must-have for anyone involved in graphic arts. The book focuses not only on the classic systems of proportioning, such as the golden section and root rectangles, but also on less well known proportioning systems such as the Fibonacci Series. Through detailed diagrams these geometric systems are brought to life giving an effective insight into the design process. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not so good as an introduction
So I am given this book by a colleague and told that it's a great book to teach proportion in art from. It has got some pretty and neat overlays, but I feel like it manages not to say very much. Also... there's something about this book that feels like there's an entire context that you're missing when you read it- I felt as though I was reading a math textbook in parts, that the focus wasn't nearly enough on how you as an artist can work an understanding of geometry into your own work. Also, pages 34 and 36 start with the same sentence.

I just feel.. confused after reading this. I have only 2 notebook pages of notes, double-spaced. I feel like this book can be summed up by: "The human eye instinctively likes certain proportions and in order to be a good designer you must understand and use geometry." Ok, great, but how? In other words, this book is like half of a thesis- lacking the parts that tell me how to go forward.

Interesting but Lacking
This is a good book for someone who has never delved into the subject. I find that it follows the same track as others in making the golden proportioning system fit about anything they want it to. Probably the most disappointing thing is the book's assembly: there are numerous overlays in the book that are not aligned with the images they are overlaying. The deviations are from slight to almost 1/4" - very bothersome to view. This is more of a problem with mediocre quality control and concern by Princeton Architectural Press. It's good that the book is relatively inexpensive or I would have returned it.

The best book I have bought for years
I have been looking for a book Like this for so long. It is easy to follow and well written.

I would urge anyone with a desire to grasp the concepts of proportion in design to start here. It has certainly fueled my interest and I am on the hunt to extend my knowledge further

Thanks for a great book at a great price. A refreshing change

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Why do we instinctively admire the 1997 update of the Volkswagon Beetle? Why are Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona chairs of 1929 still relevant in twenty-first century interior design? Why have everyday Braun kitchen products achieved iconic status in museum settings?

In her pithy (101 page) essay, GEOMETRY OF DESIGN: STUDIES IN PROPORTION AND COMPOSITION, Kimberly Elam admirably succeeds in illuminating fundamental concepts underlying successful modern design. Through the elegance of Elam's arguments, readers are painlessly introduced to a set of mathematically-based compositional elements developed in classical antiquity and reflected in acknowledged masterpieces of later design. From the Parthenon and Notre Dame de Paris to Mies van der Rohe's Chapel at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and from Leonardo's "Man Inscribed in a Circle" and a chambered nautilus to Le Courbusier's "Chaise Lounge", selected works succumb to Elam's acute analysis of successful proportioning and composition. Her exploration of these fundamentals, including the dynamic rectangles exemplified by the Golden Section and the European DIN Root 2 system (so different from the sectioning system used in American design), is aided by the excellent vellum overlay diagrams.

So much of our response to art and design is intuitive, and we categorize as outstanding those works from which we derive intense aesthetic pleasure. The efficiency, the very orderliness which form their basis is a revelation. Elam's book is a classic and very readable summation of the foundation of successful design.

what? who? where?
Have you ever entered a conversation or meeting half way through and try to figure out what everyone is talking about?

This ia exactly what reading this book is like.

I gave it one star because it was only 12 bucks. ... Read more

Book Description

This book profiles the history of the development of various furniture styles, exploring the evolution of style in the context of the architectural setting, interior design, and decorative arts of each period.This fascinating book is a beautiful visual reference guide to furniture styles.For architects, interior designers, furniture manufacturers, and antique dealers. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Reference - Nice Job!
I found the book to be a good overall reference and extremely
useful in explaining period furniture to my design clients. I would like to have seen more coverage of Mid-century Modern, especially the work of Edward Wormley and DUNBAR.

Definitely worth the money - should be all designers reference
libraries...

Ms. Crochet has done her homework.
If you are passionate about the origins of furniture and design, this is the resource for you. Pricey, yes, but I don't think it was meant for the casual home decor reader. It is more suited to the "die-hard" lover of furnishings, design history, and serious learners.

I love it. It seems to fill a void; and promises to be the "definitive" book on the subject of furniture through the ages.

Outstanding resource for designers
Ms. Crochet has demonstrated an unique ability to bring what is ordinarily a complicated subject to an easy to understand appreciation of the design of furniture throughout the ages. It is understandable why this book recently won an award from ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). A great find for anyone who is interested in applying this knowledge to an interior design project, collecting antiques or furniture. For the pro and the amateur alike.

This book helps to understand the relationship between furniture design, architecture, and interior design. Great illustrations, photos and easy to read!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of The Antiques Road Show or HGTV. ... Read more