Book Description

The tools needed to create and manage a thriving interior design practice
This essential sourcebook provides all of the information needed to establish and manage a productive, profitable interior design firm. Filled with savvy business and career advice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition delivers updated and expanded coverage of the full range of legal, financial, management, marketing, administrative, and ethical issues faced by sole practitioners, firm principals, and managers.
This comprehensive reference lays out clear, practical guidelines on how to structure a contract and prevent legal problems; work with other designers, allied professionals, clients, and vendors; and calculate fees that are both fair and profitable. Recommended reading for NCIDQ candidates, it offers easy-to-follow tips and instruction on how to:
* Write and implement a successful business plan
* Choose the right form of business to fit specific needs
* Institute strategic planning
* Develop effective promotional tools
* Manage finances and set up a computerized accounting system
* Manage employees and team members
Establishing a comprehensive foundation for effective business practice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition is the one-stop resource that no interior designer can afford to be without. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Get It!
This book reads like a friend whispering all the good advice and secrets of the interior design business in your ear. I wish my Professional Practices class had used this text. It's a lot of information but Christine Piotrowski truly takes you by the hand and lets you know what you need to prepare for in a budding interior design business as well as how the interior design business is done in general. I will be referencing this book again and again. A huge thank you and bravo to Christine Piotrowski

Must Have!
This book was used for both Business Practice For Interior Design & Sales and Marketing. I had no need to consult any other source. "This is a great book" THANKS..

Fantastic!
Outstanding, fabulous, fabulous book. Extremely helpful to me in starting my own firm. Well written. Well organized. Invaluable.

A must-read
This one is a must read if you are considering a degree in interior design. I found it extremely helpful in planning my career path.

It's all about color picking, right?
FINALLY, a book that was written for the trained interior design professional. The author explains in detail how to legally and financially start and run a professional interior design business. The author is affiliated with the NCIDQ and definitely understands the difference between decorating and designing. Excellent read for anyone seeking or even just curious about the ins and outs of starting a business. ... Read more

Book Description

Since 1929, Scalamandré has been weaving its own exquisite silks, wools, linens and cottons as well as laboriously hand making elaborate and ornate passementerie (trims, cordings, tiebacks and fringes) for some of the finest interiors in the world.Scalamandré also has the unique role of being the major manufacturer of historical fabrics in the world, and over the years has woven historically accurate textiles for restorations ranging from the Red Room of the White House to William Morris' home in England.

At last, the story of this leading design and manufacturing house is told, and is introduced by personal reminiscences by Adriana Scalamandre Bitter, chairman of the board.

Tour some of the most exclusive and well-appointed homes in America, and experience the lavish and colorful furnishings, draperies, wall coverings, and decorative elements that Scalamandre textiles produces. From Traditional to Neoclassical, from Cottage to Country French, Scalamandre products exude personality and exemplify elegance.

Designers featured in the book include: Michael Simon, Melinda Gray, Nancy Serafini, Carol Knott, Robert Bitter, and JZ Knight.

Brian D. Coleman, M.D., is a practicing psychiatrist in Seattle, Washington.Brian is a graduate of Stanford University and Chicago Medical School.Also an old house enthusiast, Brian has grown his love for historic restoration into an active second career. He is the author of Classic Cottages, Vintage Victorian Textiles, and The Victorian Dining Room. Brian divides his time between New York and Seattle.

Dan Mayers is a New York-based photographer whose work appears regularly in Country Decorating, Country Collectibles, and Country Victorian as well as Old House Interiors.His work has been included in such books as The Ultimate Kitchen and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. ... Read more

Book Description

•The hands-on sourcebook for creating or restoring a stylish bathroom in the Arts & Crafts spirit.

In this sequel to the best-selling Bungalow Kitchens, Jane Powell and Linda Svendsen turn to the second most complex room in the house. As reflected in these pages, the bathroom can—and should—be a beautiful extension of the home style—and what better examples than those from the Arts & Crafts era.

Though it may seem a self-evident feature of the Arts & Crafts style, bungalow bathrooms are truly artistic endeavors. They go beyond the traditional pedestal sink and claw-foot tub to some of the most beautiful tile work, woodwork, fixtures, and decorative elements available. Bungalow Bathrooms is a guide to restoring or designing a period-style bathroom for a bungalow or other early-twentieth-century house. It provides a wealth of information about flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, faucets, and all the other elements that make up a bungalow bathroom, as well as advice on how to integrate modern technology while maintaining the bungalow look.

Jane Powell, the author of Bungalow Kitchens, is the proprietor of House Dressing, a business dedicated to renovating and preserving old homes, particularly bungalows. She is the former president of the historic preservation organization in her hometown of Oakland, California.

Linda Svendsen, a graduate of Music and Art High School and Parsons School of Design in New York, specializes in architectural interior and exterior photography. Her work has been seen most recently in Camps and Cottages, Bungalow Kitchens, Old House Journal, Old House Interiors, Victorian Decorating, and Lifestyles Magazine. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Bungalow Bathrooms is BOSS!
If you are even thinking about restoring the bathroom(s) in a pre-1940 house, this book is a "must have" for you. Jane Powell put everything you would ever want to know in there. This lady knows so much about antique bathroom fixtures it's SCARY! Written with a touch of humor reflecting this most personal of rooms. Just a hint of sexual innuendo mixed in with illustrated and narrative factual detail. Everything is included from hundreds of great photographs of period fittings and fixtures, floors and walls, to detailed text describing the nuances and subtleties of such things as tile, windows and doors, lighting, Fuller-ball faucets, bathtub restoration, angle stops, plumbing code issues, wash-down, wash-out and syphon-jet toilets featuring lions and dolphins, and much, much more. There is the most complete listing of resources for everything you need for a period bathroom restoration at the back of the book as well. As in Bungalow Kitchens, the camera work was handled by Linda Svendsen and it is Super too! In summary.......GET THIS BOOK!!

Must Have if you are doing a bungalow renovation!!!
I am doing a bungalow renovation, serving as the designer and general contractor ALTHO I have no experience in either area. I was all done, so I thought, but during the process made the decision not to replace the circa 1995 vinyl squares floor because I couldnt fine anything better. Voila! The room was all done, but - the floor looked totally yuck/wrong because rest of the room was in beautiful new correct bungalow style . I turned to this book for inspiration- and studied all the pictures- evening after evening. The right answer came! light grey 4" hex tiles! I am so thrilled even tho some of the work had to be redone... the floor pulled everything together.. like a little exclamation point. "BUNGALOW BATHROOMS" saves the day!

A must for those restoring or remodeling a bungalow bathroom
This book is a wealth of information for anyone restoring or remodeling a bungalow bathroom! All the information I have been searching for is right here in one book. We demolished a BAD 70's remodel, and are in the process of restoring our bath to it's original (1926) condition. This book covers it all beautifully!
Especially helpful are the sections labeled 'Obsessive restoration' and 'Compromise solution'. These give you choices on how historically accurate you would like to be. These sections have kept my husband and I out of marriage counseling!
I would highly recommend this book. I liked this book so much I want to get the others available from these authors.

How did that bathroom REALLY look? Read on.
A valuable resource for anyone considering options for the period restoration of a bathroom. We fell in love with this book as we've tried to solve our own first floor bathroom dilemma. From tile to wainscoting to fixtures to lighting to colors to ideas on decoration, this book is PACKED with great photos, an unsurpassed section on history, and guidelines for both the average and "obsessive" restorationist. The best thing about the book is imagining what it will be like to actually have an (attractive) working bathroom some day!!

Yes, this book is about how to _live_ with old stuff...
... and that's what makes it so wonderful. If you're considering re-doing a bathroom in a 19th or early 20th century house---whether you'll be restoring an original room or destroying a 70's "renovation"---you need this book.

The author has a comprehensive awareness of both the stylistic and the practical issues involved. She also has a sense of humor about it all.

I was particularly impressed by the pictures. Several of the historical rooms are studied in careful detail, wth closeups of many features---not just the major plumbing fixtures. Also, all the photos were taken specifically for this book; so many bathroom-advice books feature mostly manufacturer-supplied photos that bear little relation to the text. ... Read more

Book Description

Much like the history of art, the history of interior design encompasses numerous styles, movements and the international political and social developments that have informed or challenged its evolution.This lavishly illustrated book will be of interest to anyone who appreciates interior design as well as antiques, furniture design, textiles, decorative objects and the general evolution of the space where we work and live.

The new edition contains 150 new photos, 35 new line drawings, 32 more pages, making it more lavish than the first. A companion web site filled with even more images is also new to this edition and offers great value. ... Read more

Book Description

This definitive reference offers detailed analyses of more than thirty medical and dental specialties and their respective space planning requirements. New to the third edition is coverage of new medical specialties including reproductive enhancement, LASIX eye surgery, breast care centers, larger ambulatory centers, and medical oncology. It also offers up-to-date information on digital technology-electronic medical records, digital imaging, diagnostic instruments, and networked communications-and how it impacts the design of medical and dental facilities. You'll also find out about recent changes in regulatory agency reviews of office-based surgery practices and ADA compliance. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The design of a restaurant plays a critical role in attracting and keeping customers today. To create a successful restaurant interior, designers must understand the technical side of a restaurant operation and know how to create an ambience that satisfies a restaurant's owner and clientele. This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to the process of restaurant design. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must Read
With 27 years of restaurant experience I know the importance of design to the success of a restaurant. What is often overlooked, however, is that the kitchen and dining spaces have to work together. The authors of Successful Restaurant Design are the first to point out the importance of a holistic approach to restaurant design. Their insights into the design process are a must read for anyone planning a new restaurant or renovating an existing facility. The chapter of interviews offers readers design tips from leading designers and restaurateurs. And the case studies offer a straighforward way of understanding simple solutions to complex issues. This book belongs in the library of every restaurateur and designer interested in keeping up with front and back of the house design. ... Read more

Book Description

"Theo is obsessed with his work and embarked upon a quest for an elusive ideal theater that can exist only in dreams. Each time that he makes a dream theater into a reality, no matter how stunning the creation, it never quite fulfills the ideal in his mind-and off he goes again in the enthusiastic pursuit of impossible perfection."-Dean Koontz

In the 21st century, more and more people "go out" to the movies at home. This lifestyle change has led to the biggest innovation in residential design today: the home theater, be it a custom-installed system or an elaborate private screening room. At the high end, Theo Kalomirakis reigns supreme as the leading designer of private theaters in the home.

Kalomirakis tailors each of his designs to fit the needs of a specific client, using styles that range from ultra-traditional to cutting-edge. His theaters even have their own marquee names: The Moonlight, The First Run, The Miami Beach. Great Escapes showcases nine of these incredible spaces through superb color photographs and descriptions of the technology that make this revolution in entertainment and design possible. Although Kalomirakis's extravagant creations are for wealthy clients, they will also serve as inspiration for home owners who want to integrate cinema quality with home comfort on a more modest budget. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A unique source of enduring ideas
Lavishly illustrated with one hundred gorgeous color photographs by Phillip Ennis, Great Escapes: New Designs For Home Theaters By Theo Kalomirakis by Steven Castle presents extravagant designs for "media rooms" in private homes. These are specialized entertainment oriented rooms set aside to take full advantage of surround sound, acoustics, and visual appeal to bring forth the same quality experience as visiting a theater. Great Escapes showcases the work of interior designer Theo Kalomirakis as it artfully presents his work in creating home theaters of celebrities such as Dean Koontz, Eddie Murphy, Roger Ebert, and others in this unique source of enduring ideas.

Just Amazing
This is a book to die for. The photography is amazing, the architecture out of this world and what Theo Kalomirakis does for his lucky clients will blow you away. I am already wearing out my copy and I only have had it for two days.

Great Escapes
Whether your interest is home theater, or movie palaces from the 1920's and 30's, Great Escapes is sensational!
Once I opened it, I couldn't put it down and trust me with 204 pages loaded with 140 color photos of breathtaking architectural eye candy, this book will demand your focus.
Kalomirakis brings the elegance of yesteryears movie palaces home with the help of writers Steve Castle, Dean Koontz and photographer Phillip Ennis.
You can truly see Kalomirakis' love for the big screen in the architectural details he adorns his private cinemas with. No details are spared in Kalomirakis' work from neon marquees and ticket booths welcoming visitors to his theaters to opulent lobbies adorned with domed mural ceilings and snack bars and timeless columns.
A few times while reading this book, I had to remind myself that the featured theaters I was viewing were in someone's personal residence.
I have to say my personal favorite theater in this book was created for author Dean Koontz called "The Moonlight." Koontz also has an introduction in the book.
Even though most of the theaters in this book take up more square footage than the average persons home. And even though theaters designed by Kalomirakis are beyond the financial means of most people, this book can serve as inspiration for those that want to bring home the silver screen on a lesser budget and do it in style.
Theo Kalomirakis' newest book Great Escapes definitely brings home the look of the movie palaces of yesterday. ... Read more

Book Description

Prefab presents a series of innovative homes and concepts that boldly demonstrate that this is not your grandmother's prefab, offers a glimpse into the history of prefabricated housing over the last century, and reveals a wealth of practical and attractive alternatives to the status quo. Prefab discusses architects, builders, and designers such as Walter Gropius and Philippe Starck, examines the historical precedents from Albert Frey's Corbusier-inspired Aluminaire house to Kisho Kurokawa's capsules, and showcases the work of twenty-four contemporary architects and designers who are exploring the myriad possibilities that prefabrication offers for housing of the future. From the fantastical digitized aluminum prototypes of Gregg Lynn to the stylish functionality of Ikea's prefabricated apartments in Sweden, Prefab presents a series of innovative homes and space-saving concepts that show how far this building technique has come-and how far it can go.

Allison Arieff is a writer, senior editor of the architecture magazine dwell, and co-author of Trailer Travel. She is also the editor of several books on art and culture, including Airstream: A History of the Land Yacht and Hatch Show Print: The History of a Great American Poster Shop.She lives in San Francisco.

Bryan Burkhart is the designer and co-author of Airstream: The History of the Land Yacht and Trailer Travel: A Visual History of Mobile America. As creative director of his own firm, Modernhouse, he has designed books for Taschen, Chronicle Books, and Gibbs Smith, Publisher. Burkhart also lives in San Francisco. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Prefab
Prebrication was the holy grail of modernism: the ideal way to rationalize the building process, achieve economies of scale, and bring good design to the masses. Sadly, the only manufactured housing to win wide acceptance was the trailer; architect-designed prototypes seldom left the boards. Arieff, who is senior editor of Dwell magazine, hopes that a new generation of architects may succeed where their forebears failed. She documents over 30 industrialized building projects, mostly from Europe, that combine practicality with design excellence. Sadly, it remains true that people who will happily buy one of a fleet of identical cars, become emotional and irrational when choosing their home. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

Prefab: pretty fabulous
It looks like a coffee table book yet reads like a dream. This is not only one of the most comprehensive books on the subject, but easily the most lucid and engaging. The authors clearly had fun with the material and manage to convey a good deal of knowledge - including the history and future of prefabricated housing - without a whiff of pedantry or pedagogical claptrap.

finally, a comprehensive book on prefab
As an architecture student now a working as a builder, I couldnt help but being drawn into this book. Organized into 4 sections: History, Production, Custom, Concept, with a wide array of photographs, plans and renderings cleanly presented. The history section does a great job of bringing any curious reader interested in this subject up to speed, creating a great departure point for the 30 or so contemporary projects that follow it. This book is well researched and really gets you excited about the potential of prefab by presenting a wide range of projects in the U.S. and Internationally, exploring a wide range of techniques / systems being developed today. The future of housing looks bright with prefab!

Great options for well-designed affordable housing
This book shows that there ARE options for innovative and affordable modern homes. Prefabrication has lots to recommend it; what's been holding it back is a lack of good materials and design. Prefab will hopefully help to change that...

Not what I expected...
This was a very nice book, but I have to admit that it was not quite what I had hoped for. I was looking for alot of information on Modern/Contemporary homes, more toward the 50's and 60's style, and from the look of the cover, I felt that was what was inside. Unfortunately, thats not the case at all, even the cover house was somewhat of a let-down inside. There is a little information on the square block metal homes of the 50's period, but most of the works are completely unliveable, done only for an original look (we are talking about 2 room homes shaped like cars)...if you are looking for an interesting conversation/coffee table book, this is nice, but not a necessity for the lover of modern homes! ... Read more

Book Description

HAMPTONS HAVENS offers readers a glimpse behind the hedgerows of the Hamptons on Long Island, New York. The photographs are drawn from the archives of Hamptons Cottages and Gardens magazine and feature 24 homes and gardens that vary greatly in architecture and interior design. Every home in the book, from cozy cottage to grand estate, is a testament to the enormous breadth and natural beauty of the seaside region.

Accompanying the spectacular photographs are engrossing stories, discussing the architecture, the fascinating provenance of the furniture and heirlooms that decorate the homes, and personal family lore. There are plenty of firsthand quotes from the homeowners and decorators, who lovingly recount how they initially discovered the area and who discuss the story of how their style and personal lives evolved over the years to create homes and gardens ranging from the traditional and classic to the whimsical and eclectic. This handsome book captures the essence of one of the most fabled and exclusive areas in the United States. ... Read more

Book Description

Christian Liaigre's epoch-defining interiors include the Mercer Hotel in New York, offices for Valentino Couture in Paris, and Selfridges department store in London, as well as private residences for Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, and Kenzo. His luxurious dark-wood minimalism and masculine palette of creams, browns, and grays have redefined modernism, supplanting the Scandinavian blond timbers on white that just a few years ago were the sine qua non of the modern interior.

Working in close collaboration with Liaigre, Herbert Ypma set out to capture and document eight recent and previously unpublished residential projects. They are incredibly diverse: a modernist retreat on the Galician coast belonging to the family of Spanish fashion designer Adolfo Dominguez; a former artist's atelier in Montparnasse; Rupert Murdoch's capacious SoHo loft; an eighteenth-century Bavarian timber farmhouse owned by the proprietor and designer of Germany's fashion label Strenesse; and Liaigre's own fisherman's cottage retreat on the Ile de Ré.

The integrity and pervasive calm of Liaigre's spaces reflect an instinctive aversion to the clamor of modern life. His materials are luxuriously authentic—exotic African timbers such as ebony; linen, silk, and wool; marble and natural stone; and his signature bronze hardware. And, as every project demonstrates, he makes deep connections with the tradition of each location, whether it be the industrial heritage of downtown Manhattan or the wild coastal landscape of Corsica. 500 color illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Old-world Hollywood glamour embraces modern insouciance in the signature style of internationally acclaimed interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Never one to paint a wall simply white, in her creations Wearstler uses bold colors and patterns and mixes elaborate architectural hardware with furnishings culled from a range of eras. In Modern Glamour, she reveals her decorating secrets and dramatic approach to design.

From basic design principles to personal accents, this gorgeously photographed book explains how Wearstler shapes interiors and exteriors into ingeniously functional environments. A survey of many of her most stunning projects provides ideal examples of bringing what she calls "the elegance of the unexpected" to life in any setting. Whether it is juxtaposing typically masculine and feminine design notions to infuse a room with edge and energy, or using embellishments to put a thematic mark on a room. Wearstler's essentials on design will inspire professional designers and aspiring home decorators alike.

For those who wish to discover how decorative visions can become luxuriant realities, Modern Glamour offers clear and enjoyable guidance on the art of creating seductively stylish spaces.

Reviews (12)

More Ego Than Design
Modern Glamour is not so much about decorating as it is about Kelly Wearstler's larger-than-life ego. From her writing, it would appear that Kelly has single-handedly invented at least a dozen or so time-tested design principles- (Does Kelly really believe that mixing styles and periods is a new concept, or that a visually graphic interior is a first?) As for her work as a whole, I think I was on page 56 when my design sensibility screamed, "OKAY! I GET IT ALREADY!" At best, this book does a fair job of marketing Kelly's narrow, easily attainable style as complex. While I would not recommend this book to a serious design enthusiast, it might appeal to the novice looking for examples of easily achievable decorating. Simply purchase paint and fabric in white, black and yellow, paint a Piedmontese armchair white, and you are halfway there.

A design book with personal flair...
For those of us that truly love and get excited by design, this book is a wonderful example of why we are fascinated by this field. Rather than giving us the same old dry verbage about visual decor and "furniture placement," this book tailors itself directly from the author's personal point of view. I loved the way Ms. Wearstler discussed her framework of reference for her own designs, but in a way that allows you to decide for yourself how they might be adjusted to work for your own sensibility. Some of her spaces shown in the book are a little too staged for my own taste, but they give one ideas of how she might approach designing spaces of her own using texture and pattern to similar ends.
As a fellow professional of this field, I most certainly and highly recommend this book.

Modern Glamour
I can only agree, this book is not about helping you out with your personal Interior Design projects.
It actually fells more like it is a expensive business card for Kelly Wearstlers Design Studio.

Good idea but badly done
The idea for this book is good but the book was badly done. Unexpected style is something that intrigues me, but that's not what this book actually is. The book is pretty dated in the way it is done because it's all about one unknown designer's "take" on decorating. No one today wants to be dictated to or to just copy what another person has done. So this book misses the mark by several miles. If you want a decorating book that helps you create your own style, this is not it. Don't buy this. It seems more like a book about this designer's own ego.

A Beatiful Mind from a Beautiful Woman
Someone said this is a book more about the designer herself than her work, but why not? A designer reflects her mind within her lifestyle and her background. If you are looking for a beatiful home with elegance and glamour, this is it! ... Read more

Book Description

The enduring appeal of French-country style spans the centuries, a gracious mingling of elegance and ease. After years of largely echoing the furniture, fabrics, and accessories linked with the region of Provence, these days French country is often far removed from the primitive images that hearken back to the early seventeenth century. Room by room, FRENCH BY DESIGN reveals the secrets to creating a contemporary French-country look, including textiles, furniture, floor coverings, window treatments, color palettes, wall treatments and lighting, thus allowing anyone to bring the look home. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Brilliant, Great Sense of Design, a Visual Delight
Not unlike all of Phillips' books, this book is a masterpiece of European syle and design. No detail is left unnoticed. The furniture, fabrics, antiques, architecture, artwork, and carved stone are each carefully considered and beautifully photographed. Every page is a visual delight. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

France, American Style
Beautiful photos and interesting commentary on French social customs. However, the featured residences are not French, but American homes decorated "in the French style," which is somewhat disappointing.

An absolutely useless book
If you want to see pictures of rooms and furnishings that look like nothing you could possibly relate to, buy this book. The pictures show such fussy, formal, off-putting rooms. Bleah. What a waste of money.

Beautiful gorgeous pictures
The book is packed with colorful photos which are rich in detail. I really enjoyed this book and it has become one of my favorites.

Beautiful!
If you like French design, you should get this book. I really love the photographs. While this book is mostly photographs, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about the French and their attitudes on decorating and love for their homes. Betty Lou Phillips has wonderful taste, and her style is so enjoyable. Thank you to Country Living magazine for featuring her work! ... Read more

Book Description

The new, updated edition of the successful book on interior design
Interior Design Visual Presentation, Second Edition is fully revised to include the latest material on CAD, digital portfolios, resume preparation, and Web page design. It remains the only comprehensive guide to address the visual design and presentation needs of the interior designer, with coverage of design graphics, models, and presentation techniques in one complete volume.
Approaches to the planning, layout, and design of interior spaces are presented through highly visual, step-by-step instructions, supplemented with more than forty pages of full-color illustrations, exercises at the end of each chapter, and dozens of new projects. With the serious designer in mind, it includes a diverse range of sample work, from student designers as well as well-known design firms such as Ellerbee and Beckett Architects and MS Architects.
Maureen Mitton is Assistant Professor in the department of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book!
This book has a bit of everything I was looking for. techniques, lots of color renderings to review, shadowing techniques, etc. I am currently an interior design student and am using the book to help me with my color rendering and presentation techniques. In fact, my instructor reviewed the book and has requested the book be the textbook for the presentations class in our department next semester. This is the best book I've located so far.

Excellent Resource!
This book is great for everything visual! It is also the only book I've come across with detailed information about presentation boards. This is excellent for IND students!

Great resource for ID students
I just received this book and I wished I had had it for my first in-class presentation. I gives the reader "fresh" ideas and helpful information on organizing your boards. I would recommend this book to any Interior Design student.

using it in 3D studio class
just the book for beginning intr design students to use thru out their schooling. it covers everything they need to do all the presentations for thier courses. from drawing to models and most useful those sample boards. it tells you what tools to buy (with photos to help) and as basic as how to cut foam core. it has color step by step examples for color rendering. all in the same book is such a good value to the students

FANTASTIC ! Illustrations, Instructions, Explanations, Color
This book has all the needs and requirements on visual presentations and how to resolve fears,concerns, doubts and so on. It's the first book I have seen that covers many if not all aspects of Interior Design. It's a great book and I have been recommending it to all my fellow students. This book is informative, educational, and a good book to have in your reference library. I have been looking and looking for a book like this one for many years. Someone has finally gone and done it properly. You will not regreat buying this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The first edition Interior Graphic Standards Student Edition will be a comprehensive reference to the art and craft of interior design for students. The planning, designing, detailing, finishing, and decorating of interiors from the programming to the project closeout phases will be included. Emphasis will be placed on commercial interiors. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A good handbook for interior details!
The day I received the Interior Graphic Standards, I used some of the details in the book for a project I was working on. This book provides information, including construction details, which are very useful to the practicing architect and interior designer.

Most Comprehensive and Remarkable Book for the Industry
This book is a remarkable achievement, from cover to cover! A must buy for anyone in the industry (or anyone interested in the industry)!!!

I have been a practicing Interior Designer for eighteen years and
I have yet to see anything as comprehensive and remarkable as this book! Even the Architectural Graphic Standards book pales by comparison!

There is a section on Wood Veneers and Flooring with (12) pages of beatiful and informative color plates! There is even a Color Theory (color plate) section that is very useful!

There is so much useful information and reference in this book, that any Designer or Architect should have it close by and keep a watchful eye on it, so that colleagues do not borrow it indefinitely!!

Comprehensive and Detailed
Interior Graphic Standards is a comprehensive reference tool which covers all aspects of commercial interiors projects. The information is presented in a clear, concise manner, and is organized for easy reference. The book focuses on interior architecture as well as interior design, providing detailed information for programming/schematic design through construction phases.

The construction details and associated text provide credible options for the integration of construction and finish materials into interior spaces. The notes and sidebar comments add valuable information to the images and tables.

IGS covers many topics not typically included in interiors reference books. Issues of life safety, detailed interior construction, specialty construction, and basic MEP systems are clearly described. The description and graphics describing interior materials testing are very informative, as are the sections on doors and hardware.

This book is appropriate for entry-level or seasoned professionals, and is valuable for architects as well as interior designers!

Accessible and Attractive Resource
IGS is an impressive source of information that is so comprehensive, it is mind-boggling. The graphics are topnotch: well-labeled and executed in a superior fashion. The reader is nearly drawn through the text on visuals alone. I have found myself spending hours looking through topics that aren't even apropos to what I am looking for at the moment. Equally impressive is the text. The captions and subheadings help the reader locate information easily, and the writing is succinct, precise, and informative. It is prose that informs clearly and without excess verbiage--an absolute pleasure to read. Even the layperson can access information without being overwhelmed: terms are defined simply, but the explanations following address codification considerations that every architect needs to know. IGS provides both guidance and inspiration. Truthfully, I even like the cover; a reference book that looks as good as a coffee table display book is a rare commodity. I highly recomend McGowan and Kruse's latest collaboration.

IGS is a valuable design tool.
Although I operate a small design office, I strive to create new details using common materials for each project. But before a new detail can emerge, I've realized its easier to reference past uses/details and create a new detail from a standard application. Since I do not have an extensive library of details, one book, Interior Graphic Standards (IGS) has become a valuable design tool in my office.

In short, IGS offers an extensive amount of information in one volume. Its like one stop shopping without leaving the office.
Data is cleanly organized. Simple drawings describe connections, patterns and standard measurements. And technical drawings help clarify more complex details. But most impressive is the beauty of the line drawings. The art of drafting has not been lost in the computer generated pictures.

I encourage all Contractors, Designers and Artists to reference this book, whether you intend to design a table, a house or a museum. ... Read more

Book Description

Promising health, wealth, and happiness, feng shui offers endless appeal -- at least in concept. Unfortunately, feng shui's seemingly complicated methods are often difficult to learn and apply in a meaningful way. Fortunately, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life is written in plain and simple English for the modern Western reader. Revealing the ancient Chinese secrets that are as useful and necessary today as they have been for centuries, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life communicates how to:

* MEET "THE ONE"
* FIND A DREAM JOB
* EARN BETTER GRADES IN SCHOOL
* ENJOY A BETTER SEX LIFE ... Read more

Reviews (77)

It Really Works
While visiting my son and his family, I was really into reading this book. My son showed an interest so I bought them one as a gift. He started using it right away. He moved items around in his office and another space in his home and received two important phone calls, that will change his prosperity!

Karen's humorous approach makes this book really easy to read and follow. She removes a lot of the mystic that is sometimes associated with Feng Shui. I highly recommend it to anyone that is just becoming acquainted with Feng Shui!

Feng Shui for the Unsuspecting Westerner
This book is a brief and enjoyable introduction to the basic concepts of Feng Shui. Ms. Carter's writing style immediately sets the Western reader at ease with her use of tongue in cheek humor and continuous references to American pop culture and idioms.

Enjoyability aside, this text assists the novice with some simple applications of feng shui, with a focus on Intent, Practicality and Personalization of each cure. She makes age old Chinese concepts less "foreign" and encourages the creative practice of the art -- integrated and customized for each person's beliefs and lifestyle. Having read many books on the subject, this is one of the few I feel comfortable recommending both to friends (due to the light nature) and to relatives (due to the avoidance of Eastern spiritual influence).

simple, fun, fast and inspiring
Whether you're an advocate of feng shui or not, this is a fun book that provides ample inspiration and ideas to reorganize and redecorate your home or office. I use this book and gave copies to my kids. If you need a quick jump-start when your surroundings are ho-hum or disorganized with clutter, this is the best book that you can read to get unstuck. Don't trust the library to have it when you need it on a rainy, gotta-clean-this-messy-apartment kind of day; get your own copy. You'll refer to it often and, if it works for you as it has for my friends and family, it'll pay for itself in one use.

gottalottagotta
I started moving furniture around and got one dollar and seventy three sents from underneath.
I got my boyfriend's love by cleaning the toilet AND the shower while singing "fu manchu fu manchu".
I got my naybors' respect by doing kungfu in the parking lot and getting the apartment complex on television.
I got happiness all along by being the sucker I've always been.

In a nutshell.....it works!
People are used to my wacky stories about my family, but my new favorite wacky stories are about Feng Shui.

I read this book with much skepticism....but thought, "Hey, it can't hurt, right?" A few years ago, a Feng Shui practicing friend of mine asked me if I closed the toilet lid when I flushed...I said, "Sometimes, but not always...." and she replied, "You're FLUSHING away your wealth!" I had a good laugh, but decided to try it. I began religiously to put the toilet seat down...and got an unexpected check in the mail from the IRS that year. Let me just say that has never happened before or since.

I decided to bone up on Feng Shui and did a Bagua map of my home and saw that my wealth area was my back bedroom which was in maxed out disarray due to a flooding problem which had recently been fixed. I took a week off from work and totally remodeled the room....even put new furniture in....and my husband got a nice raise! I know, it sounds crazy... but I think, in part, having an orderly home free of clutter destresses you and helps you become more peaceful and therefore more productive and happy.

This was a great book. I can't comment on the love part as I've been married forever (but still love him), but I'm sure it can't hurt to try either! I highly recommend this book, if for no other reason, to get your home decluttered and more organized. ... Read more

Book Description

Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just don’t work. In The Not So Big House, she proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics covered include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs as well as floor plans, the book is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. “Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms.” — San Francisco Chronicle ... Read more

Reviews (109)

A Great Book for Home Builders
After reading this book, I would have to disagree with those who don't think it's a good book for someone building a house on a budget. Although that's not the point of Susanka's work, she wants her reader to change the way they think about homes, and to review their choices in a custom home. Trading square footage for higher quality craftsmanship is the way to go--but you can also cut out the excess square feet and use standard materials and labor and cut your cost. It's up to the builder--that's the beauty of it. She shows you how to choose and some of the possibilities, whether you're on a tight budget or have half a million to spend. I learned a lot from this book, and would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of building a home, or takes a fancy to architecture. There are wonderful pictures in here, many of which have given me ideas for my own home. Definitely worth the cost.

This book deserves to be widely read
We are just completing the construction of our new home. While this book was certainly not the only source of ideas, it was certainly critical in giving us the courage to abandon the "starter castle" mentality of soaring ceilings and the attendent wasted space. The reaction we are getting certainly bears out the strength of these design concepts.

Given the content of the other reviews, I have to be clear about the intentions of this book. It is not a book about building inexpensive houses. It is written by an architect, and architects are generally not consulted when price is the ultimate consideration. It is not a book of house plans, nor a how-to book on house design. It is a book about a design philosophy which considers the house as a place to live rather than as a monument to impress ones neighbors. The philosophy is not terribly original; why does it have to be? It is a return to basic principles of good design.

We began this project with a very clear idea of the style we wanted, and someone concerned with style alone might not recognize this book's influence on our home. On the other hand, anyone who compared our home to the starter castles on our block would see the difference immediately. Every room is comfortable and constructed on a human scale. I would recommend this book to anyone in the process of constructing a new home. If I had the money, I would send anonymous copies to a number of builders and designers in the area. This book deserves a wider reading.

Not Bad, but Not Great Either
Susan Susanka presents her ideas on how to build a better home. Half way through the book she presents her trinity of compromises that the architect, builder & home-owner have to make...price, quanity & quality of the proposed home. I think this is the gem in the book. As many have noted, this is definitely not a book for a "small" or "cheap" home; and this should be obvious as nobody who is limited to building a "small" or "cheap" home would hire an architect to design it! Though she never states it, I estimate that the houses she designs cost over $500,000 to build so consider that when you read this book.

I value this book for the ideas it presents; however, it is definitely a coffee-table book rather than a reference for an architect or home-builder. Not until the last two super-homes does Susan even mention a number. Nowhere in the book does it actually talk about the square feet, total price, price for materials, cost/square foot, material trade-off possibilities, building codes, or anything that is actually needed to design or build a house (or even remodel). The lack of details and thoroughness was disappointing and the reason I only gave her three stars. I suppose this book can be considered a "theory" book rather than a "practical" book, but it seems to me that a well-written book could contain both.

On the plus side, the pictures were very nice; there were floor-plans for each of the houses and Susan has a very nice and clear writing style.

Bourgeois bohemian guilt assuagement
Let's see....2000 square feet is considered "not so big." And working one's way up -- oops, I mean down! -- to that modest allotment of space requires spending at least six, more like seven figures. And, supposedly, this fits under the philosophy of "simpler living."

What sort of people buy into this? Bourgeois bohemians, of course, a subspecies wittily described in "Bobos in Paradise" by David Brooks.

These are people with lotsa dough who live in nice neighborhoods and drive nice cars. But they're not rich, you see. They're "progressives" (read: liberals). So, in order to assuage the subconscious guilt they suffer for the "sin" of their own affluence, they drop loads of money on expensive stuff that's no different in quality from many cheaper brands, but merely has "progressive" cachet. You know...REI and L.L. Bean clothing ("environmentally aware"), coffee that costs $12 a pound (because it's "fair trade"), and just about anything that comes out of the public radio tchotchkes catalogue.

Susanka's book has kicked this up the ultimate notch. No longer is buying a high-priced Saab or Volvo the ultimate in pretense to "conscience" while indulging oneself. Now the bobos of America can take out second and third mortgages to cover what their six-figure incomes won't and build the "not so big house" of their dreams. Hey, it's not the money that's important. It's "feeling good about your choices."

Susanka, Obolensky, and anyone who gave this book a good review are welcome to trade their huge houses for my one-bedroom, second-floor apartment in a working-class neighborhood with no off-street parking. They can then acquaint themselves to their hearts' desires with the reality of "modest living."

As for me, I'll buy lots of cool stuff and fill up their former abodes. I've got better things to do than wring my hands over my "ecological footprint." And for my housewarming party, I'll be barbecuing up a few spotted owls, bald eagles, dolphins, and baby seals in that spacious back yard.

Not So Big, but Just Right
My husband and I are preparing our 5-year old, sterile house for sale with the intention of buying an older bungalow. We'll be looking for slightly smaller houses, since we've found that so much of the space in our present house is really wasted. We won't be building from scratch or even remodeling, but the philosophy of design in this book is really helpful to us as we think through what we want and need in our next house. I think the basic Not So Big concept is sound for any budget: square footage means little, rather, utility and comfort is paramount. The book is teaching us to think in terms of spaces rather than rooms, of getting the most possible use and enjoyment from a space. I think it will definitely help us train ourselves to see the possibility in houses we look at in our search. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is an exotic interior-design book for anyone who has ever dreamedof escaping to a different way of life. The elegant lifestyle, magnificent homes, andvaried furniture and decor of the French, Dutch, Spanish, English, and Danish islands ofthe Caribbean from the late 18th century to the early 20th century are revealed as neverbefore in this sumptuous volume.

With some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth as a backdrop, dazzlingphotographs reveal the homes of the sugar barons who made their fortunes there. Tablesand beds from St. Thomas and Ste. Croix, armoires and chairs from Martinique,cupboards and chests from the Spanish Antilles, settees and cabinets from the Englishislands; all are works that combine the grace and opulence of European and NorthAmerican styles with the vernacular island forms and decorative motifs. These gorgeousexamples give the reader a unique view of the casual refinement of aristocratic Caribbeanliving. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Elegance and Sensuality
A gorgeous book that's as interesting and informative as it is beautiful. While reading Caribbean Elegance, I found myself transported back in time to an era when sugar was king and great fortunes in the Caribbean facilitated a style both elegant and sensual. This is a fascinating account of a pivotal period in history as reflected through the style of the furniture.

Tasteful Richness of Design!
Caribbean Elegance, how the title is only the tip of what lies between the cover as it is such a wonderful book to always have at hands reach for small mind vacations after a long day of work! The author has done a fantastic job of educating one about the Caribbean islands' history as well as the furniture. It is the only book that lives on my coffee table, and every person that visits is sure to pick it up and become mesmerized by the writing and captivated by the photographs! It is impossible to not fall madly in love with this amazing find of a book! It is so easy to read be it that the author is obviously passionate about his work, as he leaves the reader feeling the island warmth from his detailed writings of Caribbean history. The photographs are so well placed, and beautiful! What a tasteful, well written, and charming book! Well done!! One must be careful though, as you will be sure to want your house filled with Caribbean antiques as I am now doing!

Caribbean Elegance
This book was exactly what I was searching for. Not only is it visually stunning, but it provides a wealth of historical information on Caribbean style and furnishing. A wonderful resource if you want to understand how this very unique style of interior design came to be.

Magical Realism
Reading this book is like being invited to an elegant house party in the Caribbean. You then enter a world of magical realism, in which you sit in the veranda of an 18th century "Great House" with beautiful ocean views, and your pick of antique "planters' chairs," with cool drinks waiting on a "cupping table." You listen to tales of planters and merchants, of sugar cane fields and slaves turned artisans. The material culture of the Caribbean is presented here, seen through the lens of historical events, the experiences of the wealthy and those who served them. You learn wonderful details about the subtle differences of styles on the Spanish, Dutch, English, French and Danish islands. The photographs are beautiful and range from vistas to architecture to furniture and their details. It is also a very scholarly work, of interest to anyone who loves antiques, craftsmanship, history and the Caribbean.
This book is truly an experience you can come back to again and again, and discover something new (or old...).

Caribbean Excellence!
This book is a fabulous stroll through the history of all the caribbean islands complete with wonderful photographs. Influences on the design linked with a glimpse into life on the islands make this an engaging book difficult to put down. ... Read more

Book Description

It's the ultimate escape fantasy: Trade in the rat race for life on a tropical island and all the languid luxury that it evokes. For India Hicks and David Flint Wood, the dream became reality when, after high-profile careers-she as a fashion model, he as an advertising executive-the couple left the city behind for the Bahamas. Five years and three children later, the husband-and-wife team have impeccably restored three houses and one hotel. Fusing traditional European design with Asian, African, and Caribbean influences, the resulting interiors reflect their love of intense color and their keen sense of style-inherited on India's side from her father, the renown interior designer David Hicks, and further enhanced by the family's travels.

In Island Life, the secrets of these sumptuous, unique homes-used as locations for Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Vogue magazine, among others-are revealed in intimate detail. With panoramic color photographs, David Loftus captures not only the eclectic combinations of antiques, flea market finds, and modern furnishings, but also the overall ambiance of the tropics. For those who share David and India's dream, this is where to start planning. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Nice to look at....PERIOD
The cover was very appealing. First impressions etc;. The inside photos even more so. The writing however sounded like the ramblings of a spoiled child living in an unreachable reality sometimes and at other times, the snobbery of an aristocracy only appreciated in the mind of the writer and those who really believe that paradise can only be created by the writer.

I live in the Bahamas and so yes I have a paradise of my own, but does anyone really care about 'my personal paradise' so much that they would read about it. I think not. The thing that makes simple beauty, well simply beautiful is simply leaving it alone.

Final thot; Nice to look at.....PERIOD.

other books I own - CARIBBEAN STYLE; CARIBBEAN ELEGANCE; ISLAND STYLE.

A gentle nod to British Colonial style
I enjoyed this book because it was full of accessible and affordable ideas, unlike so many interiors in magazines and design books that require you to be a millionaire before you begin to try and copy some of the ideas.

Elegant and Charming
I am very interested in both the tropics and interiors, so could not believe my good luck in finding this book. It illustrates perfectly a timeless elegance in the islands and has been well written, with a charming personal touch.

Disappointingly dull
I saw India Hicks on Larry King, so I got this book. Unfortunately, her decorating and style sense is a lot more dull than her personal life as a member of England's royal family. The island mood comes through in this book but the photos could have been taken ten or twenty years ago. I assumed the book would feature something newer.

I expected so much more from this book
I couldn't wait to get this, and now I'm sorry I wasted my money on it. There are no new ideas here, and the book is simply dull. Given India Hicks' pedigree, I expected more spark and flair than this. ... Read more

Book Description

Unmistakably French, the fifth book in Betty Lou Phillips' best-selling series on interpreting French décor for American homes, broadens yet again the limits of what French style can do for a home. No matter the location or size of the room to be decorated, the French rarely stray from favored and well-known characteristics of design-eighteenth-century furniture, sumptuous textiles, distinctive porcelains, and oil paintings in original carved-wood frames. In Phillips' newest book, she