Book Description

Charles Faudree has elevated French Country style to a fine art. With an exuberant decorating attitude based around his favorite principle that "too much is never enough", Faudree has achieved an international reputation for creating settings that have all the elegant accoutrements of a French Country estate, lacking pretension but never charm.

With a discerning taste for the eclectic, Faudree is a master at one of the main tenets of this style-combining traditional prints, patterns, colors, and textures with just the right furnishings. Faudree has always been drawn, almost charismatically, to the charm of Country French. He comments, "There is simplicity, a gentle softness to the furnishings I find very calming and soothing. I love the mix of fabrics, blending plaids with florals and old tapestries. Country French is a truly working-class style."

Faudree is delighted to finally share his extensive knowledge with the public, in this long-overdue book that focuses on how to make any home into an elegant, inviting, and comfortable French Country retreat.

Charles Faudree graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with a degree in art. His client list is international, and he is regarded as a master of Country French style. This is his first book. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Charles Faudree's French Country Signature
This book is simply a splendid ode to the french style. The photos are beautifull and stylish and the text is very well written. Recommended.

Charles Faudree is the master of French Country.
If you love French Country, you will love Charles Faudree. His work brings out the best in the design - his use of toile and color are unequaled. This book is just the BEST, the best photographs, the best of arranging objects in the room, all un-paralleled. This is a book you can really get some great ideas from! I noticed that one review chastised the re-use of some of the photographs that have appeared in earlier publications. My thought on that is, so what? They were marvelous to see the first time and now here they are in one beautiful volume of decorating, to enjoy and view over and over again. I have tons of decorating books, and I have found a truly beautiful and delightful favorite in Charles Faudree's French Country Signature!

Doesn't grab my soul
I adore all things French so I am puzzling over my response to this book. I don't like it. It doesn't grab my soul the way real French style does. This book misses the mark by a mile. Of course, isn't this designer from Tulsa? (Oh, sure! That's where I go for decorating ideas.) Come on!

A dull little book
I'm sorry I got this. If you want dull decorating, buy this book. I'd say that it's aimed at people like my mother, but even she is cooler than this. It's full of dull, traditional, expected, "by the book" decorating. There's nothing fresh or new about this. If you want ordinary, traditional, old style, you don't need a book to create it. If you want a fresh sparkle or idea, find a better book than this one. Maybe people with no style of their own will find this appealing. I can't imagine why.

I love French but I don't love this
I love French style but I don't love this book. I think Mr. Faudri has his French and English mixed up. I think the rooms look like an odd mix of breeds. I also don't care for the fact that the rooms pictured in the book have a terrible amount off furniture and accessories in them. It's too much and the result doesn't look authentic but self-conscious, in my opinion. ... Read more

Book Description

With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is packed with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen.

In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Really Good Start!
I am enjoying this book immensely, unlike the four to five others I've picked up on this subject.

The apartments featured are very realistic - none of that "image expanding" so popular in decorating magazines like METROPOLITAN HOME or DWELL. Tiny spaces do indeed look their size - and that is a GOOD thing! It means we're not being sold a bill of goods by having the eye tricked with photography.

I appreciate the very quirky nature of the design of each of these highly individualized spaces. I appreciate even more the fact that they are grouped by square footage and start at the walk in closet size!

There are many many highly usable and accessible decorating ideas on these pages.

The one fault of this book (and it's a minor one but worth mentioning): very many of the people profiled in the pages use their very small spaces as tricked out 'hotel rooms' rather than full time living quarters. This might not seem to matter until you realize one gentleman rehabbed his kitchen but didn't include an oven of any kind. How many of us can live like that full time? Several people have their places done up as glorified bedrooms w/ the beds on full time display. One or two others have complicated Murphey beds, one on pulleys from the ceiling. While fairly commonplace in New York proper these beds are expensive to duplicate almost anywhere else in the country and are key to several decorating schemes.

Other than these few problems I would highly recommend this book to anyone to learn some ingenius ways of solving small or quirky or differently arranged space problems!

A Solace for Those of Us Living in Teeny-Weeny Places
I recently moved into a <600-sf house with my husband and 33-lb dog. My decorating skills are very minimal, and I end up doing most of my shopping at IKEA. And so it was a pleasant surprise to find this book, which I came across while browsing in the interior design section of a bookstore.

Of course, I had to force myself to pull it out and look at it, since I've been so immensely disappointed by almost all of the books on the subjects of "small" spaces (probably because most of these books define small as 1,000 to 1,999 sf) and since I'm interested in more than just pretty pictures.

Lo and behold, this book, which is largely wonderfully detailed photos of real people's real small spaces (including a 100-sf dorm room and 2 couples with babies living in less than 500 sf), is inspiring in the most practical sense of the word. It's reassuring just to know that other people in the universe reside in sub-1000-sf quarters.

While it is true that many of the featured small-space livers are artists/designers of some sort, with skills that the average Jane doesn't have, I see it less as a book whose ideas you'd want to copy and more of a book whose ideas you'd want to emulate, and I quickly found several good ideas I could apply to my own spaces. Plus, I'm not even half-done just going through it and absorbing the minutiae of each photo and each apartment.

The best part(s)? No fancy-schmancy lofts (with the exception of one converted factory space) and no excessive and gratuitous photos of Wolf ranges and Miele dishwashers.

I couldn't find it used, but I can't feel too much regret about buying it for full price.

Great for Useful Ideas
This may be the best book out there right now on dealing creatively with small spaces. Most of the others I have seen feature gorgeous Manhattan or European lofts, or are the homes of architects and designers. They are eye candy, but not much help.

This book is quite inspiring, however. It's unfortunately short on sources, giving only a brief list of featured designers at the back, but the pictures are clear and the little accounts that go with them are written by the people who actually live in the apartments and they offer some useful ideas. And when a book acknowledges that some of us do live in less than even 1,000 feet, that's a book that's operating on a level of reality I can appreciate, because I live in 544 feet. Some of the apartments in the book are much smaller. I finally feel a little validated.

Another thing I like about it is that it's not a coffee-table- book size: it's manageable to hold and look through, even standing up. It is organized by size, from smallest to largest.

Definitely worth a look.

Pretty and Informative, But Not a How-To
This book has lovely pictures and good information; but the problem I found with it is that it is not the how-to for living in small spaces that I was looking for.

Several of the homes are more art project than living space. I agree with a previous reviewer who noted that few of houses seemed inviting, comfortable, or very functionable for every-day life.

If you are a student, as I am, looking for a practicle guide to living in a small area, such as a dorm or first apartment, this book is of little use. If you have the time, money, ambition, and know-how to redesign your small living-space, this book may offer some good ideas.

Not very useful
The first problem with this book, is that the pages measure 6.5 by 8.5. making it feel like a small telephone directory. The photographs show portions of rooms that are simply too miniscule to appreciate; the context in which they are situated is not displayed. I found myself frowning a lot and feeling somewhat baffled.
Also, I question the relevence of including close-ups of flowers, or fruit, or a long blank wall with a tiny window at the end of it. It's very irritating. Also, most of these homes are apartments which feature ultra-contemporary furnishings - cupboards with no knobs, couches that look like surf boards, etc. Only a few of the homes could be described as cozy and inviting and they were the best pictures, in my opinion.
Ultimately, the smallness of the pictures ruined it for me - I hate having to squint at a photo. A better book is the New Decorating Book (2002, I believe) by Better Homes & Gardens. A true feast for the eyes. ... Read more

Book Description

The simple beauty of Japanese architecture and design has inspired many of the world's top architects and designers-Bruno Taut, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Terence Conran, to name just a few. The grace and elegance of the Japanese sensibility is reflected in both modern and traditional Japanese homes, from their fluid floor plans to their use of natural materials. In The Japanese House, renowned Japanese photographer Noboru Murata has captured this Eastern spirit with hundreds of vivid color photographs of 15 Japanese homes. As we step behind the lens with Murata, we're witness to the unique Japanese aesthetic-to the simple proportions modeled after the square of the tatami mat; to refined, rustic decor; to earthy materials like wood, paper, straw, ceramics, and textiles. This is a glorious house-tour readers can return to again and again-for ideas, inspiration, or simply admiration. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Beautiful Rooms, Art, and Arch. Detail
Ranks with "Japanese Style" in terms of capturing the beauty of Japanese aesthetic in interior and architectural detail. Houses depicted were of various periods, mostly traditional, and were actual homes as lived in today. Also, rooms display art, screens, indigo fabric and ikibana in real setting.

Ten stars And has proven very valuable to us...
Awesome book that is proving to be very helpful as we design and get ready to build a very "Zen Danish" style home that isn't at all the cluttered American styled home. And I love the photos that demonstrate how to have things..and have them out of site. And I simply love the clean open style of the homes which is also what we are looking for.

This is a book for those who are sincerely interested in authentic Japanese home design, and not for someone who want a bit of Japanese in their American home!

If you truly want minimalist and traditional . . .
Have too many empty rooms? Than this is the book for you. I will agree that this book was beautiful and interesting in historic architectural aspect, but if you are looking to incorporate some asian design themes into your current residence, I wouldn't recommend it. I found this book to be many examples of the same thing - an almost empty room with a screened doorway. There were some interesting gardens, but unless you are actually planning on throwing away all of your furniture (or you don't have any yet) I found it not very beneficial. Nothing wrong with this book - but felt it necessary to point this out to potential buyers as the book is appropriately pricey and the ideas hard to adapt to an already western home.

A MUST HAVE!
This book is awesome! For anyone interested in decorating in a traditional Japanese style, as I was, or just an admirer of Japanese culture, this book is a MUST HAVE!

Beautiful pictures and enough detail written to explain why things are designed the way they are...

Pure Eye Candy!
This book shows 13 houses ranging from "the teahouse" over "the traditional inn" and a "samurai residence" to "Japanese modern". It is mainly a photo book, the text is sparse. Each house gets two pages of introductory text, the rest is comments to the pictures. These are of the highest quality in terms of resolution, lighting, layout and print quality. It's easy to understand that "Noboru Murata is one of Japan's most accomplished interior photographers" (quote from the back flap). The main layout of this book is that there is one big picture covering one page (or more) completely, while the opposing page has up to three smaller pictures and the describing text.

If you are looking to get detailed information about the what, where and why of Japanese architecture with drawings, footprints and descriptions of styles or historical context you might have to look somewhere else. But if you want to immerse into the beauty deriving from the simple aesthetics of Japanese houses, than this book is for you. ... Read more

Book Description

Create dazzling color schemes for any indoor space. You'll quickly sharpen your color skills--and open the door to a more rewarding and profitable career with John F. Pile's Color in Interior Design. He takes the mystery out of working with color, showing you step-by-step how to plan color relationships in an organized and systematic way...prepare color schemes for interiors...make color charts...select materials...put together color samples...work with additive and subtractive color...understand the psychological impact of color...use color in functional spaces...and solve a wide range of practical color problems. This hands-on color design tool packs illustrations of the best color work by well-known professionals--plus a survery of color in historic interiors that will guideyou through restoration and adaptive reuse projects. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Basics of Color Design
I found this book to be extremely useful in learning the principles behind choosing color schemes. As with anything, application and practice will fine tune one's abilities, but C.i.I.D. proved to be an excellent resource guide. Highly recommended!

Extremely useful.
I'm a do-it-yourself homeowner, not a professional, but I found this book to be a great resource as I plan out my house. "Scientific" enough to let me understand why color combinations work as they do (and help me design my own schemes) while still completely clear to the lay person. If you're serious about understanding color, this is an extremely useful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Love the look of mid-century, modern, retro design, but don't feel like dropping two weeks' pay on an Eames chair? In Handmade Modern, Todd Oldham shares his passion for mid-century modern homes with over 52 do-it-yourself projects for anyone who loves crafts and longs to add character to every corner of his or her home.

Todd Oldham has received accolades during an impressive career bringing couture fashion and elegant design to a more inclusive and broader audience, first in MTV's "House of Style", and today though his line of housewares and school supplies for Target, and his line of home furnishings for La-Z-Boy. In Handmade Modern he offers cutting-edge makeover plans for the office, kitchen, living room, bedroom, and closet, all designed to be both fresh and enormously practical. In this beautifully designed full-color book, Todd tackles each room in the house, starting with a beauty shot of each room, and then breaking the room down into its components, each one a do-it-yourself project. In the living room, for example, he takes you through projects with a difficulty range of 1 through 5:

a space-saving freestanding bookshelf (5) matching end tables (4) reupholstered pillows (2) Lucite picture frames (2)

Each project is charted through step-by-step photos and instructions until the fabulously mod end.

Handmade Modern promises to revolutionize the way the reader looks at his or her own home and capacity to beautify a space. Chic, accessible, and fun, this is the achievable new look of modern home design. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

shoddy and over-styled at best
save your money and time, this book is just an overblown homage to Oldhams ego. With a glossary that includes the definition for "masking tape" and "velcro"Todd must think he's dealing with some developmentally challenged 12 year olds. I knowfelt like I'd lost several IQ points after I waded through this cheese-fest.

With the exception of about 3 projects, the book is full of either laughably childish projects like colored sand candle holders and lamps covered in glued yarn (Flashback! I'm 8 years old and it's VBS all over again!) or expensive ways to make furniture of a rather questionable quality. I was left wondering what the staged room sets shown in the photos would look like after a couple of months, never mind if someone actually had to live with them. Can you imagine the messy peeling and bubbling that would occur if you actually did glue photocopy paper to the wall for wallpaper? If' you reallywanna go for the punk rock approach, you don't need Todd telling you how to do it.

Not for amateurs
The projects in this book are not for amateurs, so I was disappointed. The idea of modern projects instead of the glut of cutesy cottage and traditional projects that fill most books and magazines today is great. But these projects require that you have a lot of tools and know something about using them. By the time I get all the tools and ruin a lot of materials in learning what to do with them, I may as well just buy ready-made furniture. I was hoping for more simple projects.

good for those of us with design-lust on a budget
I'm not experienced with building furniture at all, but I don't find this book scary. It outlines the materials you'll need, dimensions, tools, and specifies meterials. I'm hyped to get ahold of and play with my first power tools in order to start on some of these projects. There are also sections on noteworthy designers and their styles, so if you aren't familiar with post-modern design you get a little bit of a history lesson as well.

The thing I'm most excited about is the guide to building floating-box bookshelves,as I certainly can't (and would refuse to) spend $1,600 on the designer bookshelf it mimics (*coughcoughBluDotcough*..."design you can afford," my ass!)

My big complaint is this book could have used more attentive editing. For example, on page 93, the last step of the storage bench instructions ends with: "Be sure that the" And that's it. How frustrating! Be sure that the what?? Crap! Now I'll NEVER be sure of...whatever it was! It makes me worry that there are other errors, perhaps in dimensions or other instructions, that I wouldn't notice until I'm in the middle of trying to build something.

Not for the faint of hammer...
When I first saw this book, I was enamored. So many good ideas. Who would have thought there were so many uses for wood veneer? I certainly wouldn't have. The book is packed with projects, and is an excellent idea book.

The downside,though, is many of the projects are not for novices. You need to be very comfortbale with power tools, have to be willing to shell out some extra cash for good materials,and have the time to go slow and do it right.

But if you are handy, and really take pride in fixing up and decorating your home, this book is a useful addition to your DIY bookshelf.

So much promise, so little delivered.
When I first read reviews of this book, I thought that it had considerable promise - as a grad student, I was looking forward to being able to build some nice things for my apartment. The book simply does not deliver.

The author does not seem to share the color sensibility present in many mid-century modern designs - in fact, I don't see much color sensibility at all.

The projects, for the most part, are not the most exciting bits of mid-century design, and for the labor that they entail, they do not seem terribly worthwhile. For the most part, one would be better off buying one of these pieces of furniture at the local junk store and spending a few dollars fixing it up.

I haven't yet seen a better book, but I really cannot recommend this one. ... Read more

Book Description

The complete how-to guide for turning faux, mural, and decorative painting skills into a viable, home-based career! Covering everything from the fundamentals of buying supplies to coping with the growing pains of a successful business, this essential sourcebook provides a wealth of tested tips and techniques on such crucial topics as getting referrals, buying insurance, building a portfolio, dealing with supply stores, evaluating job sites, negotiating prices, interviewing clients, and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Are you ready to paint
AMAZING, this book did it, it actually taught me how to do faux painting, no other book has ever even come close, the others didnt explane sertain things and other things wernt clear, How To Faux Paint teaches you everything and more, teaches how to paint, sell, and even talk to the customer, anyone who dosent like this book is insane, it will shape your future in just an hour, Rebecca Pittman is the new Princess of Paint.

How refreshing!
I've been painting murals for over 14 years, and finding this book has been a breath of fresh air! Everybody else tells you how to paint, how to do a particular finish, how to blend colors, but Rebecca tells you how to make money with all of this knowledge! I think that this book should be the first purchase for anyone starting out in the business! BEFORE you buy a brush! So many talented people fail because they don't understand the BUSINESS of art! I found it clear and straightforward, not full of ambiguous terms and forms that only someone with an MBA would comprehend. We're artists, and she understands that! So many of us are great artisans when we're behind closed doors, but put us in front of a client, and we freeze! Rebecca provides all of the thawing power we could ever hope for.

I was excited to read this book
This is a difficult review to write, because I so rarely write average reviews. I was excited to have a look at this book after reading the fantastic reader comments, and because the author is from my hometown. What I read disappointed me. I found the writing choppy and difficult to understand in some chapters. I was looking for beautiful artwork to compliment the written pages, but did not find any. This book read as if the author threw the pages together in one weekend. A disappoinment.

How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business
Absolutely Terrific! This is the book I had been looking for, to start my own faux/mural business! It answered many of my questions and left me with a confident, can-do attitude!! I had already learned much of the basics of starting a small business, but this was great in that it focused on the business of faux, and murals too. She explained about making samples, went over the whole system of bidding on the job, having the client interview, scheduling, advertising, pricing, referrals, etc., gave some great hints to keep organized, even added a touch of motivational encouragement! Including sample contracts and forms at the back of the book, as well as giving the reader the permission to photocopy them makes this a top-notch business tool! I couldn't read this book fast enough! Now that I'm finished, I can't wait to read it again and really digest the stuff, then get out the paints!

Refreshingly Realistic and Invalueable
I have read the few books out on the market on this subject and found a lot of it very unrealistic, and geared towards "crafters" rather than artists.
This books suggestions are simple and professional, helping the reader to ultimately know what it takes to win the client over. It is easy to understand and even humerous at times. When you finish reading just one chapter you feel an overpowering "I really CAN do this!" attitude inside you.
I also appreciated the fact that it covered both faux and mural work rather than just one or the other.
This is one to have for personal reference. ... Read more

Book Description

From choosing a color scheme to redesigning an entire house, Mary Gilliatt’s Interior Design Course provides a complete step-by-step road map for success. This book is conveniently organized into two sections. Section One, The Basics, provides tested techniques for mastering the main elements of good design: lighting; color; texture and pattern; and scale and balance. It also includes a valuable overview of historical styles, providing the reader with a quick-reference catalog of common design influences.

Section Two, The Specifics, demonstrates an array of creative approaches for walls, windows, floors, and furnishings suitable for any type of room. Readers will discover how to use special paint finishes and fabrics to create exciting wall coverings; innovative ways to bring new life to blinds, curtains, screens, shutters, and other window treatments; tips for choosing the right type of furniture to complete a specific room; and finally, how to combine all these elements together to create a harmonious, one-of-a-kind living space.

Finally, the all-important Finishing Touches section demonstrates how to choose the accessories and extra details that help reflect a particular look or style. Plus, this remarkable guide is packed with lavish photography and clear, insightful text that make it easy for readers to utilize these very same no-fail techniques in their own homes.

Perfect for veteran decorators as well as novices decorating their first home, Mary Gilliatt’s Interior Design Course is the definitive one-stop guide for creating interiors that are beautiful, unique, and totally one’s own. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Helpful Book
This book is excellent for laying out the basics for decorating/designing a house. More so than other books, descibes in detail numberous aspects of decorating that are important and not just stating the obvious.

My only diappointment of the book are with the photographs. The books descibes dozens of differnt style of decorating. 95% of the photographs are of contemporary/modern homes. Having a few more traditional photographs would have been helpful.

Outstanding Intro. Course!
The Interior Design Course book by Mary Gilliat's is defenitely a comprehensive interior design 101 for all of those interested in design, decoration and perhaps contemplating interior design as a future career. The book takes you from initial planning stages to the small details, gives you solutions to any design problems, and offers an extensive glossary of terms at the end of each section. This book is a must for the budding decorator! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

the most beautiful book in the world
Really. The listing here doesn't do this 2 volume set justice. If you have any interest at all, don't hesitate, this is the most beautiful thing ever!

how
both books are wonderful!!!!!! it's a mix between travel & interiors. another taschen-you-must-have-it !!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

"Every Room Tells a Story" offers the most interesting and provocative interiors published to date in the first 12 issues of the widely acclaimed shelter magazine, "nest". Called, among other things, "Homes and Gardens for the decadent and deranged" ("Wallpaper"), the special chemistry of Nest brings it all under one roof: not only David Mlinaric's interiors for the Rothschild home at Waddesdon Manor, Gabhan O'Keeffe's redecoration of Sao Schlumberger's Paris apartment, a recreation of Louis Comfort Tiffany's lost designs for the White House Blue Room, but also an Inuit igloo, the tents of Tibetan nomads, a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, and women's prison cells. And because process is as interesting as result, "nest" Editor in Chief and Art Director Joseph Holtzman takes readers behind the scenes and shares the way his unique features are hatched and achieve adulthood. The book includes photography and text by more than 50 "nest" contributors, as well as examples of design projects commissioned by "nest": a flipbook by Matt Groening, a flocked wallpaper by Rosemarie Trockel, a chair by Tom Sachs, and a textile by Todd Oldham. "Every Room Tells a Story" will be a must for all fans of the magazine, and will also introduce its one-of-a-kind sensibility to the uninitiated.

"Every issue of Nest invites you to think about the world we live in and not just the glut of commodities it has for sale" --Gary Indiana

"Production values are lush, care is given to text; coyness and correctitude are nowhere to be found. It's got guts, an eye, and a pulse." --"Artforum"

"Nest represents an aggressive deliberate throwback to content, modulated with a perfectly honed, contemporary pitch. The breadth of Nest's scanning is overwhelming."--Rem Koolhaas

"Nest is one of those fine crucial labors of love which in a better world we'd find in the pouches on the back of airplane seats, and in every hotel room like the Gideon bible." --Jonathan Lethem

"I subscribe to 92 magazines a month, and I always open Nest first."--John Waters

Edited by Joseph Holtzman. Introduction by Matthew Stadler. Text by Carl Skoggard. Contributions by: Laurie Simmons, Nan Goldin, Todd Oldham, Rosemarie Trockel, Tom Sachs, David Mlinaric, Gabhan O'Keeffe, Diane Cook, Tina Barney, Nathaniel Goldberg, Richard Tuttle, Julian Schnabel, Matt Groening, Nayland Blake, Richard Barnes, Nicolas Reynard, Muriel Spark, Michael Cunningham, Julia Alvarez, Garouste & Bonetti, Carlo Mollino, Rei Kawakubo, Andree Putman, and others.

150 color and 50 b&w.
9.75 x 12 in. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Nest helped me to appreciate both jails and castles
Having been lucky enough to spend one week in a "deep-South" county jail for hitch hiking on expressways (back in the 70's) ... then released with no charge! I loved the Nest article on the cells. I bought Nest for our guests in Chateau-Bois-Briand because of its sophistication and originality. Most of our guests are "road-warriors" and "trouble-shooters" who enjoy reading this kind of books, sipping a Cognac next to the fire-place in a 600-years old castle.
Viewpoints and pictures are so unusual that you never get bored. Nest is a reference. This is why I would advise to buy it, either as a magazine or as a book like this one. You will never throw it away.

Displeased
Had Amazon allowed me to preview even a single page from inside the book, I never would have bought it. A curiosity, a novelty, a cultural speciman, it may be. But as far removed from helpful or even interesting as one can get.

A disappointment
Poorly designed, nothing more than reprints of selected pages from each issue. If Nest is going to do a book, I want to see a "Nest"-y type book featuring the same wit and creativity that characterizes the magazine, not some self-congratulatory, half-baked reprint. Buy the back issues instead, don't waste your money.

Every Room Tells a Story: Tales from ... Nest Magazine
Holtzman is the John Waters of interior design: ironic, iconoclastic, an impresario of the outrageous. His publication is die-cut and drilled (I thought Grant Mudford was going to punch him out for piercing his images when the two met at an LA reception for nest) but never dull. This editor has progressed far beyond conventional notions of good taste, juxtaposing stately homes and prison cells, trailers and Carlo MollinoÕs Turin apartment in a surreal collision of styles. As a minimalist I put down this book with a shudderÑthe riotous excess brought on an attack of claustrophobiaÑbut others may love it. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

I recommend this book very highly
Nest has been a true godsend in the otherwise discouraging world of disposable-vehicle-for-consumption magazines. Not only does nest have more visual appeal than the slickest of fashion or design magazines, it also has content: articles ranging from the scholarly to the surreal, but always well-written; photography by the likes of nan goldin and richard barnes. Anyone who is interested in architecture, design, photography, or simply the peculiarities of human behavior- in fact, anyone who is interested in anything at all- would enjoy reading nest.
For those who don't know the magazine, this book is a great introduction to the first twelve issues. And for those who are already fans or even devotees, the book provides wonderful insights into the design and editorial process of the magazine's creators. It also contains material from the first issue, which is impossible to find used.
This book will inform, educate, entertain and astonish you. I cannot recommend it highly enough. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Enhanced with color photos of design applications and more than one hundred new illustrations, this revised edition presents step by step the lighting design process, while incorporating lighting terminology, perception, tools and equipment, general design strategies, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great teacher
While I was studying Interior Design at Parsons a number of years ago, I had Gary Gordon as a Lighting Design Instructor. He was by far one the best teachers that I had. He is very knowledgeable and has the unique ability to easily communicate the many aspects of both design and lighting. I highly recommend any publication he has authored.

Very good book for novices.
The book begins with an inspirational and somewhat simplistic insight into lighting design. Simply as a study of lighting contrasts. While this is a very important aspect of LD, it is by far one of many concepts a professional must use. The book refers to many technical aspects of lighting without giving any "meat" or more in depth information, which I would have enjoyed. If you are new to LD or are an architect or engineer who has little experience with lighting, it is a very good lauching point. If you are technically knowledgable about lighting and want some inspiration, read chapter 1 and the last chapter on Design for concepts ... Read more

Book Description

This Lexique de la prose latine de la Renaissance is the first dictionary of Renaissance Latin and continues on from the Dictionnaire latin-français of F. Gaffiot. However, it comprises 8500 words, more than 7000 of which are not mentioned by Gaffiot, while others are employed with different meanings.

It is based upon a reading of a very large number of texts by 150 authors from Western and Central Europe, including Budé, Calvin, Erasmus, Ficino, Lipsius, Luther, Melanchthon, More, Petrarch, Pica della Mirandola, Politian, Valla, Vives, and Zwingli. The compiler has paid particular attention to variety in the source texts, which cover literature, correspondence, history, law, philosophy, theology, and science.

This work has been long awaited by scholars and students and will become a standard tool not only for latinists and neo-latinists, but also for all those historians, philosophers, theologians, historians of law, and intellectual historians working in the fields of Humanism, the Renaissance, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. ... Read more

Book Description

Residential Lighting is the complete guide to illuminating single-family homes.
* Examines the "how" behind the art of residential lighting.
* Emphasizes use of "light layering"-using variety of lighting sources together.
* Features more illustrations, room-based design strategies, common lighting mistakes, and a larger color section. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Little Light Reading!
As a Design Instructor and Lighting Professional, I can attest that Randy Whitehead's book is an invaluable asset to both the beginning design professional or the savvy client. Photos, diagrams, intelligent definitions-high light the the text. The good humor and obvious talent that Randy Whitehead exhibits makes this book an enjoyable and easily accessible resource.

As a design instructor, I have found earlier examples of this author's books to be a dynamic addition to lecture presentations.

It would be a great addition to any library.

A Client's/Homeowner's Perspective
As a homeowner who has been through two major remodels in the past five years, and who has had the good fortune to work with Randall Whitehead on the lighting design and installation for both projects, I read Mr. Whitehead's most recent book from at least two key perspectives:

• an extremely satisfied client of and collaborator with Randall Whitehead on two major projects; and

• a homeowner who has learned the value of outstanding lighting design and what that brings to the totality of the home

One of the key elements that distinguishes Randall Whitehead from other lighting designers with whom I am familiar is his ability to quickly put himself inside the mind of the client in a way that immediately allows the entire design project to be collaborative rather than dictatorial, for lack of a better word. From start to finish on both projects, I had the feeling that my personal goals and tastes were understood, appreciated and treated as more important by far than the need of the designer to employ a certain new technique or some flashy new fixture. Mr. Whitehead's ability to assimilate a great deal of information and then to explain his ideas in language understandable to the homeowner is refreshing and extremely comforting in a major remodel, and he creates an atmosphere of calm in a process that nearly always stormy at best. Anyone who has been through a major remodel knows that calm, patience and dependability aren't traits that immediately come to mind when thinking of those integral to the process.

Similarly, in his latest book, Mr. Whitehead walks the reader through major elements of lighting design, using examples to comprehensively cover technical and non-technical areas, making this book accessible, informative and instructional to the layman as well as the professional.

My strong preference would be for anyone contemplating a major design or remodel project to have the good fortune to work with Mr. Whitehead on that project. Failing that, or perhaps prior to a collaborative effort, I recommend this book without hesitation as a way to rapidly enter the magical world of his lighting genius.

what a time saver!
As a partner in a residential architectural firm in San Francisco I've become intimately aware of the impact good lighting design has on a project. Through the years I've been through many books, lectures, and showrooms to gain knowledge.

One of my favorite sources is Randall Whitehead. If you've ever seen Randall speak about lighting, you already know his passion for the lighting design industry. If you missed his speaking engagements, fear not, because he has produced a new book that is as entertaining and as informative as his speaking engagements. HIs current book "Residential Lighting, A Practical Guide" is my favorite to date.

In one book, he has combined the technical aspects of the myriad lighting products available on the market, with solid design principals (in text and illustrated form) along with photographs of successful and unsuccessful installations. All this, broken down into exterior and interior applications room by room, makes up one great resource! Now, I can grab one book to determine the best lighting solution for a given situation. What a timesaver!

This book is a must for anyone faced with deciding how best to light a space. And, when it comes to our homes, everyone of us is a designer, whether we like to admit it or not! The formidable decisions existent within the lighting aspect of residential design has just been made a lot easier, thanks to Randall Whitehead.

A must for every Interior Designer and Architect's library
I own five of Mr. Whitehead's books and I use them all frequently. All are incredible sources of lighting inspiration and I share them with my clients to SEE why I am so passionate about good lighting.

What makes this book particularly exceptional is the combination of the practical necessities of lighting with helpful high-quality photographs. Like a great cookbook, I find that the graphics really drive his points home and provide the "ah-hah" that text alone cannot provide.

As an Interior Designer, I know that good lighting design is not only rare to find, but tougher than most people realize. It looks easy when it's finished, but only when faced with the "blank canvas" of a living space do most clients realize how difficult lighting design truly is. The Practical Guide presents the fundamentals necessary to analyze and solve most residential lighting situations and helps designers show why going the extra step to implement a lighting plan is essential for a successful interior design.

I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of Mr. Whitehead's professional seminars. It's usually not long before he has the room in stitches with his lighthearted, to-the-point style. Mr.Whitehead writes in a similarly engaging manner. He is not afraid to express (and defend) his opinions, even at the risk of stepping on a few well-shoed toes.

I laughed while I learned
Randall Whitehead has done a terrific job of explaining what light does and why in a way that is surprisinly entertaining. I can see that this book was written for interior designers and architects, but as a homeowner I found the information easy to understand and very practical.

The other books on the subject tend to be dry and overly technical to the point of being a big snore. This book is unlike any textbook I remember. It is funny while giving you all the 'how to' stuff. There are great photos, cartoons, and drawings throughout the book. Don't miss reading the descriptions of the "before" pictures. You will be laughing, while nodding your head in total agreement.

Anyone who wants to know more about lighting for homes and gardens should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Federal Style Patterns 1780-1820 is a comprehensive collection of pattern drawings of the Federal Style from 1780 to 1820, which is useful to architects, interior designers and preservationists. It's organized with patterns for cornices, door and window casings, chair rails, baseboards, mantels, and fences. An accompanying CD contains the drawings in the following formats: vector PDF, Postscript, DXF forPC, and PowerCadd for Mac. ... Read more

Book Description

The Tuscan house, whether a simple homestead or expansive villa,has become one of the most sought-after living environments. Its design isvirtually unchanged since the Middle Ages, when landowners in the golden hillsof Tuscany built country retreats with gardens, porticoes, and loggias. Thelandowners often drew upon the natural resources of the region-and it is thesematerials that give the Tuscan house its unique character. Tuscan Elements brings to life the colors, textures, and aesthetics of theTuscan house-the magnificent stone and marble work; the hardwoods like chestnut,oak, and elm; earthy terra-cotta and brick; and the all-important water feature,used in ponds, fountains, and pools. This unique, visual sourcebook deconstructsthe typical Tuscan home and examines its basic components in dazzling detail,from the tiled roof and floor, thick stone exterior walls, and vine-coveredloggia to the exposed wooden beams, luminous frescoes, and the sunny courtyardgarden with an ancient well or exquisite swimming pool.Filled with extraordinary photos by world-famous interiors photographer SimonMcBride, Tuscan Elements emphasizes living life well with a home that nurturesand comforts, accentuates the importance of family and friends, and entertainswith good food and drink. For anyone interested in infusing their present homeand garden with a little bit of Tuscany, here is a delightful source of never- ending inspiration. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

dreaming
I have not been able to put this book down since I received it. I have always dreamed of visiting Italy, but until that time comes, I have been redecorating my home to reflect that dream. I now have a "Tuscan kitchen" that makes me very happy to be in. I bought this book for new ideas,and also to confirm that the elements in my home already are the correct ones. I was thrilled to find these "Tuscan elements" such as pottery, stones, tiles discussed throughout. And the photographs inspire me to pay attention to details. It's all about the textures of the walls, the colors, how you display your ceramics....the pictures are beautiful. I may not get to Italy any time soon, but this book helped bring my dream a little closer to home.

At least I can dream
Well, I'll never own a villa or even an old farmhouse in Tuscany, but this book gives me plenty of fodder for dreaming. Since Frances Mayes put Tuscany on the map with her Under the Tuscan book's phenomenal success, everybody wants to visit the region - and most covet some ole building, yearning to do what Mayse did: buy, renovate, live, and enjoy.
This book brings to life the colors, textures, and aesthetics of Tuscan houses - the magnificent stone work, the hardwoods used interiorly, the earthy terracotta and brick work, and water. Everywhere, water: ponds, fountains, pools... We can, on these pages, explore the tiled roofs, the thick stone exterior walls and the vine-covered loggia, the exposed wooden beams, luminous frescoes, courtyard gardens, ancient kitchens. It's all here in this seductive book that captures the essence of what is so special about the Tuscan style: stone, wood, earth, and water. Sit down with a cup of espresso and relax with Tuscan Elements, ripe for reading, browsing...and dreaming. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for anyone seriously interested in interior desig
I have used this book as a reference for many years. It is a great book. Anyone who is remodeling their kitchen or building a new home should read this book. Ms. Nissen has explored many areas of the field and written a terrific book. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first and only complete resource for lighting design, giving architects and designers--as well as engineers--all the right tools to implement quality installations. Features a graphics-rich presentation full of lighting patterns, installation photos, fixtures and schemes with costs, plus color sections displaying how to mix light and color. Inside: essential safety-and compliance-facilitating code information from the National Electric Code, Energy Policy Act, and other sources. Includes hundreds of interior and exterior details from a range of project types. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tuscany's hill towns and countryside have enthralled inhabitants and visitors for centuries--the golden light in the afternoons, the grape arbors, and the rolling hillsides dotted with rustic farmhouses and villas. Private Tuscany invites us into these dwellings, giving us a glimpse of how life is lived in this warm, inviting place.

The homes featured in this gorgeous volume are as enchanting as the Tuscan towns and hillsides they're built on. Many embody a style we've come to associate with Tuscany: dark-timbered kitchens with dried herbs and garlic ropes hung from the rafters, original terra-cotta tile floors, large-windowed living rooms, and artfully frescoed walls. There are centuries-old furnishings crafted by skilled Italian artisans and elegantly manicured gardens containing hidden grottos and classical statuary. But the homes also reflect the special touches of the people who occupy them. For instance, a theater lover displays his exquisite collection of miniature theaters in the salon; the daughter of a villa owner paints traditional murals on the walls and mosaic patterns on the floors.

Simon McBride's photographs skillfully capture the magic of these Tuscan homes and feature a variety of residences, from simple farmhouses to grand villas and palaces. The book's four chapters divide the homes into types: rustic, classic, grand, and modern. An index at the back serves as an introduction to Tuscany's pleasures, providing contact information for sampling the region's wine and produce, fine dining, hotels and houses, gardens, and crafts.

Several of the homeowners featured in Private Tuscany have gone to painstaking lengths to restore these buildings after decades, or even centuries, of neglect. The results, from the simplest farmhouse kitchen to an elaborately frescoed dining room, are breathtaking. --Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful, inspiring,full of memories of Italy
This book was so lovely. It contains exquisite photos and many, many ideas applicable for my own home. Great decorating ideas. I've shared this book with other people who have been equally inspired by the warm, gracious, elegant living portrayed throughout. Highly recommend this book for yourself or gift. A lovely way to remember past visits to Italy or inspire a personal visit in the not too distant future.

A visual feast!
A beautiful book -- I enjoyed it much more than Tuscany Interiors which I also own. The houses range from simple to elaborate and -- of course! -- the landscapes and gardens are gorgeous. This is a great book from which to "lift" Italian decorating ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Seventeen spectacular homes nestled on the Pacific coast of Mexico are featured in gorgeous detail in Pacific Coastal Homes. These homes represent some of the best work of noted architects such as Fernando de Haro, Enrique, Zozaya, Manuel Mestre, and Marco Aldaco. Sections cover Natural Impressions -- entrances and exteriors; Interior Style -- living rooms and dining rooms; Intimate Spaces -- bedrooms and bathrooms; and Outdoor Life -- pools and terraces. In the introduction are images from Careyes, where the palapas architecture was first used for these types of homes. 200 color photographs are featured. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Inspiring photos
We are considering a move to pacific Costa Rica (As the native ex-patriots call it "Hawaii for half the price") and this book is loaded with design ideas. In every way this book is a gem and I look and buy architectural design books quite frequently... this one blew me away. I often look at books on contemporary Mexican design as well as books with an Asian theme; Thai, Bali and Ibiza, Greece, in general homes with a coastal or tropical feel and with lots of mystery and sun. This book fulfils my requirements and without any waste. Some books will have a few great photos and alot of duds thrown in. Either photos that don't radiate much excitement or drama or are of mundane ho hum same same you have seen elsewhere and probably better. Or shots of mediocre furnishings ... This book firstly doesn't have one wasteful photo and it displays some of the great contemporary (Mexican) architects who you may want to design your next home... furthermore, it was wonderfuly edited so that you feel a great flow thoughout. You will also be impressed with some of the textiles and ideas for built in furniture. These homes have drama, mystery, and reflect a wonderful coexistence with the majesty of this beautiful coastal rocky terrain. They are homes which truly integrate into the surrounding nature with great respect for their environment rather then being ostentious monstrocities. These homes have a Wow factor as they are commanding but have subtle grace at the same time. ... Read more