Reviews (6)

Worth every penny! A must have for anyone who renders
This book takes perspective to another level. I have been taught perspective before with 1, 2, and/ or 3 vanishing points, so I thought that I knew what I was doing. But sometimes I just had to eyeball some of the perspective in my drawings, because objects would look too distorted. This book showed me what I was doing (and taught at art school) that was acceptable but not perfect. Within the first few pages, I easily learned the correct rules to doing perspective from a floor plan at any point of view that I choose. I am a graphic designer for retail interiors and "Perspective for Interior Designers" has made my life so much easier. It's very easy to understand and follow...a must have!

simple to follow, down to the point
For any one who loves perspective drawings rather than CADs, this book, small, simple, straight forward, not redundant at all, gives you many methods and tips for perspective drawings starting with principles and then building some extras. if you follow it to the end, you might not need any other []book. it might need some more effort on producing a second edition, as the examples are really old but they serve the purpose anyway, but you kind of feel that it is not from our time that's all, still it is highly recommended.

Stop struggling
This book's truly great, easy to understand, walking you through lots of examples with graphics that make sense. As an interior design student in my 3rd year, no instructor has thus far been able to teach 2-point perspectives, and the handouts copied from other textbooks were even more confusing. Pile's book is like a breath of fresh air-- walking you through examples (how to place floor plan in relation to drawing, etc.), how to draw circles in perspective, plan perspective, 2-point perspectives, 1-point, it's all here in the simplest, easiest to understand version I've come across. I recommend the book to all my friends at college. Buy this book would be doing yourself a really big favor if you need to draw perspectives.

A life saver
I am an Interior Designer in SAudi Arabia and was asked to teach a drawing class on short notice. No problem! What I didn't realize was Perspectives were part of the course. I went book shopping. In Saudi Arabia that is no easy ordeal, besides there are so many realy bad perspective books out there. Anyway I had an old copy of "Perspective for Interior Designers" and guess what? It is still the best and easiest book out there! It's straight to the point. It is great for beginners. It takes you step by step through constructing a complete One Point, and Two Point Perspective. It also deals with trouble points, such as stairs, ellipses, cones etc... Great Book! Could not have taught the class without it. I ordered this book as an official text book for the " Foundations of Drawing IDES 1303" Class. Two thumbs up.

Very Helpful
Although I have had some background in perspective drawing there are alway situations that may trip me up. I like the way this book demonstrates these concepts from a basic viewpoint without being condescending or overly technical. I have used it to successfully teach perpective drawing to interior design students who had no previous experience. I think this book is useful as well to budding illustrators and artists. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Real Joy
My family and I recently bought a farmhouse in Provence, something we've been dreaming of doing for a very long time. It's been a joy to restore our new home, but even more of a joy to simply live in it and enjoy it. This book has been invaluable to us in the restoration of our home, and, even if it hadn't, the 200 full color photos of 16 gorgeous Provencal homes make it worth owning.

Bright yellow and bright blue are the traditional colors of Provence and we've used them in our home for everything from the kitchen tiles to the wash on the stone exterior to the fabric that covers our furniture. Like many of the homes in the book, we've let old timber beams remain exposed and a jumble of copper pots and pans, as well as fresh herbs from our garden, hang on a pot rack in our kitchen.

Like the farmhouses in the book, our house has huge stone fireplaces in the living room, the bedroom and the kitchen. We've learned to use these fireplaces the way they should be used and I'm sure they'll come in very handy this winter (here in the mountains of Provence, it gets cold, unlike the warmer winter temperatures of the coast).

THE PROVENCAL HOUSE not only explores traditional farmhouses like ours, it details town houses and manor houses as well and you can find a wealth of styles to choose from, from traditional to very contemporary (the traditional, however, has been my choice).

You don't have to be a resident of Provence like I am to enjoy THE PROVENCAL HOUSE. Francophiles in other countries can learn how to decorate their homes in the Provencal style, a style that is both comfortable and lovely.

I love this book. I've found it informative, helpful and a real joy just to look at.

great inspirational book
I can be critical of design and house books after seeing so many, so it's a relief to finally be able to give a book five stars. The photographs are authentic and detail everything from interior to exterior, including gardens. The essence of French provincal style is captured and distilled here. The writing is clever and concise, although you'll hardly notice it because the pictures are so brilliant. This is an essential book if you're trying to capture the French provencal look in house design or interior design. This book gives you an authentic source reference.

Beautiful Book!
I'm an architect with the task of designing a "French" style home. This is one of several books I ordered to use as references. The appeal of this book for me is that it includes exterior architecture, interior design/decor, & gardens/landscapes. It is extensively illustrated with color photos & captions (my kind of book...). I can't critique the text because I have not yet had time to read it. But I can't get enough of the pictures!

Breathtaking
I picked this book up from the table of new releases at a local bookstore, sat in a chair, and didn't move except to turn the pages for the next 90 minutes. In more than 200 color photographs, The Provencal House explores the beauty of 16 Provencal homes - interior and exterior details, uses of color playing off the landscape, curves and arches and doorways. It's a beautiful celebration of an architectural way of life rooted in the land and its traditions. ... Read more

Book Description

Take a look around you. What do you see? Whether or not you’re aware of it, your environment profoundly affects your health, wealth, family life, relationships, and yes, even your destiny. Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), which means wind water, is the ancient Chinese study of harmony and energy flow between you and your physical surroundings. You can enrich every aspect of your life by applying Feng Shui principles to your home (inside and out) and workplace (from window office to cubicle).

Feng Shui For Dummies is for anyone who seeks a better life. This clearly written, concise, and easy-to-understand guide can help anyone to

• Create harmony and happiness in your relationships
• Increase your prosperity
• Eliminate chronic patterns of failure, difficulty, and stress
• Energize your home or workplace
• Enjoy better health

This book shows you how to feel and access the energy of your environment (it’s easier than you may think!). Find out how your environment influences your life right now. Use the solutions in this book to overcome obstacles and enhance the positive. You'll be sure to feel the before-and-after differences.

Feng Shui For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:

• The meaning and history of Feng Shui
• Making the most of the space in your home, both inside and outside
• Tapping into the power of the five elements
• Boosting your career
• Jazzing up your bedroom for increased health, energy, and romance
• Performing blessing ceremonies
• Cleansing and curing with meditation

Within the past 10 years, Feng Shui has gained widespread popularity in the West. Today, more and more people from all walks of life are practicing Feng Shui and experiencing the positive benefits of auspicious placement. This book shows you everything you need to know to help improve the flow of harmony, creativity, and abundance in your life. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
This book makes Feng Shui much easier than any other book that I have tried to read. If you've been looking for a book that will guide you step by step, this is it. It has so much information pack in it, I haven't been able to put it down! I highly recommend it to everyone, so much so that I have purchased several copies as gifts for friends and colleagues.

superb!
As a new student of Feng Shui, I found this book along with D.D. Kennedy's Feng Shui Tips For a Better Life to be extremly informative & easy to understand. Having read 9 books, I feel the most comfortable with the Ba Gua method--but then that's a highly personal choice.

Feng Shui
This is ridiculous! The book is only 3x3 inches at the most and I feel it was a ripoff. Save your money. This was a waste of time and money for me and I feel like pitching it out.

Incredibly Good Do-It-Yourself, Step-by-Step Book!!!
If only I'd purchased this book sooner. Believe me, there is more clear and practical information in this book then in the many workshops I've attended, costing me hundreds of dollars.
In trying to learn feng shui, I have been frustrated by the lack of clarity surrounding this subject. Other books I own, review a lot of history and theory, but lack when it comes down to implementation or assume that you know more about the subject then is actually written in the book. Not this book.
Feng Shui for Dummies is well written, has humor and leads you step-by-step in each situation, just what a do-it-yourself book is intended to do.
This book does what it is suppose to do, teaches the novice how to implement basic feng shui one step at a time. HOORAH!
If your the kind of person that purchases a do-it-yourself book to get things done, not to be bogged down with theory then this is the book for you.

Rubbish
My sister-in-law, who has been hitting on me ever since I managed to divorce her sister, gave me this book as a "Thanksgiving present". It was great as an excuse to get out the room and away from the arguments and drunken anecdotes, but that's about all I can say about it. I'd heard about this business, pronounced about seven different ways, for some years now, and expected, given the kind of things people get "into" these days, that it would be high caliber nonsense. My sister-in-law is currently reading, over and over again, and aloud, the "Da Vinci Code". She also tapes every episode of "Friends". But that didn't prepare me for this stupidity. I've never seen a more asinine collection of cheap magic. And did women need yet ANOTHER reason to move furniture around? My business partner, who is from central China, says that only the most abysmal fools believe this junk over there. He is surprised that it would sell here, and said, in addition, when I showed him the book, that it isn't really what they "practice" in China, but an even more dummed down form. He said that one of the good things about Mao & the crazy gov't they have now is that they take a dim view of this hoot. And Chinese Christians, of whom he is one, have no patience with this superstition. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of the best.
A very informative and usefull book for all designers.

DO NOT BUY! it's hard to imagine a more worthless book
This book is a fiasco. As a professional in commercial space planning for many years, I picked it up based on a 'glowing review'. I find another few good ratings here on-line. The authors mother must be writing them, because no one who actually attempted to verify the faulty and incomplete information within, could ever see this tome as worth the paper upon which it is printed.

One reviewer was accurate though; it isn't a bad door stop.

Interior Graphic and Design Standards
This is a very good book. Deals with the in and out of the interior design standards

* WARNING: THIS BOOK'S BEST USE IS AS A DOOR STOP! *
...so S T O P; don't buy this book. It's Junk. Anyone who's been in the profession a while knows it because many of us received it as a Designer's Book Club intro title in the late 80's or early 90's. It wasn't worth the cost of its S&H! Ask around to people in the profession and look it over first. I received mine while having just a few years of experience in practice. Initally excited and impressed with myself having identifed a clear technical error, my feelings quickly changed to surprise and then anger as I began to realize the whole book was packed w/ errors and critical omissions. It was generally a frustratingly incompetent presentation with widely incomplete information on its proposed subjects. That the editors and publisher let this trash out, and were, I presume, making their livings with this level of incompetence was disheartening.

Interior Graphic and Design Standards
An excellent book for "standard" measurements and dimensions of both commercial and residential spaces. A wonderful teaching tool! A book that should be on the shelves of every interior designer, architect and design professor. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the success of Harper Design’s Mini House, Mini House Style continues to show that size doesn’t matter.Or rather, size only matters when you know what to do with it.

Featuring elegant and imaginative homes no larger than 900 square feet, Mini House Style features a variety of projects that incorporate innovative ways to make a small space more livable. It may be a clever storage area, or an unexpected flow to the room's use, or maximizing the impact of window placement or special architectural features to create the illusion of space. Also included is a discussion of foldable, mobile, and multifunctional furniture especially suited to small spaces. Featuring the work of today’s most talented designers, this captivating guide is provides endless inspiration for your own small home, be it single-family house or individual apartment.

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Reviews (1)

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

Amazon.com

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

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

Reviews (7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

Book Description

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

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

Rights: W, Design

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

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

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

8 1/2 X 10 In, 160 Pp, 125 Color Photos.Provencal Interiors: Inspired by the sun-drenched colors of southern France, french country, or provencal, decorating is the epitome of understated luxury, as fitting in the city and suburbs as in rural reaches.No matter that it's roots are firmly planted in the small stone farmhouse, or mas, the typical dwelling in the provencal region.It is eqaully appealing in a remote chateau as in a stately manor house, or bastide.The most inviting homes exude comfort,tradition, and grace.Most people,though, say it is charm that best characterizes the french interior.Through stunning photographs, informative text, and an extensiveresource list, provincal interiors detail everything necessary for creating this harmonious mingling in america. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Finally! Eye candy for the American Francophile.
I LOVE French country interiors and I love this book! I've been waiting for someone to show the beautiful interiors of great designers here in the United States. Finally, Charles Faudree's canines, delecious colors and endless yards of toile', all in one book. The writing is delightfully smart and usable covering information on textiles, antiques, techniques and the whole concept of the French country. This book gives a real sense of the talent of designers here and also how to reach them and a list of shops and dealers in French furnishings and accents. Betty phillips is a professional in her feild of interior design as well as in her ability to capture the essence of French country in this book.

These interiors have nothing to do with Provence !
What a disapointment ! None of the interiors presented has anything to do with Provencal or even French style. The book features interiors obviously designed by American decorators for wealthy and non discrimating American clients. Nowhere is to be found the true spirit of the French decoration or the Provencal style. A waste of time and money. Quite insulting for the true French style lover.

For Americans creating French style, who can't go to France
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here?

This book provides a great solution. American houses are DIFFERENT than European, and what's sold in furniture and decorating supply shops is different, too. "Provencal Interiors" shows you how to get that effect with things you can get here. THAT'S great. If it isn't authentic, that's ok. If you don't have unlimited funds for a decorator to buy worldwide to create "real" Provencal, this book works really well. Maybe better.

The pictures give good examples of Provencal style rooms, and there are lists of suppliers that are helpful. The color schemes are perhaps the most useful part. Another useful thing are the fabrics and how to mix them. I myself have problems figuring that out; this helps.

Sun-drenched colors of Southern France
"French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication."

As you open this book, you may start to have the desire to suddenly order hundreds of pastel pink tulip bulbs. While this book is not quite as lavish as "Villa Décor" it is much more practical. There are extensive instructions for using color, texture and scale.

Betty Lou Phillips has included a wonderful picture of a library with bookcases spanning the library walls. Her work has appeared in Southern Accents, Traditional Home & Bath, Window and Wall, and Decorating as well as many magazine covers. She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

There are eight main chapters:

What Is Provencal Charm?
Making an Entrance
French Quarters
Table Matters - Kitchens and Dining Rooms
Bedrooms, Bedding, and Baths
French Accents
Outside Interests
Trade Secrets

I loved reading the "Table Matters" section which includes a comparison between French and American kitchens. The bedroom section had me wishing I had some fresh croissants on hand for a breakfast tray.

There is no need to travel to France to buy beautiful fabrics, furnishings and fixtures. A complete list of catalogs is also included.

This is "French Country Style in America," so it is a fusion of various ideas from a variety of locations in France.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

French Provencal style influences American interiors
I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design.

Remember it was not an English, but an AMERICAN interior designer, Nancy Lancaster from Virginia USA, who revolutionized English Country style. She became Lady Colfax and changed the look of country houses from stiff to chintz.

I think the author introduces the beauty of Euro/American design in this book. The French Provencal Style in AMERICA title is a great clue that the pages are not full of 17th century French country village interiors.

Also, it always helps to read a book before you judge it! ... Read more

Book Description

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

Book Description

For nearly 50 years, home decorators have turned to Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Book to transform their houses into warm, personal havens for their families. The tradition continues with this all-new edition. It's your personal guide to the styles, colors, textures, fabrics, wall and window treatments, flooring, lighting, and accessories that define today’s interior design. More than 900 photographs, 100 illustrations, and friendly, informative text offer you ideas for every room in the house: the kitchen, living room, family room, dining room, bedrooms, guest room, kids’ rooms, baths, home office, and even outdoor areas. A fun, insightful quiz helps you discover your unique style, while a showcase of 12 houses introduces you to a diversity of decorating approaches. In addition, there are useful tips on maximizing storage, arranging rooms, and accomplishing room makeovers. Easy-to-follow descriptions make projects and quick decorating solutions a snap. This updated classic—a dream book, workbook, room-by-room planner, and design primer bound into one volume—is guaranteed to show you how to achieve fresh, affordable style throughout your home. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Finally! A beautiful and practical decorating book!
I looked and looked before finding this inspiring and useful book. I kept finding project books, which I did not want, and high-end style books that showed rooms I couldn't even relate to. This is the first book I found that did it all. I'm learning about all the design basics, and I'm also just enjoying sitting back with a cup of tea and looking through the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to decorate and wants help to make their homes personal and inviting. I plan to buy 2 more copies as holiday gifts for my sisters.

A superior interior design guide...
It may have had seven predecessors, but as of the eighth iteration (as designer guides go) I would say that Better Homes and Gardens' "New Decorating Book" has reached the state of the art. No weekend home transformation warrior's library would be complete without this guide.

Lovely to look at and overflowing with fashion forward advice, "New Design Book" combines several design help books into one. Advertising itself as a "4-in-1" deal, this authoritative tome features:

1. A Dream Book - How can you not dream with hundreds of envy-inspiring photos ripe with a variety of styles of that will set your mind a-wanderin'?

2. A Workbook - Tired of just dreaming? This guide will help you put it all into play.

3. A Room-by-Room Decorating Planner - The layout features one section of the typical house at a time, focusing your projects. Step-by-step instructions get you up and going.

4. A Design Primer - Don't know tan from taupe? The design primer give you the basics that every interior designer knows by heart. Color, harmony, symmetry - it's all here.

At well over four hundred pages and plenty of advice amid the numerous pictures, this is one of those books that will takes weeks to go through. The text isn't lost in the graphics, though. The book is jammed full of helpful instructions. There are "Do's and Don't's", side-by-side before and after pictures, comparison shots of multiple interpretations of themes, and the latest advice on textures, do-it-yourself projects, and even URLs to the leading edge designs updated daily at Better Homes and Gardens' website.

Better Homes and Gardens not only excelled with their advice, but the quality of the book itself makes it practically worthy of coffee table book status. A few of the best aspects of the book's own design are:

* A thoughtful and well conceived layout.
* An excellent graphic design that highlights rather than distracts from text and images.
* A superb use of color throughout the text focuses the readers attention on details.

I recently reviewed Michael Payne's first design book and I must say that it pales in comparison to this one. Simply loaded with information, "New Design Book" sets a high mark that other books would be hard pressed to match. No single review can do justice to the outstanding quality, sheer helpfulness, and up-to-date stylings found in this guide. After spending several days engrossed in it, I'm not certain it has any real weaknesses. A must have.

This one deservedly gets five stars.

Tells you what the pros know
This is my decorating "bible." It obviously features the work of top designers around the country, but then it tells you what they know about how to put a room together. By explaining those decorating principles and ideas, this book has empowered me to transform first my living room and currently our bedroom. My friends keep asking me what designer I hired. My "designer" is this book, which cost me under $25. This is a real bargain and filled with classic yet updated style. Like the book, the rooms it will help you create will last for years.

The Best
Some of the only decorating books worth keeping are published by Better Homes & Gardens. This one, as well as the new edition which is not being shown on Amazon.com, are excellent. These are books you should OWN, have on your shelf, and refer to. Whether you're looking for colour ideas, window treatments, where to place lamps, how hight to hang a picture, etc. these books offer what you need to understand balance, scale, and how to make a room look perfect. I would also consider giving these books away as gifts - they are very useful and the pictures are BIG which is everything. Short on text, long on visuals, is what makes a decorating book worth buying.

Traditional Decorating Book
This book is not based on NEW style. It's mostly based on country and traditional decor. Too many flowery fabrics! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

It's a classic
I wonder how Elsie De Wolfe could write this book in the early 20th century. She's got so much taste! Her book is written in a very amusing way,but it really teaches you how to decorte your home in good taste and with style.Very usefull if you already know something about interior decoration. Besides, her ideas apply to our days, which I find, simply amazing.
A great book, written by a wonderfuly stylish lady.

what a joy
Elsie De Wolfe is acknowleged as the first woman to make a fortune as a decorator and can be called the first life style maven of the 20th century. Her opinions on home decor were eagerly seized upon by millions of aspirational women around the country. She wrote The House in Good Taste 90 years ago but it's just as fresh and suitable now as it was then.

I can't bring myself to agree with her on patchwork quilts, lace curtains or rocking chairs but she's absolutely correct in her advice on wallpaper, paint and apartments. It's amazing how much this delightful and informative book still has to teach us. ... Read more

Book Description

25 Houses Under 2,500 Square Feet discusses carefully defined spaces and how space can be used most effectively. The 25 recently-constructed homes featured are 2,500 feet and under with some as small as 640 square feet. An exciting collection -- a charming one square foot in size -- presents dream houses any person can relate to, as well as innovative and exciting designs sure to inspire and amaze.

Reviews (3)

25 Houses Under 2,500 Square Feet
This Book is sooooo my style!
I have and have looked through a pluthra of architecture books and magazines for many years, and this may be the best and most closely aligned with my contemporary style. If you like a mix of contemporary, industrial, minimal, deconstructivism, and cubism in architecture, this is probably your book. There are several houses in this book utilizing metal siding in verying patterned designs, styles and planes, that were especially appreciated. Don't let the title fool you, for me, this book has nothing to do with the small size of the houses shown, and everything to do with their great architectural styles.

Very complete, eclectic assortment of books
This is a fantastic book. The houses shown are, as another reviewer noted, largely vacational homes, but one can still appreciate the way in which they create a modern coziness that hints at previous American architecture styles. A great bonus in this book is the inclusion of floorplans, artist's conceptions, some computer models, et cetera, that show the houses in the planning stages. The photos capture both the exterior and interior of each house in beautiful, full-color pictures. I fully recommend this book to others who, like myself, enjoy dreaming of owning such homes.

Fabulous
I loved every moment of this book -- gorgeous pictures, great text, small houses -- seeing as how I live in a pretty small house myself. My only gripe with the book is that it seems that many, if not most, of the houses are summer houses or guest houses -- not everyday, we really live in a house this small houses. Oh well, can't be perfect -- it's still a gorgeous book that serves as inspiration every day. ... Read more

Book Description

Human factors research impacts everything from the height of kitchen counters to the placement of automobile pedals to a book's type size. And in this updated and expanded version of the original landmark work, you'll find the research information necessary to create designs that better accommodate human need. Featuring more than 200 anthropometric drawings, this handbook is filled with all of the essential measurements of the human body and its relationship to the designed environment. You'll also discover guidelines for designing for children and the elderly, for the digital workplace, and for ADA compliance. Measurements are in both English and metric units. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very useful, but use with care
This is the easiest to use and probably most comprehensive book of human measurement, in my opinion. The data provided in this book is of extreme value to anybody designing anything that physically interacts with human bodies. This is the only complete source of anthropometric data, that I know of, for children of virtually every age range.

However, some of the extrapolated data in the book is impractical for real use. For example, children's furniture dimensions recommended by this book are generally too small as they appear to be based upon exact proportions of adult recommendations. This is inappropriate because children's bodies and minds are not exact scale models of adult bodies.

Overall, though, I still recommend this book highly, but also recommend very careful use of it.

Ergonomic design
Rich in visual and graphical material, calculations, diagrams and in-scale drawings of various humans (both sexes), in varous situations... Interesting and important reference tool for the industrial designer. (one of the very few available on the market today) ... Read more

Book Description

Mary Englebreit has "visited" readers' homes for years. Her charming and homey illustrations have graced millions of cookbooks, calendars, journals, home accents, and greeting cards. Home Sweet Home offers readers the chance to peek at the prolific artist's inspiration-her own home in St. Louis, Mo. Home Sweet Home is a beautifully photographed and lovingly narrated tour of the cozy home Mary was meant to live in.The tour offers a rare glimpse at Mary's vibrant kitchen (classic Mary: black and white and red all over) with its warm, rich hardwood floors, and the soft, buttery tones of her living room, which opens suddenly and dramatically into an airy space that almost seems to be outdoors.Countless nooks and crannies are peppered with Mary's many favorite collections-clearly the inspiration for her art.In addition to the hundreds of sumptuous photographs and plentiful practical decorating advice, Home Sweet Home explains the method behind Mary's decorating genius, dispels common decorating myths, and gives insight into Mary's fairy-tale world.Home Sweet Home will inspire even a novice decorator to create a home that is distinctly her own. ... Read more