Book Description

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

To help you achieve you own perfect window treatment is the goal of The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions. The uniqueness--and success--of this book lies combining the presentation of 1000 illustrations with a truly encyclopedic display of window treatments. Whether a budget is lavish or modest, this book offers the optimum number of choices in an individual design situation. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great picture guide for window treatment styles
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WINDOW FASHIONS: 1000 DECORATING IDEAS FOR WINDOWS, BEDDING AND ACCESSORIES is a wonderful picture reference guide for designers when planning a room. It is an easy way to locate the perfect window treatment you are searching for to complete a room and to show the customer an idea of the finished product. It has many types of styles in each category of fabric window treatment and includes many kinds of pillows, bed coverings, etc.. This book includes more styles than I have seen anywhere in any one book. It is wonderful if you are looking for drawings of many, many, many kinds of window treatments.

The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions : 1000 Decorating Ideas
You will be surprised how amazing the patterns of the curtains that they have in the book.

But initially it is a great dissapointment to me cause the book doesn't teaches me the way on how to start and how the diagram of the curtain looks like.

I would rather recommend this book to them who really have the advance knowledge of making curtains and also for them who wanted to see more designs in a curtains.

EASY TO GRASP!
I often see beautiful decorating books but as soon as i put it down I realize I did not absorb anything No so with this book!One page has tie backs One page has cornices. You see them all together and get an idea of what you like You come away with it all sorted out mentally!

Over 1000 decorating ideas
Blending current, popular styles with extraordinary new approaches, the fifth edition of The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions is a must have for designers, from beginner to expert.With more full-color illustrations than ever before, this book presents myriad window treatments for any room in any home from the most simple to the most challenging. Throughout its more than 200 pages, which include detailed sketchings, cost-saving ideas, yardage and fullness charts and the sketchfile method, you will quickly see why this book has become the industry standard for window decor inspiration.

Great! a must have for any designer
This book is a great, full of ideas, you can work with black & white illustrations and the book has full colour illustration. I would recommend this book to any designer, student, home owner. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Book Description

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

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

Book Description

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

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

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (5)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

Reviews (77)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

Reviews (13)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

The JUNKMARKET Girls reveal ideas from their unique creations, product line, and media ventures.

Secrets to finding good junk and how to use it for new and different purposes.

Inspiration for those searching for treasure at flea markets, garage sales, attics, and dumps.

Room settings illustrate decorating styles-urban industrial, country, cottage, retro, and even traditional.

Ideas and how-to projects to fashion candle holders from tractor parts, repurpose carpenter's levels as shelves, create photo holders from tennis racquet presses, make cornices from architectural molding, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Refreshing antidote to canned style and bland McMansions
This book is the perfect, refreshing antidote to canned style and bland McMansions. Even if you're stuck in a bland builder house, you can add real style, character, and a sense of fun with the ideas that these authors show. It's much better than heading out to buy everything new at the furniture store. The location pictures definitely clarify that this is not a down-market trend. Instead, the junk trend is, as it always has been (even in my mother's day), about being original and having fun. The book puts the author's junkmarket finds and projects into style categories so there is something for everyone. I found ideas I loved in every chapter. As I said, the junking trend certainly is not new, but this book is! The book is a breath of freah air, and it offers a creative, updated look at how to shop for cool stuff you simply can't buy off the rack and what to do with it once you get it home!

A fun guide filled with ideas which work surprisingly well
Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer are the original 'Junkmasters': hockey moms who take 'junk' from broken umbrellas to strange machine parts, and transform it into a stylish home project. Here are instructions on how to create over twenty pieces from 'junk', along with nearly two hundred photos packed with ideas for decorating with 'repurposed junk'. The ultimate recycler's guide, Decorating Junkmarket Style is a fun, whimsical guide filled with ideas which work surprisingly well. Color photos abound.

BOUGHT IT FOR MY WIFE
I've always encouraged my wife to sell her creations but she's comfortable just making things for our home and for family and friends.She's been taking stuff out of garage sales or even off the garbage heap and turning them into wonderful creations for years.That's why she was so excited to read this book that was totally up her alley.While we live in the the 'burbs, her heart is for a country-style home and this book has provided her with many ideas to create decorative items that match her country tastes.I don't think she's made anything exactly out of the book but rather used it as a brain-stormer to adapt things she's already picked up, mainly for outside decor and the garden.The book is filled with outstanding photograhphy and excellent instructions.It will certainly inspire you to create some interesting items for your own home.

Ideas for Everyone
I decorated with my flea market finds long before shabby chic became a decorating term, so I was receptive to the ideas in this book.It would be great if more people would reuse things in the clever ways this book does, instead of always buying new.
The book includes photos of rooms to give you ideas plus has project how-to instructions.Their ideas can be used in a variety of decorating style from country to contemporary.This book will open up your thinking.Read it before heading for the next yard sale or flea market.

Repurposed Junk works in any home decor
Until I bought the book "Decorating Junkmarket Style" I thought old junk turned into useful junk could only be found in the country/cottage style of decorating. Boy was I wrong! Ki and Sue showed me through pictures, ideas and projects that junk can be used in any home decor whether it's upscale Traditional, urban Modern,or wacky fun Eclectic.

The side notes and project pages make the book interesting to read. It's not just a coffee table book for show but a useful book filled with fun projects to make and lots of creative ideas and tips in the quest for the perfect junk piece.

Their down to earth writing made me feel as though I'm a part of their Junkmarket Family. I plan to attend one of their famous sales and I can't wait until "Decorating Junkmarket Style 2" comes out. These ladies definitely have the touch when it comes to Junk. ... 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

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

Clearly written and profusely illustrated, Patterns of Home brings the timeless lessons of residential design to homeowners who seek inspiration and direction in the design or remodel of their homes. Patterns of Home promises to become the "design bible" for homeowners and architects. The 10 patterns described in the book -- among them, "capturing light" and "the flow through rooms" -- are drawn from hundreds of principles and presented with clarity by the authors, renowned architects who have designed homes together for more than 30 years. Insightful tours of 33 homes also bring the essential design concepts to life. This book will jump-start the design process and make the difference between a home that satisfies material requirements -- and one that meets the personal needs of a home. "Patterns of Home gives us the tools to make our houses truly wonderful places to live." -- Sarah Susanka ... Read more

Reviews (18)

not as good as "a pattern language"
My husband and I disagreed on this book. He loved it, 10 easy steps with photos. This surprised me, because he's more analytical and I would have thought that he'd prefer the careful data presentation of "A pattern language". I realized that I like to do in-depth research and plan, he likes to see the actions and results. I much preferred Alexander's "A pattern language", and I found this book shallow and derivative. He liked the photos of the design principles being applied in "patterns of home", and he liked having architectural decree as to what design patterns were most important. He immediately grabbed onto a few concepts and started distorting a house plan we'd been working on for months and which we had both agreed upon . This design had already incorporated key design issues from Alexander's book. After viewing sprawling disjointed modern houses depicted in "Patterns of Home" he began pitching a house site we'd already rejected on our acreage simply because it allows sprawl. I regret ever showing him this book and I sincerely hope that it's effects wear off quickly.

Appropriate Design Thought Engine
The authors of this book have taken the best of Alexander's "A Pattern Language", and combined wonderfully designed and excellently photographed homes to publish an inspiring and thought provoking book. Frankly, the world has too many "500 House Plans" types of books. This one describes the logic, reason, and common sense that involves the interlocking of ten basic patterns that could make any basic design more successful. As a residential architect, I consider this among my five top-rated books.

Beautifully written, accessible, helpful
For those who may not have the patience to work through "A Pattern Language," this book distills the most important elements and illuminates key aspects with photographs. I found it helpful as a suplement to "A Pattern Language". I think these books will improve any design.

Not exactly what you hoped for.
Based on the 10 most important building patterns from the book "A Pattern Language", by Christopher Alexander (the book every architect should memorize) your expectations just don't seem to get met with this book. There are lots of good photos and lots of well designed houses, but you keep waiting for something to pop out at you when you are reading it, but it just doesn't happen. When reading the book "A Pattern Language" the small simple illustrations let your imagination flow, whereas in this book, the photo's of finished homes seem to shut off your own creative juices. Also the homes are mostly all huge and expensive. Good for architects designing mansions, but making you wonder how the patterns would have looked in a smaller home.

Since not everyone thinks alike, I am sure some people will get allot more out of this book than I have. And if this is your type of book then I think "The Not So Big House" series of books by "Sara Susanka are much better. Also if you have not read "A Pattern Language", by Christopher Alexander please do before you read any other architecture books.

Glossy Photos Replace Substance of "A Pattern Language"
Skip this book. Instead get "A Pattern Language" which is the quintessential work of Christopher Alexander. Alexander is the real genius behind the "Patterns" of this book. There is almost nothing new in this book "Patterns of Home."

In the late 1960's and 1970's Alexander and his group (including two of these authors), formed the Institute of Environmental Structure in Berkeley, California. Alexander was clearly the spiritual and intellectual leader of this effort. "A Pattern Language" is a compilation of that thorough effort. Alexander et al's book remains the most important treatise ever on the subject of Architecture. It disseminates a clear and concise identification of basic patterns that make a house a home, for example, pattern 115 of 253 - Courtyards that Live. In addition, "A Pattern Language" is written for us, in the hope that "we the people" can use the patterns to guide the development of wonderful homes and communities. Alexander's book is accessible to all of us.

These co-author's of Alexander's great book include two of the authors of "Patterns of Home." These guys are sidekicks and it shows. For example, in the forward to this book, they acknowledge working on this book part-time while engaging in a full-time architectural practice. They didn't put a life-force effort into this book, although it appears the photographers did. The illustrations and photographs are almost exclusively of high end giant homes in the price range of $300 to $500 and up per square foot! The vast majority of people do and will live in homes built to a budget of $100 psf or less. In short, this is a picture book for coffee tables that shows what an architect can do with an open-ended budget.

I think I was dissapointed most with narrow scope of the photographs. As with another reviewer, I noted that the authors showed the patterns exclusively in new, contemporary, upscale California style homes, neglecting better illustrations of the essential patterns that can be easily found in other styles of homes, in older homes, or in homes from other areas of the world.

Although I don't believe the author's intended, but this book is an elitist book for dreamers. The homes shown in this book are accessible to a tiny minority of ultra-rich people. If you, the reader, prefer picture type books, you're better off with Sara Susanka's "The Not So Big House" and others of her series. Her design approach is more accessible to a larger segment of the population. Best of all though, try "A Pattern Language" a truly wonderful book accessible to all of us. It will forever improve you architectural mindset.

Regards, Steve ... 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