Book Description

What has come to be known as the French country look is really the style of Provence -- the sun-drenched region in the south of France centering on Arles, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence. It is a land of cool stone chateaux, farmhouses painted in ochres and dusty roses, country roads bordered by rows of graceful cypress trees, fields of lavender, trellised grapevines, red tile roofs, ancient hilltop cities such as Les Baux, and the vivid blue of the Mediterranean along the Cote d'Azur. The clarity of the light and the intoxicating sensuality of the landscape inspired Cezanne and Van Gogh.

In over 450 full-color photographs, Pierre Deux's French Country explores all the rich ingredients of Provencal style. There are chapters on colors, fabrics, pottery, furniture, decorative elements, houses, gardens, and French country adaptations in the United States. A ten-page directory offers U.S. and French sources for regional antiques and contemporary products.

From the brightly patterned paisley cottons of Souleiado in Tarascon to the hand-blown glass of Biot and the hand-molded faience platters of Moustiers, from the massive 18th-century armoires and rush-seated banquettes and chairs to bread boxes, saltboxes, and chests with intricately carved floral motifs, the craftsmanship of the region imparts a special luster, a vibrancy and warmth of color and texture that survive in the works of today, Whether presenting a charmingly rustic ranch deep in the horse country of the Camargue, a Renaissance mas in the foothills of the Alps, or a wine-producer's estate near Saint-Remy, this book paints a vivid portrait of a land of grace and simplicity that is at once exuberantly beautiful, seductive, effortless, and sophisticated. ... 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

Reviews (1)

Proudly showcases 120 designs of truly great homes
Grand Manor Homes proudly showcases 120 designs of truly great homes which range in their individual spaciousness from 2,200 to 6,300 square feet. Full color photographs of some of the houses wonderfully embellish the entries comprising the Homer Planners' edition of Grand Manor Homes. Featuring a meticulous and detailed layout plan of each home, Grand Manor Homes is especially suitable for assessing at a glance the many possible options available when a grand manor residence is built. An insightful descriptive commentary text rounds out this inherently fascinating architectural tour. ... Read more

Book Description

There is no easier, more inexpensive, more stylish, and dramatic way to quickly change the look and mood of one's living space than with candlelight. Part wish book, part practical interior design guide, this resplendently photographed volume presents dozens of innovative ideas for using candles to spruce up any home.

Lush full-color photographs show candles in indoor and outdoor decor--in table settings and floral arrangements, on patios and in backyards. Candle sales in America topped $3 billion last year, and these fabulous decorating suggestions--from votives and tea lights around the tub to candle-filled lanterns illumining garden walkways--makes it easy to see why. Arranged by season, this lovely book will be an inspiration, and treasured gift, for any candle lover. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Caveat for buyers
This is my first Amazon book review, but I felt compelled to write it. This book is beautiful, gorgeous even. I am still glad to have purchased the book...BUT for anyone who wishes to replicate the ideas in the book in your home, I found the book lacking in information on the sources of products. So if you love the accessories and would like to purchase them, you have nowhere to turn to. A listing ala Martha Stewart resources would have made me give this book 5 stars. But I am frustrated that I can't find out where to get some of the items used in the book!

Unique, unusual, and beautiful!
I am more pleased with this book than I thought I was going to be. There are some really beautiful ideas in this book including white pumpkin coaches, food, flowers, fireplaces, outdoors etc. Great for wedding ideas and centerpieces!

Absolutely Fabulous
This is an absolutely beautiful book. I have enjoyed looking at it over and over again, and it has given me some wonderful ideas for decorating. John Terrell Fry is ever so clever and creative and Nancy Nolan is an unbelievably talented photographer! Makes a great Christmas Gift for anyone on your list!

Great for Professionals and Novice Decorators Alike
JT Fry has taken the every-day items we have around our homes and transformed them into warm conversation pieces. I find that his suggestions jog my own creativity so that my mind is soon a'buzzin with decorating ideas. This "must-have" publication also makes a perfect gift because no matter what your friends' taste, they can relate to its contents.

First Ever!! Luxurious, how to, Candle Book.....For EVERYONE
I should first start off with telling you. "I have never bought a book on AMAZON.COM, until now"!
Finally, a book that you really would put on your coffee table, and have friends pick up and chat about! I learned so much from this book! Just how a little candle put anywhere can make a HUGE difference. It explains all kind of ways to accent your home....and have people talking about it for days! Whoever would have thought. To use candles the way this book has explained and shown, and it be so simple and stunning!! I applaude the author, as well as the photographer. For creating a book, that will help so many people, such as myself. Learn how to make your home fill warm, inviteing, and beautiful! Thanks again... For this great addition to my home!

Jerry b. ... 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

Reviews (1)

Great Book for Apparel Industry
This book is the only book I found so far that has bring me up-to-speed in the apparel industry. It has explain a lot of details of the general business practices within the apparel industry and also give me a direction on how to start my apparel business. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

YUM!
This is one beautiful book. Warning: if you see the cover - you will have to have this book. I was happily surprised by the sheer number of "recipes" for metals, stones, and natural items like leather and bone. The recipes are separate from the project, thus allowing one to concentrate on making the faux surface and not becoming bogged down with making pattern pieces. Every recipe has a great project one can easily change into something to fit personal style. In reading the first part of the book, it is obvious Irene is very experienced and talented in working in polymer clay. There is much information she has shared so freely. I feel she truly wants the readers to enjoy the PC experience instead of "finding things out the hard way". The "recipe artisans" are very talented and amazingly clever. If you don't have time to get involved in a project, reading through this book will give you so much inspiration you will somehow make time for yourself and your clay!

YUM!!
This is one beautiful book. Warning: if you see the cover - you will have to have this book. I was really surprised by the sheer number of "recipes". The recipes are separate from the project, thus allowing one to concentrate on making the faux surface and not becoming bogged down with making pattern pieces. Every recipe has a great project one can easily change into something to fit personal style. In reading over the first part of the book, it's obvious Irene is very experienced and talented in working in polymer clay. There is so much information she has shared so freely. I got the idea she truly wants the readers to enjoy the PC experience instead of "finding things out the hard way". The "recipe artisans" are very talented and amazingly clever. If you don't have time to get involved in a project, reading through this book will give you so much inspiration you will somehow make time for yourself and your clay!

I must admit to some bias
I am somewhat biased on this topic, because I helped with a few of the projects in this book. Irene and Valerie (the editor) were absolutely fabulous to work for and I enjoyed the whole process, immensely!

I'm not usually one to submit projects for books and magazines, but they made it easy - they asked me to do specific things and set a deadline for each step - that made it easier for me (not very well self-directed ;) to get things done.

It was a very long process - over a year from the first contact, and interesting to observe.

The day that the book came in the mail, there were a few wild minutes of jumping-up-and-down noisy hooplah, and then I settled down with a cup of coffee to read it like a calm and rational human being, instead of like a screeching jumping bean. ;)

I was already excited just to be part of this project, but I was doubly proud to be associated with it after I saw the beauty and the originality and the finely-executed craftsmanship shown throughout the book. Beautiful paper and text, well-organized and laid out, it's just a gorgeous book.

Thirty faux substances and thirty different projects. I was intrigued by this idea from the start, but I wasn't sure how it would show up. Turns out that it works very well - the recipe for the faux surface flows right into the project that goes with it or right into some other project.

The photographs are rich and beautiful and the array of different faux surfaces is amazingly wide. The book has basic information about the clays and materials in the beginning, and the instructions for the projects and recipes are clear and easy to follow.

I love the rusted steel and copper verdigris by Alison Ingham - what a novel approach!

Luann Udell, who got me started with the addicting hobby of carving my own rubber stamps with her book has a gorgeous rendition of bone project for buttons.

Gerry Newfry's celadon pottery and Lynn Krucke's raku faux's are innovative and exciting, too.

Dawn Schiller's "bronze" green man would be a beautiful outside wall decoration.

Diane Villano provided one of the most original applications of faux Balinese filigree silver that I've ever seen!

Julia Sober's Baisse-Taille book is on my "must do" list.

In fact, I loved all of the projects in this book, even though I can't remember them all at the moment.

I plan to try as many of them as I can... the level of realism demonstrated is just incredible.

If you're as fascinated with the possibilities of this wonderful medium as I am, you will love this book. It's aimed at people who have some experience with the clay, but even if you're a beginner, try a couple of the projects and practice and I'll bet you can do these things, too.

Another of my favorite books is Tory Hughes' "Chameleon Clay," and I'd recommend buying that one, too - these are two completely different books with very little overlap in the processes by which we arrive at the different faux looks. They complement each other very nicely.

zig

Delightfully Surprised!
I now have quite a collection of Polymer Clay books that I have aquired over the years. I decided on a whim to purchase this one hoping to learn a few new tricks to add to my repetoire. I won't list all the surfaces one learns to imitate in this book...previous reviewers have already done this. What I will say is that I am very pleased with this purchase. The photos are clear and easy to understand. Each technique is explained fairly well. What I like most of all is that for each surface/stone/substance that is taught, an example project describing how to utilize your newly made substance is included. For example, the malachite section shows how to make a make-up compact and powder brush cover. It offers a launchpad from which to create your own ideas.

Summary:
If you are brand new to polymer clay, I still recommend The New Clay by Nan Roche. A better book or more bang for the buck does not exist...trust me, I've looked! If you're somewhat experienced and are looking to broaden your polymer clay horizons, this is a great place to start.

You Want The Newest & Best FauxTechniques? Look No Further.
This book is wonderful. When it arrived, I poured myself a cup of hot coffee, put my feet up and drifted off to happy, happy land.

The books begins by covering basics~ yes, this may seem boring to some, but I've learned a little something each time I've taken to time to read what I thought I already knew. For instance: tiger eye mutation, leaching, plaquing, carving, to making your own texture sheet. And this is still in the Basic "Materials, Tools & Techniques" part of the book. Yikes.

She also includes Recipes & Projects for:
Malachite
Lapis Lazuli
Tiger-Eye
Turquoise
Opal
Jade
Balinese Silver
Bronze
Rusted Steel
Pewter
Copper Verdigris
Bone
Abalone
Cork
Mother-of-Pearl
Leather
Burled Red Maple
Cinnabar
Jasper
Slate
Marble
Agate
River Rock
Celadon
Dichroic Glass
Faience
Cloisonne
Raku
Scrimshaw on Faux Ivory
and last, but not least
Basse-Taille Enamel (which is a totally new technique derivation that is wonderful)

Oh my . . . what a great book. She includes work from Elizabeth Campbell, Alison Ingham, Lynn Krucke, Chryse Laukkonen, Pat Laukkonen, Gerri Newfry, Pat Pettyjohn, Heather Roselli, Dawn Schiller, Julia Sober, Luann Udell, Diane Villano and, of course, her own wonderful art as well.

Check out Irene's website for even more Eye Candy:
http://www.good-night-irene.com/

My recommendation: Run, don't walk, to get this book. It's fabulous.

Babette
<*})))))><
Mystic Mermaid ... Read more

Book Description

A real-world DESIGN tool for sustainable design
In this comprehensive guide, the world's largest architectural/engineering design firm helps architects, engineers, planners, interior designers, and landscape architects integrate sustainable design strategies into their work. Featuring twenty-four case studies of a variety of international HOK projects, it shows how, far from being an all-or-nothing proposition, sustainable design thinking can improve projects within the conventional constraints of budget, schedule, and market demand. It provides practical guidelines that enhance real projects, including urban planning, site design, buildings, interiors, and renovations. This book:
* Demonstrates how real, completed, sustainable design projects are economically viable and increase client satisfaction
* Provides a clear road map for the integrated multidisciplinary design process that is critical to the successful development of sustainable design projects
* Captures the key principles of sustainable design in a list of "Ten Simple Things You Can Do"
* Provides concise checklists of issues to consider at each stage of the design process,followed by detailed how-to guidance
* Contains a detailed glossary of terms and a list of top print and Internet resources
* Covers issues and design strategies related to site planning and design, energy and water conservation, materials selection and specification, and interior environmental quality ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have.
The most comprehensive book yet on sustainable design and green architecture. If you can have only one book in your library on sustainable design, this is the book! ... Read more

Book Description

This stunning new book, arranged alphabetically by subject areas, captures the essence of the successful Flint Faience Tile Company's highly diversified production between 1921-33 in Flint, Michigan. The history of this ceramic tile company, its major designers, and the designs and styles of its products are woven throughout a tapestry of more than 825 color photos illustrating both rare and popular tiles. Showcased are Art Deco and Arts & Crafts style tiles, animal and nursery rhyme designs, geometric motifs, plants and flowers, dramatic murals, and much more. Many sections feature photo documentation of these collectible tiles installed in homes, schools, churches, restaurants, swimming pools, and more. Present day values are provided in the captions. This fascinating and informative A to Z collector's book is a valuable addition to the library resources of any tile and ceramics collector or maker. 8 1/2" x 11" 808 color and 24 b/w photos Price Guide/Index ... Read more

Book Description

The world of home entertainment is changing rapidly, and consumers have a wide range of options. This book will guide readers through all the aspects of creating a beautiful and comfortable home theatre that elegantly takes advantage of media-related emerging technologies and furnishings.

Starting with a "whole interior" approach to home entertaining, the book takes readers step by step through an examination of current technology, space planning, acoustics, functionality, lifestyle, and overall aesthetics with the goal of planning and designing an entertainment system that's right for you. All types of spaces are addressed, from small urban apartments to spacious, multipurpose living areas to full-blown dedicated theatre spaces. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best reference guide for home theaters on the market
This was a great resource for me and my wife's new house. We just bought a home in the Palisades and didn't have a clue how to convert an old den downstairs into a home theater/media room. This book walks you through the steps in a really easy to understand fashion. So when it came to hiring the people to install the system and design it, I actually knew what I was talking about and could direct the action!

Great A/V Guide
This book is an excellent recourse for anybody trying to integrate a/v elements to their home. It helped me turn my 1906 craftsman bungalow into an a/v wonderland. ... Read more

Book Description

Living Color taps into the current trend for using flowers not only for special occasions, but also as a key visual element in home decoration. An explosion of intense color mixes are accompanied by unique flower arranging recipes that include quantities as well as exact floral ingredients and methods needed to recreate the innovative floral bouquets for which Paula Pryke is internationally famous.

Using teaching methods honed from the author's highly successful flower school, Living Color demonstrates, step-by-step, how to create the kind of professional flower arrangements to accessorize and transform your living space, infusing it with color and style. Beginners and amateurs alike can easily achieve the same polished creations that have made Paula Pryke Britain's leading floral artist in constant demand internationally by royalty, celebrities, presidents and heads of state.

Following in the footsteps of her other successful flower arranging books (Festive Flowers, Flair with Flowers, Flowers, Flowers! & Simple Flowers), Living Color is the new addition to her definitive and expanding library of books to teach the creation of exceptional environments. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Source of inspiration
This book has numerous samples of flower arrangement. The photographs are very brilliant and come in full page. I learn a lot from the photographs. The flower arrangement are very nice, some of them come in a very daring color combination that you never think before. Paula Pryke has showed me that flower arrangement can be transformed from craft to art. I got a lot of inspiration about color combination, texture and composition from this book. The design principles that Pryke used on her flower arrangement can be applied in other field also. This book can be a source of inspiration for other designer (for interior designer, graphic designer, and illustrator). ... Read more

Book Description

Bungalow Colors: Exteriors addresses the importance of color in Arts& Crafts architecture. Drawing on the works of such Arts & Crafts master as Greene & Greene, Stickley, and Wright, this new volume outlines the history of color within the Arts & Crafts movement. Schweitzer provides practical advice for integrating historically accurate colors today. Whether restoring an older bungalow or aiming to impart an authentic flavor to a new Arts & Crafts-style home, Bungalow Colors: Exteriors focuses on "outside" solutions. Schweitzer addresses exterior walls, windows, roofs, and other architectural features, plus body, trim, accents, stucco, shingles, and clapboards. It's everything an Arts & Crafts enthusiast is looking for to create a visually stunning bungalow exterior.

Robert Schweitzer teaches architectural history and historic preservation at Eastern Michigan University. He is an advisory board member for American Bungalow magazine and a columnist for Victorian Homes. He live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Full of brilliant ideas that are actually useful!
Finally a book with some "meat and potatoes" content that is enhanced with beautiful photography and actual floorplans! Not just a book of pretty pictures that have little to do with actual cooking. These kitchens combine the best of design, performance and above all, personality. The written background is also fascinating and really gets into these chef's heads about their approaches to their own, personal kitchens. When's Book TWO?!!!

For cooks who are remodeling
My husband and I both love to cook and we're looking at remodeling our kitchen. This book has great inspiration on how to think about your kitchen space and how you use it. It's got some great ideas on how to think about your kitchen arrangement and storage options from people who KNOW what can get irritating very quickly. The downside of this book is that these kitchens were obviously done on budgets that most of us would never dream of -- we're not going to be installing professional/commercial grade appliances, and we're not going to have granite countertops or custom-made cabinetry. However, just to read how professional chefs planned out their own kitchens to make their lives easier, and their ideas on storage and display make this book well worth while.

A great "Go By" book on Kitchens, but watch for pot holes!
I really like this book alot!
Ken Hom's kitchen fascinated me. The 90 second Hobart sanitizing machine is De Rigueuer but you still have to wash all your dishes before you put them in the Hobart.

Secondly, study his work triangles and read the text. There were sink plumbing restrictions during remodeling and design focus on teaching. Su cuccina, mi cuccina? Maybe not but a great collection of design ideas, just look closely. See waht ideas would work for you and why. Some of these kitchens (John Folse)were designed for TV Production with ample room to move cameras around.

These chefs will tell you some of the mistakes they made and give you the reasons why they designed their kitchens the way they did. A great read and a great drool! Kitchen Kudos to you Miss Ellen Whitaker, et al!

I'm swimming upstream on this one
To be perfectly honest with you, I was a little disappointed in the book. I expected to see kitchens that I could only dream of. Instead I saw utilitarian efforts by America's top chefs. Imagine looking into Mario Andretti's personal garage. Would it look like a dream shop, or more like a GM assembly plant? One kitchen in this book had tall, bare cinderblock walls, that were not even finished, right in the center of the kitchen. How do you prevent dust from accumulating in bare cinderblock, and inadvertently arriving in some of the food? Their were some kitchens that were nicer than that, but nothing that inspired me.
Personally, I am interested in a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is practical. I found, the book, Kitchen's That Work, A Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen, a much more informative, and inspiring book, no matter what your budget.
If you want to throw your pinky in the air, and poo paa your neighbors, then leave Great Kitchens on your coffee table. Their is plenty of names to drop in there. But if you want to create a great-dream kitchen, then get Kitchen's that Work. From soup to nuts, that is the book to have for the practical to the particular.
In all fairness, I am not sorry I bought Great Kitchens, as I am sure I can glean information from it. If you would like to hear about some of the considerations the top chefs like to see in their kitchens, then by all means buy the book. I guess I was expecting something awe inspiring, and that is not what this book is. I gave it four stars, because I never met a man, I couldn't learn something from.

Excellent Kitchen Planning Book
This is hands-down the best kitchen planning and design book I have seen. I learned so many things from it about picking materials, lighting, fixtures, sinks, layouts, etc. that my remodeled kitchen will be better because of it. I paged through endless books and magazines filled with lovely photos, but that lacked information or substance. This book stands out because it discusses pros and cons, budget tradeoffs made, the good decisions and "if-I-had-it-to-do-over-again" mistakes. These are kitchens put together by demanding professionals who won't tolerate (bad)or lightweight materials that are hard to clean. I learned many lessons about flooring, countertops, backsplashes and so on that were never touched upon by other books. Sure there are appliances to drool over, but there are also chefs who ran out of money during the remodel, or bought factory seconds tile to save money. Real-life issues and lessons. ... Read more

Book Description

What can you accomplish in a weekend, start to finish? Any one of the more than fifty-five exciting projects in Debbie Travis' Weekend Projects, by the star of the TV series The Painted House. Following the inspiring full-color photographs and simple instructions, even the beginning do-it-yourselfer can create beautiful pillows and frames, boxes and screens, and slipcovers -- each in just two days or less.

In transforming a home from plain to personalized, it's the little touches that make the difference. "The furniture and accessories you make or decorate yourself are the most successful," Debbie explains. "It's not just about the money we save . . . it's the experience of creating something by hand." Not only are these projects quick, inexpensive, and easy to make, but they also yield some of the most appealing and useful objects you could own. For example, a plain dresser or shelving unit can be completely restyled with a few hardware store add-ons and a bit of paint. With no-sew Velcro and self-adhesive hemming tape, anyone can hang patterned curtains or create a decorative pillow. A roll of screening and a staple gun turn a frame into a kitchen divider and tool rack in one. In sections that cover tables, screens, frames and mirrors, lighting, storage, fabrics and floorcloths, and garden furniture and accessories, Debbie visits every room of the house. Each project has been photographed to show not only the finished results, but also the step-by-step techniques needed. With so much variety in materials, processes, and end results, Debbie promises over a year of fun weekends, with a beautiful house as the bonus.

Lavishly illustrated with more than 350 full-color photographs, Debbie Travis' Weekend Projects is also the weekend crafter's manual, packed with valuable information, including tips on where to find pieces to make over, a complete listing and explanation of tools and materials needed, and instructions on how to prepare an array of different surfaces.

Whether it is a basic wood frame, a pressed-tin candlestick, or a velvet pillow, these treasures may take just a weekend to make, but they will bring a lifetime of enjoyment.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Inspirational!!
Debbie Travis really breaks down projects that look complicated into easy steps. In looking for info on one project, I immediately became inspired to do several of her projects. They are all easilly adapted to your home and style, and definetly make you want to go for it!!

Great projects!
Lots of easy to do projects. Most of the projects can be adapted to suit your own decorating style.

Projects Made Incredibly Easy
I have tried and successfully completed many of the multitude of projects in this book. The instructions are clear, concise and the photographs are gorgeous. The instructions for the armoire on the cover may not be spoon-fed line by line, but the two techniques that Debbie mentions she uses on it are very clearly explained in other projects. I tried it on a table (rather than an armoire). It's gorgeous. All it takes is a little imagination. I just can't believe what a jewel this book is.

Misleading cover
When I first saw this book I fell in love with the blue armoire on the cover which reminded me of the unpainted armoire I have at home. I bought the book only to find the armoire was depicted twice (on the cover and page 82 - which is a full page picture)and there is a very brief paragraph that vaguely describes how Debbie " . . broke every rule. ." and used " . . two different techniques . . ." for this piece of furniture. Don't judge this book by it's cover.

what a nice surprise
With the number of DIY programmes on TV at the moment this was the perfect aid to my refurbishment attempts. Laid out in a neat simple to follow format the book guides you quickly through the basic priciple any inexperienced DIYer needs to comprehend. Reasonably priced the only problem I have found with purchacing this book is that it has been lent out time and time again, I simply can't get back off my friends. ... Read more

Book Description

Today's bathrooms offer a quiet, private space in a hectic world. More money is being put into bathroom renovations, and this book, with a wealth of fresh ideas, shows how to rearrange bathroom components into a satisfying whole. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Must See & Read for New Bathrooms or Bath Renovations!!!
An incredible amount of information with beautiful pictures of how to plan a new bath / shower OR how to update / remodel an existing bath....Hundreds of illustrations that can be incorporated into any bath depending on budget and desire...

great for the professional as well as the novice
This text has many wonderful photos to inspire the professional. It is also full of basic info homeowners can use. It is not too technical, but covers most of the features needed in a bathroom.

I gave it a star for every idea it gave me
That's why there are only two stars!

First idea, the shape of a single cupboard. The second idea, a way to add counter space over a toilet. That's it. I guess I could have gotten both from any other magazine on the shelf for a lot less than I paid for this silly picture book filled with pictures of _pieces_ of bathrooms. A more appropriate title would have been:

Bathroom Parts Picture Book
A guide to bathrooms for those who can't read.

The most I'll get from this book is the enjoyment my children will receive from cutting out the pictures for their paper dolls.

NO IDEAS
Being in the home improvement business, I felt odd needing ideas when it came time to upgrade the bathrooms in my own home. Perhaps making a living building the bathroom of everyone elses dreams helped to fog the picture of what I wanted my own to be. Taunton Publishing puts out a trade magazine that I swear by. So when I decided to purchase a book on bathrooms I thought I couldnt go wrong with this one. How wrong I was.
This book is little more than a collection of photographs of high end and ultra high end bathrooms. Here in my neck of the woods a complete bath renovation ranges in cost from between ten and fifteen thousand dollars for an average bath. Very few of the rooms displayed in this book would make that budget.
Aside from the introduction there is almost no text to assist the "reader" in understanding requirements or even necessaties pryor to planning a bath remodel. Perhaps the fact that I am in this line of work colors my opinion of the book, but if photos qualify as ideas, Id recomend picking up a few magazines on bath remodeling and get a fuller picture.

Everyone will pick up at least a few ideas from this book
I found this book to be very helpful, as we are currently in the midst of re-doing 3 bathrooms. For our large bathroom, we will incorporate a number of ideas that we hadn't thought of previously. This book is exactly what it claims to be - an "idea" book. There are tons of pictures, all beautifully photographed. I usually get this type of book out of the library, but I'm happy I invested in this one. It's definitely worth the money, and a wonderful reference guide. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

Trompe l'oeil murals can turn even the most drab room into a beautiful work of art as enchanting as it is convincing and realistic. Now readers can learn how to capture that magic with The Art of Trompe l'oeil Murals.

Master muralist Yves Lanthier has decorated the homes of celebrities with his breathtakingly true-to-life paintings, but readers don't have to be rich or famous to benefit from his expertise. Step-by-step illustrations let readers watch as Lanthier's work comes alive, and will inspire them to create lush, highly sophisticated murals of their own using simple elements.

Seeing is believing, and this is one book readers won't want to take their eyes off of! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most people are familiar with the hallmarks of Rachel Ashwell's shabby chic style: fabrics in pastel florals and stripes, chintz sofa covers, antique-store and yard-sale finds turned into home furnishings and accessories. At the heart of this breezy style is a very practical idea: don't buy new--use what you have or can find at thrift stores and secondhand shops and enjoy the old-fashioned charm that only aged pieces acquire. The same idea goes for houses. The Shabby Chic Home shows how an older home can take on a shabby chic appeal by being brought up to date without sacrificing any of its charm.

In The Shabby Chic Home, Ashwell walks readers through the renovation of her own 1920s home, from the purchase of the originally dark and gloomy house through the repainting (using layers and layers of white paint) of the home and the rebirth of the garden, yard, and pool, to the final decorating of the home for herself and her two kids. Along the way, readers receive advice on how to choose from among the thousands of paint colors, how to decide whether to live with the old or buy new, and why remodeling an older home might not be such a good idea. The latter part of the book explains how to add touches of shabby chic style to every room of a home--old or new--for a finished look. The result, shown in dramatic before-and-after pictures, is a home that's comfortable enough for a family to relax in, but still elegant and beautiful.

Don't let the floral patterns and chenille bedspreads fool you: Ashwell's advice throughout is common-sense and economical. For instance, she recommends not wasting your time looking through every decorating option--if you like the first idea, color, or plan well enough, save yourself the time and stress and go with it. She also suggests resisting the immediate desire to throw out the old and bring in the new; try living with things as they are for a while, and you may find yourself surprised at how well you've come to like the funky tile in the bathroom or the noisy glass-door refrigerator. Here lies the appeal of a shabby chic home: sometimes old has a charm and lived-in look that can't be purchased from a home improvement store. --Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (30)

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS/LITTLE SUBSTANCE-NOT WORTH THE PRICE
I am a fan of Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic program. I tune in every week to get ideas and inspiration as I continue to re-do my own little house. However lovely the photos may be in this book (she turned a gloomy place into a sunny oasis) the kind of written text she offers can be found in an article from Better Homes & Gardens, or other home design magazine. It was quite dissapointing. Her home now has light airy feel to it in general, however, Ms. Ashwell advocates some rather weird ideas, such as choosing her make-up products for their packaging (so that they fit in with the decor!). What's up with that? This is just one example of some of the impractical advise in this book. I will keep the book because the photos are lovely and have provided me with inspiration for my own plans, however few. Ms. Ashwell' home looks lovely but does not look like a place the average person would have as a primary home (the walls are wooden planks!). This looks more like a vacation cabin than a primary residence. If you like coffee-table books with lots of beatiful photos, then buy this, if not buy a home design magazine at the newstand and save some bucks.

Third Time's the Charm!
Rachel Ashwell knows what works for her--white, cream, pink and green--and several trips to the fabulously overloaded flea markets of Southern California. Fans of her funky but glamorous style certainly won't be disappointed by this latest addition to the Shabby Chic shrine, and the funny thing is, other decorating fans will enjoy this, too. Ms. Ashwell tends to become a bit annoying with her rules of white and pink, but I think this book shows she's relaxing a bit, allowing turquoise and cerise into her palette as well. The Malibu house she found for her family is just plain fantastic, with lots of charm and happy personality. The pool and garden areas are just the place you'd like to flop down and spend a lifetime, and her shots of her daughter's room show a nice mix of mom's and daughter's compromising for one another. Where, however, is her son in all this? I think he was mentioned less than half a dozen times! Don't boys fit into the Shabby Chic scheme, too? One word of caution with this book: although it is far more accessible than her last two, readers who don't live in as amenable a climate as Ms. Ashwell might find it a bit hard to take. All that white would sure get old in northern climates come February. If you cannot afford to have wholesale flowers delivered weekly to your home, or don't feel the need to match your shampoo to your decorating colorways, you might feel a bit perplexed by this book!

Very Disappointed
Browsing the free pages shown on Amazon I thought I was going to get a book with lots of Photos of "shabby" style furniture and tips on how to get the look.Instead what I got was a book that reads like a 'day in the life of' story.I didnt want a biography.This book takes you along on the authors trips to assorted flea markets and whatnot and tells you what she bought and where she is going to use it.Not at all what I expected to get.

I'm workin' toward this house...
Except, mine will be on the Indiana or Illinois coast of Lake Michigan. I love Rachel Ashwell's frugal, classy style. She gives you a truck load of inspiration and understands empowering people to design, no matter if they are wealthy or shopping in ritzy alleys or at estate sales for goods. The results create sentimental elegance. If nothing else, you learn the power of white paint and good hard do it yourselfing. This book takes you there and Rachel does an excellent job of pulling you into her home. She leaves nothing out and the photographer deserves enormous credit. Buy it or check it out at the library today.

Somewhat interesting...but overall disappointing
I was really excited about getting this book....I was hoping to get something that inspired me to find neat design solutions in the mundane and everday. You know...make something out of nothing.

Well, there WERE some good ideas like that in this book, but I felt that unless you were a HUGE fan of flowers and girly prints you wouldn't really find much of use in this book. Granted, it's probably a personal style conflict that made me return this book, but if you can find this book used and for a good price, go for it. Not worth the full price. ... Read more

Book Description

Moving or redecorating? Use this handy furniture layout kit to design your rooms before you purchase or reposition a single item. Includes 215 furniture shapes, graph paper and complete instructions.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Room and Furniture Layout Kit
Unfortunately, the pieces in this book are not to the scale of our blueprints. They should be 1/4" = 1 ft. however they are 1/2" = 1 ft. It is not specified in the ordering information on this item.

good find, good advice
We found the book to be a good tool, but limited in its use. Many of the pieces we have didn't fit those provided, so we had to improvise (you punch our standard funriture pieces for placement on a grid of your room). Also, the paper isn't a standard graph paper, so it's limited (unless you want to copy it)... other than that it was a good tool...

Room and Furniture Layout Kit
The concept is good but it should be available in a 1/4"= 1' scale so it could be used with standard house plans.

Excellent information!
I found this book by mistake and sure am glad that I did. What a find. Use the information here and your house will look like a professional did it!

Not really a Book, but a Great Tool
Wow! This kit, was the cheapest and MOST EFFECTIVE method we found for planning the rooms in our house. The ability to plan, easily change and visualize a room layout...without moving furniture....is great. This is perfect for new home buyers, who are trying to organize multiple rooms. ... Read more

Book Description

Do you long to create picture-perfect rooms but can’t quite seem to achieve them? Do you want better functioning spaces for working, playing, or living? Do you clamor to express your personal style? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, you’ve turned to the right source for real answers from the pros.

Home Decorating For Dummies, 2nd Edition is for all kinds of people in all kinds of decorating situations, including:

• First-time buyers or renters. You have a whole new place to decorate. Where do you start?
• Second- or third-time home buyers. Whether you’ve gone up or down in size, stayed in the same region or moved to a whole new one, you need to know how to make your old furniture work in a new setting, how to add furnishings, and how to make your style seem fresh.
• Newly blended families. He has furniture, she has furniture, they have furniture. Can it all work together harmoniously? Indeed!
• And anyone else who loves decorating. Don’t forget: Imagination counts.

Each part of Home Decorating For Dummies, deals with a broad area of decorating, and each chapter contains specific and detailed information. You'll discover tips on

• Basic planning – where to begin when you want to start decorating
• Creating surface interest – the effects of color, pattern, and texture, and the problems created by too much or too little of them
• Creating backgrounds – what you need to know about the special decorating requirements of your walls
• Tackling tough rooms – how to effectively decorate rooms that have special functional requirements
• Accessorizing with art and other stuff – adding the final flourishes to every space in your place

Home Decorating For Dummies, 2nd Edition contains all the basics – including how to figure out what you can spend; how to spend it; and the latest and greatest in styles, trends, and technology. What do you do with your space next? The possibilities are endless. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It is basic but not really for dummies!
After checking out many books from the library and pouring over glossy photos of rooms as large as my whole house, I felt more discouraged than inspired. If you can get past the name of this series of books, this particular "Dummy" book has all the same information about interior design as the books that cost three times as much. Get those out of the library and look at the photos for free. There are only a few photos of rooms in this book. It is mostly just the basics of what you need to understand very basic interior design concepts. Is everyone but me living in a house with 12 foot ceilings, rooms that are 400 square feet and windows looking out on the ocean!

Good, basic start
Like all the "handbook for Dummies" series, this is good, basic, straight forward information for the novice, written in a very friendly, unintimidating style.

At Last -- A Book For Mere Mortals!
Good,Solid advice on actually furnishing your home stylishly and comfortably instead of just fantasizing about the unaffordable and unattainable. I found a lot of helpful information to get me through each stage of a project. I really liked the way the authors wrote...very down-to-earth and friendly, unintimidating and real. I only wish there were loads of pretty pictures too!

Stop Dreaming, Get Doing
Good,Solid advice on actually decorating your home instead of fatasizing about the unaffordable and unattainable. I found a lot of helpful information to get me through each stage of a project. I really liked the way the authors wrote...very down-to-earth and freindly, unintimidating and real. I only wish there were loads of pretty pictures too!

Very basic, some interesting points.
I decided to give this book as a gift, as it is a good introduction and starting point when in a quandary as to where to begin in the process. This was the first book I read on home decorating and it did give me some things to consider that I might not have thought of with the massive project of decorating, coordinating color schemes, lighting, etc. I went on to more in-depth books, which this wasn't one of them. ... Read more