5 comments about The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes (Crafts Highlights).

1. The most in-depth reference book I could have asked for. Exactly what I wanted and needed.



2. I purchased this for my daughter who is a faux painter. She loves the book. She says there are many techniques in here that are new to her and she is enjoying doing them.



3. Pierre's book is considered the bible of Faux and is a must have reference guide for the experienced faux finisher!
   
   A great example of the marbles he is so famous for can be found in the Morrocan mural he co-painted with Sean Crosby in the hot new book benefiting charity "The House that Faux Built" Transform Your Home with Paint, Plaster and Creativity The House That Faux Built check out the search inside feature.



4. This book contains excellent descritions of equipment and techniques used for decorative painting. It is well inllustrated and easy to read.
   
   GM



5. Great resource book. Cool techniques...a bit intimidating for a beginner but full of information.

No comments about Florence de Dampierre French Chic: The Art of Decorating Houses.

5 comments about Gothic: Architecture - Sculpture - Painting.

1. "Gothic" is the second book in a series that covers Western European art and architecture from the 11th to the 19th century. "Gothic" actually deals with two periods: the Gothic period proper, and the Early Renaissance, mostly it's Northern (Dutch) version. The editor believes that the distinction between Late Gothic and the Renaissance is problematic and somewhat artificial. Thus, the book takes us from the 12th century well into the 15th century.
   
   A large part of the book deals with Gothic architecture: cathedrals, churches, city halls and (to a much lesser extent) castles. There are also chapters on Gothic sculpture, painting and goldwork. The chapter on painting also includes Giotto, Fra Angelico and the Northern Renaissance (especially the latter). The text is very comprehensive, and probably mostly appeals to serious students of European art and architecture. What makes the book of interest to the non-specialist are the lavish illustrations. There are photos on almost every page, most of them in color, and all of it for a bargain price!
   
   Personally, I must admit that the "pure" Gothic cathedrals don't really appeal to me. I find them boring. And yes, almost half the book shows Gothic cathedral interiors or facades, most of them strikingly similar to each other... The second half of the book is more aesthetically pleasing, showing how the original Gothic style changed as it spread to Germany, the Netherlands and Bohemia, and how painting developed during the Early Renaissance. The section on goldworks shows many interesting objects.
   
   I like the "Baroque" volume of this series more, but if you have an interest in the Middle Ages, or "Old" Europe art and architecture in general, this book is nevertheless recommended.



2. Honestly, I'm thinking of buying another two copies of this book (I have one now) so that I can cut out and frame some of the pictures - (I want two copies because some of the images are back to back). The images are stunning, and there are clear examples that show the influence of Islamic and Moorish art on Christian cathedrals, especially in Spain. Truly a beautiful and scholarly introduction to this lovely part of the heritage of the whole human race.



3. This is the most spectacular book for you if you like lots of HUGE clear photos of TONS of gothic cathedrals. There are MANY pages of history and other information about the making and restoring of the cathedrals. A MUST HAVE for any gothic-history lover.



4. I first discovered this book in the library and I checked it out several times because I just loved looking at it so much. The pictures are so breathtaking, it increased my resolved to go to Europe and visit all these incredible places first hand. It's a great thourough book for anyone who is new to Gothic art forms as well as a visual reference for people who are already familiar with the style.

   Hard to carry around, but very easy to read!




5. Having borrowed this book over and over from the library, I really had a hard time parting with it when I last returned it. The photographs are splendid, a joy to look at. Since it also qualifies as a reference book, I looked it up ..... to but [buy] a copy but was certain price would be ... more than in was. Now I'm about to by my third copy --it is an amazing bargain.

5 comments about Country French Kitchens.

1. Great book! Great pictures! Great descriptions and discussion! It's obvious the author knows what she is talking about!!!



2. Carolina's joie de vivre burst forth on every page! She not only writes about joy, she lives and breathes it-
   Regardless of whether you a bigger, better newer person or an older, quaint and time-worn person - you will find inspiration in this book, thru its pictures but more importantly through its written message.
   For Friends!
   Lexington, KY



3. I am thrilled that this is not yet another showcase of photos of kitchens in France, rather this book shows you numerous country french kitchens that are authentic and absolutely true to the style, yet there is no sacrificing of practicality. The book stands on its own if you just want to see beautiful and inspiring kitchens or just like french country style, but goes the extra step for readers who want to see how the style can be creatively adapted to kitchens in which real people actually cook, entertain and congregate with their families here and now in the US. I also was impressed by the quality of presentation and photographic excellence.



4. I love French Country style, and was happy to learn about this book. My happiness didn't last. After I bought it, I was stunned to discover that not one photograph in the book was taken in France, and in fact there is not a single authentically French kitchen anywhere in its pages. The majority of the kitchens seem to have been photographed in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York. Instead of true French style, this disappointed reader discovered clichéd American takes on French style -- large ceramic roosters, ceramic rabbits, a wall emblazoned with the word `EAT,' built-in cabinets painted with flowers...
   When I bought this book, I looked forward to being inspired by real French kitchen design, with photographs and text that captured the charm and individuality of a kitchen in the French countryside. Instead I discovered garishly hued suburban American kitchens masquerading as French. Many photographs, including the cover, have a yellow cast from electric lighting. This book is going back!



5. "Carolina Fernandez has done a remarkable job of selecting a wide range of real kitchens from real people who clearly have a real passion for what is arguably the finest room in the home. There is no question that the kitchen is the place where family, friends, great food and conversation all come together, and Country French Kitchens is testament to that. Thank you for opening these doors and inviting us into your world and perspective of what will surely become a go-to book for everyone's favorite room."

3 comments about House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets: Exclusive Design Ideas from the Pros (House Beautiful).

1. The book is lovely, but it could've been so much better if it had more desciptions of what you're looking at. Instead, it's full of little phrases that may be helpful, but they are also somewhat pithy. I wish I had purchased a couple of magazine subscriptions instead.



2. I love looking at House Beautiful books. I find the pictures to be inspirational. However, I usually don't think the text is very informative. I was pleasantly surprised to find House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets to be an exception to the rule. It does contain beautiful photographs, but the "secrets" are useful and/or inspirational comments by designers. I have to admit I don't recognize the names of most of them, but I find the information to be consistent with other interior design/decoration books I have read. The quotes may not always be particulary earthshattering, but there were enough good ones to justify giving House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets a 5. Out of 750 quotes you are bound to find something that is useful to you!
   
   Now, just to give you a clear picture of what the book does and does not have to offer: no where is there a set of explicit instructions for how to incoporate the comments dirtectly to your home, but that is not the intention of the book. It is suppose to make you think for yourself how to add your own sense of style to your house. The book is set up so that there is a picture or two on a page and quotes by several different designers. The pictures illustrate the comments. I choose the following quotes because I thought that they are good advice and/or they made me rethink how I decorate my rooms.
   
   "The most important thing is what you feel when you walk into a room." Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz
   
   "Not interfering with views is decorating 101." Scott Salvator
   
   "You don't need a lot of elements to create a dynamic effect." Jeffrey Marks
   
   "Anchor a large room with a sense of symmetry." (quote from the author).
   
   "I edit rigourously for scale, form, and color." Celeste Cooper
   
   "Incorporate a common thread-such as a neutral color-to unify electric furnishings." Kelly Harmon
   
   The one drawback to the book for some people might be that the pictures portray a similar style of decoration. If you like a mix of modern and antique, you will probably like the book, but those who like other styles, may or may not enjoy the pictures in the book. However, I think that the information given by the designers applies to any style.



3. House Beautiful Magazine specializes in award-winning interior design presentations, so you know that when they lend their name to a collection, professionals are involved. Their top designers reveal secrets, provide room makeovers, and pack in over four hundred color photos from selected superior interiors. Utility blends with art in 750 DESIGNER SECRETS: EXCLUSIVE DESIGN IDEAS FROM THE PROS, which tells how to shape and tailor a design project for maximum efficiency and best visual results.

5 comments about New French Country: A Style and Source Book.

1. I purchased this book as a gift and had done a lot of research looking for just the right one. I loved the book from the moment I opened it and was very excited to see not only beautiful pictures but loads of ideas and design elements that were very helpful. The receiver of the book was also very thrilled with the design elements and help that the book brought to help with decorating her home in the french country style. Loved It.



2. This is one of the best books on Country French that I've found. The illustrations are wonderful, whether you prefer the older designs or are looking for something with a more modern feel. I loved just looking at the pictures and getting a feel for the colors and styles. This is a book I'll return to again and again to get the feel of the French countryside.



3. The book was very informative. It gave me many ideas on how to include my furnishings with a French feel.



4. I can see this book is going to sit on the top of the coffee table book pile for a long time to come. Aside from the fabulous photos of French Provincial homes, Dannenberg delicately picks apart the details that make a typical Provincial home and garden. It does the job so much better than we sitting in another continent can grasp from a few photos in a book. It teaches us how to copy this style and really appreciate the quality of each piece of furniture, artwork or chattel we acquire for own little pretend patch of France.
   I love this book!



5. Really a wonderful book - both beautiful to look at and informative. Very interesting reading, as well as artistically lovely with wonderful, colorful photography. I am not a decorator or designer by trade, but go to this type of book for creative inspiration, and this one was a winner.

5 comments about The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living.

1. If you're familiar with Susan Susanka's Not So Big House series, you'll feel right at home here. Author Mark Vassallo co-wrote Inside the Not So Big House and like Susanka, takes a stand against overly-large houses made to impress, focusing instead, on casual, intimate houses based on the way "we really live." Vassallo's taste is less dowdy than Susanka's whose architectural choices can be mundane or smothered in wood detail. Expect cleaner, harder edges, funkier looks and a few surprises (like a house split into two small structures).



2. Couple quick notes:
   Most homes featured are new, few are retrofitted. Most done by architects in a modern style.
   
   For a barefoot home, it seems unusual that most floors are concrete. Very few rugs, I didn't see any carpet.
   
   I would've liked to have seen the rest of the property or at least how the house sits on the site. Driveways are not addressed. Nearly every house has a large lot and amazing views (which most of us do not have). Does not really address how to achieve a barefoot home with a nominal budget.



3. We live in temperate Australia and hesitated long before buying this book. We have shelves of excellent architecture reference books from around the world and have been owner builders. Was it going to be just glam coffee table eye candy? The architect has worked with Sarah Susanka (Not So Big House etc), so we decided to take the plunge. This is a very good book. There is so much to look at, contemplate, re-visit. Brilliant resolution of details, houses that flow, small exquisite spaces, sound materials. We have had hours of enjoyment from this book and have been happy to share it with others to extend their knowledge of good architecture. Enjoy!



4. On first glance I agreed with many of the other reviewers: 'the book was slick', 'it was disingenuous', 'sure, if you live in a sunny climate, most, if not all, of the time'.
   
   Then I went back and looked at the book again, and read the opening passage: he does not strive to be disingenuous, he tells us he himself doesn't live in a barefoot home, nor a barefoot neighborhood, but he is trying and the manifesto of the book is to entreat all of us to be more informal in our primary living space -- our homes.
   
   Open the house up as soon as you can, get rid of all the stuff you don't need, make your home as casual as you can, and then enjoy it.
   Think informal thoughts, and live in all the spaces available to you: the patio, the deck and never forget how good it feels to have sand between your toes!
   
   He provides blue prints to the homes and he even lists the architects. Enjoy and live well!



5. This book is great for conversation and ideas. I leave mine on the coffee table for periodic inspiration...that of myself..and of others!

5 comments about Flea Market Style.

1. This book rocks-it has funky ideas and is beautifully presented, not like many of the other recycled furniture books out there.I mean, do you REALLY want to learn how to make a distressed-finish-powder blue-decoupaged candlestick holder out of fence pickets?If so, this is not the book for you..this one shows how you can TASTEFULLY decorate your place with some original pieces and not spend a fortune.Accept no imitations-this book is awesome.



2. This book has some really good ideas as far as example rooms set up for you to go gaga over, but only an upholsterer could really carry through with a lot of these ideas. It shows some samples of remarkable flea market finds though. I personally thought that a lot of the spaces that were set up in the book were too cluttered and not usable realistically.



3. i found this book on Amazon after searching for another by Emily Chalmers called Style On a Budget. I bought this one blindly and really loved the ideas. The photos and layout are beautiful and the ideas are creative and fun. i love the combination of colors used, which is lively yet still maintaining a mature ambience. I do think these "finds" are not as lucky for just anyone unless you are an avid flea market goer. But still it will help me keep me motivated, with eyes open.



4. Very creative and innovative! Low cost and stulish ways to add beauty and charm to your surroundings. There's alot of Flea Market & Junk mavens out there, but at an actual cost that's out of this world when you delve into it. Nice going!



5. I live in suburbia, in a newer development where all the homes pretty much look the same. I am always on the look-out for creative ideas on decorating because I don't want my interior to look like it stepped out of one of the well-known home decor stores and catalogs. This book was an inspiring find! Lots of pictures and informative text...I have looked at the pictures over and over again. I'm not much into the step-by-step instruction books on transforming found objects so this book was right up my alley. For me, its purpose was served in that it filled my head and notebook with creative ideas for my home. A great book to look through before you head off to the nearest architectural salvage yard, flea market, or out for a day of garage sales.

5 comments about Mexicolor: The Spirit of Mexican Design.

1. A really beautiful book. One of the best I have seen. I live in Mexico and will be using many ideas.



2. While I was in the process of planning and building my next casa in Baja, this book provided mucho inspiration. The Spanish Colonial, and Hacienda designs, the avalanche of colors and gardens provided me the basis of making mi casa as Mexico as I could.
   Yes, the binding is weak, but the book remains as an Essential. I now have 2 copies, one very worn out copy.



3. If you love the bold, life-affirming colors of Mexican houses and interiors but not necessarily the traditional architecture and furnishings of the mexican tradition, this is the book for you! I ordered several books on Mexican interiors and details and this was the best. It gave me great ideas for using bold, bright color in my house without turning it into a hacienda. The book is beautifully designed and the color just blows off the pages. It has in it everything I love about Mexico that is bright, lively, joyous, and enlivening and nothing that is stodgy. As An artist, I found the book irresistable.



4. i've been to colonial mexico, and i've seen more exciting stuff than what's on this book. also, the pages come appart easily



5. I have always loved everything about Mexico, especially their use of color. When I bought my new house I wanted to bring that freedom and joy into my home.
   
   This book was a wonderful guide. Almost every page reminded me to let go and celebrate. There are so many visual feasts and ideas. If you are timid about colors this book will definitely give you a new lease on life.

1 comments about Old & New: Combining Past and Present In Contemporary Homes.

1. This was an awesome buy. It gave me lots of ideas for decorating my aspiring eclectic home.