5 comments about Thom Filicia Style: Inspired Ideas for Creating Rooms You'll Love.

1. A friend gave me this book, I guess because she felt like my apartment looked like a mish-mash of things I liked, without any real connection.
   From the minute I opened Thom's book I realized with just a few additions and rearranging I could transform my own style into a great looking apartment that was still all about me. I recently had a dinner party and people were amazed with the transformation - I was even accused of hiring a designer to help!
   And the book is beautiful, so now it's on display as it well deserves to be.
   I've got a bunch of other single friends living in NYC and I plan to give them all this book for the holidays!



2. Thom rocks!! I have been using this book to design my NYC apartment and my country home. Very smart and great ideas.



3. So really what Thom does is pure talent - meaning sure he is not reinventing the wheel - but he has that nack of being able to pull together that crisp perfect comfort look that is impossible to do. There are plenty of great ideas that can be duplicated in this book - vivid pics and step by step processes that really lend well to being able to assist in doing it yourself.
   
   I bought several copies to give away as housewarming gifts and holiday stocking stuffers.



4. This book is beautiful! The photos and graphics are fabulous and the advice is so useful! I love how Thom's designs are assembled - they are a mix of new items, antiques and collections that you already own but made so much more beautiful by the colors and surface materials. The absolute truth is that I've already stolen one of his ideas and implemented it in my new house - and it looks great!



5. First, I have to say that this is a gorgeous book with beautiful photographs. Even if you're not looking to redecorate, it is a wonderful book to flip through and keep on your coffee table.
   
   On top of that, it's all about using your own personal style to decorate your space. So while Thom Filicia has excellent taste and style, this book makes it about you, not about him. I just moved into a new apartment, and this book could not have been more helpful in helping me figure out how best to decorate it. I was able to use a lot of the pieces that I already own, but in ways that only made them look better. This book is a great inspiration.

No comments about Country Living 500 Kitchen Ideas: Style, Function & Charm (Country Living).

1 comments about Regency Redux: High Style Interiors: Napoleonic, Classical Moderne, and Hollywood Regency.

1. Emily Edermans' impressive book Regency Redux is a lavish volume published by Rizzoli.
   The text is akin to a dissertation on the subject of an overview of the Regency style formed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and adopted in 18th, 19th, and 20th century France, England and The United States of America.
   The text is chockfull of historical facts, but written in a breezy style accessible to Recamier readers. Peppered with Regency era words like `the bon ton' and `paste pot decor' and 'beswagging', it puts you in the milieu of decorators, upholsterers, drapers, furniture makers, and their clients of the era.
   The illustrations and photographs are spectacular.
   The time line from the ancients to period styles of 1700's, and up to modern interpretation in 20th century Hollywood to the present day Regency influences is jaw dropping.
   We basically owe our present style of decorating to the Regency period of the 1700's and 1800's: Free floating furniture placement; furniture that does double duty; sumptuous color; over painting old inexpensive pieces to make them current; decorating with "paste pot" wallpaper and draperies; hand painted murals; mixing the old with the new - are all things initiated back then, and still very much the way we decorate today.
   The term Hollywood Regency has been erroneously applied to anything Mid 20th Century. A movie Regency look really took place from the 1920's - 1930's, based on the European tendencies of Moderne and Art Deco, which in turn referenced certain classical forms.
   A glamorous Hollywood style evolved and developed from the 1930's into the 40's and 50's, the first design for the people movement. If a home decorator saw it on the movie screen, vendors soon enough sold the look for home use.
   An East Coast style referencing Hollywood also took hold in New York, something called Vogue Regency. The interplay of fashion and decor was linked by the original period Regency crowd in France and England (think empire waist dresses, The Empress Josephine and Madam Recamier), and carried forward the 20th century. The idea of changing your decor to keep at as current as this year's frock is still what's done today.
   Kelly Weartsler does the forward for the book, and is mentioned as a guiding force to the current revival of modern Regency style. I find the omission of Jonathan Adler odd. Both of them share the same time line, the same look of things. One being East Coast (Vogue Regency Revival), the other West Coast (Hollywood Regency Revival). Perhaps it's Emily's nod to the famous cadre of "lady decorators" she documents from Elsie de Wolfe to Miss Weartlsler.
   The section on the Lady Decorators is absolutely fascinating. Emily describes the lady decorator: "It didn't require training, just a vague attribute called `good taste'. Those who had an `eye'..."
   Dorothy Draper was among the most successful. A 1941 profile in Harper's Bazaar, included this observation: "Mrs. Draper calls herself 'a professional stylist' or 'repackager.' What she means by this is that as a decorator she has a purely merchandising viewpoint, like a packager of perfumes."
   The historical documentation in Regency Redux is complete and flawless.
   I would have liked to see reference to period American Regency other than Hollywood. Colonial times certainly had its fair share of Regency influence which can be seen in The White House, The Governor's Palace at Williamsburg, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and New Orleans' French Quarter, among others.
   Homes from that era such as Richard Jenrette's Edgewater, and Henry DuPont's Winterthur also share profound Regency touchstones in the form of American Empire furniture and decoration.
   While the French and English certainly "invented" the Regency vernacular, on this side of the pond, early Americans brought it with them, and ultimately made it their own.
   The Hollywood era is beautifully explained and illustrated, and the photos obtained from the Mandelbaum collection are rare enough to really be appreciated gathered in one volume.
   As I look around my own living room, I realize how much Regency style I have intuitively acquired in the form of furniture that is portable in the form of settees, chairs, and little tables. I even have a paste pot detail in the form of a mural. Look around your own home: No matter what style you have adopted, and I'm sure you will see the effects of Regency style too, if only in furniture arrangement.
   I think anyone who loves decor, interior design, the movies, and the history of decorating, whether it be for a movie fantasy, a middle class home, or a grand house of the wealthy will certainly want to add this book to their collection.

2 comments about Jeffrey Bilhuber: Defining Luxury: The Qualities of Life at Home.

1. I read the last review, and couldn't disagree more. This is a picture book, and not a study guide. So many people want to pick up a book and figure out how to do it themselves. This is a beautiful book which shows Mr. Bilhubers style very well. I never understand people who base their review on their personal style and not on the quality of the work no matter the style. The book has beautiful full page pictures that aren't tiny vignettes of spaces. There are many beautiful color combinations that are unusual but still work beautifully and should inspire people to be more creative in choosing colors and patterns. This is a very nice book.



2. Jeffrey Bilhuber's Design Basics is one of my favorite "go to" design references for its well laid out approach to thinking through design and decoration while incorporating the reader's personal history into a room, and valuing strategy over spending $$. This book is very different, to the point where I can't relate to any of the rooms. They are overcrowded with items, patterns and colors to the point of being over the top, especially when compared to the design approach presented in his first book. To get value of this book, I have to focus in on one or at most two items in a room. Another issue is the book will have several pages no text, and then you find the references grouped together a couple pages before or after. It's aggravating to have to flip back and forth to reference the design comments. I wish I had been able to preview the book on line, as I would have skipped this one.

5 comments about Candice Olson on Design.

1. This was a gift. Speaking for my wife, she found it to be very helpful. We watch her TV show and this was a nice compliment to it. I've not looked at it but my wife was thrilled. Pictures are big and bright.



2. To me, Candice is one of the best designers of today. She makes a room feel classic with a punch of todays trends. None of the to trendy, cheep looking items that will be out dated by the time you finish your space. She is a master of timeless beauty. I love her book!



3. This book is the information we all want to know about how Candice creates the beautiful rooms seen on Devine Design. The advice she gives in her book anyone can follow to get the results we all want. This book is a keeper to anyone who wants their surroundings to fit their lifestyle, without ever haveing an outdated look. Plus there is great information about Candice herself.



4. What makes Candice Olson so appealing on TV, her vibrant personality and animated and often humorous character-is the only thing missing from this book. Everything else you would expect from such a talented individual, even if we have already seen most of it through media, shines through with greatness. Along with this purchase I had acquired another new decorating book on the market, Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser - and though I had never heard of this unique up and coming designer/decorative artist, I was equally impresssed. Heuser's book, a unique blend of how to and professional enlightment, follows the unbelievable artistic make over and restoration of his personal historic home in KY. As does Candice's book, it is also filled with amazing photography, and tons of before, during and after shots - which tremendously helps the reader better comprehend, relate and borrow from the subject. What Olson does with fabric, furniture and lighting - Houser uses decorative paint finishes and custom murals, to breathe new life into tired spaces. I was never so thrilled with both of my purchases, as both authors demonstrate uniquely different approaches to looking at and restyling home interiors with great admiration and obvious know how and success. If you love home interior books with overloads of eye candy, and concept from which to learn and of course borrow from again and again - then you can't go wrong with either of these. ENJOY!!!!!!!



5. I love Candice's show, but was disappointed in this book. There were only a few designs covered, and not enough information to make the book worthwhile. I like the tips and tricks she gave, but would have liked more insight into how she makes her rooms amazing.

No comments about Santa Barbara Living.

4 comments about The French Room.

1. Every time I look throuigh this beautifully illustrated and written book, I find more ideas and inspiration. I am so glad to have The French Room as my own so I can refer back to the pages for details and other decorating tips. I think that it is a wonderful Christmas gift for friends who appreciate owning or dreaming about elegantly appointed homes. For those who have Betty Lou's other books, this is a must-have book for your collection.



2. Whether you are a francophile or not this beautiful book will give you fabulous visual ideas on changing any room in your home. I rearranged my living room to be as much like the book cover as possible and it made the room come alive!



3. Great photos, great cover, looks beautiful on my coffee table. Very pleasing to the eye.



4. Along with Charles Faudree's new Interiors, I have been anxiously awaiting Betty Lou Phillips' The French Room. I wasn't disappointed. Although not every lifestyle allows for the abundance of objets d'art or the high-end luxury fabrics on every upholstered piece, I can still appreciate the beauty and design of the rooms presented. I like the somewhat cleaner line of Ms. Phillips' interiors and those of the designers also featured. It's a shame that this is a decorating style that does not transition itself down well to the mass market, but maybe that's why it's so appealing. Lovely photographs and a wealth of anecdotal information on accomplishing the French style...whatever your budget.

5 comments about Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols.

1. My students at Mount Holyoke College's SummerMath program have had great success using the Home Quick Planner. These are high school students and they use the planner to design their own dream homes, as part of the Architecture and Mathematics Workshop. The planner's wonderful array of symbols expands their design options, as they see many new possibilities. Using the variety of symbols provided, the students are able to find the sizes and shapes they want, and when a particular symbol is not available, they typically improvise, sometimes combining two other symbols to meet their needs. The planner's attention to detail is impressive, for example, there are over 400 feet of walls, half-walls, and symbols for marking removal of walls for a remodeling project. The planner provides a wealth of learning experience.



2. I've used the planner to layout several rooms, and the pieces are still sticky after repeated use. It's a very user friendly product. My only issue is that there are many more kitchen and bath cabinets and appliances, etc. than furniture, and I purchased this to plan furniture layouts, not to layout bathrooms or kitchens.



3. I purchased this for my interior design class. This has proven to be a great asset for furniture placement. The templetes are reuseable



4. I got this from my husband for my birthday and I was very excited, but once I got to working with the kit I could not finish my project because there were not enough of the wall strips. So if you are doing a large plan this kit may not be what you need without purchasing additional kits, but if you are doing a small plan or single room remodels its fine.



5. The Home Quick Planner is an excellent way to lay out and discover alternative floor plans, decorating ideas and propose major home remodeling changes. I have found it very helpful.

5 comments about The New Traditional: Reinvent-Balance-Define Your Home.

1. After seeing this book reviewed in several shelter magazines, I bought it. What a disappointment. No color, little furniture, it was just impossible to imagine anyone living like this. Who lives with a rock or a piece of wood as an accessory? If Darryl Carter is "revolutionary in the design world" and this book is "destined to be a classic" count me out. I returned the book, because it was such a waste of money.



2. Another waste of money, ughhhh. Apparently, the New Traditional means white, beige, taupe, beigey white, or taupey beige. Antiques are scattered very sparingly and is usually a large gilt or brown thingie against a field of white. Drapes are either brown or white (if you can find drapes) and I was actually thrilled to see a houseplant on p. 104. Furniture was mostly brown and there is even *decorative logwork.* If I were to rename Mr Carter's book, I would call it *The New Traditional: How to Live in a Ball of Beige. The only print I saw was mattress ticking & a super subtle, barely there off-white floral or something. A Shocking Disappointment.



3. Darryl Carter is a revolutionary in the design world. Creating classic, visualy engaging, and completely livable environments for his clients has transfered well to the book world. Easy and informative reading, stunning photography, and realistic living environments make this a book not about Darryl Carter (like many interior design books) but about well lived and well crafted interiors. This book is how it should be!



4. I was delighted to see that Darryl Carter's book The New Traditional was identified as "destined to be a classic" in the current issue of Oprah's magazine O at Home - and in the company of books by such design luminaries as Parish-Hadley, Mark Hampton and Terence Conran.



5. Daryl Carter has created a new genre and a signature style that is elegant, classical, and comfortable, where the new mixes with the old, and less is certainly more. His equal parts of restraint and creativity create an amazing combination. This book is like a slow, beautiful, casual walk through a well designed yet livable home. I wanted to stop, sit down and enjoy being in many of those rooms. Daryl Carter is already important as furniture designer, lighting designer, and interior designer and if this book is any indication likely the next Martha Stewart like figure for home furnishing.

3 comments about Liaigre.

1. I have to say the second book does not impress as much as the first book. Thought the first book was much more beautiful in terms of visual aesthetics. Too much digital photography was used in this second book and it didn't really fit the style of the design so well because it made it look cold. In terms of content this book was more interesting than the first book because it offered a more analytical look at the projects and not just a visual glorification. Definitely worth the money if you are a true fan, however if you had to pick between the two I'd get the first one first then get this one.



2. I just recieved this book, and it's my new favorite! I have his last book which I also loved. This time around, the flavor of the design is a lot more diverse. The large size, the nice thick paper, the beautiful photos, and the great way the pictures are layed out make this book an important book to have in your design library. Even if you're not familiar with this designers work, you will definitely find great details and modern ways of looking at design without the design becoming so cold and "chrome and glass". GET THIS BOOK!!!



3. The Book and the work is a bit disappointing. Heavy even Baroque in some elements. It also appears that Liaigre was influenced heavily by Peter Zumthor's Thermal Baths at Val. The projects are so similar , I thought at first it was the same project. No credit was given to Zumthor in any way.... very strange. I have to think that Zumthor's was the original since his project won the Nobel Prize for Art. It is a very blatant reproduction down to the towel bars and stone texture. If my assumptions are in error please correct me. Perhaps they collaborated on these projects .... no credits indicate that is the case. Perhaps Liaigre project was the first of the two... Zumthor's has been out for a while since the project was complete in the mid 90"s , so its doubtful. Perhaps there is pending litigation between the parties and they are bound to silence. If anyone knows or has an explanation it would be welcomed.
   I think this one is going back!