1 comments about Country Living 500 Quick & Easy Decorating Projects & Ideas.

1. I have a passion for design books that are practical and fun. This one fits the bill. The suggestions would fit any casual comfort filled home.
   The use of color is great and appeals to the relaxation of the eye.

5 comments about Cafe & Restaurant Design.

1. In general this is an informative book of ideas IF you are planning on a very hi-tech / upper-class / expensive restaurant. Definately not for the small business entrepreneur wishing to gather ideas for a small intimate casual gathering place.



2. This book is quite useful if you work in architecture/interior design or wanted to opened a restaurant. It brings you lots and lots of other cafe & restaurants architectural & interior designs which is absolutely stunning. Each photograph is amazing and makes you really wanted to visit those restaurant/cafe.
   
   I actually hoping for more details from each cafe & restaurants in this book, because for each cafe/restaurants review they only provide about 3-5 images. It also provide a small information about each cafe & restaurants, and sometimes a small blueprint of the building's architecture.
   
   Overall, it's a great book with not much information in it. Because just like what the title is, it contains 'cafe & reataurant design' ONLY.



3. The latest edition to the outstanding Te Neues "Designpocket" series, Cafe & Restaurant Design is a compact, 399-page, superbly illustrated compendium of cafe and restaurant interior designs and layouts throughout Europe, America, and around the world. From Cafe Gioriette in Vienna, to the Plaza Athenee in Paris, to the Cocoon Club in Frankfurt, to La Frustra in Rome, to the Lupino Lounge Restaurant in Barcelona, to the Berns Hotel in Stockholm, to Ini Ani Coffee Shop in New York, to Icebergs Dining Room & Bar in Sydney, to Moph in Tokyo, to La Scala in Bangkok, this series of pictorials is an impressive survey of the best and most innovative settings in which people gather to dine and socialize. Cafe & Restaurant Design is a particularly welcome and highly recommended addition to professional and academic Interior Design reference collections.



4. ...that the error was mine. I ordered this along with a whole host of other books on the restaurant business. I didn't realize that it was a book of pictures. I thought it was that and some kind of description about what we were looking at. It's not. Only pictures.

   I dropped it to 3 stars though because (while certainly interesting cases) most every business featured is an ultra-modern style. That, plus there are absolutely no case-by-case descriptions of what it is the authors found attractive or important about the designs.

   Christian Hunter
   Owner - Sevilla Restaurant, Santa Barbara California




5. This book has lots of great pictures of various cafes and restaurants, hence the title. I bought it for ideas for my work and I loved flipping through the book when my brain needs some new ideas. If you are looking for how the architects came up w/ the solution or what kind of materials they use, you may not want this book. If all you are looking for is pictures, this is the book for you.

5 comments about Pottery Barn Bedrooms (Pottery Barn Design Library).

1. I am glad I bought this used as I did not feel it was worth full price. The rooms are all the same. Not much inspiration. If you like color (at least more than off white, tan, light blue and cream) than this book is definitely not for you.



2. Décor is a very personal thing, which probably accounts for the widely divergent reactions of readers of this book - they either love it or hate it.
   
   A small design team have selected and completely decorated, with Pottery Barn furnishings and accessories, 24 rooms, large and small, in homes of varying types, including a Victorian townhouse, small cottages, farmhouses, a saltbox, a ranch house and a modern home inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright design -- in what amounts to variations on a single theme - simplicity, informality, tranquility.
   
   The décor of each room complements the character of its setting, reinforcing it with restraint & subtlety, without being obvious or overwhelming. There are plenty of props, artefacts and accessories to add interest but nothing cutesy or kitsch, and the overall impression is of simple comfort.
   
   Personally, I love this book, but I can see how some people might be put off by its limited colour schemes and understated style. People who are not fond of beige will probably not be happy with the book. A more apt title might have been "Pottery Barn in Neutral". The emphasis - which may be due to the designer's bias -- is on warm neutrals - ecru, linen, cream, sand, taupe, honey, butterscotch or camel. There is lots of light, in white or cream painted walls, furniture and woodwork, in white sheets and matelasse or in sunlight filtered through sheer curtains.
   
   When there is colour, the palettes are often subdued: watery blue, chambray, celadon, muted reds or sienna. Colors are also neutralized by combining with white or cream in checks, toile, pinstripes, quilts, woven rugs or cabana-stripe Roman shades.
   You won't find any formality here, no moiré wallpaper, no brocade or satin or tapestry bedspreads, no black, royal blue or emerald green, no loud colours or sharp contrasts.
   
   My favourite room in the book (except for a rusty old iron bedstead which I would have freshly repainted in bronze) is done almost entirely in winter-white and cream, right down to the white painted floor boards, and accented by colourful cushions and bed-skirt of red plaid taffeta. I find it reminiscent of old-fashioned English country cottage and the whites & pastels of Swedish country.
   
   I can hardly wait to adapt some of those ideas to that attic room I've been renovating.



3. GREAT book and great series (all the Pottery Barn Design Library books)! I have an interior design background, and this series is the best I've ever read --- great design and storage ideas that are easy to do and the ideas are multi-faceted, so you could use in another room, etc.



4. I have read/used three of the Pottery Barn books listed in order of my opinion of them: Baths, Living Rooms, and Bedrooms. Baths was very good, with beautiful photographs, interesting and innovative ideas, and some useful design advice. Most of the book provided a several page showcase for an individual bath with discussion of what made it special.
   
   Living rooms was OK. It's content was more canned, but it still had some inspiration and enough ideas that were useful that although I would not put it amongst the best such books, it was worth an hour or two to browse.
   
   Bedrooms hit the bottom of the list for me. The content seemed especially canned. The ideas were not fully developed and most of them appeared to me more appropriate to someone's first apartment than an established home (so it just needs the right audience?). Lot's of the pictures involved just using eclectic pieces and did not involve actually developing a decorative theme.



5. I love Pottery Barn and have managed over the years to purchase their furniture and a handful of their accessories. They have wonderful ideas (that can be pulled off with a fraction of the price if you look around) that are fun to try and unique. But if you are looking to find that inspiration, don't count on this book. I find that I can get better ideas straight from their catalog instead.....and that is free! Their ideas bordered on boring and not real conducive to everyday use. I plan to stick with the catalog after being disappointed with all of their books in the set.

No comments about Barclay Butera.

3 comments about The Smart Approach to Small-Space Living (Smart Approach).

1. The book discusses some valuable points regarding visual balance in a space, focusing on color and furniture sizing. A lot of the graphics show ideas for small spaces, but not too many ideas for small spaces on a budget. Also, I believe the spaces they decorate should offer more real-life challenges, such as limited number of windows and other difficult-to-decorate nooks, etc. It's a pretty good start though, since it gets you to think about the direction you want to follow. I suggest sarting with this book with the idea that you will need to get another book later on, one which will cater more to your taste and needs.



2. I was looking for a how to decorating book for my condo and this book was amazingly helpful. Granted some of the spaces had more square footage and light than my space does, but the book was great! There are so many "apartment" decor books that are for spaces that are 2000 sf or lofts; not my situation at all and I had almost given up on finding a good book until I read the reviews of this one. I've referenced this book several times and it, along with several Idea Books, gave me great perspective and direction and I have succeeded and turning my cookie cutter condo into a one of a kind cozy place that I love.



3. I'm a college student that struggles with trying to keep a neat and orderly apartment, and having furniture that seems to be too large for my small rooms makes it kind of hard to keep a clean and organized appearance. I didn't know they made books on the subject of decorating and organizing small houses and apartments, until my best friend passed along this awesome book. Remember how I mentioned I had big furniture? Well it seems to work right with my small rooms now just by some juxtapositions of the furniture and simple modifications of the room. I didn't fully understand how the color of the walls could really change the appearance of a room's size, along with the patterns, lighting, and accents. Well now that my apartment looks cool and is highly functional, all I have to do is find a way to STAY organized.

5 comments about Space: Japanese Design Solutions.

1. This book is fine in almost everything but the floor plans that are missing. It's small and compact which goes with the theme but a floor plan would have been a great addition in simplifying the readability of it. Most of all it would be great if I could learn how to do them instead and of only admiring these houses.



2. This book... I liked it so much I even use it as a gift! Extremely happy!



3. it would make a marvelous coffee table book, except it's half the size of one. or maybe it makes a wonderful table book precisely because it is so easy to pick up and skim. regardless, don't let that deter you from getting this book, as it is remarkable in its showcasing of the creativity that small spaces foster. as you read both the words and pictures throughout the book, you will find yourself thinking "wow that makes so much sense!" and "i want that house!" over and over.
   a fantastic book, it will inspire you to either move to japan, or take the book to your architect and commission a house on the spot.



4. That's right, folks! Not a one! However, that hasn't put me off this little book.
   
   I've enjoyed this one for it's nifty little nooks and crannies and the way that others can realise good living in small spaces.
   
   This is a VERY Japanese style book. I would not necessarily agree on layouts of the homes but once again, I say unto you, I buy books for inspiration and I haven't been disappointed.



5. Just love the simplicity f spaces in japan, old and modern.

2 comments about The Villas and Riads of Morocco.

1. It is an exquisite book, filled with photographs to make you drool and text that informs you of the nuances of homes so far from my own. Buy it! So worth the money to have it sitting on your shelves!



2. This work is thoroughly researched and beautifully presented. As well as the delights of the photography and text, it contains really interesting aspects of social history.

1 comments about Sketch Plan Build: World Class Architects Show How It's Done.

1. If you are an architect, interior designer or a student this book is a must. It is an amazing book to have and add to your collection.

4 comments about Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg.

1. Creative projects for homemade Christmas decorations make this book a great gift.. If you can part with it!



2. I bought this book for my neighbor and when it came I wanted to keep it! She had recently visited Williamsburg and came back with stories of how she loved the Christmas decorating and wanted to emulate things for her own home.
   I've never been to Williamsburg myself, but this book was beautiful! The pictures were professional (I've seen books where they were not) and there were instructions on how to make the decor yourself. Well worth it! I will probaly get one for myself for next season!



3. Since I love boxwood growing in the yard and using the beautiful greens at Christmas, I found this book to be one of the most informative books I own about Christmas greens. The instructions on how to create many decorations for the inside and outside the home are very clear. The pictures are gorgeous. I have learned to make garlands, wreaths, centerpieces, swags, boxwood trees, and other lovely items. The book features many different types of greens to use for creating holiday decorations. I have taught many others how to make holiday decorations that are featured in this book.



4. This book has lovely ideas for decoarting using natural materials. I found many of the ideas could be done very inexpensively.

5 comments about Interior Design Visual Presentation: A Guide to Graphics, Models & Presentation Techniques, Second Edition.

1. Wonderful illustrations for you to use as a guide when creating your own drawings, and presentation models. I've been able to refer to examples from this book when I've hit a rock trying to create my drawings and model spaces.



2. I gave this book as a gift, but the recipient (a new interior design student) was very pleased with it. Also had the book shipped directly to the recipient (to make it in time for Christmas). It was received in good shape in a timely fashion. So while I've yet to see the book myself -- the gift review in conjunction with other buyers' reviews makes me think it's a great purchase!



3. This book helped me tremendously with getting my senior project portfolio ready. It goes into detail about presentation methods, mounting, layouts, ideas for portfolio covers etc.
   
   I would like to see another version of this book being published..in color though! Some of the ideas spoken about are definitely outdated and inapplicable in this day of age.



4. I am a student studying Interior Design and I have found that this book is a great one that every student should have on their shelf. Its an amazing resource



5. This book has taught me more than I learned in an entire semester at a FIDER accredited Interior Design program at a local college. Well worth every penny.