2 comments about La Maison de Verre.

1. I just received the book and had no time to read the text. The NY Times article in the summer covered the history of the house up until its current restoration. The photographs look a little as if they were from the "modern" era. Perfect perspective correction, focus on the details, rendering the home's atmosphere remarkably well. I especially like the color balance of the images. I disagree with the previous reviewer about the pictures. I can not imagine any different way to introduce this spectacular building. The black and white Polaroids (?) are a bit distracting. They may serve as spacers.
   
   The "modern" is an important stage of the Western culture and deserves our attention.
   
   Akos Szilvasi (Cambridge, Massachusetts)



2. This book simultaneously (and half-heartedly) documents the owner, the architect, and the building. The text is boring, the pictures are less than spectacular, and there is an extremely limited set of drawings placed in the back of the book as an after thought.
   Overall I am extremely dissapointed with my purchase, and if you are an architect or student of architecture chances are you will be too.

1 comments about Cabins: The New Style.

1. This is a coffee table book of fifteen up-scale second or third homes built for people who can afford special settings, experienced architects, fine builders and expensive materials often trucked in from far away. It seems to me that the use of the word "cabins" is a stretch. You decide: stated sizes range from 800 to 3,000 square feet.
   
   Each house is introduced with a few paragraphs on the first page and followed with several-to-many pages of magnificent full-color photos, many full- or double-page. Plans and elevations shown are small-scale; a magnifier would be useful.
   
   The value is inspiration. Whether you aspire to build or own a humble cabin or a magnificent retreat, you will find many ideas here.

No comments about Design Ideas for Home Decorating (Design Ideas).

5 comments about Classic Greenwich Style.

1. Although there is indeed a style that could be called Classic Greenwich, this is not it. This book is filled with newly-put-together interiors by a local decorator, no doubt married into money, trying to emulate a style of Established Old Money. While the interiors are not horrible, they are not particularly great either. A hint of what is to come is given in the one paragraph Forward by famed decorator Bunny Williams and her peak-of-chic antiques dealer partner John Roselli; it says nothing. Rather than buy the book, just take a flip-through at the bookstore.



2. This is one of the most beautiful books I own. This book is filled with gorgeous pictures of rooms that invite you to linger in order to examine every detail. The homes are elegant and classic but they are also very livable. The book provides examples of ways to use color and texture in new ways to highlight classic furnishings and architecture. Even though I have seen several of the images from this book in other publications, the pictures take on a new feel when mixed with images of previously unseen venues. I particularly like the fact that this book provides a mix of classic styles detailing both formal and relaxed settings. In addition, the images depict a freshness that is appealing. Many books on this topic lead one to believe "classic" styles are only for fuddy-duddies. This book clearly demonstrates that classic styles have a timeless charm that appeals to individuals of all ages. I plan to give copies of this book to friends that appreciate a decorating style with staying power. Another book that I highly recommend is Great Traditional Style (published by Meredith Books, Des Moines, Iowa).You can't go wrong with either of these books.



3. Brilliant overview of classic timeless style and decorating. The written excerpts are well worth reading, with excellent tips and information.



4. Good book though photos not so great and the printing above all is not good.



5. The title creates visions' of grandure; however you could probably find a better book at HomeDepot.

2 comments about London Style: Streets, Interiors, Details (Icon (Taschen)).

1. Artsy black & white pics show London street scenes in the first (small) section. Then the large sections of excellent color photography illustrate a variety of interiors, then decorating details.
   
   Most of the space is given to the pictorial, as befits a book on how things look; what little trilingual (English-French-German) text exists is poetically descriptive.
   
   Styles represented tend toward the spare and eclectic - we're not talking about conspicuous consumption or Martha wannabes here - probably "urban bohemian" is the general trend. Architectural details are proudly and blatantly incorporated into the overall scheme of things... It's a work well worth inclusion in your library



2. This book is an excellent viewbook if you want to get a taste of contemporary London interiors. It has very modern, a bit more classic and very simple interiors as well. There is very little text in the book, but the photos are all full page and very well made, high quality. A fun book to flip through and get inspiration from!

5 comments about Living in Morocco: Design from Casablanca to Marrakesh.

1. This is a beautiful book. Unfortunately, the cover broke away from the binding after only a couple readings.



2. BOOK ARRIVED IN POOR CONDITION WITH THE BACK UNGLUED. OTHERWISE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO ESSAY



3. The photography is inspirational -- whether you are a shutter bug or trying to grasp the details that make this part of the world's interiors so beautiful. Striking colors, well-chosen compossions -- this book is a must have. My only regret is the lack of printed information that would educate me on the fine details and intricate subtilies of this design form.
   
   Still, a must have for anyone with interest in photography or the striking vistas on can create for their home or garden.



4. This book is really very beautiful. I have transgressed Asian and southwestern design and this book is just what I wished for.



5. I really liked this book, as well as Moroccan Style. I felt this book was a little more comprehensive on the styles by region of Morocco and showed more traditional design.

5 comments about Room and Furniture Layout Kit.

1. I love this product. It does exactly what I wanted it to do. As always, products from Amazon arrived quickly.



2. I love this book and I have used it over and over for years. Who cares if it doesn't match blueprints? Simply measure your room and do the math. I don't have blueprints to try and match - I'm just a woman trying to redo rooms in a house. There are 215 punch out pieces of furniture and if they don't fit your EXACT sofa you can cut them down to size.
   
   I am a perfectionist and need everything to be measured exact. I do not cut corners and I have used this book for at least 5 complete room makeovers. It has been invaluable and many furniture pieces were NOT purchased because I knew they wouldn't fit in the room - all thanks to this really inexpensive layout kit. $5? It's worth the investment many times over.



3. I wasn't as pleased with this item as I thought I would be. It was purchased to use for our homeschooled 16 year old. At the time of this purchase, we also purchased "Home Quick Planner", which was the real find for us. I purchased this with the intention of using it as a supplement to the "Home Quick Planner" after seeing it listed on Amazon as a "goes together" type of item. Unfortunately, the "Home Quick Planner" was scaled to 1/2"=1', and this item was scaled at 1/4"=1', so they really aren't good together.
   
   I was also wondering why they have the subtitle "From Stencils and Notepaper to Flowers and Napkin Folding", since that was not in MY edition, and my edition looks just like the picture in the Amazon ad.
   
   Also, the "Home Quick Planner" has detailed "window cling-type" stickers that you can take off and put back on easily, which is nicer than these cardstock punch-outs, which are very plain. I would suggest that you "look inside", on the Amazon listing, which I didn't do since I impulsively purchased it when Amazon listed it as a "goes together" item. After viewing the "look inside", you may decide that this is just what you want, and the price is very low. It may be nice for somebody who wants to invest a small amount of money to try their abilities at layouts. You may be very happy with it.



4. 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.



5. 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...

5 comments about Vastu: Transcendental Home Design in Harmony with Nature.

1. Finally, I had purchased a few Vastu books to enhance our home as well as to plan designs for a new home in the future. This book answers all the questions in a sensible, practical and logical format.
   There are many resources as well. The photos are beautiful and it seems to put it all together.
   Highly recommended.



2. Sherri Silverman's VASTU book is not only erudite but also practical - and absolutely gorgeous.



3. Vastu: Transcendental Home Design in Harmony with Nature is an exquisite work of art from the front cover to the very end. Extremely informative in conveying ancient knowledge, yet easy to read and understand. A "must have" for those of us seeking to create beauty, balance, and harmony in our everyday life and surroundings.



4. This is a well written book that offers the lay person a great deal of knowledge about Vastu. It is concise and easy to understand and provides tools to create a more harmonious home. Sherri Silverman did a superb job!!!



5. This book is stunningly beautiful! I want to move right into the rooms, homes, and gardens featured in this book. The photographs alone would make this book worth owning. But on top of the great beauty, the book is filled with helpful information on how to improve our homes so we can feel more grounded, serene, and joyful. I have used some feng shui techniques in the past, which is why I was interested in this title. I made a few changes recommended in the book and have experienced an enhanced feeling of well being. The biggest change has been in our bedroom. My husband, who has historically been a poor sleeper, and I changed the direction of our bed. He is now sleeping much better and sometimes even sleeps through the night, rather than waking up 3 or 4 times as he used to. I also moved the extra books out of our bedside table, which makes the bedroom feel more peaceful even though the books could not be seen where they were. Next, I plan to investigate "yantras," which the author recommends for making our homes more sacred and correcting problems that we cannot correct because of the limitations of our homes or budgets. In summary, I highly recommend this book and recommend that you use some of the Vatsu principles. You will definitely feel the benefits!

No comments about Beautiful Windows: The Ultimate Window Treatment Design Book.

No comments about Baroque Ornament and Designs (Dover Design Library).