5 comments about Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Over 100 Classic Wood and Stone Fireplace Mantel Designs.

1. I purchased this book thinking it might help me build a mantel shelf and found it to be worthless. This book is an lengthy advertisement to try to sell mantels. I don't recommend it as one can purchase a magazine to view pretty pictures of mantels.



2. I'm an ole timey (senior citizen) fireplace builder for 51 years. This book was fun for me and is choice for learning secrets about a useful fireplace. Hey author, I like your classy and easy mantels and build some but I can't find any book anywhere that has a bunch of more complicated mantel plans that I can sharpen my beever teeth on. Help me anyone!! Good job on this book but please write a new one quick for us ole timey builders. I need pricey mantel ideas to put in my toolbox.



3. Me and my husband have bilt and remodeled since 1939. That's lots of work. I bought him this book which he says is the best. He likes it for the details about new fireplace types such as the gasless. He also got good ideas on easy mantels. Buy it for your own good.



4. My wife and I recently bought a new house and wanted to install a fireplace. We knew little about fireplace technology or what manufacturers offered. I had no idea until I read this book that there were so many options. The book describes in detail not only the many options but how they work and whether they're appropriate for your particular fireplace. The book also gave us great inspiration with choosing a mantel design. The book contains several mantel designs and how to build each one. The beautiful photos and construction illustrations were very helpful when we built ours. The big fireplace suppliers are also noted in the book with lots of helpful photos of their offerings. For myself, the wealth of knowledge I gained about fireplaces was priceless and very easy to read! I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about adding a fireplace to your home or redesigning an existing one.



5. I usually don't write book reviews but felt I should since I really disagee with the reviewers who gave this book one star. This book doesn't have any advertisements. It contains over 20 original mantel designs that my wife and I felt we could build from common materials. I am not an experienced craftsman, but this book helped me gain the confidence I needed to begin the project. We are quite pleased with the results. I built the "Oak Manor" mantel which was simple to build and was completed in a week of my spare time. Our friends can't believe how good it looks and I have loaned this book several times. The next fireplace I build I would like to be a ventless since this book answered all my technical questions and gave me several ideas on where and how to install various types of fieplaces. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about fireplaces and would like to build their own mantel.

2 comments about Italian Splendor.

1. The book itself is a work of art. I actually have two copies of this book, the original first edition Hardcover in Italian, and the Hardcover reprint edition from 2004. Italia Meravigliosa, I bought with the idea that any text in its original language is better than anything translated. That would probably be true if my skills in Italian came anywhere close to what I would like to think they are.
   The book is a beautiful journey through Italy to places that you would never get to see, even if you lived in Italy. The book is laid out well with exquisite pictures on every page. A special bonus is the fact that the text accompanying the pictures is presented outside the picture itself so that the beauty of the picture is unmarred by text superimposed over it.
   The book visits 57 places, with historical background, things to look for in the pictures, and interesting little facts in the narration at the beginning of each new place. The pictures that follow are all relevant to the text presented, with enough information to enjoy and understand the pictures, without a lot of repetitive information. A lot of thought went into everything presented in the book. It is a refreshing change from similar books that present the same information over and over disguised in different versions of the same thing. There is a nice map that helps pinpoint the locations of all the places for you, so you never have to admit that without it, you would have no idea where these places were.
   Since I have both the original edition plus the reprint addition, I can provide the differences in the two. While they are both hardcover editions, containing the same amount of pages and the same information on the pages, there are some surprising differences. The original version is ½" thicker than the reprint edition and almost a pound heavier. The original version seems to be printed on better quality paper, and has a more solid binding. This would not be noticeable except for the fact that I own both copies and one is noticeably larger than the other. My advice: Take this book, get a glass of wine, wrap yourself in a blanket by the fireplace and you will be transported on journey through Italy. No matter how many times I have read this book and looked at the pictures, I always seem to see something in the pictures that I never saw before. It will definitely be a great addition to your book collection.



2. Italian Splendor is simply splendid, and much more than just a coffee table show-off. It is a beautifully produced book, dominated (as it should be) by the wonderful photography of Roberto Schezen.

   The descriptions by art expert Ralph Toledano are succinct and respectful and contain some interesting anecdotes. Best of all, they are short enough to just whet the appetite for the photographs.

   This book takes you into the fabulous homes of the rich and aristocratic families of Italy and Sicily. From the exquisitely simple La Rocca Pisana, Lonigo to the amazingly rich Palazzo Doria Pamphilij in Rome, each house is different and interesting. Some are astonishing, like the Palazzo, Panza di Biumo, which has a peculiar mixture of ancient frescoes and abstract modern art that works in an odd sort of way. Many are private homes not open to the public, and therefore not able to be viewed in any other way except through this book. Unless you happen to be royalty yourself, of course!

   The book was researched over 18 months by Jack Basehart, who must be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know all of these marvellous houses. Thanks for sharing them with us, Jack....

   ...And how about turning this book into a documentary series?

   PS. If you can get hold of it, I think the hardback is well worth the extra money. This is a book you're going to want to keep.

5 comments about Spirit of African Design.

1. After my recent move I decided to do what I've always wanted to do and that was decorate my home in African style. I didn't have a clue where to begin until I was given this book as a housewarming gift. Not only does Algotsson show you beautifully designed rooms but she teaches you how to develop "your interpretation" of Africa...she discusses general regional differences in designs and colors, textures and furniture pieces that are used...she then teaches you how to identify your own African style to create your own unique look. I've always been one to say I don't have a flare for decorating. I don't say that anymore. My home is beautifully decorated in African design thanks to the help of this book. This book is timeless.



2. This great book shows in text and photographs the various and beautiful ways that African artifacts: traditional fabrics, sculpture, paintings and drawings, popular and ubiquitous souvenir items and - most importantly - African-inspired motifs and designs, can be incorporated into (or the inspiration for) sophisticated contemporary room decor.

   The authors have worked for the international design company Ikea, so their slant is design, rather than anthropology. They come at it in an energetic and engaging way. The result is a source book that is a visual treat, and a great home tour. The rooms - living, bed, kitchens (in which W. African design elements are adapted to ceramic tiles, with gorgeous results) and more - are lively, smart, and modern.

   You notice in reading the text, and drooling over the abundant photos of the beautiful and stimulating rooms, that well-known European textile designers of the sixties (the Finnish company Marimekko, for example) owe a debt of gratitude to indigeneous African cloth designers. This is something I hadn't ever realized.

   A lovely, inspirational, and worthwhile book.




3. I have lived, worked and travelled extensively in West Africa since the early 1970's and this is the first comprehensive book which assisted me in incorporating my beautiful art and artifacts into a living design for my home. I loved all the gorgeous pictures and the practical tips. The variety of design styles was also a welcome reminder of the diversity of Africa. I can't wait to read the next book by Sharne Algotsson. I only wish there was a magazine devoted to this subject as well.



4. I have traveled to West Africa and the Caribbean. This book helped me incorporate the artwork and artifacts I brought back from my trips into my day-to-day design. The things I have are no longer just "souvenirs," but are now part of an overall look and feel of my home. Now, when I travel, I have an eye for what I can do with my "stuff" when I get it home!

   The authors and photographers have done a wonderful job.




5. I just happened to be walking in my local mall and got a glimpse of the cover and was sold from then on. I am probably driving my family crazy but I am now inspired to redecorate my kitchen to resemble an african market. Thanks!!!!!!

5 comments about Decorating with Color.

1. Rich, velvety chocolate, beach glass, jonquils, blue skies, cotton candy, silver spoons, lavender sachets and seashells---if these are the images that bring you joy then this is the book you should you shouldn't be without when making your color choices. If you oooh and ahh over Pottery Barn catalogs, then you have pretty good idea already of what to expect from the color choices within this book--serenity.
   
   Previous reviews on this book have taken me by suprise!
   
   If you don't like earth tones and colors picked from nature, then this is absolutely not the book for you. The cover is a CLEAR indicator of what is within so how people purchased this book and found themselves suprised by it's contents is beyond me.
   
   If you desire serene, rich color with monochromatic tones and eye catching contrasts that don't pop your eyeballs then this book is a must have.
   
   Martha only explains the importance of subtle contrast and color placement with regard to depth and space, but the information contained within is crucial to developing a smooth finish and painting with results that rival that of professionalism. This book is so much more than a "look at me and my shocking photographs" that you might find in other books aimed at color.
   
   While Martha has always favored greens and yellows in her work, this book explores use of blues, greys, pinks and even lavender with silver. The results are soothing, restful rooms that tantilize the eyes without tiring them.
   
   It's a smart, easy-to-use design instruction that reads well and produces even better results.
   
   Martha's paint colors are available at Kmart, Sears, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Fine Paints of Europe. This means that if you like the colors within this book, regardless of your budget, you will be sure to find a match at a local paint store near you. That's an added bonus that I've found priceless!



2. Martha Stewart's "Decorating with Color" is a wonderful book to help you choose and match colors with the color wheel in mind. I love her overall monochromatic color schemes with an accent color thrown in from the opposite end of the color wheel. I subscribe to her magazines, and while these ideas are featured there as well, it's nice to have them all in one book. I liked this book more than "Decorating Details." Another good decorating book is "Instant Impact" - in my opinion the best of the Trading Spaces books.



3. please, if you regularly buy martha stewart living magazines, DON'T bother buying this book. unless of course you want to see more of the same, but packaged altogether with nice binding and a deceptively original cover. it's not even actually "more" of the same, but actually "the same" -- this is a compilation of reproductions, old stuff that was published over the years. not too fresh, and particularly aggravating to someone who's a subscriber.



4. My husband and I are at the tail end of redecorating our house and this book came out just in time to help me plan the color scheme for our sunroom (I love the celadon color scheme). I only wish I'd had this book before decorating my other rooms. (I keep looking at my white ceilings now and wishing I'd painted them a color!) Anyone who loves the sophisticated understated monotone color schemes that are one of Martha's trademarks will find this "best of" book a useful addition to their decorating collection.



5. How can a new book look this old? It's the same old sagey, seafoamy greens and pale yellows that Martha has pushed for, like, 20 years now. I like Martha, but I was assuming that her new book would be about new colors that are more on trend than this. I'm disappointed.

5 comments about Spirit of the Home: How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary.

1. This book pulls together a variety of spiritual concepts - feng shui, goddesses, purification/smudging, creating altars, use of stones and crystals, aromatherapy/scents in the home, and colors. It's really a great overview. Activities like spring cleaning and decluttering are covered as are specific rooms like bedrooms, kitchen, etc. There are some terrific photographs throughout the book which really inspire. I like that the author put all of this together into one book. I have other books that talk around all this - one on feng shui, one on crystals, one on potpourri, etc. This book ties them together and I feel like now I can go back to those other books and apply them better.



2. This book was a real "find" for me. I have several books on feng shui and space clearing, and this one was intuitive, yet practical at the same time. It is spiritual but loaded with remedies for clearing one's space on this earth while we are here! I never thought to talk to my house, yet it makes perfect sense! It reads almost like a novel and is just full of information. I wish I could go home from work now and continue with the "read"!



3. When I first looked over this book I did not get into it. But as I began to buy new furniture for a new home and pulled together my tastes and sytles (The Domain Book is great for that!), I found this book to be a wonderfully insightful book that helped me to consider Feng Shui and blessing my home and many other spiritual and tangible aspects of this place called my home. I have ordered a second one today for a friend.



4. This book is a good introduction to lots of new age stuff (and common sensical stuff, too) relating to homes. Alexander gives recommendations of other books if you want to dig deeper into a particular topic.



5. I enjoy reading, but I am a very visual person and was disappointed in this book because while it offers suggestions that make sense, it takes longer to get through the book since it is practically all words and very few pictures for inspiration.

5 comments about Altars Made Easy: A Complete Guide To Creating Your Own Sacred Space.

1. If you're sufficiently interested in having your own altar that you're perusing books on the subject, you probably already know 'way more about the subject than you're going to get out of this book.
   
   There's little real information or insight about altars, per se. It's mostly the same filler on what gem, what animal, what deity, what color candle, etc., symbolizes what, as you'd find in every other "spiritual practices" book on your shelves at home.
   
   Altars are beautiful almost by requirement and some decent photos would have been great. Instead you get a couple of unengaging drawings on what appears to be the sort of paper formerly reserved for Big Chief notepads.
   
   Don't bother.



2. There are some wonderfull books about altar building on the market today. This one is NOT one of them. I was soooo dissapointed when I picked this book up. There are no photographs to look at and the information is hardly what i would consider informative. Try some of the other altar books on the market, ths one is not even worth buying used.



3. I thought it could be better. I own it and think it could be better. It lacks pictures and it would have made the book better to see what the person was talking about. I have another book on alters by another author called Dinese linn which was much better.



4. Complete it certainly is not. It brushes lightly over most of the major aspects of altar design and symbolic elements without getting too deeply into any of them. Good for the preteen earth mother or wicca type just wanting to get some basic information and maybe build her first altar. Good for those wanting to get a basic familiarity with the various mystic elements and traditions which can be utilized.



5. I thought this was a OK book not what I expected. I thought this was going to be a book just about pagan altars and is not, it talks about many other altars and things so a lot of what was in the book did not apply to me. I thought it was a kind of a let down it should be more pacific with what kind of altars she covers.

2 comments about English Country Cottage: Interiors, Details & Gardens.

1. u can feel the charisma with each breathtaking picture of charming cottages and gardens.it makes u want to jump in and get warm and cozy.even from across the room this book relaxes u.a 100% certifiable coffee table legend.



2. This truly delightful book shows cottage interiors that reflect the pasttimes, habits, and way of living that one likes to believe are essentially "English". These homes look as if they are actually lived in and all exhibit that special British propensity for comfort blended with eccentricity. The ubiquitous Aga is featured in a number of the kitchens, but there are also enough 'jolts' in the form of colour use and collections to make this book memorable and somehow fresh. A book I refer to again and again and well worth adding to your collection - almost a reference on English cottage style. Very good value.

5 comments about Small Urban Interiors: 500 Solutions for Living.

1. Although the organization of this book takes some getting used to (as you can gather from some of the reviews), it actually has many wonderful ideas for organizing and designing your small space. The book focuses on making structural changes to your small home, like installing built-ins or moving walls, and so is better for home owners. I do enjoy much of the book though even if only for future reference.



2. After reading all the one-star negativity here, I must defend this beautiful and useful book. It is filled with a variety of design ideas that helped me get inspired in redesigning my house. You may not find exactly what you need to accomplish in your space but turning the pages of this beautifully designed book might give you goose bumps (as happened to me) from the sheer excitement that you yourself will create something new. It is not a how-to book. It is a fun, aesthetically pleasing reference that you will return to repeatedly to find a creative inspiration or simply relax with.



3. listen, this book clearly and susinctly establishes a degree a minimalism and clarity in design that most books disregard in order to be "hip" and "modern". ths book relishes in providing ideas that approach the limits of functional simplicity but avoid breaching the realm of practicality. occasionally, the book moves away from the minimalism to appreciate the creativity of working with those materials that are readily available, however, te focal point is the efficient usage of spaces to create modern designs that give proper recognition to the masters who initiated these designs.

   get it and love it.




4. perhaps the book is mistitled. i can't believe anyone would actually buy this book thinking it had home depot how-to "solutions," as some reviewers claim. what it is, is a beautiful, elegant, modern *idea* book. i saw it in the bookstore of a modern art museum and wrote down the title to come home and buy it online. it is a visual documentary of possibilities, powerful in its simplicity and convincing in its aesthetic. as a graphic designer, an architecture student, and a dabbler in interior design, i can say it's one of my favorites.



5. I disagree with reviewers who said the book did not have enough words. My complaint is that the pictures don't say anything new. This book is a waste of money.

No comments about Designing Interiors with Tile: Creative Ideas with Ceramic, Stone and, Mosaic.

1 comments about California Beach Houses: Style, Interiors, and Architecture.

1. I bought this book several years ago & have enjoyed it many times since. Luxurious photos showing a wide range of styles of coastal houses from ultra modern to rustic to contemporary. The reader can get good interior design ideas no matter where their own home is located. Interesting descriptions of the owners of these homes as well and why they wanted to live where they live. I wrote this review as a compliment to the author and photographer...a job well done. My copy will be enjoyed for many more years.