1 comments about Dream Homes New England: Showcasing New England's Finest Architects, Designers and Builders (Dream Homes).

1. Given that this is the 19th book in a series, all on microregions of the United States and developed by a company, Panache, that specializes in "coffee table editions on golf" and other sundry subjects, I worry a little about the criteria for inclusion. I could not find a statement that the selected architects had no financial stake in being so. Also, the cover of the book left me non-plussed; one wonders why that particular long distance photo was used?

5 comments about Judith Miller Guide to Period Style Curtains and Soft Furnishings.

1. I can't say I'm overly impressed by the information in this book, aside from the wonderful photography. I'd have liked more information on the various time periods as well as more directions for actually reproducing the items shown. (Not all items have directions with them.) Still, you could piece together most any of them with directions from throughout the book. The fabric sample photos at the back are helpful to get oriented to a time period, especially if you're not sure where to start. The Rag Rug section was a fun departure, as was how to cover walls with dust catchers, ahem, fabric. I'd borrow this one from a friend, or go with interlibrary loan if you can.



2. I have a few other books from Judith Miller, and this one seemed more like a book that was written "just because she can." It does have the nice pictures and quite a bit of technical information, but those items are more for a drapery/upholstery work room. Not a whole lot of actual historical information that you would be able to turn around and apply to other pieces of material in day to day contact. A nice visual reference for extravagant window treatments and a few accessory pieces. The pictures are beautiful references for design ideas, but really a work room book or large scale budget interior design firm.



3. I'm building a period house. So, I have ordered quite a few books recently. And this is one of my favorites, became one of my favorites just flipping through it.
   
   If you've read any of my reviews, you know that aesthetics are very important to me; if a book isn't "attractive" with good colorful photography/beauty and a good selection of what is being photographed/variety, then the book is somewhat spoiled for me from the start. Well this book is aesthetically pleasing. However, I do agree with another customer's review that when it comes to the the knowledge aspect, this book falls short on providing enough variety in the "How to's" section. For example, if you wanted to create your own half-tester, the author only demonstrates how to make one style while there are other styles depicted in the book.
   
   Regardless, this book is a pleasant surprise because I didn't expect it to contain the "How to" sections, show how to dress walls or include pictures of swatches. I do wish the author had included a section on shades: austrian shades for example.



4. "Glorious ideas for curtains, blinds, bed hangings and coverings, table linens, wall hangings, lampshades, cushions"...Beautiful pictures. I love it!



5. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Just wish it had many MORE instructions for making some of the period treatments.

5 comments about Art Deco House Style: An Architectural and Interior Design Source Book.

1. This is a lovely book, but I bought it for the interior part and it really is mostly external architecture.



2. I ordered this book for a friend who has an Art Deco house and is planning an extension with a new kitchen. It sounded ideal but proved less than useful. It is really a historical reference for Art Deco elements which may be interesting to some but is not so useful if you want to use your house in a more modern way. The average 1930's kitchen just does not cut it these days. This book showed original Art Deco kitchens but no new kitchens in Art Deco style. I would recommend this book to design students and ardent enthusiasts of the style but not to someone who is not so fanatical. There are better books for integrating old and new such as "Old House, New Home: Stylish Modern Living In A Period Setting".



3. This book is exactly what I was looking for! The reviews I read on amazon.com convinced me to buy it because they said it was great for someone who owned an art deco style house and they were right. I would recommend it.



4. Many of the Art Deco reference books are very high quality "coffee table" productions that highlite museum quality Art Deco creations. They are fantastic books but as the owner of middle class Art Deco home, I know that objects presented in these books are way beyond my economic means. I can admire them but never afford these iconic art pieces. The beauty of Ingrid Cranfield's "Art Deco House Style" is that it concentrates on more modest homes and interiors. Nearly every page is filled with period photographs of house exteriors, furniture and other household objects. At $16 new or $10 used, this is a very reasonably priced reference book more suitable for the book shelf than the coffee table. A good value and highly recommended for the regular person with a 1930's home.



5. I really like this book a lot of pictures, it is helping my to decorate my thirties house. I surely recomend it.

5 comments about First Digs: The Quasi-Adult's Guide to Decorating with Style---Without Blowing Your Budget.

1. Great ideas for someone on a tight budget. I bought this and gave it to my cousin who is going to college. Perfect gift for the graduate... great ideas for dorms/first apartments! :)



2. I loved the book! There are lots of good tips and pointers, and for people like me who don't know how to do some home projects, the instructions were easy to follow and easy to use.
   
   I ended up buying 3 copies - one for me and two to give away to friends! Totally encourage you to check this out.



3. This is the book I wish I'd had when I was just starting out on my own, and the book I wish I'd thought to write after moving house about 10 times since I first started college!
   Yee-Fan does a great job of fitting all kinds of information into this book, and speaks in a voice that is easy to read but not patronizing to first-time renters. She's been there, done that, and wants to pass all that she's learned, good and bad, on to you!
   Everyone has lived in the white cardboard-box style apartment, and signed the lease that says "no painting, no restoration, no personality." This book has a TON of ways to get around all that and really make a rental your own. Once you read this book from cover to cover, you can satisfy your need for more by culling through countless articles on the website.
   I'll be buying a copy for every person I know that moves out on their own.



4. First, let me start by saying that I thought there would be more pictures in this book. I'm very visual and that's usually what drives me to buy decorating books. But that alone did not distract me, and since it's mentioned numerous times in the book that the author is also the editor of Digsmagazine.com, I can pop in there to augment all the great information in this book.
   
   Usually books about decorating, which is such a visual thing to begin with, have lots of pictures and very little text. If there is a lot of text in the book, it's usually pretty boring and hard to stay focused. Not so with this book. Yee-fan Sun's style of writing is very conversational and easy to read. The best part is that unlike other books on budget decorating or appealing to the newly free, she takes into consideration that many of us on a budget are renting and usually aren't allowed to make changes to our pads. Yee-fan provides plenty of easy, inexpensive, and temporary ways to inject personality into the cookie cutter apartments that we live in. Since she's lived all over the world on a starving student's budget, Yee-fan really knows what she's talking about.
   
   It's a lot of reading, but if you want to give your place a huge dose of personality without blowing the budget, this is the book for you!



5. Yee-fan really knows what she is talking about... too many style books offer great ideas, but their idea of a "budget" includes $200 pillows. Buy this book for amazing style on a realistic budget!

2 comments about Seaside Style: Living on the Beach: Interiors, Details (Icons).

1. I love this little book. I picked up a copy of it from Old Navy and have enjoyed it ever since. The images are just amazing.



2. I've purchased many books from Amazon, and loved most of them. I've also purchased many Taschen Interiors series books and have always been impressed. This book is such a let down. There is no new material in this book, just reprints or different angles of shots that were already used in 'Seaside Interiors". The only text is in the beginning and reads like someones summer diary....overdramatic at that. This book is sized like a handbook, but with no material of any use to someone looking for 'Seaside Style' design ideas. I've made arrangements to return it.

1 comments about The Best of Designer's Challenge (Decorating & Design).

1. The book was awesome. It was great getting a sneak preview into all of the work that went into the designs. You learn so much more from the book than the actual show depicts. I truly enjoyed the book.

No comments about African Style: Exteriors, Interiors, Details (Icons).

1 comments about Log Spirit.

1. The use of logs in constructing classic lodges and cabins are enduringly popular structures with the American public. Log Spirit shows the home building and remodeler that by adding architectural details (stairs, lofts, and doors) can transform any dwelling into a cozy log haven that will feed the spirit, enrich the soul, and provide an architectural style that is quiet, simple, and minimal. Beautifully illustrated throughout with impressive, full color photography, Linda White covers all aspects of architectural design including walls, roof systems, windows, doors, porches, posts and beams, starts, lofts, railings, stonework, nooks and crannies, and "special effects". A wonderful book for simple browsing, Log Spirit will prove an invaluable resource for ideas and information on log home building and detailing.

1 comments about The Georgian House in America and Britain.

1. This book talks mostly about British examples, but should be all the more interesting to Americans because of it, since everything here is but a copy of everything there. The first few chapters contain a lot of interesting and detailed history, but the emphasis eventually turns to restoring windows, doors, floors, wallpaper, and so on, to genuine Georgian.

   The author scoffs at the readily available low-cost reproductions, often pointing out their inaccuracies--pure white was never used for windows, for instance--but then again, what do you expect from a book with a Forward by the Queen of England? Abundant photos accompany the text, fully justifying the book's price.

No comments about Dream Homes Pacific Northwest: An Exclusive Showcase of the Finest Architects, Designers & Builders in Oregon & Washington (Dream Homes).