5 comments about Prefab Modern.

1. as a new-to-prefab lay researcher, i loved this book. a friend passed it on to me after we were all chatting about building our "dream houses."
   it gives a basic survey of different types of prefab, from modest to elaborate, and creative diversions in between. i found it an inspirational starting point to daydreaming about fun prefab modern living. the source lists are helpful as well. enjoy!



2. Beautiful book with impressive photos and info on contemporary and cutting edge designs in prefab home. Great sampling of the most modern designs and some info about them. Could have been more detail on the homes.



3. For anyone new to this subject matter this book is a basic starting point. However the more you learn about the topic from other sources the more you realize this book is just lightweight fluff. This was simply opportunistic publishing of a coffee table book while the topic was hot. The author has little expertise in the subject matter (is she a contract writer? - her previous book was about tiles) and the book reads like breathless brochureware. If you want to research the topic for free check out the great web site fabprefab.com which predates this book and is frequently updated. Also there are other great books on prefab such as Colin Davies The Prefabricated Home.



4. This book is incredibly well-written (even poetically written in places), meticulously researched, and beautifully illustrated. It's written by a pro, not someone who just decided to write a book. The book "Prefab" by Alison Arieff was in fact literally written off of (i.e. plagerized) websites and from articles (check the text against the architect's website and you'll see paragraphs and paragraphs were literally lifted directly from the site, likewise articles on those architects.)
   This book is the real thing.



5. I was disappointed with this book. It includes profiles of 15 architectural firms. Seven of those profiles were of firms that have done one-off architect-designed homes made largely of pre-existing materials (usually shipping containers). That is not my definition of a prefab house. To me, a prefab house is one that I can order to be built on my lot. Of the eight firms that offer prefab houses, for three of them only computer-generated images were presented (not photos of real houses). That leaves only five firms offering prefab houses ready for market. Of those, one builds 10 houses per year in Finland. Another is in Australia. Two offer only really small homes (generally intended as second homes).
   
   The book does include (small) design plans and many photos for most of the houses. However, the fact that very few of those homes are available for me to purchase makes the book almost useless.
   [...]

No comments about House Beautiful Decorating School.

2 comments about Small Spaces: Making the Most of the Space You Have.

1. man, i bought this book b/c of what some of the others reviewers had to say and i was really disappointed. I think the ideas in this book are pretty non inventive, nothing i haven't already thought of. The pictures were nice but more for their decor than storage reference and you can get better decor books. wish i had passed on this one. out of the last 13 books i've gotten off amazon this is the only real disappointment, 12 out of 13's not bad.



2. Nice book and amazing spaces, maybe I am unimaginative but the cost associated with doing any of these ideas is huge. I was hoping for ideas that would be more affordable.
   
   The book offers some nice insights to small footprint living.

1 comments about Scandimodern.

1. I love this book. It doesn't show period mid-century homes, or homes decorated to achieve the period look, but concentrates on clean, contemporary Scandinavian-sympathetic architecture that emphasizes the beauty of natural materials and bringing the outside in, and how modern and period pieces can look in such a setting. In particular, the emphasis on architecture will inspire the reader.

5 comments about The Hamptons: Life Behind the Hedges.

1. I love this book! Reading it over this past winter brought back all the great feelings of being in the Hamptons. I love the fact that the beautiful photographs don't focus on just the ocean, but show hamptons life behind the scenes. The photographs of the gardens and artist's studios are especially nice. This is a great collectable book and I highly recommend it as a gift.



2. We live in the city - downtown. We have three children and wish/dream about getting out of town on a weekend and letting the children run and play on the grass in the country or sand on a beach. This book puts you there and without any of the sense of overwhelming and intimidating wealth that would take away from the beauty and feeling the Hamptons can offer. The photos are beautiful and the subjects are different and interesting. I truly do love this book and have given many as gifts to friends from out of town who have heard so much about the east end of the Island but have yet to visit.



3. This book is very nice, but fo not buy it when you are looking for a book which takes a look inside these beautiful houses. It only shows the outside and ,i think, too many pictures of the gardens. It is really a nice book but i thought there would be many pictures of the houses and not so many detailed pictures of gardens...



4. My husband and I are beginning to collect books related to second homes as we dream about and plan our own great escape. Our favorites are Better Homes and Gardens SECOND HOME, FAMILY HOUSES BY THE SEA, CABIN FEVER, and Better Homes and Gardens COTTAGE STYLE. This book on the Hamptons is our newest purchase, and it has great photos. The best book in terms of combining the dreamy photos with helpful insights to guide our own second home planning, though, is SECOND HOME.



5. From tag sales to spectacular homes. The photography is true to life. The scenery of flora, ocean landscapes, sunsets and to the history of a town that is small yet so BIG. A delight to see behind the hedges of wonderful homes, decor and art.

5 comments about KISS Guide to Feng Shui (Keep It Simple Series).

1. Whew! Thank you for delivering a book that sets apart the American "New Age" Feng Shui from the Traditional Chinese Feng Shui derived from Science and Math.
   
   Feng Shui is more than rearranging furniture and hanging mirrors. This book delves into the history, the reasoning, common sense, and the scientific.
   
   It explains that BELIEF and CULTURE is the reasoning for hanging bagua mirrors and other remedies-a physical reminder in the home of tradition. Much like wearing a cross pendant is the ever present reminder of Christian faith. It makes no sense at all for people to hang flutes from their ceilings if they don't know why they are doing it-although this book does explain the mythology and reasoning involved.
   
   Far more valuable are the chapters explaining the calculation of your personal Kua number, the use of a Lo Pan, and other Compass School information.
   
   The history detailed makes a nice backdrop for the information, though if you're impatient you can skip it and not be lost when you get to the meat of the book.
   
   I've had this book for years and its served me well as a reference for when I go apartment hunting. I also reference it when designing floor plans for my dream home-a long term hobby of mine.
   
   Great book, laid out well and informative. [..] . I highly recommend KISS Feng Shui as a resource that delivers on scientific feng shui and common sense, while putting "American New Age/Black Hat/Intuitive" Feng Shui in its place.



2. I'm still trying to get into this book. There is a lot of subject matter with mulitple origins, interpretations and applications of feng shui. Whew! I'm not finding this KISS publication to be that simple. However, lots of info and pictures!



3. The Keep it Simple Series distinguishes itself from other series like the Idiot and Dummie Guides by its extensive use of color and photographs. However, the superior content far outweighs the appealing cosmetics of the book's layout and design. In a nutsell, Stephen Skinner knows what he's talking about. In fact, he's a world renowned expert in the field as well as the author of one of my favorite feng shui books, The Living Earth Manual of Feng Shui. In his KISS book, Stephen provides an excellent overview of what feng shui is and how it can help you maximize your health, wealth, and relationships. It's well-organized and easy to read. Impliment his practical advice and you'll witness first hand feng shui's power. A thousand kow tows Stephen for elevating this Chinese practice! Nice work.



4. According to this book, my desk is in the wrong place. Although I have no choice, I've noticed I'm more edgy with the door behind me and when someone enters my office, I feel that if I was sitting with my back towards the wall, I would feel more comfortable and in control of my environment. My only problem is having to look at the computer wires, which would annoy me more.
   
   So, I think there is something to be said for furniture placement, when practical.
   
   Being of the thought process that there is something to be learned from everything, you can try to take what you need from this book to help encourage an environment you will feel comfortable in.
   
   The Chapters Include:
   
   What is Feng Shui? - Wind Water, a connection to natural elements. "Flow"
   is also an important element. It is not a religion or magic.
   Who Does Feng Shui and Why?
   A Look at Feng Shui's History
   Gods, Graves, and Feng Shui Masters
   Ch'i and Alignments
   The Building Blocks of Feng Shui
   Chinese Cosmology
   The Trigrams and the Lo Shu
   Feng Shui Inside Your Home
   Living Rooms, Dining Rooms and Bedrooms
   Bathrooms, Kitchens and Corridors
   Business Feng Shui and Color
   The Four Celestial Animals
   Feng Shui Outside Your Home
   Water Dragon Feng Shui
   The Feng Shui Garden
   The Eight Mansion Formula
   Feng Shui Remedies
   Symbolic Feng Shui
   The East Life/West Life Formula
   Time and the Calendar
   Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
   Compass School Feng Shui Tools
   
   Some of the ideas I incorporated into my own home without even knowing they were Feng Shui concepts was the use of mirrors. It does definitely create a feeling of energy in a room that would otherwise feel closed in.
   
   If you are very, very serious about Feng Shui or extremely curious, this book has more than you will ever want to know.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. I found the book to be a little bit boring. I wanted to know how to change my home to fit into the Feng Shui philosophy and it gave me more of a background of Feng Shui. That is great, I am glad I know all of that now, but I didn't find any practical ways to change my home.

No comments about Contemporary Living in Paris.

1 comments about Stores of the Year No. 16 (Stores of the Year).

1. I think it was a great buy since it's complete my collection on visual merchandising books.

5 comments about Romantic Style: Lovely homes, pretty rooms, gentle settings (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. 
   This decorating book may not be for everybody, but I SURE DID LOVE IT!
   
   If you are expecting a "HOW TO" decorating book, then this is book may not be for you. However, if you've been looking for a book with wonderful photos of truly romantic (modern) homes, [and with GORGEOUS photos], then you might like this book, as I did.
   
   (Plz note... my stress is on the words :"ROMANTIC MODERN")
   
   This is more or less a coffee-table book. At least that's how I see it.
   
   As with most BETTER HOMES books, this book has gorgeous photos, as stated before.
   
   Once again, I have to say that the stress of this book is on "modern romantic" style decorating.



2. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've referred to and reread this book over the years. It always reinspires me to try to achieve the casual, opulent, lush, intriguing, chic, timeless feelings expressed on the pages of this book. I highly recommend this book to inspire and guide your own decorating vision.



3. Until I got this book, my favorite decorating book in the last year or so was French Influences. This book is in the same vein as French Influences, but it is shot in what look to be American homes. The European style decorating ideas are translated for you. Not only do I love this book, but so many of my friends pick it up and want it when they come over that I've started giving it as birthday and wedding gifts.



4. I had to write my own review because I just read a review from someone who said that the book was about European interiors (or something like that). The book is clearly photographed in American homes and is full of romantic ideas that I can use here in the northeast. I can easily translate the ideas in the book using new furniture and decorative accessories from local stores and from some of my favorite catalogs (like Ballard Designs and Rue de France).



5. If you're expecting a DIY 'how-to' of Romantic Style, you will not find it in the pages of this book. Granted, it is filled with beautifully-breathtaking photos of all of the homes showcased but, if you're looking for the "real" how-to "details," they're sorely missing.

   Looking at photos is definitely awe-inspiring -- but, I want to hear the 'details' of how each look was achieved ... along with alternative options for creating the same, or similar, looks on anyone's budget. Romantic Style took the form of a somewhat elitist expression of 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' instead of a 'to-the-masses' type read.

   And, at least in my circle of friends, acquaintances and design colleagues, very few have the unlimited funds to jet off to Europe, Asia or Africa whenever the urge strikes to bring back antiques, furniture and furnishings to transform their homes into the "romantic style" as most of the homes showcased have described. With a unlimited gold card and frequent access to jet around the world I, too, could create rooms to rival the ones in this book - but, in the real world, it would have been more beneficial if the book had shown a wider range of ideas for achieving the looks -- from budget-conscious - to - carte blanche.

   The photos are definitely beautiful, but the true substance leaves something to be desired.

5 comments about Cottage Style (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. The cover was the best photo found in the book. Many pictures showed busy rooms and cluttered kitchens. I love country chic style and am a HUGE fan of cath kidson and rachel ashwell as well as other books such as New Cottage Style and Country Chic. If you are looking for those styles, this is NOT the book. After looking through this book, i wanted to clean out my entire house due to the clutter overload.



2. This book is not bad, it has useful information, it has nice photos (some I've found a little dated).
   However it is still helpful if you want to create your own little cottage retreat and you can get some inspiration looking at the pictures too.
   I was still a little disappointed when I've received this book, probably I was expecting more up-to-date photos. I've seen better picture books out there on cottage style. I think this book is still growing on me...I got some use out of it though.



3. I like decorating books with less talk and more pictures. COTTAGE STYLE fits that bill. Caringer intersperses practical suggestions alongside pictures of tasteful and innovative cottage decorating. The creative juices flow! This book stays on my coffee table simply because I like to pick it up and peruse.



4. I have to say this is my favorite decorating book. I could spend hours looking at this book and always see something new. I love the photos and the ideas. If you like masculin-homedecor, very contemporary, or very, very formal this may not be for you. The ideas are very easy to apply to your own home and style. I have a new home and the ideas work. If you have an older home this book is even more perfect for you! With these ideas we can relax and have style! I would call it Cottage Chic! Some Shabby Chic too. Beautiful!!! I highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed.



5. I didn't know my decorating style had a name until I found this book. It's all about decorating in a different way and avoiding the dull sameness that we usually find in suburban homes. There is something freeing about cottage style. It's all about freshness and fun and ease and escape. We are using this book and another cottage book called Second Home to inspire and guide us as we decorate our home.