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5 comments about Perfect English.

1. Great photos, interesting text, flows well. All round a wonderful addition to my interior design library!



2. After months, years, decades, MILLENIA of general disappointment with books featuring traditional decor -- we have a WINNAH! Abundant with gorgeous piccies of charming rooms filled with the romantic clutter of life, I drooled over most every photograph as if it were a rasher of crisply fried bacon. But the STAR photograph (it's also on the cover of the book & not the same as the cover featured on Amazon) has to be this ancient monster of a wing chair, large enough for two and upholstered in a faded yellow floral, a deteriorating green velvet & a beige linen. And scrunched together on the seat of this throne are 2 gigantic yellow silk pillows in which one can sink in a billow of joy. Blimey, you don't see chairs like this on Architectural Digest! I really must salute the photographer Chris Tubbs who imbued every image with the glorious shabby Englishness that many of us miss in today's contemporary interiors. This book makes we want to sell my Spanish Colonial & move to a tumble-down English rectory. I must also commend Ros Byam Shaw's well-written & superbly descriptive text, as contributing much to my pleasure.
   
   My Rating: 5 stars & a Cornish pasty!



3. As a lover of cottage, shabby chic, French and English style, I anxiously awaited the delivery of this book. Upon its delivery, I found a comfortable chair and started reading page by page. And, as I approached the middle I thought it would eventually get better, but I found it boring all the way around. I found some of the decorating "way out",some of the art work ghastly, and far from what I would consider English, at least perfect English. My biggest disappointment is that I paid for this book as entertainment. What a loss!



4. This is my new favorite shelter book. The photos are lovely, and I particularly enjoyed her chapter breakdowns and discussion of styles such as eclectic English, classic English and so on. Most of the homes are very layered visually, with creative use of color and textiles(not just white on white here), many are in the country. They generally have great charm or architectural detail to begin with, although the ways they are decorated varies considerably. There is not much in the way of pure modernism, and also little of the aristocratic design of Haute Britain, although more than a few of these "cottages" of course are owned by decorators, antiques dealers, or other people with a professional interest in a beautiful home. I have not seen these homes in other books, and the book is generous on photographs. If you liked the Taschen Country Homes books, you will want this.



5. The content of this book is not a surprise but it is just what a lover of english style is always waiting for more. Beautiful.

5 comments about The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live (Susanka).

1. I ordered this book after reading great reviews since I was in the middle of trying to work out the purchase of a turn of the century home where space was the size of just that, turn of the century. The Amazon review picked all the best photo's in the book and the only pages worth reading in it, so I bought it. I was extremely disappointed to receive a book that had too many 1980 - 1990's dated, uninspiring interiors and not so much in the way of smart architectural choices to think about, as was advertised.



2. First of all, I bought this book used and it was not in very good condition. A page that I really wanted to read was missing, for one thing. Unfortunately, I can't recall the seller's name now but I left a bad review when I received no response to my concern.
   
   But anyway, the book itself was very good. My husband and I are remodeling a house built in 1949 which used every nook and cranny for some function. It doesn't fit the modern concept of lots of empty space, so we are working on creating a little more empty space while using some of Susanka's ideas for making certain areas more compact. We are expanding our kitchen into a porch, but the ceiling in the porch is lower and this book gave us the idea to just keep it as it is because lowered ceilings add character and are something Frank Lloyd Wright used. I also like her recommendations for wood trim and moulding to warm up rooms and use many windows to bring the outside in. As my title implies, some of the details are pretty outdated such as any picture involving a computer and the kitchen chairs, but that can be overlooked since the overall ideas are still very usable.



3. The Not So Big House was given me by a craftsman friend who had used it building his new, wonderful home.
   I kept this book through my new addition / remodel project of 7 months, using it as the reference for my decisions.
   The ideas are sound; easy to understand and implement. I recommend The Not So Big House to anyone embarking on a home building project who loves good design and is on a budget.



4. This book was absolutely awesome. Beautifully illustrated, excellent content, and I totally agree with the idea that McMansions are not the way to go. I'd much rather have a smaller home that has been personalized to me and made beautiful than some big, cold half-empty McMansion.



5. I was expecting her projects to downsize to ~1000 square feet. It felt like she was reducing large McMansions to smaller McMansions. Good photographs though!

4 comments about Cottages on the Coast: Fair Harbors and Secret Shores.

1. I love to read and I love houses on the water. When I need to relax I grab this book. It has also given me some ideas to use in my own home to give it that cottage look. Very inspirational and easy to read.



2. Great source of architectural interior details and inspiration for small residential structures.



3. When I picked up this book I was surprised to find it so filled with a wonderful variety of cottages. Cottages on the Coast is a small and wonderful glimpse of styles around the coasts of the United States. A small "photo album" near the beginning shows early pictures of some of the cottages that are featured later and as those same cottages appear today. A great selection of cottage styles, representing different regions of the country, are fascinating with their accompanying stories. This is a book I will go back to over and over again, to look up something I remember, to find something new and to just plop down with it in my lap for pure beach imaginings. I love this book!



4. Wherever they are located, seaside dwellings share several common traits. These hearty homes are crafted from tried and true materials that age gracefully in the sea air and reflect local building traditions and styles. They balance the storms of winter with the peaceful days of summer and maximize beautiful views whatever the season.

   Cottages on the Coast presents an extensive variety of homes from sea to shining sea. Linda Leigh Paul selected more than 25 examples from Bainbridge Island, to Big Sur, from the Florida Keys, to Tybee Island, and north to Maine. You will be captivated by hundreds of beautiful photographs of vernacular exteriors and very personal interiors.

   Cottages on the Coast stands out because the interiors and exteriors exude a lot of personality, and they seem authentic and attainable. New England is well represented with houses in Maine, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. The tranquil cover image, Treasure Cottage on Key West is truly a cottage at a mere 500 square feet. Treasure Cottage is filled with the owners carefully arranged antique collection, which does not clutter the small space but gives the home so much personality. Other examples, a modernist cottage designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright pupil in Carmel, complete with loads of natural light, and built-in furnishings. Or a cottage recently built on a private island in the Puget Sound, built on a solid rock foundation, with enormous interior beams to withstand the fiercest storms, decorated in a simple manner re-using found materials such as driftwood for a mantel and stair case railing.

   Cottages on the Coast will be a source of inspiration for readers who are considering rehabbing, designing, or decorating a seaside dwelling. Or if you are an avid armchair traveler Cottages on the Coast will fill you with travel ideas for your next coastal break.

3 comments about Deck Designs: Plus Pergolas, Railings, Planters, Benches.

1. If it hadn't been for this little gem of a book, I'd have ended up with exactly what I thought a deck was: a 10x30' rectangle on stilts outside my back door.

   Thanks to the inspiring designs outlined here, I was able to upgrade my $4K do-it-yourself deck with some snazzy details and useful layouts with little additional work and expense. Please do yourself the favor of flipping thru the pages of a book like this - if for nothing else than to see how it can be done by the best designers and builders.

   No, just like me you will never be able to afford the hand-sanded grade A redwood beauties that are featured on a couple of these spreads - materials alone would run into six figures. But you will be able to steal the design of the railing, or perhaps the notion of a split level or a nifty little nook for a bench or some other detail from the top end decks. There's enough closeups and sketches of the design to run with a concept that you find appealing, and the narrative will help you think thru the elements of your design that might open up new possibilities.

   After reading it from cover to cover a couple of times I shared the book and my comments on post-its with the contractor I had hired to help me complete my project, and it inspired him to come up with some ideas of his own, as well as better understand where I wanted to go with the project.




2. I almost made the mistake of letting the contractors design my deck. They came up with a big boring rectangle. Thank goodness I bought this book first! It is packed with many wonderful ideas, including photos and tips to making a deck interesting and functional. It covers layout, railing design, and yard and use considerations. It is a very small investment for a big project, I suggest that anyone building a deck take a look at this book before proceeding.



3. Deck Designs packs in a wealth of deck design ideas and patterns, featuring designer's unique approaches and their tips on how the deck feature was achieved. Color photos of patterns and decks supplement information on design considerations and details on construction techniques for the homeowner who wants to create his own custom deck.

5 comments about Windows and Doors (Build Like A Pro).

1. Good book, but title is misleading, more about proper installation of windows & doors rather than fabrication of doors & windows. Title should be "Install Like a Pro"



2. I have a 100 + years old house with the original windows. They have a section on Tuning Up Old Windows which I found very helpful. There are only a few pages on this subject for old windows. The information is straight forward and to the point.



3. I checked this book out of the library mainly for a few chapters that contained info on Pocket Doors and Fixing Door Problems. The book covers almost everything you can think of to address installing doors and windows, including putting new doors in old frames. It gives you pointers on choosing windows and doors including how various components operate. I didn't know there were so many types of windows operating styles to choose from out there!
   
   I found this book very helpful and confirmed that I wanted to hire a professional! The pocket door section seemed a little slim to me, but that might be because I had no clue about what they were doing. It's definitely not a step-by-step. LOL. Even though some of the projects in this book might be DIY, many of the complex projects would probably require a professional, unless you've done some type of construction-type work.



4. I have read every book that I could find on windows and doors and found this one to be the best bar none. The pictures are fantastic and the helpful tips are worth the price of the book and then some. Also, the book is very easy to understand which is not the case with a lot of books out there on the subject.



5. I've been trying to find all the information I can on the tricks to hanging doors. You won't find all the answers in one book, but this one has a lot of information on how to solve problems. I might add that there is a very good video by "Tom Law, Installing Doors and Windows" that gives you a good idea of how to properly hang doors. Seeing someone in action is a lot easier than reading a book. I've read this particular book 3 times now looking for all of the tricks of the trade. If you are like me, you've installed a door and said, "why is it doing that?". If you can identify a problem or prevent one, then that can save you a great deal of time. This book deals with a lot of issues, like out of plumb walls and cross legged jambs. I would also add "Gary Katz, installing and hanging doors" book to your library and you will have 3 fine sources to become a professional installer. I have all 3 and have recently installed 2 perfect exterior doors. I'm not a pro yet, but I am a lot closer. There is a lot of satistaction in installing a door correctly. Have fun.

4 comments about Cabin in the Woods.

1. Visually stunning tour of wilderness get away's. The selection was excellent. One can only dream about owning any of these cabins.



2. Many thanks for stocking Cabin In The Woods. Amazon has it together as buyers can find books and music CDs to match or dreams. Author Ralph Kylloe has done it again for us dreaming of a rustic cabin hide away in the woods. The photos in the book are great as you get to see how others designed and furnished their cabin hide aways. The key to Kylloe's books is that he foucuses on the rustic wonders of living in a cabin. He's also an expert in natural furniture that goes so well in these rustic cabin settings. Keep up the good work Amazon. Your the greatest.



3. Wow! I loved this book. The pictures are the best yet in a Kylloe book. The architecture captured therein is amazing! I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the evolution of rustic architecture and the speed with which it is developing, just by perusing Ralph Kylloe's books over the last several years.
   
   First, a note about the dimensions of the book itself. It is only about half the size of previous Kylloe works. His books are usually the size of coffee table tomes, but this one is much more manageably small, and I have found myself pulling it out and looking at it much more.
   
   My favorite cabin in this book is the Copper Cabin. I have seen this cabin featured in two magazine articles and was impressed the first time I saw it reviewed. But the photography used in Cabin in the Woods to highlight this cabin is breathtaking. It is a small cabin, and in my favorite picture, Kylloe shows it overlooking a Montana mountain range. This particular effect highlighted the beauty of the design while also setting it perfectly within the Yellowstone Club in Montana where the cabin is located.
   
   Great book, Mr. Kylloe! I hope there are still more ideas in your head yearning to be published!!!



4. Will someone please beat this man with a stick and take away his yellow filter and indian blankets. All the outdoor photo's are very nice and clear. All the interior shots would leave one to believe every cabin or rustic home is lit by yellow lamps, and has a colorfull blanket draped in every room. Enough already. I have all his books and do enjoy the homes and cabins, but am sick of his constant use of yellow filters. Like having to much cleavage showing, no one wants to tell that person. Someone please tell this man his yellow cleavage is showing. Without the filter his book deserves a 5.

3 comments about Fire Places: A Practical Design Guide to Fireplaces and Stoves Indoors and Out.

1. This is a great book - beautiful pictures, but excellent information as well. Best book on fireplaces I've seen



2. I was excited to find this book but once it arrived I was a bit disappointed in it. It has tons of photos of a variety of fireplaces, inside and out, exaplins the different types well but I was looking for more information on unique fireplaces, ones which could be placed in the center of a room. So if you're wanting a more traditional fireplace setting, this book might be great.



3. Fire places seem evoke some kind of hidden memories out of our distant path when the fire at the mouth of the cave kept the tigers away. This has become so important that even apartments now seem to come with fire places.
   
   This book, as is usual with this publisher is a beautifully illustrated, beautifully printed collection of fire places that range from a simple rock lined fire pit out in the yard to fire places that are the design center of the house, wood stoves that meet the new EPA regulations, to antiques that may have come from grandmothers house.
   
   Besides the beautiful photography, this book also includes design tips, and the regulations that come from building codes. And there are discussions of more types of fire places than you could ever imagine without seeing it.
   
   I got this book because my house does not have a fire place, and it's the next major extension that I plan to add. This book answered all the questions that I had, except do I want something indoor or outside. We have a long season for entertaining outside.

5 comments about Home: A Short History of an Idea.

1. May be of interest to househunters trying to envision what their happy home to be might want to be. It's basically a selective history of the concepts of home and comfort, related to changing forms of the family, over the last four or five hundred years. It's full of interesting factoids, probably ultimately of less significance than Rybczynski had hoped, but he's a good writer and charming (a hair too warm and fuzzy for me). It's a light, easy and pleasant read. It didn't leave me with anything of substance that stuck in my memory, but I definitely enjoyed reading it. It's the type of book you curl up with next to a fire with a skim mocha nutmeg and cinnamon whatever when you need to give your brain a break but can't quite stoop to watching American Idol. Okay, sorry - it's a much better book than that. And it's fun - and we all probably need to have a little fun now and then (in between reading all these serious books and growing our big, fat brains). But in the end it's not really substantial.



2. You probably have notions about what "home" means, and those notions probably revolve around your immediate family, domestic comfort and convenience, with a dash of nostalgia. Most likely you share my sense that home has been thus for a long time, subject to the whims of fashion and demands of social hierarchy. What I learned from Witold Rybczynski is that those are very near-sighted suppositions. The modern (Western) idea of a home is very new, historically. Even the notion of "family" that occupies so much of modern political cant, and seems so central to our social organization, goes back no further than the early 18th Century. Households before that time were comprised of groups of working adults, house owners and employees and servants, plus infants. Children were farmed out as apprentices at a tender age -- even in the wealthiest households where fortunate youngsters were placed as servants to courtiers and nobles in order to learn the ropes of oligarchy. Privacy was rare. Beds were built to handle 6-8 adults and work tables often tripled as dining boards and sleeping platforms. Rybczynski artfully traces the development of the modern household, decor and furnishing, to enable a deep understanding of why we live as we do, what works and what doesn't. As an architect he reserves some of his harshest criticism for his fellows, and neatly shoots down such icons as Le Corbusier and Wright who were too hung on their brilliance to notice that things weren't working. (As I reported in my review of Stewart Brand's excellent HOW BUILDINGS LEARN, Viking, 1994, most -- if not all -- of Frank Lloyd Wright's houses leaked, badly. HOME reports that they didn't work as living quarters either.) This author's highest praise falls to the women who invented household engineering in the late 1800s, stepping into the architectural void, inventing home economics, and shaping the modern home to suit the needs of a servantless woman charged with housekeeping and child rearing. Catherine E. Beecher and Ellen Richards come in for particular commendation. Modern furniture also falls under the author's verbal axe. Designed for style instead of comfort, he describes its advent as a foolish embrace of creativity above function, and offers the detailed research in France under the Louises (Louies?), which erupted as Chippendale and Hepplewhite designs: templates which carefully noted dimensions and proportions that actually fit a human body and allowed for the constant movement necessary to ongoing comfort. The only modern chairs which come near to the standard set in those classic designs are found in the best mechanical chairs, made to be adjusted to the user's body and to flex with movement. (More often to be found in office furniture than in a home.) Altogether an illuminating look at the circumstances of our lives. For this reviewer, who spent 20 years inventing an "alternative" house from scratch, it is greatly amusing to learn that I have spent a lot of hours reinventing wheels rounded out a hundred years ago. Talk about being forced to repeat history one has failed to learn! Been there. And so it goes.



3. Home is an articulate, rapid reading book about the developements leading to the current concept of "home". Tying history, architecture, sociology and technology together the emerging concept of home and comfort developes in clear visualizations.
   After reading this book I now appreciate the evolution of the contradictory outlooks over time and how they affect our current drives in creating our personal living spaces.



4. Witold Rybczynski's Home: A Short History Of An Idea, is an historical and informational text following the devlopment of the concept of home and discusses the psychological effects of different types of dwellings and personal space, architecture, and society. Home is a well-structured and planned tracing of society's development of the concepts of home and comfort and relates to today's audiences with a new perspective on where and how they live. One of Mr. Rybczynski's strengths as a writer is his conversational writing style and the flow of the organization of his main ideas.
   Home instantly dives into the development of society's ideas of comfort and home with an almost staggering jump into a strong comparison and analysis of the four style lines of the Ralph Lauren collection. Mr. Rybczynski highlights the different aspects of the setting that Lauren creates to entice the public and the different props he uses to create this feeling of home. Home utilizes the time line approach, begining in the medieval era, to explain Ralph Lauren's heightend understanding of the public's ideas of comfort. Mr. Rybczynski also examines the work of Le Corbusier and relates the modernist movement with current modern trends.
   Mr. Rybczynski's book remeinds architects and interior designers that even in today's society it is easy to get caught up in what is in style or what would make a statement rather than what is comfertable for occupants to inhabit. I recommend Mr. Rybczynski's book to anyone who would appreciate seeing their home in a whole new way.



5. So, I am predisposed to like Rybczynski -- his biography of Frederick Law Olmsted, "A Clearing in the Distance," is one of my favorites.
   
   Sure enough, I liked "Home" as well. It describes the invention of the concepts of "home" and "comfort" and "domesticity." Those are not things I ever thought of as having been invented; but if Rybczynski is right, they were, and relatively recently at that.
   
   Worth noting: My favorite chapter was the one on the Netherlands in the 1600s -- a really, really interesting society, it turns out, for a lot of different reasons.
   
   Also: The book has lots of interesting notes on the history of furniture, especially the chair.
   
   Finally: Above all this is a book that makes you look at familiar surroundings with new eyes.