5 comments about Pools & Spas: Ideas for Planning, Designing, and Landscaping.

1. There are a lot of pretty home design books out there that have very little information tucked between the pictures. This book is full of information but also has a number of handsome photos of pools, spas, and water gardens which will give you ideas if you are planning a custom designed pool or tub. It's a great resource for someone thinking of installing these features in their backyard, and it also touches on landscaping, lighting, and even sauans.



2. I borrowed this book from the library (too many pool books are not worth buying), and spent the rest of the night looking at it. Great photo examples of various types of pools that are described in detail, along with chapters on Safety, Design, Landscaping, Materials, etc... One of the best! (Same review as Pool & Spa Planner by Better Homes & Gardens, because they are both great books!)



3. We also borrowed this from the library, but found we didn't want to return it. We spent hours showing each other what pictures we really liked, got great tips on thhe issues the pool owner faces and have a real idea of what we need to consider. So, since we want to use this during the planning process, we bought it!



4. There are some good ideas and landscape ideas in this book for designing spas and pools. In the end I probably only spent 20 minutes in this book and didn't get a whole lot out of it. We spent a considerable amount of money on our pool but we live in Arizona and the landscape ideas didn't apply to this climate. Overall, lots of pretty pictures. 2 out of 5 stars.



5. We needed to rennovate a pool that we inherited with the purchase of our house last year. This book provided many insights into design, landscaping, decking and general useful information on owning a pool.

5 comments about Curb Appeal.

1. This is a great book for the typical homeowner who doesn't know where to start or even how much to tackle for their 'curb appeal' update. The book is full of great ideas & I especially enjoyed the "before & after" aspect which helps readers see just exactly how drastic a change can take place with a little paint/new trim & knowledgable guidance.
   
   It's essential to point out that 'skilled' designer intervention was involved in getting these homes to the finish line & looking so great.
   
   Hopefully the average homeowner who lacks any design gifting can take these ideas & their own common sense & apply them in their own situation. Some people feel they have zero creative ability so those in that category may still find this book comes up short in that they'll see all kinds of make-overs...but still need to hire someone to 'design' their makeover.
   
   Another point to raise is that some ideas provided in the book won't work for every situation...such as the suggestion of painting one's vinyl siding. This would not work well with erratic temperature changes in colder weather locations in the country.
   
   Ultimately the book offers creative inspiration to any homeowner looking to find ways of improving their home's curb appeal & various ways to do it.
   
   I highly recommend the book on that note...because the intention appears to be just that ...to provide inspiration...& that objective is certainly met with success.



2. I really love this book. We are remodeling our house and it gave us some great ideas. I've shown it to everybody.



3. I love this book it gave so many great details! Anyone (and it does not matter if you are selling your home)who is proud of their home and likes to make it even better can use this book. It just has wonderful ideas.



4. This book had fantastic ideas for our remodeling project. We actually picked the color of our house from one of the pictures.



5. This book is an attempt by the authors to cover an extremely large body of knowledge in a very short time frame. The principles of both landscape and home architecture that underpin what we refer to as "curb appeal" are extremely complex. By using examples to illustrate appealing design the learning process is made much easier, if rather superficial. A good book for the beginner who needs to do something right away and who does not have the time nor inclination to undertake a deeper study of the many issues involved in the concept of "curb appeal".

5 comments about The Treehouse Book.

1. This book is just as good as the front cover picture suggests: pie-in-the-sky treehouses. The kind that you dreamed about as a kid? Its obvious from this book that some adults still think about and make their dreams become beautiful structures in reality. If you ever wanted a pictoral book of treehouses representing your wildest imaginations, this is the book for you!



2. This book along with Treehouses of the World are inspirational page after page. If you are a fan of treehouses, this book is a must in your collection.



3. This book has the best pictures and if your looking for ideas
   and inspiration, this is the book to buy.



4. This is the third book from Peter Nelson of Treehouse Workshop. His previous two delved in depth into treehouse construction. This work is more a survey of the many wonderful treehouses to be found throughout the world. It is crammed with quality color photographs and, unlike a previously reviewed work, has a unifying narrative throughout.
   
   Peter starts you off with a very useful section entitled "Choice of Tree". There he briefly touches upon suitability of various tree species to treehouse construction and provides a mini sketch of each tree species with a treehouse. Immediately after comes some very accurate arboriculture advice from Jonathan Fairoaks. It's nice to find a treehouse book that gets this part right for a change.
   
   For me, the real value of this book is in the tour it takes you on of many notable treehouse. I bring this book to meetings with clients so they can see the many incredible things possible. And for those who've never considered it possible that a treehouse could be any more than a small, roughly built box, this book will blow their minds.
   
   What this book lacks is building advice. It's not a "how-to" book. There really is no great "how-to" book out there. Even so, highly recommended.



5. I really liked the whole book, but I especially liked the part about kids treehouses. Some of them were homemade, and some of them were built by an artist. Before I read the book, I was wondering what different treehouses look like. I thought the treehouses with a loft and a ladder would be lots of fun to explore. Some of the treehouses were hotels. One of the treehouses was built by a robber! He had used it as a place to store his disguises. I thought it was a very good book.

No comments about The Black & Decker Complete Guide: Build Your Kids a Treehouse (Black & Decker Complete Guide).

5 comments about Ideas for Great Backyard Cottages (Ideas for Great).

1. I should have known better from the title that this was just a book of photos. However, the photos are gorgeous and I often flip through it when I'm looking for something pretty to have a cup of tea with or to look at before I go to sleep. The houses are all kinds, all materials, and all inspiring. They try to sell you plans at the end.



2. This book is just a delight to sit and page thru for dreaming up ideas of your own. Page after page of beautiful cottages, quaint little retreats, and even custom doghouses. I have my own "carriage house" converted into an artist studio and just love it. There is really nothing more relaxing then building, decorating, then enjoying your own backyard cottage. If you have the yard space put the effort into building one; then get this book. Even if you don't have a backyard cottage you will enjoy the book. Hope the author will consider publishing Edition II.



3. Actually, I liked this book. It has fantastic color photos of various cottages, cabanas, potting sheds, sleeping/dining sheds, greenhouses, trellises, etc.. If you are just skimming for visual ideas for what to build in somebody's back yard or vacation property, this book is "tops".
   
   Unfortunately there were no sketches or plans accompanying the pictures. So the reader is left unsure of how to reproduce what he sees. Also, the plans available for sale in the rear of the book are fine as far as they go -- but they don't have anything available if you want a cabana, trellis, or outdoor kitchen.



4. accidently ordered 2 copies of same book
   Books were recieved by two different vendors but in ggood shape



5. An impulse purchase, but still, it gives you some ideas. Such as, "what the hell were those people thinking?" for some of the backyard cottages.

5 comments about Yurts: Living in the Round.

1. Ever since I first heard that Becky Kemery was writing a book about Yurts I have been looking forward to having it in my hands. The wait has definitely been worth it, now that I can see how fully realized her idea has become. Yurts: Living in the Round was published in 2006 by Gibbs Smith, and is the definitive source of information about anything to do with yurts. Not only that, it is also a fine piece of art in its own right; nearly every page is graced with carefully laid out color photos and drawings. Becky's writing is both clear and well researched.
   
   Becky writes, "Most yurts are portable, tent-like structures. They have circular lattice walls (reminiscent of baby gates tied together) and a cone-shaped roof supported by rafters that meet in a center ring. The outer fabric shell of the yurt can be made of felted wool, coated canvas, or a modern architectural fabric. An ever-increasing number of wooden structures are also called yurts. What defines them as yurts and not just round houses? The Answer lies in the yurt's uncommon roof structure."
   
   "The yurt roof incorporates a unique architectural design. Roof struts meet in a center ring, producing inward and downward pressure. This center ring holds the rafters an a state of compression. Where the struts meet the wall at the perimeter, a natural outward thrust occurs. A band (of rope, woven cloth, or wire cable) a the top of the wall holds the wall and roof poles in tension against this outward pressure. Because of this...long roof spans are possible without any internal support system (like posts, trusses, or beams). This gives the yurt an uncommon feeling of spaciousness and uplift. the roof design also creates an incredibly strong and resilient structure that is uniquely equipped to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and heavy snow loads."
   
   The historical evolution of the modern yurt from its origins with the nomadic Central Asian tribes is carefully outlined. Both the Mongolian Ger and the Turkic Uy are the forerunners of what we now call the yurt. How these tribal folks traditionally make and decorate their portable homes is both fascinating and colorful. This process is generally a group effort and often involves painstakingly felting the wool to make the covering. The traditional pattern of living within this circular space is surprisingly similar to Native American traditional use of space within a hogan, with various family members and guests having their appropriate places.
   
   One of the early modern adaptations of the traditional yurt design was Bill Copperwaite's "tapered wall yurt." These are wooden structures that incorporate the same roof design, but modify the vertical walls to incline outward, giving them a distinctly oriental flare. Bill has been exploring these interesting shapes since the early 1960's, and has come up with quite a variety of forms, including some with concentric tiers of yurts within yurts. Some of them have scalloped butterfly-like roofs; others have gothic arches that surround the perimeter.
   
   The modern fabric yurt is more like its nomadic predecessor, in most ways, except that modern canvas or synthetic fabric replaces the felted wool. Becky chronicles how various people have adapted the original designs to suit modern needs in a variety of climates. Many of the new yurts have central plastic dome skylights and windows that let in lots of light, making them much more open and airy than the darker, womb-like nomadic yurts.
   
   Many of the folks who have experimented with building their own yurts have gone on to make a business of supplying yurt kits for the general public. Becky suggests how to locate and evaluate these yurt companies, and describes various ways that yurts can be adapted for personal needs, such having a bathroom, porch, heater, etc. She even addresses the issues of financing and insuring yurts, and dealing with building code officials.
   
   Another modern adaptation to the traditional yurt is called the "frame panel" yurt. These are much more permanent dwellings than their fabric cousins, and can appear as very solid indeed. They are often prefabricated off-site and shipped to the site for erection. Becky interviewed various people who have lived in these unique homes and shares many insights that could help others who do the same.
   
   The chapter titled "Living in the Round" philosophically evaluates the merits of doing this. Becky writes, "The flexible open space of a yurt is an interior design canvas waiting for the creative expression of each yurt inhabitant. What remains constant is the welcoming embrace of the space, the interaction between inner and outer worlds, and the roof structure that lifts our vision skyward. The yurt also has an inherent ability to bring people together into a circle, which naturally engenders connection and cooperation."
   
   The final portion of the book has several appendices that explore building codes, platform construction, and wood stove installation. There is also an extensive resource guide here for yurt companies, yurt plans, and other media. Becky's website about yurts, [...], is another resource providing additional information.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in simple, sustainable living, enduring vernacular architecture, or the possibilities inherent in living in the round.



2. "Yurts: Living in the Round" is put together very well. It is clear and concise, bright and full of photos, and covers just about everything you'd ever need to know about yurts. It is obvious upon reading the book that the author has used her own extensive personal knowledge and experience in writing it.



3. The author has lived in various yurts in enough states to have some wisdom to share since climates can change and a yurt in the dessert is different than one high in the Sierras or Rockies where the temperatures can get well below freezing. She writes of the history of yurt dwellers and how modern fabrics here in the states make yurts weather proof in most areas and livable homes year round.
   
   As a member of the Small House Society I am looking for a variety of small house choices and yurts and boats are at the top of my dream list.
   
   Her examples also show the modern yurt like the ones here in the Sierras that all have windows, skylights, doors and most amenities one can find in a small modern home. Read other 5 star reviews who tell you even more. Excellent book.



4. My son and daughter in law live in Colorado and have been thinking about purchasing a piece of propertie to put a Yurt on. We gave them this book for Christmas and they loved it. They felt it was very informative and loved the pictures too.I of course injoyed the sneak preview of the book before I sent it. Great book, great price. Thanks



5. Great resource book for anyone wanting to buy a yurt or live in a yurt. Gives a great deal of practical information on purchasing a yurt, deck building, plumbing, bear proofing and making a yurt a comfortable home.

5 comments about The Dock Manual: Designing/Building/Maintaining.

1. I gave up trying to find any useful information on dock building and then happened across this book not long ago. Max Burns has written a very comprehensive reference book that covers almost any imaginable dock/shore situation including the one I was looking for . If you're thinking of building your own, add this book to your library!



2. Yes, this book provides a well-illustrated overview of approaches to dock building and choices of materials. But it doesn't go far enough if you have a significant tidal range or if the wind blows. What's missing is any introduction to engineering. How to make sure the ramp doesn't fall off your float when the tide goes out. How to figure the static forces on your dock caused by 4 knot currents. How to estimate the wave heights and dynamic forces in 80 knot winds. And how to design a dock that will survive this abuse. You might want to involve a professional engineer in these situations, but that can be true of pretty much anything to do with docks. A book with this title should at least introduce you to these subjects and provide references for the gory details. Like some others, the author believes books like this should be peppered with jokes. Personally I find this annoying, but I must admit his jokes are above average. So if you want a funny introduction to building docks in gentle places, this book is for you.



3. Very thorough. Just the information I needed to determine what type of dock to build on my lakefront property.



4. I've built decks and docks in the past and I find this text to be of immense value as I prepare to build a new system of decks and docks at a new location. I'd suggest this this one to anyone who was about to build near or on the water.



5. As a handyman I like to bulid my own things. This book gives you a lot of insight. It shows an easier way of doing things by using things you would not have thought of. It is an excellent book with a lot of ideals.

5 comments about Backyard Idea Book: Outdoor Kitchens Fireplaces Sheds & Storage Play Spaces Pools & Spa (Idea Books).

1. I haven't finished reading it yet but so far love it. It has many photos along with a paragraph about why/how this works - the type of landscape and things to make sure you do/don't do. I am buying a copy for my sister for xmas.



2. This book has excellent photo's of backyard ideas. It is a great book if you are just looking for ideas. I had expected a book with a little "how-to" mixed in.



3. I'm satisfied. More than enough pictures with detailed analysis for each. There is nothing missing.



4. This is a wonderful book with beautiful photos and great ideas. It is not a how to book, but it does inspire!



5. The book clearly states that it is a 'Backyard Idea' book, not a how to or a design book. So for the 2 star review before, it is just plain silly. However, this is a great book if you like to sit back and dream ideas for your backyard. It has some ideas that may be out of reach financially for some, but it also has some budget tight ideas as well. And you can create a combo of both if you'd like! I love designing my own backyard landscapes and this book certainly adds to even more ideas. Recommended for those who sit in their yards dreaming what they can do to make them fun and relaxing.

3 comments about Sunset Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens.

1. This is an updated version of Sunset's best selling title. This new edition benefits from an array of new projects and many updates that include expanded how-to information for some popular outdoor kitchen projects, including step by step photos for building wood fired pizza ovens and concrete countertops.
   
   The book is divided in three large sections as follows:
   
   - Planning your outdoor kitchen
   Planning and design, Pizza ovens and other cooking options, Fire pits and fireplaces, Overheads and protection from wind, Counters, Countertops, Cooking appliances, Cooking Amenities, Comfort Systems and Drawing up the plan.
   
   - Barbecue Projects
   Cobblestone couter with granite, Barbecue Bar, Brick and tile counter,Tile and stone beauty, Family grilling counter, Full of surprises, Covered brick kitchen, Wood Cabinets in a niche, Tuscan setting, Pizza Oven, Winged Counter, Adobe oven, Fire pit with bench, Chimney smoker, Stackable barbecue kit, and Full-service kitchen.
   
   - How to Build Them
   Tools, Planning the grill opening, running utility lines, Pouring a concrete slab, Working with mortar and block, building a block counter, Building with brick, Building with metal framing, Building a wood counter, Finishing a counter with stucco, Facing with stone, Facing with tile, Tiling a countertop, Forming a concrete countertop, Gas and propane hookups, Electrical connections, Plumbing hookups, Installing grill and doors, and Building an overhead
   
   The book also includes a small section on Grilling tips and Recipes as well as a Resource guide.
   
   Overall a great title for anyone planning or building an outdoor kitchen project.



2. Good pictures, however, I would have preferred more detailed "how to" instructions.



3. My husband wants to install an outdoor kitchen and this book gave great ideas and I think installation tips too

5 comments about The Fence Bible: How to plan, install, and build fences and gates to meet every home style and property need, no matter what size your yard..

1. The author (Jeff Beneke) has a nice way of explaining options in a approachable and casual manner making the project of designing/building a fence and/or gate much more fun. This book is very complete in it's review of latches, hinges, fence options for consideration along with beatiful photography and sketchs to illustrate ideas or concepts.
   Even the guys at our local fence supply company where we bought our materials were impressed with this book when I used it to reference a particular piece of hardware.



2. This book has lots and lots of pretty pictures of fences that are not explained or detailed. There is decent information about rock walls, but otherwise this book really lacks in the substance needed to build fences.



3. I couldn't disagree more with the review from "GloverEggs". I borrowed this book from my library to build my first fence, and not only did it provide ample guidance on the 6' wood fence I needed at the time, but it also inspired me to think about using fences in different ways. Beneke has a great writing style, very easy to follow, interesting ancillary information. Most home "how-to" books I have read are written solely for instructional purposes; this one is not only useful, but interesting in its own right.



4. We were looking for a good basic idea book on fence styles and types. "The Fence Bible" fit the bill. It is loaded with illustrations and "how-to" information on every kind of fence and/or barrier you can imagine. A reference any homeowner with a garden or yard would be happy to have. Highly recommended if you're starting from square one on any fence project.



5. I didn't find this book to be especially strong in any area. If you are familiar with the "Better Homes & Gardens" style of "how to" book then you know what to expect from this book. The editors provided an overview of all aspects of fence building without really setting a good foundation for building any fence. After reading this book you will be better equiped to discuss a new fence with a fencing contractor and if that's what your after, this could be your book.