2 comments about The Cottage Rules: An Owner's Guide to the Rights & Responsibilities of Sharing Recreational Property.

1. WOW! This book is a family saver! Our family ownership of a cottage is similar to one of the sitations described in the book. We were having trouble making decisions, getting agreement, coordinating, getting work done, scheduling etc. This book is beginning to change everything and make owning a cottage with our family enjoyable again. Now we will be able to refer back to the neutral 'rules' to which we all have agreed, rather than getting upset when we don't get our own way!! Plus, the book has given us ideas on things to do and introduces new ways of doing things. Thank you so much Nikki Koski, for writing and publishing this book!!



2. We have a family cottage and ae having challenges with costs and useage. This book provides solutions that can be easily modified to your families circumstances. Easy read but very good info.

5 comments about Poolscaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa.

1. Transform the swimming pool of a backyard into a Tuscan paradise with tiles and flowering plants, or create a pool with a beach-like presence filled with beach plants: that's the idea of Pool Scaping, a title which covers both swimming pool decor and appropriate landscaping around it. Pool Scaping is a lovely guide which covers the specifics of plants in a water surrounding.



2. This is one of the not so good books for pools like many many others. I don't know may be it is too hard to write for pools. There are inside some pictures but nothing to catch the eye neither spectacular. THis book was suppouse to guide you how to create your own pool but I have see much better books!
   So if you are going to spend money to build a pool keep on searching for another book!



3. Based on the description, I believed this book would be full of design ideas and photos of well-landscaped pools. It isn't. If you are looking (as I was) for examples to show a landscaper (or to do it yourself), you should look elsewhere.



4. This book was an excellent resource for the designer looking to work with swimming pools. The ilustrated examples and artistic tips were an invauable inspiration for sparking the imagination when designing pools. Before reading this I did think of pools as slabs of concrete filled with water, but I believe this book has put far down the path of being able to design elegant swimming pools. I consider this a must read for any architectural designer.



5. I had high hopes due to high reviews, but I was very unhappy to find that only a small section of the book is actually about plants! You would think with a name like "Poolscaping" that the book would have had more to do about plants and landscaping around the pool. The book is instead divided in chapters about how to build a pool and many pictures on waterfalls and spa's. Very generic as a whole.

5 comments about Hacienda Courtyards (Mexican Design Books).

1. This book is the bible for Interior Designers who wish to follow through with interior spaces and make the patios and gardens beckon their clients to enjoy equally their outside spaces. This book is a must in every designers library.



2. Although there are plenty of photographs, they were of the same few properties over and over. I had expected more variety.



3. I've purchased most of this series of books since I design Hacienda style homes and these make good reference. The problem is that they are starting to repeat themselves and this one actually is a step down offering nothing new and most of the images look tired and uninspired. If you are looking to design only a hacienda courtyard this might be good, but I think "In a Mexican Garden" by Melba Levick and Gina Hyams is a lot more lively and has spawned more imagination for my clients (and myself).



4. I got a used book that is in perfect condition. Photography is great with good ideas if you are thinking about doing something in your own yard that leans toward a courtyard feel. Writing is simple but knowledgeable. Would recommend the book. Actually I only ordered one book but was charged for and received two. That was ok this time, but I kept one book for me and one was a gift.



5. Hacienda Courtyards is a beautiful book full of photography and ideas if you are thinking of building/decorating an Adobe style home.

5 comments about Building a Multi-Use Barn: For Garage, Animals, Workshop, Studio.

1. Boy, I couldn't believe it when I got this book. It covers everything from ground prep, foundation, framing, configuring the building to fit it's use.....on and on and on! It blocks everything out, so if you are not comfy with doing that one piece yourself, you can contract that piece out and pick up from there. I can't wait to get my hands dirty! Read the whole thing first.



2. Builder John Wagner shows the versatility that's possible with one good barn. Using a 24' by 30' plan and simple framing, Wagner alters the interior layout to create a tractor garage and garden shed, a studio, a workshop and office, and a stable. His ideas should be considered by anyone looking for practical uses for old barns. Besides being a design guide, this book covers all the basics of light frame construction with easy-to-read text, photos and great illustrations.



3. A useful book on the various practical aspects of building a simple (or not so simple) barn. Useful to a do-it-yourselfer, or as a reference to someone using contractors. Recommended.



4. References to buil an audio studio in the simplest fom me by home archetitural process.



5. While the sections on planning and construction are quite helpful, I was disappointed in the section on electricity. A barn is considered an outbuilding, and local electrical codes may be different for residences and outbuildings. Barns are often used to house livestock or poultry, but the book does not address the different requirements for farm wiring.
   
   Residential wiring usually requires NM (non-metallic) cable, but in a building may be subjected to high moisture like that in a livestock barn, NMC or UF (Underground Feed) wiring is required. In addition, the boxes for outlets and fixtures must usually be sealed against moisture and dust.
   
   Author John Wagner does say that it is important to work with the local electrical inspector and know the local code requirments as they vary greatly.

1 comments about Complete Deck Book.

1. I'm a german landscaper. We need more good stuff like this in our country to make better gardens and to learn from the skills of people which use there imagination.This book has show every detail to me how to make special kinds of wodden decks.

5 comments about The Woodlot Management Handbook: Making the Most of Your Wooded Property For Conservation, Income or Both.

1. The Woodlot Management Handbook has some good ideas but the gist of the book could be presented in one third the space. Many common sense observations are previewed, presented, and then recapped. Although written for the novice, this book
   anoyingly talks down to the reader. Common Sense Forestry by Hans Morsbach covers much of the same material with a clear and concise style and also manages to be far mor informative.



2. I found this book to be an incredibly valuable asset in the managing of my newly acquired 10 acres of woods. I had no previous experience and didn't read this text until I had owned it for several months. Unfortunately, I had learned the hard way many of the common sense facts the authors share in these pages. It is a well-written and well-documented work that is perfect for those of us who wish to conserve and preserve deciduous woodlands. I have opened mine up as a guide and reference several times after finishing it.



3. This book is essentially applied common sense. If you have ever thought about balancing multiple uses on your land or public lands then you don't need this book.
   
   Extremely remedial and basic stuff -- nothing really actionable in the book. I much preferred Working with your Woodland by Beattie, but have not read Morsbach.



4. This book offers a solid introduction to woodlot ownership. The book covers conservation, measurement, and some legal/inheritance issues. The book takes you step-by-step through the basic process of each of these areas. I found the chapter on measurement to be a good quick-and-dirty guide to measuring your timber. Other reviewers have faulted the book for being too simplistic or referring woodlot owners to professional forresters, but I found it to be a good starting point for a complicated subject.
   
   Each chapter and many special sections contain references to other sources of information. I found this particularly helpful in the measurement section. I have a couple of other books that are very detailed in the area of measurement. This book summarized the process in one chapter and provided numerous other sources for more detail in the form of state forestry articles that would have otherwise been dificult to locate.
   
   The book is simple on some levels but it is clear that the authors love forestry (particulary stewardship) and want to convey both the knowlege and the joy of woodland ownership. A GREAT book for beginning your journey into this complex subject.



5. This book will help anyone who owns property and wants to improve your timberstand.

1 comments about Lawnscapes: Mowing Patterns to Make Your Yard a Work of Art.

1. So we got this book for my father-in-law because this year he finally purchased the John Deer of his dreams. As you see, it went along nicely. It was kind of a gag gift, but with him retiring soon, we all figure the gag will come when he actually uses the directions and makes some elaborate pattern for next Thanksgiving at his house.
   
   Seriously though, without being overly complicated, this tells you the basics of how to make lawn patterns.If you are really looking to learn this skill, you might want to find something with more tips, tricks, hints, etc. But, if you just like playing around in the yard and want some simplie how-to, this is a good choice.

1 comments about Design Ideas for Decks & Patios (Design Ideas).

1. I love this book. It inspired me to work on my outdoor living space.
   I have incorporated several ideas and designs from the book and my place is looking better and better...can't wait to have my summer party!

2 comments about Infinity Pools.

1. Infinity pools, sometimes called infinity edge pool is a pool that has one or more edges of the book being submerged below water level so that the water surface merges with the horizon, providing the illusion of an infinite plane. As seen in this book this effect is particularly impressive when the invisible edge is set against a larger body of wter such as the ocean, or perched on an elevated so that the sky becomes the backdrop.
   
   This is an expensive pool, with the requirement for a trench to collect the water escaping over the submerged edge and then for a pump that will recirculate the water into the main pool. But when it is done correctly by skilled designers and contractors, the result is often stunning.
   
   This book pictures and describes thirty houses from literally around the world that incorporate infinity pools into their design. The book is beautifully photographed and printed and will serve as an idea book for architects and their customers.



2. I purchased this book to get an idea of infinity pool designs. Really it's more of a coffee table book. The pictures are beautiful, but it's very difficult to really assess what the pools look like as the pictures are more artistic than technical. The photo assignment for this book must've been a blast as the pictures are from luxury locations around the world.

5 comments about Trellises, Arbors & Pergolas: Ideas and Plans for Garden Structures (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. My husband and I had a landscape plan drawn up that included a pergola. Since my husband rebuilt part of our fence, he wanted to tackle the pergola himself. So, I bought him this book and he really loved it.
   
   The beginning of the book shows a variety of ideas for trellises, arbors and pergolas. Even if you're not going to build it yourself, the photos, drawings, and descriptions of styles may help you select or design one that you like and fits your house/yard. My favorite idea from the book was a trellis that goes over the garage door - what a neat idea!
   
   The next section of the book has all the necessary instructions and shows you how to build a number of these structures. This could come in handy if you decide to build it yourself.
   
   Section three offers some suggestions for plants that will climb up structure.
   
   The final portion of the book goes over the different types of tools you may need for your project. There are also drawings and descriptions to help the novice learn the basic building and wood-working skills needed for these projects.
   
   Although we haven't started our pergola yet, I'm sure this book will come in handy. We've definitely been enjoying looking through it to see what kind we might want!



2. Good information on the different aspects of building the various landscape structures.



3. Trellises, Arbors & Pergolas: Ideas and Plans for Garden Structures (Better Homes & Gardens)
   
   I had been searching for a long time to find a suitable design for an arbor at the end of three converging pathways on a rustic portion of our property. I finally found the design I wanted at the bottom of page 9. I showed the design to our carpenter and he built an identical copy out of ipe. The result was so perfect, that I asked him to build a small pavilion in the same style on another part of our property. It also was elegant and sturdy. He commenced these projects in the middle of January in snowy, icy, windy, sub-freezing weather and finished both within about two or three weeks. I am now designing a 200-foot-long fence along two sides of our property in--you guessed it--the same style. If I ever figure out how to work my husband's new handycam I may be able to submit a video review. Useful book.



4. This is an excellent how-to book; great designs, clear instructions and easy to read text. This is a good book for the beginner thru the professional. I highly recommend it.



5. I was a bit disappointed with this book - I was hoping for a lot more ideas - most that were shown were pretty weak designs. Books like this are mainly idea books and the more ideas, the better. This looked like a half hearted attempt. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything better. There's a definite need for a decent book on this subject...