5 comments about Shabby Chic.

1. This book will introduce you to Rachel's concepts. It's a good place to start. I enjoyed it more than some of her more recent books.



2. I've find the information in the book (text) very useful in creating a soothing, unfussy, shabby environment at home. However I was expecting it to be the otherway around; I thought there'll be beautiful photographs in the book and the text just going to state the obvious...
   I was expecting more photos of the 'typical shabby' look (white walls, furniture, crystals, pinks, pastel colors, etc.) Instead you'll find a little bit of this and a little bit of that of varous styles mixed with shabby chic(traditional, modern and just a few of that typical romantic style)...so I am a little disapointed about that but on the whole, this book is o.k.



3. This was the first book I bought when I closed on my country home. My style has always been contemporary and I wanted ideas for decorating a turn of the century farmhouse. This and Shabby Chic Home is to decorating what Betty Crocker is to cooking. You will never go hungry again!:)



4. This book protrayed the essence of the Shabby Chic home
   decoration. It has a good balance between the written word
   and photographs. I did enjoy the book and got a lot of
   ideas from it.



5. This is one of those books that is great to flip through in a bookstore or friend's house but never buy. And I am quite a fan of Shabby Chic and Rachel Ashwell. So if you don't even like her stuff, nothing in this book will sustain your interest. There is not much copy to read, her "tips" are very generic or just off-the-mark (she says it's ok to buy termite-ridden antiques because "a simple commercially available spray" gets rid of termites - somehow I don't see many women attempting this), and the book is mostly photos. While pretty, the photos are sourced from the same few celebrity homes she knows, so one feels a bit shortchanged.

5 comments about Wright-Sized Houses: Frank Lloyd Wright's Solutions for Making Small Houses Feel Big.

1. I'm a Wright fan and an architect, so it was good to find a book the describes and illustrates FLLW's architecture "gems" to be considered in home design. Well done and useful, whether you are considering a "FLLW-inspired" or another architectural style. I think this book is a good compliment to Sarah Susanka's books (i.e., "the not so big house", etc.).
   
   I my opinion, Wright's approach is universal to many architectual style.



2. Despite the questionable purpose to show "solutions for making small houses big", as if using Wright's architecture for a DIY book, and the fact that all houses in the book are small like a condo, this is a very good book.
   Selection of the photographs, print and layout are excellent and decidedly over the average, even for such a popular subject.
   Plans and texts are plain and clear and eventually contribute to making it very easy for quick consultation. Somehow and unexpectedly, in my studio, you can never find this book in the same place.



3. I am building a custom home and I keep going back to this book for inspiration and important details. I have a library of at least 20 other FLW (Frank Lloyd Wright) books, but this is the most up-to-date and most on target reference for new home design. The photographs are large and focused on details, not just exterior elevations. Doors, windows, roofs, entrances and many other important features are explained and given an indepth perspective. This is a must have for any FLW library and I guarantee you will be handing this to to your architect if you want FLW details in your custom home. A great read.



4. This is a must have book for anyone interested in this style of building. Wright was, is, and will always be, a genius.



5. Very easy read to further understand Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian designs. Great pictures and floor plan presentations!

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions.

1. This fifth edition has all the sketches in color. Just to give you an idea of how comprehensive this is, there are 19 pages showing valances, with five per page. I love this book, as it really opened our minds to the variety of styles available for windows. No more boring windows.
   There's even a section for draperies, swags and valances used with beds.
   I particularly liked the section "Windows With a Challenge" that showed solutions for such issues as an air conditioner in a double-hung window or dealing with arched top windows.
   This has two index sections in the back. One is the usual word index and the other is a 38 page visual index showing the windows in black-and-white thumbnail sketches.
   It's terrific, not just for professional decorators, but for all individuals wanting a new look for their home.
   (I hope you find this review helpful, and if you do, please click yes.)



2. Spiral-bound, ALL in color, ALL illustrations in full color. Beautiful book, and very easy to use, with the tabs it has that open it to the specific chapter I want.
   The detailed instructions for materials needed, and construction, are excellent.



3. As an interior decorating shop, this book is an integral part of our work station. It helps us with practically every custom job we fabricate. Whether you are a professional, or just interested in decorating as a hobby, it educates you on every level, and is user-friendly. We highly recommend.



4. Found this book very informative illustrative hence beneficial in my work . Thanks much
   Austin



5. This book gives you a wealth of knowledge and ideas. There are no "how to's" in the book however, so if you need sewing directions, you will need another reference. But there are charts on how to figure how much material you will need, and little hints about the types of fabrics that will look good and what to avoid with the different designs, so it is an excellent reference up to the point of actually making the drapes or curtains yourself.

3 comments about Creative Stained Glass: Modern Designs & Simple Techniques.

1. After I began taking a stained glass class, I ran to the library and the bookstore. My instructor is good, but he's only one opinion. I must have looked at a dozen books, but this is one of the two that I brought home. I'm certainly glad I did.
   
   Like many such books, there are three sections: basic techiques, projects, and a gallery that shows what you can do (but offers no instruction -- just an ooh-ahh opportunity).
   
   The techniques section is among the best I've encountered. In a sense, the info that beginners need is all about the same: the supplies you need, the types of glass available, etc. However, Creative Stained Glass always seems to have just a little more info that do the other books... maybe it's just four paragraphs about the kinds of solder instead of two, but at this point you need all the info you can get.
   
   That first section is 40 pages, which is more than most books devote to the basics. The writing is friendly, too.
   
   In addition, the projects are pretty! I've seen far too many stained glass books in which half the projects are, well, lame. The glass equivalent of a crying clown painted on velvet. The projects are more likely to be leaded rather than to use copper foil; most beginner books seem to choose copper. Each project has about three pages of instruction, plus the patter; my one quibble is that it often doesn't tell you by how much to enlarge the pattern.
   
   I'm not positive I could have learned stained glass wholly from this or any book (this is one area in which a hands-on class makes all the difference), but this one would have given me the most confidence.
   
   Overall, I've gotten the best advice from this book. I'm glad it's in my library. You should probably grab a copy, too.



2. I am a beginner in stained glass & have enjoyed the book very much. I find the technique information very helpful & detailed. The photos are great and give the reader the needed visuals to help you understand well the technique or what the finished product should look like. I am very glad I purchased the book. MC California



3. Great book for basic instructions and classic simple designs. Highly recommend for reference and tips, very easy to follow with illustrations.

5 comments about Home Decorating for Dummies.

1. Good,Solid advice on actually decorating your home instead of fatasizing about the unaffordable and unattainable. I found a lot of helpful information to get me through each stage of a project. I really liked the way the authors wrote...very down-to-earth and freindly, unintimidating and real. I only wish there were loads of pretty pictures too!



2. Like all the "handbook for Dummies" series, this is good, basic, straight forward information for the novice, written in a very friendly, unintimidating style.



3. After checking out many books from the library and pouring over glossy photos of rooms as large as my whole house, I felt more discouraged than inspired. If you can get past the name of this series of books, this particular "Dummy" book has all the same information about interior design as the books that cost three times as much. Get those out of the library and look at the photos for free. There are only a few photos of rooms in this book. It is mostly just the basics of what you need to understand very basic interior design concepts. Is everyone but me living in a house with 12 foot ceilings, rooms that are 400 square feet and windows looking out on the ocean!



4. This book isn't bad at all. I find myself picking it up when I'm trying to watch t.v. It has pretty good details about different things...fabrics, lighting, flooring, walls, etc. As another review stated, 'I wish it had more pictures', and I also wish it were longer. I really don't think it could have had any more detail though. It's well worth the money, no doubt. My next book will be "remodeling for dummies"....



5. This is trash! These two "writers" don't know anything but copying other designers... and they can't even get that right! Don't buy this book unless you want to be truly uninspired.

No comments about Santa Barbara Living.

5 comments about Simply Slipcovers (Simply...).

1. I have never seen such a wonderful and varied collection of slipcovers in one place. There are examples of slipcovers with piping, ruffles, bows, ties, swags, borders, pleats, fringes, scallops, cording, tassels, and flanges. And then there are some plain, unadorned slipcovers for those who prefer that style. Then there are excellent and easy directions for creating the slipcovers. The photos are all in color and the drawings are very good, and also in color. My one complaint about this book (ISBN 0376015144) is that the pages are glued to the paperback cover and they are coming loose. What a dreadful way to put together a book that deserves so much better!



2. As both a novice seamstress and an avid thrift store/ antique mall/ flea market shopper, I needed to learn to make a slipcover. After reading the reviews, I bought this book - and it's been amazing. The instructions are clear, and my confidence (and competence) has grown immensely. I've been slipcovering everything that will stand still long enough.



3. Very interesting book - can't wait to see if it's as straight forward as it appears. The directions are clear and encouraging. Some of the covers are really beautiful. Great value for money and the fabric calculator is very helpful.



4. I have been studying this book and plan to begin my slipcover project just as soon as I find my perfect fabric. This book is of great encouragement to me and I believe I will be successful on even my first attempt at slipcovers. Sandra R.



5. This is an OK book, just be sure it offers what you are looking for. For me, it did not.
   
   It has detailed instructions to replicate the patterns listed in the book, all of which are the shabby chic, home sewn, type looks. Even the "tailored" cover is really a loose fitting sheath. By tailored, they mean devoid of ruffles and frills, not tailored precisely to the chair. The ottoman slipcover is an elasticized throw with tied corners. These are some very cute looks and if they are the look you're after, it is a good book.
   
   However you may be disappointed if, like me, you are looking for a more fitted, clean-lined, professional look to your slipcovers. The only thing for you are the basic instructions that you find with a quick Google.

5 comments about 1001 Ideas for Trimwork (1001 Ideas).

1. the book as far as reading is concerned is very good.i bought thinking that it was furniture trimwork,but it has not gone wasted. I can steal ideas from the book for my furniture in all a very good book for people in that type of business



2. This is definitely a "big picture" idea book. Lots of pictures to give you ideas about how you can use trim, as well as some design tips and discussions of using trim, the use of colors and such. My only real complaint is that I wish there were more closeups so I could see more detail on the trim used in some of the rooms.
   
   It's not at all a guide for installing trim, which makes the brief chapter covering the tools used to install trim seem a bit out of place. But I wanted trim ideas and this has them, and at a reasonable price. There are plenty of books that discuss installing trim.



3. I bought this book knowing that it would not be a 5 because I wanted ideas on how to use trimwork to make my 90 year old house look better. If you are looking for a do-it-yourself book this is not it. Great photos and many ideas.



4. I am a custom carpenter in the metro Detroit area, and am addicted to trim books. I use them to come up with and/or show ideas to my customers. As a result I have a large library. I picked up this book hoping to find something new. Its title is a little bit misleading, and I think they stretched the truth a little bit with their claim of 1001 Ideas. There are a lot of details pictured in the book, but I think too many of the 1001 are together in one picture (room) that is too small to highlight each idea. I own much better books, and find myself going to them far more often than this book when looking for new ideas or solutions for my customers' spaces. Don't get me wrong, the book is not a terrible book. It just does not live up to the title in my oppinion, and as I wrote above, I own better books on trimwork. Check out my other reviews for titles.



5. I think this book is incredible. Even my carpenter references it a lot. He has borrowed it so often, I'm giving him my old one and buying a new one for myself!

5 comments about Tile Style: Creating Beautiful Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors with Tile.

1. I have always been an avid DIY'er and a passionate lover of tile, so I have just about every book on the subject. I've been waiting for the release this newest book TILE STYLE and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Truly an all inclusive book, it covers in great detail everything tile including natural stone, glass, metal, mosaics, terra cotta, brick, porcelain, ceramic, cork and numerous decorative tiles. Not only will you learn the qualities of each, but how to chose, design with, install and care for them as well. The book is filled with beautiful photos of tiled rooms (even the installation sections are full color). And when it comes to the installation sections, this has to be one of the most detailed, yet simply presented of my entire collection. Plus, the projects incorporate the newest setting methods and materials in conjunction with the most current trends in kitchens, baths and flooring such as a granite tile countertop, a glass and metal backsplash and setting a travertine tile floor! Beautiful, extremely informative and cutting edge - a must have tile book!



2. This book is chock full of gorgeous tile applications in a variety of styles. I especially love the mosaics. Pure eye candy!



3. This book has some wonderful examples of tile projects to inspire you to do your own. After I read the book I did my own project and it turned out well. The book is packed full of useful information to help anyone complete their own project.



4. This is a great book about tile. It has creative, inexpensive ways to upgrade your tile look and to help enhance your end result. There are beautiful pictures of tile work someone would actually install into their own home. Highly recommend this book for the person who is looking for creative ideas.



5. Tile Style: Creating Beautiful Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors with Tile I am a professional interior designer and Tile Style is my new favorite tile book, and I buy alot of books. It offers not only great pictures for ideas etc., but is a great "how to" for anyone just starting out.

5 comments about The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes (Crafts Highlights).

1. Great resource book. Cool techniques...a bit intimidating for a beginner but full of information.



2. This book contains excellent descritions of equipment and techniques used for decorative painting. It is well inllustrated and easy to read.
   
   GM



3. Pierre's book is considered the bible of Faux and is a must have reference guide for the experienced faux finisher!
   
   A great example of the marbles he is so famous for can be found in the Morrocan mural he co-painted with Sean Crosby in the hot new book benefiting charity "The House that Faux Built" Transform Your Home with Paint, Plaster and Creativity The House That Faux Built check out the search inside feature.



4. I purchased this for my daughter who is a faux painter. She loves the book. She says there are many techniques in here that are new to her and she is enjoying doing them.



5. The most in-depth reference book I could have asked for. Exactly what I wanted and needed.