1 comments about New York Living Rooms.

1. A very intimate and unique look at living rooms- not just a book about living rooms and their interiors, but as personal expressions of their inhabitants.

5 comments about Hip Hollywood Homes: An Intimate Look at L.A.'s Hottest Trendsetters and the Inspiring Spaces They Live in.

1. Much, much more than other coffee table books!
   
   It's a design and style book that reads like a great celebrity or style magazine! The elegant cover caught my eye, the interior and exterior home photos inspired new decorating ideas, and the inside scoop of Hollywood's movers and shakers made me want to curl up with the book just as a good page-turner novel does! Hostetler has found the right mix for anyone with high-end, edgy and in-the-now home design sensibilities.
   
   Done - it's on the top of my Holiday gift list for friends, family and co-workers this year!!!



2. I know you say to yourselves. Not another narsicistic book on celebrity domiciles.. But this book stands out. It is smartly written by Sue Hostetler. An element of honesty comes out in her subjects that one is not usually privy to in a celebrity "fluff piece". The humanity of those who dwell within the walls portrayed in this book really shines through. Also the photographs are "Superb". I have owned many beautiful photo books and this one really stands out. The depth of the images and the natural balance of light is stunning. Peter seems to know just what the spaces want to share with the viewer. All the homes shine under Peters visionary imagemaking. I would say if you are interested in what really drives the styles of today, "Hip Hollywood Homes" is a MUST HAVE. The style , design , and tastemakers who opened their lives and homes to Peter and Sue really are the creme' de la creme' of what is happening now.



3. Great find. This is the perfect book when plannning a remodel. It's refreshing to find such a variety of interiors under one cover. The garden shots are equally inspiring and wildly different from one home to the next. The book is beautifully shot and the narative is well thought out. Well worth buying.



4. I was really looking forward to this book. The cover shot is lovely, and I was intrigued by the comments from other readers. Unfortunately, the cover shot is the best of an interior; there is also a shot of a lap pool that is really lovely. Those were the only two inspiring photos in the book.
   
   This is strictly a "picture" book--no plans, no elevations, little specific product/material/sourcing information. The homes featured belong to not-publicly-famous who cater to Hollywood royalty (a lawyer-to-the-stars, a jewler-to-the-stars, a public-relations-representative-to-the-stars, etc.)
   
   Many of the homeowners featured in the book "decorated" their places by themselves, and they would have benefited from a little help from a professional. For all the beautiful views and (sometimes) beautiful architecture, and for all the money these people put into their places, the majority of the interiors share a kind of shop-worn, mid-century modern feel, reminiscent of a vaguely seedy, semi-cheap hotel room. It's an aesthetic that is very popular in LA, but I found it a little depressing.



5. This book is extremely disappointing. I was lucky to find a copy in a local store so I could thumb through it before an actual purchase. Unfortunately the publisher did not permit a "Search Inside" for Amazon readers to be able to do the same. The interiors are not "inspiring" and there is really nothing about these rooms that one would want to emulate. This is particularly disappointing given the resources the homeowners must have had at their disposal. Attractive photographs do not make up for lackluster ideas.
   
   One other point - it is my opinion that the three 5-star reviews given to this book must have been written either by friends of the author or perhaps employees of the publisher. The reviews all came out within two weeks of the original publication and in each case, they are the only review from that person. I doubt they were from actual readers.

5 comments about Complete Home Decorating Book.

1. This book is about the techniques involved in doing your own decorating, such as hanging your own wallpaper, doing stencilling, covering your sofas, etc. It really isn't an idea book, there aren't any room layouts, etc. But if you have an idea of what you want to do, this helps with the techniques to do it yourself. LOTS of pictures.



2. Great resource for home decorators. Shows how to make different styles of curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, etc., faux finishing painting techniques, wallpapering, staining, etc.

   I borrowed it from the library and am now looking to buy it - it's that good.




3. I borrowed the book from the library and found it to be an excellent reference. The step-by-step directions with pictures give guidance to those who want to complete "do it yourself" home decorating projects. The book covers so much, from basic sewing techniques and terms to making your own lampshades. This is one I want to purchase.



4. This book starts with the sewing basics that many of us may not have been interested in learning until we actually had our own place that needed to be decorated. So, if you don't know the first thing about sewing, but would like to learn you may want to purchase this book. I think it has the best sewing instructions of any book that I've ever seen before. Or, if you want to know the proper way to wallpaper, paint or set tiles, the instructions are all here.

   The excellent attention given to detail, and the clear pictures makes this one of the very best practical teaching guides on the market today. There are chapters on Curtains, Shades, Bedding, Cushions, Simple Upholstery, Tiling, Table Linen, Lampshades, Painting, Wallpapering, Lighting and Houseplants. The directions are concise and the photographs show all of the projects step-by-step.

   This book is so good that I've purchased two to use as gifts.




5. I was dissatified with my order. First it came three weeks late and when it did arrive it was the wrong book! Never again!

5 comments about The Coffee Table, Coffee Table Book.

1. Well... it's not *that* original!
   Seinfeld, episode 86 (The Opposite) - Kramer has this idea, a few episodes earlier about a coffee table book about coffee tables. In ep. 86 the idea is materialized and he presents it to Regis and Kathie Lee. It even has the little fold out legs.

   Still, I think it's great that someone actually did this - I thought it was cool back then, when I first saw the episode.

   Hope to read it soon!

   Best wishes!




2. This is amazing. There is no credit given to "Seinfeld" anywhere in the text, not even in the full page of acknowledgments. The writers attempt to pass this off as their own idea, having assumed, I guess, that they are the only ones who have ever seen the most popular sitcom in history. I hope someone at NBC is suing.



3. Probably the most interesting aspect of the "Coffee Table Book" is the obvious pun of the title; beyond that, it's basically a lot of avant-garde furniture. Most coffee table books are just giant books that sit and collect dust on people's coffee tables.
   
   But this? It's a book, and it's about coffee tables. Get it? Yeah, yeah. So did "Seinfeld's" Kramer. And without the kooky sidekick to give it an entertaining twist, the "Coffee Table Book" really comes across as rather boring, except to aficionados of interior design.
   
   The photography is quite pretty, and most of the coffee tables are interesting -- they range from futuristic to icky (a topless, leather-clad woman on all fours makes up the base of one -- shades of "Spinal Tap") to 100% ordinary. Some are flowing structures of metal, wood and glass, while others are garish blobs of plastic.
   
   The problem is, you can only look at pictures of coffee tables for so long. And it doesn't help that the little text blurbs accompanying each picture really don't illuminate much. A tiny shred of history, and maybe a quote are included. As a result, it feels like a hardcover furniture catalog, with only one item of furniture included.
   
   It's a cute idea, but the "Coffee Table Book" is too long and bland to be of any actual interest. It would be best on -- you guessed it -- the coffee table, so guests can chuckle at the title.



4. Well, you have to also consider the author of the book. Though everyone seems to know about the 'Seinfeld' episode, they don't seem to notice that Alexander Payne, of 'Sideways' and 'About Schmidt' fame, is the author. I'm fairly certain that he wasn't trying to pass this off as an original idea; he just thought it was a funny episode and, with his new found clout, decided to make the book a reality.



5. how can someone bring an idea from the longest running, most popular sitcom in tv history into reality and not give any credit to that show. absolutely disgusting.

1 comments about New Swedish Style.

1. Here are some practical ideas and projects for creating the Swedish Look. Some such as the instructions for creating a "Roller Blind with Lace Trim", are useful, some, such as "The Garden Gate Radiator Cover", are of dubious utility and inspiration. Authentic this book is not, but if you are interested in the Swedish style and wish to transform a room or apartment into a semblance of the Gustavian look on a tight budget, it may be of use to you.

No comments about Tiling Step-by-Step (Step-By-Step).

1 comments about Texas Country Style.

1. After checking this book out at the library several times I decided to buy it! The author grew up in Texas and the book has a very nostalgic tone. You are taken to many uniquely decorated homes across the state. Each house is different and has something special to offer. The book is also a visual treat as the photographss are stunning. This is a great book to curl up with. It will be time very well spent!

1 comments about Painting Fabulous Floorcloths.

1. I found this book very informative. Being new to making floorcloths it gave me all the information I needed. It didn't just skim over the subject but dealt with it in depth.

1 comments about Simple Pleasures of the Home: Cozy Comforts and Old-Fashioned Crafts for Every Room in the House.

1. I loved this book from the very first page. The author writes in an easy, conversational style that made me feel she was talking to me over a cup of tea.

   Susannah Seton gives such motivation to discover the joys of simple living and tranquility within one's home. For those of us with that strong nesting instinct and sense of home as sanctuary, this book is an affirmation to living peacefully, beautifully and joyfully. For those who wish they had less stress in their lives, this is a place to start.

   Seton gives many practical ideas for enhancing simple pleasures by way of foods, decorating and crafts as well as mindset. This is a beautiful book!

3 comments about At Home with Art: How Art Lovers Live with and Care for Their Treasures.

1. Diving into this book, as an avid art collector, one might expect to learn how different people work with the art they possess. This book though is really for those who are stricly ardent and almost excessive collectors who like to jam pack their residences with works galore. What is missing from this text is a careful presentation of how many different types of people display their art. There is too much focus on furniture, collecting passions and interest, and not enough focus on ideas. Overall, I found this book to be somewhat mono-dimensional in the concepts portrayed of how others live with their art. More a picture of what the authors had preconceived than a search for the spectrum of ideas.



2. This is an extraordinary book. Clearly not intended as a scholarly exercise, the authors take us up close and personal with outstanding collectors and their art. These are people I would be unlikely ever to meet, and their personal views and how they are expressed through the works they surround themselves with provide a glimpse into the collecting mind. Many of the homes are wealthy, though some are artists who have accumulated works from their friends. The photos are spectacular, and give many ideas of how art can be integrated into one's home.



3. This book is inspiring because it shows us the homes of many collectors of paintings.It is well written, but there are not enough new ideas that can be incorporated by the reader. Some of the collectors have little idea on how to display their paintings in a way that is pleasing and justifies the works. Many of the dispalys are cluttered and claustrophobic. Yet, there are some splendid homes that incorporate paintings spectacularly. The article on Dorothy and Herbert Vogel is very moving. These extra-ordinary people deserve a book just on them.