4 comments about Design Ideas for Kitchens (Design Ideas).

1. Packed with large, full-color pictures and all the information you could need for a kitchen remodel. Covers everything from lighting to hardware. Very up-to-date and helpful. Price paid was a real bargain.



2. The kitchens in this book are something to be jealous of. Not only are there beautiful ideas offered in this book, but practical tips are also included to make for a more functional kitchen that's not just aesthetically pleasing. Great ideas on cabinetry are supplied, along with information on surfaces, countertops, and lighting. Also, interesting ideas to include a washer and dryer. A lot of great information comes in one book. Before you go ahead and plan out how you're going to do your new kitchen, pick up this book. You'll be glad you did.



3. This is a great book to get suggestions if you are thinking of designing a new kitchen. Many different styles, which I found particularly helpful.



4. This book was and is VERY helpful in the still ongoing design of my new kitchen. Each section made sense and progressed to the next logical area of decision making. It has clear, large photographs and illustrations. It's a very helpful book. In fact, I'm ordering another copy so my designer and I can refer to some of the subjects and pages over the phone.

5 comments about In the Company of Flowers.

1. Mr. Morgan certainly does!!! Color, creativity, shape, style, and talent all should be associated with Mr. Morgan. His ability in floral design is exquisite and his imagination has no boundaries. He has an uncanny eye for the beautiful and the imaginative. Did I get anything out of this book, a lesson in style and class, and just how beautiful you can make ordinary things. Mr. Morgan taught me there is no end to majestry in floral design and I will look forward to future publications. His artistry is superb and he is truly working in his calling. Congratulations Mr. Morgan for thrilling me to no end with your beautiful work and art.
   Sincerely,
   Deborah Loisel



2. The pictures and arrangements in this book rate 5 stars. What was disappointing was that there were not even hints about how to put some of the arrangements together. In addition, some of the floral material was not identified correctly or completely.



3. Because this book is so beautiful it is truly inspiring. Morgan is a true artist. The photographs are lovely depicting unusual, elegant and even a few quite simple designs. It's a must for floral arrangers.



4. I heard this man speak and HAD to have his book. Well worth it!!!



5. Zen of Watering Your Garden
   
   This is not really the book to start flower photography with. I say this for several reasons. It requires elaborate camera and equipment. It deliberately teaches techniques that have distorted Nature into floral design.
   I am more of a purist and believe that Nature's beauty is everywhere and that it can be captured relatively simply using new and inexpensive digital cameras particularly those with image stability and macro functions built in.
   
   I published an entire collection of photos without any manipulation except cropping to fit the page. Matt Cohen

1 comments about Latin Style: Decorating Your Home with Color, Texture, and Passion.

1. This is a charming book full of color, and the quirky style of what the author calls "Latin Style". This is much more than just a decorating book. The author chooses pictures that give you a sense of what it would be like to experience Latin style. There is a stunning photo of a small cabana with large hammock swinging in front, the hammock facing an endless ocean. The picture beckons you to enjoy total peace. Then there are glorious pictures that speak of movement. A native hauling a load of bananas across a sky of palm trees, then a swirl of a brilliant red skirt as a woman dances by, followed by a collage of intriguing dishes.
   
   For those interested in decoration, there are pictures of haciendas. Plaster walls, heavy antique furniture, and the jolt of pure orange paint on a wall. One truly romantic home pictured has a "grand old corridor...with an assemblage of paints and old lithographs and ...dark brown leather brown chairs--again that necessary hint of masculinity." (p 85).
   
   Very enjoyable and interesting book.

5 comments about Learning to See: Bringing the World Around You Into Your Home.

1. This book is beatiful in its layout and composition, as well as the concepts presented ... and it's helping me see and create more pleasing compositions in my world - both in my physical environment and with my photography.



2. I am planning on becoming a decorator in the future and this book was an excellent inspiration as well as a great resource for ideas and thinking outside of the box.
   It's a sophisticated view of the home, not just typical how to's that leave you with a stale idea of how to decorate. Rather each page is a refreshing and dynamic look at different ways to design a room.
   No cheesy floral valances or typical catalog rooms. These pages are filled with thought provoking furniture and color choices to stimulate your own creativity.



3. Vicente Wolf is a great designer with a clean, modern yet luxury driven aesthetic. His interiors are always chic with little surprises thrown in like gilt Louis XV chairs tossed around a modern round table. Love that. The book is a great resource for color (which he actually gives Ben Moore specs) and for spacial planning. He tends to wax poetic about design and his vision...blah, blah, blah, but the photographs speak for themselves.



4. A beautiful book with good advice. Mr.Wolf presents his talent and vision for decorating chic rooms as well as his unique perspective on what works and what doesn't. Here's to an original!



5. One of few exceptional decor books out there. Set apart from the rest because the writer gives the reader very valuable tips - information not easily picked-up by just looking at photographs which is what so many other decor books are filled with. It is by far one of the best books in my decor book collection.

5 comments about Simply Christmas: 201 Easy Crafts, Food and Decorating Ideas.

1. This book has just what I needed--great photos, clear directions and ideas to use everyday objects in new ways to decorate for Christmas. The recipes I made (orange rolls and fruitcake) tasted as good as they looked in the photographs. I especially liked the ideas using miscellaneous antique dishes and primitives. The projects I tried really were easy, even for a person like myself with limited crafting experience.



2. While Simply Christmas has great photographs and an easy-to-use format, I found that the book's crafts and decorating ideas aren't very original. Most can be found in any other Christmas crafts/decorating book. Also, I think several of the ideas are tacky. Maybe the book just isn't my style. My advice is that you check it out at your local library before buying it.



3. I have several of Dahlstrom's books and thought this was the best yet. The recipies are similar to what my mom made when I was young and the whole book made me want to get started on Christmas cooking and projects. I made the fruitcake recipe the first night I got the book and my family loved it.



4. Simply Christams is a delightful book filled with absolutely wonderful ideas for christmas. All the crafts are very clever, the pictures are bright and colorful, and the writing is fun and playful. I've made over half of the projects, and almost all of them have recieved praise from my friends. And the best part is, even though the book is named Simply Christmas, it will provide great ideas all year long. Great job!



5. I love this book because all of the projects and ideas are so easy to make yet they all turn out so pretty. I work and don't have a lot of time, but I like to make my own gifts and decorations. Simply Christmas has given me so many ideas that I can make quickly. I love the pictures in the book, too. It makes me get in the holiday spirit. I especially like the ornaments you can make with dots of glitter.

5 comments about Tokyo: A Certain Style.

1. The photographs are so well taken, I have never been a fan of small packed rooms, but these rooms in the book are gorgeously messy. However I would give it 10 stars if the apartment owners were photographed too.



2. Its good to see how other cultures live, the style of types of living spaces that the Japanese have as a posed to that of America and Australia etc. Certainly an eye opener.
   
   The photography is nice the light is pretty much all natural. There were a few photos where I have been able to make out some titles of manga that the people have and found some that I own.
   
   If you are interested to see how other people live day to day and thing your house is small (and its rather large) get this and see how it compares.



3. If this book were in larger format, I would love it. It is an afront to the western understanding of Tokyo design, showing how real people live, not high design. An interesting subject matter, but it is difficult to look at the photos since the book is so small (just like the apartments, I suppose). At first opening, the binding cracked and the cover partially separated from the spine. The format has done the subject a disservice!



4. It's a small book filled with pictures of real people's apartments.
   Also, all of them are small apartments (probably located on japanese cities like Tokyo), in everyday situations (read very messy).
   For the japanese culture curious/entusiast. The book adds nothing in knowledge, but it's interesting to see how real people live in real japan today.



5. This book is a visually compelling, interesting, and insightful look into Japanese urban living. While the book is physically small (something that surprised me, despite having read the many reviews saying as much) it is jam-packed--much like Japanese apartments, come to think of it. The photography is not beautiful, but it is captivating and it serves its purpose. Besides, given the subject matter, one could hardly ask for "beautiful" photography. You will be disappointed if you're looking for a book on Japanese design, because this is certainly not it. We're not looking at luxurious, spacious apartments by hip Tokyo designers, nor are we looking at serene, "zen" houses. We're looking at the real homes of real people, and thus your expectations should be adjusted accordingly.
   
   I know that some people have complained that there is a lack of information about the people living in the apartments, and it's true that the writing is sparse. However, I felt that the pictures adequately told the story without having to be further cluttered with text. That's what makes this book so interesting--it allows us to draw a comparison between the way ordinary Japanese people live and the way that we ourselves live without the distraction of too much explanation.
   
   The text that the book does have sheds some light on cultural differences without being overbearing--the fact that many Japanese apartments do not have their own bathroom, for example--and is a welcome look into normal people's lives without being intrusive. Because of the author's unobtrusiveness, we are offered a truly objective look into the lives of Tokyo's citizens through their homes--sometimes messy, cluttered, and cramped though those homes (and lives) might be.

3 comments about ReMAKE ReSTYLE ReUSE: Easy Ways to Transform Everyday Basics into Inspired Design.

1. This book is inspiring and the projects are great for crafters of all ages and skill level. The photos are lovely and the projects use everyday items such as sheets and t-shirts so the materials are inexpensive, easy to find, and great for those who are budget conscious. Fantastic book!



2. I bought this book the night I saw it because I couldn't put it down. I will use most every idea in this book and have found the sketches so inspiring. It is the best craft/ design book I have found in a while. It is a mix of minimalist IKEA meets Parisian homemade/ French farmhouse chic. The whole book is charming, creative, and helps you think of new methods to turn plain into simple and lovely.



3. No new ideas here. Might be nice if you are just beginning to craft. This went into the library sale pile the day I received it.

4 comments about Colorscapes: Inspiring Palettes for the Home.

1. Made me less shy with color, that's for sure!



2. This is another great book by Susan Sargent!
   A lot of pictures to give you ideas to design your home, and it looks doable! No oversized mansions with 20ft high ceiling and gigantic rooms full of antiques and paintings you expect to find in a museum.
   Real pro advice from a pro designer to help you achieve your own dream home design.
   And you will read this book like a good novel, there are stories behind those homes beeing redone.
   Susan is definitely the best when it comes down to put together bright colors without beeing tacky!



3. I am a Susan Sargant fan and a lover of color... Her new book Colorscapes is a true inspiration. If you are tired of decorating around beige then this is the book for you! Here you are guided to find your own personal color's,put together your own design board, and forge ahead with confidence in creating the colorful spaces you have always wanted to live with! It is a wonderful addition to your home library.



4. Susan Sargent has a brilliant eye for color, and the book is filled with fabulous pictures of vividly-colored interior spaces. Where the book falls short is in the text. The descriptions of what, why and how are all too brief and poorly related to the photos. The text and the photos often do not match each other, and too often there is no corresponding picture. In one chapter, the author describes how a family painting inspired the entire color pallette of the home, but the painting is never shown. In another, the photo caption lists the colors used in the room but omits the most dominate color. At one point, the text just stops mid-sentence, and the reader is left wondering how the book ever went to press in this condition.
   
   The photos are inspiring, but the book suffers from a lack of editorial effort. Matching text and photos on the same page or using the common convention of including a page reference or 'not shown' would have been most welcome. If you want more than eye candy, you have to work at understanding what is going on in the mind of this brilliant decorator.

5 comments about Home by Design: Inspiration for Transforming House Into Home.

1. This book has wonderful design ideas if you are working with an architect designing a new home, if you are or remodeling an old one. If you already have a home and want to incorporate her ideas, it might be a little difficult. It is a very educational book with beautiful photos, however, I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't planning on doing any major renovation or construction.



2. This book is fun to own. Lots of good ideas that can be realistically applied. The pictures are beautiful and the writing truly energizes and inspires one to look with new eyes at the way space is used not only in ones own home, but also in public buildings and spaces which one occupies as daily life is lived. I refer to this book often, and would recommend it to anyone interested in beautifying and simplifying their environment.



3. GREAT!



4. I found this book to be well laid out and full of good ideas for not only planning the construction of a new house but for doing renovations as well. Reading this has mad me want to buy her other book about Small Homes.



5. We are in the process of building a house and this book has been exceptionally helpful for framing what we really want.

No comments about Kitchens: Creating Beautiful Rooms from Start to Finish (House Beautiful Design & Decorate).