5 comments about Practical Feng Shui: Arrange, Decorate and Accessorize Your Home to Promote Health, Wealth and Happiness.

1. The most important rule in Feng Shui is directions. They need to be accurate by using a compass. Your Kua Number or (Ki Number) gives you your personal direction which then designates where the proper placement of colors, objects and Feng Shui enhancers are placed in your surroundings. I think most people do not understand that Feng Shui can be detrimental if not applied properly. Never in a home is a missing corner or extension to a building beneficial.



2. This is a must have for anyone who wants to build their life around the ancient teachings of Feng Shui. Very informative and simple, in a complexed sort of way. Great gift for anyone who is out of the ordinary for Christmas.



3. This book is an excellent starter book for someone wanting to learn about Feng Shui. The author goes in depth describing the sources of the Feng Shui philosophy but also makes the reading easy to understand. The book is organized by rooms, which makes the book an excellent reference item for quick fixes.



4. I had heard a great deal about Feng Shui and was anxious to learn about it. A "hoping to be helpful" friend who knew even less than I did gifted me with this book. I waded through it and found this author to be so confusing and disorderly I nearly tore my hair out and darn near gave up on Feng Shui right here. I found it to be far too vague and disorganized and too much jumping back and forth between chapters required to get a complete, clear picture, which I never achieved with this book. This is not, in my opinion a good book for a beginner, it is too muddled and has too much "guess work" for the novice. I feel fortunate to have found other authors with a clearer view and a better ability to explain the inner workings of Feng Shui. I have been practicing Feng Shui for two years now and have doubled my income in my legal career, calmed and better organized my life, and found time to become the artist I dreamed of being. Feng Shui does work, but I didn't get the know-how from this author. Only the desire to find a better author.



5. Practical Feng Shui: Arrange, Decorate and Accessorize Your Home to Promote Health, Wealth and Happiness
   
   This handy feng shui book is probably not the best bet for the beginner, however as an adjunct to the feng shui library, it offers valuable advice on designing areas of the home to be in harmony. Specific details on items such as table settings will be of special interest. Furniture placement according to energy and room alignment will also be helpful.
   
   Many photos and illustrations showing colors, furniture styles, placement, even fabric types are listed throughout.

3 comments about Creative Home Decor in Polymer Clay.

1. This is my ninth book on polymer clay. I purchased it to get ideas to expand on what I already knew and it did just that. This book is full of new ideas I haven't been introduced to in any other book to date. The projects are well thought out and easy to follow.

   I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to be your first if you have not yet worked with this medium. However, if you are even the slightest bit experienced with polymer clay and want to find new ideas and get a new perspective, I highly recommend it!




2. I really liked this book -- I have about 12 books on Polymer clay and this is one of the best. Does a good job going over all the basics, but the projects are what make the book really great. Too many poly clay books focus on cute little figures that really have no use -- Sue Heaser's book shows you how to make things that you can USE. The directions are clear, and the ideas excellent. I am currently trolling for old lamp to turn into my own clay lampshade! I liked this book so much that I have ordered her other book, Polymer Clay Techniques.



3. I thought this book showed some very interesting projects to make using polymer clay -- ideas that I have never seen done before. Well illustrated and easy to follow, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to make some truly unique clay items.

No comments about Living in Argentina.

5 comments about Debbie Travis' Painted House Living & Dining Rooms: 60 Stylish Projects to Transform Your Home.

1. very informative book and doable projects.



2. very informative book and doable projects.



3. I love color and Debbie Travis' books are full of it! Don't pay any attention to the people who discount her books as garish. She is very even handed when it comes to her color schemes--this book includes a whole room done in very pale sea-foam green; an airy, almost monochromatic "zen" room; and even some white walls here and there.

   But the focus is on the daring, the new, the experimental and exciting. There are traditional rooms, in which she incorporates elements based loosely on historical architechture into a very livable modern room. I especially liked the Georgian room, in which she not only shows you the typical colors used in the period, but a wall technique, how to create an inexpensive freize, and a fireplace surround.

   Each room includes much the same--a wall technique and two or three other projects to tie the room to the theme. Along with historical rooms, find also contemporary, country, and themed rooms. The photography is excellent (although sometimes does not fully show the detail of specific aspects of the project).

   Overall the best thing about this book is that is shows color on the walls, something a lot of decorators seem to be afraid of. Once you look at the beautiful tones of the raspberry, burgundy, ochre, and umber Travis uses long enough, you start to see that maybe that might look good in your house. Hey, maybe not for everyone or for every room--but it makes an impact.

   This is a balanced overview of different styles and colors, as well as an awesome how-to book. Even if you hate the colors she picks, you can learn more practical skills in two or three pages of this book than in all of Christopher Lowell!




4. Want something different for your home, this books has LOTS of unique ideas that make you want to start right now! The directions are clear, consise and easy-to-understand. Ideas for young, young at heart and older people. Very pleased with this book and highly recommend it!



5. This book has many of the walls shown on her Painted House TV show. I tend to TiVo and tape the shows I enjoy. Debbie has some great wall designs and very innovative wall treatments. What I like about her is she does the entire room decor. The problem that I see with most of the designs in this book AND on the TV show is how VERY TIME-CONSUMING they are. I know these designs get done because she has a team of painters, but I don't. Even though most of her designs are beautiful, they would take A LONG time to actually implement. For example the three marble dado on page 122 and the Elizabethan dining room on page 94. I remember this show, there were soooo many steps and it was all done on the ceiling. That in itself creates a totally different set of challenges.
   
   I think this is a beautiful book with some gorgeous walls, but realistically I would not have the time to do over half the projects in this book so I gave it a 4-star.
   
   I do have some favorites that do not seem quite as much of a time-hog:
   
   ~ Fornasetti dining room, pg 38
   ~Suburban update, pg 44: love the wide horizontal paint stripes
   ~Faux silk panels, pg 56
   ~Georgian Living room, pg 64 and the classic dining room, pg 76: has a tuscany feel
   
   If you have the time, skills and help to do some of Debbie's more ambitious techniques this is a great book. If not, it's still a good book for some of the less time-consuming projects. I would also recommend Painted Illusions by Melanie Royals which have some absolutely beautiful techniques. Don't let the subtitle of Stencils throw you off. Melanie's techniques are also easy-to-follow and don't seem quite as protracted.

1 comments about Small Space Decorating Workshop (House Beautiful).

1. Even if you have lots of space, there are some ideas to make better use of it. I love the ideas for tucking storage into unexpected places. Find new space by making use of an awkward alcove or breaking into the attic to make living space.
   Decorating ideas for making the space seem not-so-small include slimmer furniture pieces and making color change the feel of the space.

2 comments about Victoria Designers in Residence: The Personal Style of Top Women Decorators and Designers.

1. 
   When "Victoria Magazine" first came out in the very early 1990's (or late 1980s) , it was the first of it's kind. I just loved it, and subscribed to it until it stopped being marketed. (By the way, this was before magazines such as ROMANTIC HOMES became popular in the late 1990's).
   
   If you are familiar with the typical format of VICTORIA MAGAZINE, then you can envision what this book is like.
   
   The photos are of the highest quality,just like in the magazine.
   
   The format is the same as the magazine, in that there are many WONDERFUL photos, but note that this is NOT a decorating "how-to" book.
   
   I would categorize this book as a lovely coffee table book. A feast for the eyes, especially if you love romantic homes.
   
   However, if you are drawn to the more typical "modern" homes, or the bright colors of the current retro homes, then this book is not for you.
   
   As I said, this book is for those that like "romantic style" homes of the 1990's & early 2000's, (with the more muted colors).



2. This is another lovely book by Victoria. It's filled with page after page of beautiful photographs in a range of styles including shabby-chic, vintage flea market, traditional, Victorian, country, European and my favorite, decorating with whites & creams. This is not a how-to book, but a wonderful one to enjoy with a cup of tea, curled up on your favorite chair. You will not find contemporary design in this book. Although I am not partial to bright colors, every designer showcased in this book has a lovely home with warmth and inviting comfort. I would have given this book a 5 star rating if all of the designs were in a soft dreamy color palette. For those of you who enjoy the same, there are 5 designers and plenty of pages filled with lovely photographs, including the queen of shabby chic, Rachel Ashwell.

1 comments about Decorating with China and Glass.

1. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's quite informative and there are a lot of marvelous photos of various types of china and glass in this book. They show diverse styles and patterns throughout the centuries and cultures. There is also a good section on how and where to store your china and glass. Such amazing things they can do with glass. I was impressed. I really liked the section on the art of the table. Can't get enough of the elegant table settings! Such beautiful kitchens in this book as well. It's a great book. I only wished it were longer.

3 comments about Kathy Peterson's Great Outdoor Decorating Makeovers: Easy, Elegant Transformations on a Limited Budget.

1. If you aren't using your outdoor space much, it may be time for a makeover. This book takes rather blah patios and turns them into inviting outdoor living spaces. The best part is the price, as the author tries to keep each project under $250.
   She is helped by the fact that most had decent furniture to start with, so her job was adding some cushions, plants and accessories for a polished look.
   Probably the main message of the book is to pull your outdoor living space together with a unifying color scheme. Paint any furniture that doesn't match or is shabby. No need to shop for new items, just bring things from inside the house outside.
   She breaks each project down into steps, showing how the changes meet the homeowners needs. I deducted one star since the book doesn't give actual how-to on the projects (sewing, painting).
   It is useful to get ideas on grouping your furniture and using color for an attractive outdoor area (pool area, porch, balcony, patio, sunroom, courtyard, etc.)
   I liked the idea of painting lines on concrete for a faux tile look. The book shows lots of colorful before and after photos.
   (I hope you find this review helpful, and if you do, please click yes.)



2. This book gives the reader ideas on how to create an inviting outdoor living space on a budget. I live in the Southwest where outdoor living is a year 'round experience, and bought the book in hopes of developing a nice outdoor entertaining area. Ms. Peterson reminds the reader that painting isn't just for interiors. Paint has as great a bang for the buck outdoors as it does indoors. She gives a wide variety of sample palettes for the "color novice." She also teaches the reader about repurposing indoor decorative items to create an attractive outdoor living space. This is good news for those of us who have limited dollars and/or storage space -- it is much more practical to move indoor lamps, vases, cushions, etc. outside for a party and then take them back indoors to use day to day, than it is to purchase, maintain and also find storage for duplicate items to be used exclusively for outdoor entertaining. I hope other readers will find her ideas helpful, and enjoy the book as much as I have.



3. This book is an ideal resource for maximizing your outdoor space on a limited budget! It's full of wonderful and affordable outdoor decorating ideas and filled with incredible before and after photos. The author created eye-catching outdoor transformations using accessories, paint, spare furniture and low-cost ideas to turn rather drab outdoor spaces into beautiful and welcoming outdoor spaces--- all under $250. I found the book to be truly inspiring. Three well known national TV celebrities from HGTV and The Discovery Channel give the author and book many accolades. I rank it 5 stars.

No comments about Spectacular Homes of Florida (Spectacular Homes).

No comments about Designing Commercial Interiors.