No comments about 1001 Ideas for Bathrooms: The Ultimate Sourcebook: Fixtures, Accessories and Decorative Schemes (1001 Ideas).

No comments about Universal Design Ideas for Style, Comfort & Safety.

1 comments about Building Tips & Techniques (For Pros by Pros).

1. I like the books in this series, as they frequently give information missing in other how-to books. This book is the least helpful, but then, I am usually looking for specific information.

5 comments about Houses by Mail: A Guide to Houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company.

1. This book probably provides useful information for persons otherwise unfamiliar with this genre of house and architecture, but personally I found two things about it particularly annoying: first, its small size. Many plans are reduced to the point where they might just as well be heavy line diagrams, and second, I find direct reproduction of original text to be far preferable to the uniform re-typing found here. Original text tends to be just as legible and lets the reader know with no uncertainty what is, in fact, original text. In all fairness, I have to say that since I am an architect and very familiar with house plans in general, my review may not apply to all readers. I much prefer the direct reproductions, and without a doubt favor a larger format.



2. I found Houses by Mail to be very helpful and informative.



3. This book is a great collection of designs and illustrations but what disappointed me most was that some houses did not have floor plans at all while some only had a downstairs and no upstairs floor plan illustrated. I was especially disappointed about those without any floorplans since I have seen floorplans elsewhere on the internet on various archive lists, the same goes for interior illustrations which I really expected to be many more of. I hoped it would be a 'Bible' or ultimate reference book to Sears homes but I guess I need to complement it with my own internet research.
   I am not sure if I would recommend it to somebody who has high expectations and such a great love for these old homes like me.



4. I have had this book since it first came out and am now on my fourth copy of it as I have totally abused the others in my search for Sears Homes and while doing research for my book. This book is a valuable source of information and no true Sears Home Lover should be without it. This is the first book ever written about Sears Homes and it is still the one I turn to when I have a question. The author and I have been in many of the same interviews and videos but have never met, I have to rectify this. Let's meet Katherine!!!



5. This book is amazing - actual floor plans, and Sears would send you absolutely everything you need to build whatever house you choose.

5 comments about The Desert Home.

1. Richly, colorfully illustrated The Desert Home is both a guide to and panorama of the architecture and interior design found in the American Southwest. We know that region for a relaxed, casual lifestyle enhanced by unique terrain and a cover of unbelievably blue sky.

   With twenty years experience as an interior designer, Tamara L. Hawkins is well equipped to offer a tour of the diverse structures to be found in this area. The homes vary both in size and architectural style from contemporary adobe overlooking Phoenix to a remote desert home with elements of an old adobe mission and a distinct south-of-the-border flavor.

   We learn that while America's three hot deserts - the Chihuahuan, the Sonoran, and the Mojave have many unifying characteristics, they are quite different in geologic formations, animals, plants, and history. Our largest desert, the Chihuahuan, spans 200,000 square miles, primarily in Mexico, while the Mojave is a mere 25,000 mile area in California, Nevada and Utah. Each of the deserts has a unique history which often determines the ambience of architecture and home interior.

   The three cultures, Native-American, Spanish, and Anglo-American, which have contributed to the Southwest are found in the homes as art, rugs, artifacts, paintings, crafts, even dishware.

   With over 225 photographs and a well researched, readable text "The Desert Home" both a source and reference for decorating inspiration.

   - Gail Cooke




2. The Desert Home by professional interior designer and freelance writer Tamara L. Hawkinson takes the reader upon a wonderful and memorable tour through a series of Southwestern American homes which are filled with personality, flavor, charm, and showcase a love for life in the desert. Warm earthen tones predominate the styles depicted herein, all of which are beautifully illustrated with numerous full-color photographs, and commented upon at length in a "reader friendly" text. Simply put, The Desert Home is great source book of ideas when searching for a desert or western motif for any area of one's own home.



3. This offering, by Northland Publishing, of "the desert home" is a visual feast for those who long to bring the beauty, serenity and spirituality of the desert into their living space. Sumptious decorating ideas abound whether you call the city, 'burbs or rural counties your residence and all have taken the flavor of the American and Spanish deserts. From clean modern designs to old world collectibles, this is a wonderful expos'e on decorating and living as a desert dweller.



4. The Desert Home is a lovely book. I highly recommend it. The photography is exceptional. Its cover reveals the Rancho de la Osa "dude ranch". We saw this and we were sure we wanted to stay here. A big mistake--it is not as it appears in the book. The camera captures the glow of candlelight, colors enhanced by firelight and sunlight streaming through a half open door. Reality was $500.00 plus for (one night stay) a small bedroom with a boarded up window, allowing neither light nor ventilation. No ranch chef producing gourmet meals nor the world class wine list mentioned. It is an historic, old "museum" that still needs a lot of repairs. Visit, photograph and then stay elsewhere. Better yet just buy the book at $28.00 from Amazon and forego this $500.00 per night, not as advertised hacienda,"dude ranch". This was our experience in October 2003 and reflects our opinion.



5. As is typical for a book by an interior designer, there are a few misspellings or misidentifications of plants.
   
   But it is a well-contrived book that should inspire people who are wanting a home more grounded in the dry, dramatic southwest. The Desert Home is a refreshing change from all the Pueblo Style homes and their "spineless", northeast cottage-cutesy landscape choices, which is mostly what is promoted here in the Duke City.

5 comments about The New Curtain Book: Master Classes with Today's Top Designers.

1. This book contains many ideas for curtains and drapes grouped in a logical order. As a drapery maker, I found it useful as an idea book for clients, but not as useful for the do-it-yourself at home sewer. I agreed with most points in the book, but there were some ideas that I did not agree with, as if it were written by someone who had not actually sewn the draperies. It had many examples of different fabrics, and, thus, was very colorful. Great for some one in my line of work, but probably not as practical for someone who wishes to sew some drapes for her/himself.



2. I was looking for a book that had some practical ideas for the average home. The ideas in this book were pretty elaborate and very pricy. There was not one picture in this book that remotely resembled a room in my house. If you have degree in interior design and live on Park Ave you will probably like this book. But if you fit that description you probably have a designer on speed dial and would not need the book at all.



3. It's true--"Master Classes" could throw you off. It isn't a how-to book. Sunset's Curtains and Draperies book is the best at that--very nitty gritty. This is a book of gorgeous photos from brilliant designers that talks about what your window treatments should do for your home. I've gotten it from the library and am planning to purchase it bc the quality and taste is superior (and my house is small and pretty plain).



4. This is an inspirational book that is tailored to a decorator, designer or design enthusiast. It contains the views and insights from some of the worlds leading international designers. As the cover states, this is a MASTER CLASS, it is more about the philosophy of decoration and how window treatments compliment good design rather then a step by step guide for the do-it-yourselfer. Which I personally found very, very refreshing. Fabulous photogaphy and styling, with a broad cross-section of styles and a wonderful eye for detail.



5. Really enjoyed this book, as we are renovating our old home and I needed some window decor ideas. The photos are beautiful and I actually found a curtain arrangement I could sew on my machine. Highly recommend if you are looking for window arrangements that are a bit out of the ordinary.

1 comments about Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: And How to Build Them.

1. My, how we've changed over the years. In the classic book Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: And How to Build Them, D. C. Beard covers the wide array of possibilities for building your own dwelling out of nothing but materials provided by nature. This was originally published in 1914, and I think it's more interesting to observe the changes in culture than anything else.
   
   Daniel Beard became fascinated with cabins and such in 1864 when he exhibited a saddleback cabin scaled down to size for him to carry to the fair. He sold it for $7.50, which was a major disappointment to him, as he thought it worth much more. That started him on his journey to sketch, document, and build just about any type of natural dwelling you can think of. He starts out with how to make a soft sleeping platform using pine boughs. From there, you have half-cave shelters, fallen tree shelters, and teepee-like structures. By the end of the book, we're dealing with full-scale houses, obviously beyond the skills of the boy scouts he tends to target in the first half of the book. But even then, the emphasis is on using logs and axes to accomplish most of the work.
   
   Most of these skills are lost on 99% of Americans, and sending out a group of boys to build even the simplest of these structures would likely turn into a disaster. But back when this was written, it was pretty much assumed that most boys had basic scouting skills and would be able to build some of these shelters in just a matter of hours, or at most a couple of days. He even has them building hogan shelters built into the side of a hill and designed to last a considerable time. These days, we'd likely freak out because the kids had an axe or a shovel in their hands... And building a shelter covered by sod? But what if it collapses??? Needless to say, we wouldn't fare well if forced to rely on our own skills to survive without our comfortable houses.
   
   If you're an outdoors-type person and you want to work on survival skills, this would be an interesting way to start out. Or if you're just looking for how much we've changed (or regressed) in the last 100 years, this'll point out many areas that fall into that category.

1 comments about The Getaway Home: Discovering Your Home Away from Home.

1. I bought this for my father for Christmas. The pictures in the book were beautiful and the layouts were a nice added touch. However, the cover of the book was scratched and torn, like it had been mishandled. Unfortunatly, because it took so long to get to me, I didn't have time to send it back and get a new one. The book its self was beautiful however the condition was disapointing and destracted from the beauty of the book.

2 comments about Planning Your Addition.

1. We are planning an adition and I have purchased several books on home remodeling/planning. Although this one is only 186 pages, it is well written with many great sketches and photos. I use it much more that all of the other books I purchased.



2. My husband and I really enjoyed this book and really felt it helpful!

No comments about Complete Roofs & Siding (Stanley Complete).