5 comments about The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance, Third Edition.

1. The book was very well written and an excellent resource for someone who needs to understand how the different aspects of a pool or spa work. Certain readers may find some of the information too detailed. However, this reader being a new pool owner and an engineer greatly appreciated the comprehensive explanations that were provided.
   The text includes a plethora of information pertaining to pools, spas, and the support equipment. It provided a basic explanation of construction, repair, replacement, and maintenance of the structure and equipment. There are many pictures and detailed diagrams. In addition, there are numerous quick tips throughout, which are presented in bold fonts and segregated from the main body of the text. Although the information that was provided was thorough, the explanations do not require a doctorate to understand. This reader would recommend the book to any new or existing pool owner with even a slight amount of mechanical understanding.



2. Cover all items, and for an engineer and new pool owner like me it covers things I'll probably never need but are interesting to know. It is a heavy read and appears to be for pool builders in places.



3. I found the book to be very helpful for a person with technical background and for the average homeowner. It is very easy to understand and useful. I highly recommend this book for the pool technician as well as the homeowner who wants to know if his pool service company is not ripping him off.



4. This was shipped quickly and promptly. Only problem it reads more like a text book. So take you time reading this.



5. This is really the only spa and pool maintenance reference many people will need. It gives just the right amount of detail without boring the reader with the mundane. I work at a hotel and this is my first spa and pool to maintain. It has made my life far easier.

No comments about The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design, Third Edition (Smart Approach).

5 comments about Complete Plans for Building Horse Barns Big and Small(3rd Edition).

1. This book has everything needed to ensure nothing is left out during the building process. There were ideas in here I had not thought of. An excellant tool for anyone getting ready to build, add on or refurbish a barn.



2. At age 63, I am FINALLY the proud owner of a horse--now looking for land with room for a house, pasture, and a barn. This book is full of all sizes and shapes of barns/shelters and gives great advice as to location on the land, etc. I've already chosen two plans that I really like; now, to find that land!



3. I purchased this book thinking it would help me to get some new ideas for when I rebuild our old horse barn. It didn't really satisfy that need because it didn't really address the different types of construction or provide many detailed building plans to view for techniques, etc. What I did find useful was much of the other horse management information in general around the farm - pointers on bedding, care, feeding, etc. I'm the type that can look at a set of building plans and glean useful construction ideas from them and think of new ways to adapt them to my needs. I guess I was expecting too much from this book.



4. I am planning in buiding new stables for my horses when I started searching for books I got a little confused with all the available titles, but I definately did the right thing in choosing this one. Concise, adresses all the main problems conected to housing horses, and actually offers stright forward solutions (design and everything).
   Priced just right this is a really helpfull book for horse owners new and old. For a general overview a woderful book you can always refer to.
   
   (I have to add that this is the first time I took the time to write a review, that should also mean something)



5. I thought this was a well done job of advising the reader on how to design a barn that fits the horse-owning public's wide variety of needs for horse shelter. There were many different examples of horse barn designs along with the basic design decisions that need to be made for a successful design process by the reader. I was able to read the book and learn enough to start the design and pricing process with a local builder. I was able to come up with a fundamental design that suited my particular needs and I have the author to thank for this educational book that made this possible. If you are thinking about having a barn built I would highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Provencal Interiors: French Country Style in America.

1. This is a nice book but it does not contain Provencal style interiors! I am not sure how the author came up with that title since anyone who is interested in French country will not find it here. If you are truly looking for Provencal decorating ideas-this is not the book for you. CONFUSED!!!



2. I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design.

   Remember it was not an English, but an AMERICAN interior designer, Nancy Lancaster from Virginia USA, who revolutionized English Country style. She became Lady Colfax and changed the look of country houses from stiff to chintz.

   I think the author introduces the beauty of Euro/American design in this book. The French Provencal Style in AMERICA title is a great clue that the pages are not full of 17th century French country village interiors.

   Also, it always helps to read a book before you judge it!




3. Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here?

   This book provides a great solution. American houses are DIFFERENT than European, and what's sold in furniture and decorating supply shops is different, too. "Provencal Interiors" shows you how to get that effect with things you can get here. THAT'S great. If it isn't authentic, that's ok. If you don't have unlimited funds for a decorator to buy worldwide to create "real" Provencal, this book works really well. Maybe better.

   The pictures give good examples of Provencal style rooms, and there are lists of suppliers that are helpful. The color schemes are perhaps the most useful part. Another useful thing are the fabrics and how to mix them. I myself have problems figuring that out; this helps.




4. "French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication."
   
   As you open this book, you may start to have the desire to suddenly order hundreds of pastel pink tulip bulbs. While this book is not quite as lavish as "Villa Décor" it is much more practical. There are extensive instructions for using color, texture and scale.
   
   Betty Lou Phillips has included a wonderful picture of a library with bookcases spanning the library walls. Her work has appeared in Southern Accents, Traditional Home & Bath, Window and Wall, and Decorating as well as many magazine covers. She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers.
   
   There are eight main chapters:
   
   What Is Provencal Charm?
   Making an Entrance
   French Quarters
   Table Matters - Kitchens and Dining Rooms
   Bedrooms, Bedding, and Baths
   French Accents
   Outside Interests
   Trade Secrets
   
   I loved reading the "Table Matters" section which includes a comparison between French and American kitchens. The bedroom section had me wishing I had some fresh croissants on hand for a breakfast tray.
   
   There is no need to travel to France to buy beautiful fabrics, furnishings and fixtures. A complete list of catalogs is also included.
   
   This is "French Country Style in America," so it is a fusion of various ideas from a variety of locations in France.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. I love the pictures and descriptions in this book. After reading the negative reviews of this book I guess I don't know true French Provencal decorating. I don't care what anyone calls it, I love the book and will buy more of Betty Lou Phillips' books. It is the kind of book I will go back to again and again. It also gave me a great idea of what to add to my kitchen with the tiles I'm painting for it. Look through the pages and if they look good to you buy the book. You won't be sorry!

5 comments about Big Book of Home How-To (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. Great book I would recommend it to all homeowners.



2. The book is great...easy to follow...tells you everything you need to know about anything regarding the home. My husband loved it!!!



3. This was purchased as a gift but looking through the book, it seems it will be helpful for the new do-it-your-selfer.



4. Bought this item as a gift for my BF after researching a lot of home improvement books and it was a winner. It has a lot of different projects than you would find in other home improvement books (IE the Reader's Digest books, as they just keep updating the original version and not adding much new info.) He has already used it to do a few household repairs and it was right on!



5. This book has clear illustrations go to along with their directions for basic home improvement and repair needs. There is a large variety of information available in this book and has so far helped me with electric work and tile work. When it came time to call a professional, I felt better informed for the discussion of what I wanted for my house.

2 comments about Porch & Sunroom Planner (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. I am glad I ordered this book. It gave me a lot of info and ideas.



2. This is a great book got lots of good ideas the pictures really help explain what they are doing with the different rooms.

5 comments about Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life.

1. I read this book in l995 before there were so many decorating
   shows on TV. This worked for me so well because I came out
   of a home where these kinds of things were not taught. It
   was a primer for "gracious living". I'm not saying I learned
   to do everything in the book...but it set a tone, a pattern
   that has helped me along.
   Perhaps the most important thing was to help set a homey
   feel in my life. I'd been single for more than 18 years and
   didn't know how to properly nurture myself, much less another.
   Using some of these tips, I began the process. Was it just
   a miracle that I met my husband-to-be within 2 months? I don't
   know..but we're starting our 10th year together. I see
   Alexandra as part of that home healing path for me. Not everyone
   needs this book, but for those who do, I think she does
   a great job.



2. This book has brought some necessary healing to me during a time of repair in my life. They say "stop and smell the roses". Stoddard's writings move one into a space where that is much more possible. Her style is above philosophical. It is therapeutic and I recommend it to anyone who has a need for centering. Also, if you are too busy to appreciate the rhythm of her writing, I would suggest you slow down for a moment each day. It's just plain healthy. Meditate and imagine that you are in a world where you can control the pace and tone.
   
   Thank you, Alexandra. You've given me a breath of fresh air and a new appreciation for my mother and the little things she does. I am enjoying to moment again.



3. Thank goodness I didn't pay for this book, I checked it out of the library. The edition I read was published in 1986. Maybe that was how it was 20 years ago, but this kind of elegance and beauty is not realistic for today's society. The only reason I read through most of the book was because it made me laugh at the ridiculousness of it. This stuffy author's idea of suffering (when she was a college student) was skipping lunch so she could afford to buy a single purple hyacinth. Between her vacations in the South of France to her imported parchment and face creams, this author is out of touch with reality. One of the funniest ideas to me, is to have your local tailor re-cover your sleeping pillows with fresh muslin? and re-juvinate the down. Whaaat? I don't know about you, but I can't relate to an author who "retires" for the evening putting on a new flannel nightgown, and a clean pastel floral bathrobe (lined in terrycloth) to a set of fresh turqouise and pink sheets on the bed and tops it off buy calling a florist and having a purple hyacinth sent over as opposed to someone who just goes to bed. Good grief!



4. I came back to these descriptions and reviews to try and discover which of the Stoddard books to give my younger sister-in-law as she begins looking into interior design. But I was so struck by the negativity of some of these reviews given what I remember getting out of these books when I bought them. I am not a wealthy person by any means, but Alexandra Stoddard's ideas are anything BUT "out of touch with reality."
   
   So let me write a review that'll tell other people what to expect so they don't experience what I did when I came back. In the three books that I own, including this one, Stoddard's ideas are generally pretty practical. And with a little imagination on my part, I made them work for my budget. For example, I can't afford a crystal decanter set, but I can go to Bed Bath and Beyond during an end-of-season sale and buy a plastic pitcher (in a pretty color) to use on a plastic tray in order to refresh myself as I work at night in my arm chair.
   
   I suggest that anyone who reads Stoddard should listen to what she's saying instead of looking at the price tags on her own personal choices. Stoddard's the first person who even made me aware of "swivel rockers," and consequently, you can get an entire set very cheaply at JCPenney and in nice upholstery too.
   
   In one of her books, she discusses using a mini-refrigerator in her bedroom so she doesn't have to go downstairs for breakfast on certain weekend mornings. At first it sounds pretty extravagant. But you can also re-interpret this on a budget by trying a miniature tea or coffee maker in your own room, the way you might have seen it in hotels. Or even ask a friend to get you such a thing as a present for Christmas or your birthday if you can't afford it. Her books really stress the need for self-care, sometimes it isn't about buying what's necessary and sometimes you have to put your own well-being above other necessary items, or you get bitter, hostile and angry.
   
   So, while we can't all fit the mini-fridge into our budget (or our tiny rooms) and wake up to fresh cold milk and cereal in bed, come on folks -- you can get some great ideas with these books ... if you just use your imagination.
   
   What if you can't afford a personal florist to send you flowers every week or month? You can certainly round up some from your lawn. Don't have a lawn because you live in an apartment complex? How about a park? There are pine cones and other wonders just waiting to come home for arrangement. Sad that it's not a dozen roses every week? Hey, it's something natural and beautiful in your home and that's a start.
   
   The worst thing a reviewer can do is put down an author's book because they actually lack the imagination to riff off the ideas at their own level of income.
   
   Four Stars:
   This book could be more user-friendly and address lower-class decorating concerns. While it is unquestionably high-class and at-first-glance talks with high price tags; it is also classy and it will teach you a lot about how to make your home a comfortable and protective nest against the bitter world.
   
   P.S. I'm now going to read the three books I do own, so I can actually recall which is the best "starter" book to give a novice interior designer...



5. I read this book when I was a newlywed about 10 years ago. It was inspiring then and it is inspiring now. For those who comment that her suggestions are fluffy and out of touch, I say take these suggestions with a grain of salt. This is not a precise checklist on how to live well. You don't need to do things exactly the way she says. The whole point of the book is to make a day-to-day activity - however bothersome, meaningless, or mundane - a ritual. And that means making it special and enjoyable in whatever way you can, even if it is just decorating that shoebox where you store all of your bills that need to be paid.
   
   She advocates living on a higher plane. Making things enjoyable and memorable involves all of your senses and can prevent you from the frustrating feeling that life is passing you by.
   
   Needless to say, I enjoyed reading this book and it can be very inspiring to those who just want to make their environment a little nicer.

1 comments about Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself).

1. This book has a lot of ideas for working with an existing kitchen as well as a full remodel. This book was purchased as "used" but the seller shortchanged the description-it is Almost New! Depending on what you are doing, this book is worth it just for suggestions.

3 comments about Building Bamboo Fences.

1. "Building Bamboo Fences" is beautifully illustrated with 31 pages of full color pictures and a fairly decent how to section about how to build them. One thing I do not like though is the books organization. There is a section of pictures and a section on history and a section illustrating construction technique. The book would be much more readable if these sections were mixed (i.e. the color pictures should be near the relivant history and how to illustrations. There needs to be a section discussing the different varieties and how and where to grow them. Bamboo grows nearly anywhere in the US, but tropical varieties are more rot resistant. There also needs to be a section on tools. Thin bladed knives are useless to split bamboo, but you would not get this from reading the book. And, where do you get tools and bamboo cultivars? It is not in the book...



2. "Building Bamboo Fences" has all the information you will need to build your own bamboo fence. Additionally, Mr. Yoshida has included a brief history of bamboo fences in Japan, a complete glossary of terms and many beautiful color photographs for inspiration. Fence diagrams range from simple see-through fences to more complex bamboo screening fences. The diagrams, techniques, and instructions for building different types of bamboo fences are clear, complete, easy to follow and even include tips on how to correct any problems you may have in construction. I turned an open work bamboo fence diagram into a trellis for my climbing rose bush in one afternoon. Whether you are looking to build simple edgings for garden paths or a full-screen fence - this is the book to use.



3. This is a Great book for bamboo lovers. Especially if you have access to the waste branches .I can't wait to do more with those! The more ideas here you try....the more the fever grips you.....Possiblities endless!
   Lots of pictures with great informative diagrams, inspiratinal ideas and plans as well as info on how to harvest and preserve poles. I like to fire harden....but watch out for explosions!
   One of the 2 best bamboo books I have seen. The other one is in Spanish

2 comments about The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit.

1. The Carbon Free home is one of the most useful guides I have ever seen to greening your old white elephant. They give practical advice to city dwellers on how to retrofit your home to make it much less of an energy hog and perhaps even carbon free. There are three dozen realistic DIY projects and hundreds of usable tips and suggestions.
   Nanny Nature gives this book four paws and a tail.



2. Great guide for both the the greenest of green and those who just want to take a few steps to cut their utility bills. The part of book which deals with why the authors decided to leave their hand built cob round house in the woods for the urban living is particularly interesting.