5 comments about Shopping for Furniture: A Consumer's Guide.

1. Locate furniture which fits into budget and home and understand the basics of its construction and marketing using the second updated edition of Shopping For Furniture: A Consumer's Guide as your personal advisory. Leonard Bruce Lewin has sold furniture to stores and consumers for over 35 years: his background provides insider's advice on everything from distinguishing sales prices from daily prices to understanding newspaper ads and big-store sales approaches. Now in a fully updated second addition, Shopping For Furniture promises lasting library reference value, with its clear tips on judging value and prices.



2. I wish I could give this book more than five stars. I have made lots of furniture mistakes over the years, and now I can begin to see why. The next best thing to this book would be having Leonard Lewin by your side when you shop for furniture! He takes you through the basics (wood, wood veneer, wood finishing, shopping for wood, basic furniture construction and pieces, upholstery, leather, personal style, going to stores, dealing with sales personnel and designers, interpreting advertising). What's more, he lists brands and stores to think about and visit, by area, name and volume). This book will be extremely useful to me, and I plan to reread several of the chapters before buying any furniture. The tone of the book is easygoing and informative, never dull. Most of all, his philosophy that while being an expert helps, all of us can do enough homework to understand what we need to bring to the furniture buying experience. I highly recommend this book, and plan to go back to it in the future (maybe even keep it in the car, since I wouldn't be able to hide it in the store).



3. Great resource if you are planning on purchasing furniture. Len catagorizes the major furniture manufactures by quality, what kind of quality cues to look for and what some of the best furniture stores are. He'll also answer your questions by email!



4. I knew nothing about the details of furniture construction before I read this book. I now feel confident in shopping for all types of furniture. I can now look for signs of quality construction and ask the right questions to let the salepeople know I'm not willing to buy just on looks. The details of how certain pieces are made is important for longevity. Highly recommended read!



5. I thought the book was good regarding the descriptions of how good furniture is made. So, I would recommend it for a person who would like to learn the basics of how furiture is constructed, and what to look for from a quality standpoint and what the difference in upholstry is. Ironically, the author then goes on to recommend buying from many low-end retailers who rip off the public with huge margins, which has been typical of the furniture for decades, I guess, maybe longer. He does make a very good explanation about what 'furniture sales' really are, and why they aren't usually a bargain. Given what he claimed was his favorite store in Chicago, I guess he hasn't shopped here in 15 years.
   
   Maybe this is a little harsh, but I don't think a retailer deserves a 150% profit or more on goods that are never on a showroom floor or held in inventory. Furniture retailers do not add 150% to the value of the product. I think by accident, the author just pointed out, by protecting the retailer part of this supply chain, why so many good American furniture manufacturers have gone out of business; most furniture is overpriced due to the retailers.

No comments about Built-In Furniture For The Home: Storage Projects To Enhance Your Living Space (Popular Woodworking).

5 comments about Furniture Facelifts: A Step-By-Step Guide.

1. I stumbled upon this gem of a book while on a recent day trip to Northampton, MA. Since its discovery I cannot put it down and have begun some of the projects in it. This book is a packed full of helpful ideas and the book's standout feature is that step-by-step guides serve to help the novice in creating a replica of the pictures that exist in the book. Wagstaff & Thurgood's book is softcovered vinyl. Should paint get on it it is easily wiped clean. For certain, I will be purchasing 2-3 copies for friends and relatives as Christmas presents!!!



2. This is preciesly the book I was looking for! Has copious details about re-finishing all kinds of furniture surfaces, from bare wood to laminate to steel, plus how to get a wide variety of effects. This book has a higher level of detail than many other faux finishes books (which often skip over how to prep the surface or how to deal w/any surface other than bare wood).



3. I bought this, and both my wife and I went through it, and we both agreed that it was a worthless book. I can't believe it was ever published. I have returned it and will never buy another book by this author. Sorry to be so negative, but this book truly is worthless.



4. This book is not for the person who wants to do huge amounts of serious woodworking, and you need to come to it with an imagination. What it does is effectively tell you how to do a hundred or so styles and techniques. You can't replicate everything that's in here, but it's simply incredible to go through when you have a beat up old piece of furniture, and are open to thoughtful, imaginative refinishing.



5. Amateur, cheap looking finishes. I was looking help with finishes that look like they came from Habersham or other great furniture makers.

5 comments about The Furniture Doctor.

1. I've used this book for 30 years - to learn about furniture, to learn about tools and, most of all, to learn how to finish, re-finish and repair furniture. It's an invaluable reference and guide with no pretentions. The drawings are excellent - you're not buying a lot of glossy photos of unaffordable furniture. Grotz's style is folks-y and sometimes coy, but it doesn't get in the way of the wealth of information he shares.



2. I've used this book for 30 years - to learn about furniture, to learn about tools and, most of all, to learn how to finish, re-finish and repair furniture. It's an invaluable reference and guide with no pretentions. The drawings are excellent - you're not buying a lot of glossy photos of unaffordable furniture. Grotz's style is folks-y and sometimes coy, but it doesn't get in the way of the wealth of information he shares.



3. This is a 'bible' for the average amateur and full of good tips for both the experienced and fussy wood worker. I've used it for more than 30 years. Whenever I have a problem I start my research with this book, and I usually come back to it again after looking at a number of other sources. There are suggestions that you'll not find anywhere else. The humor is a delight. However Grotz wrote most of this before the development of many current ideas about how to preserve antiques. I imagine that employing some of his suggestions might lead to a reduction in the market value of an item. However, I don't think it will ever lead to a reduction in your personal enjoyment of the piece.



4. Im so glad to have a copy of this book again-I used to borrow it from the library-havent seen it in years, and have missed it BADLY!
   It is just a fun read, besides having alot of great information presented in a really delightful manner.
   Mr Grotz has a very low-to-the-ground type of style that is refreshing-he demistifies the entire subject of antique furniture and its care.
   If you are dealing with MAJOR museum quality antiques-this aint the book for you, but if, like most of us, you are just collecting a houseful of affordable, cool 'old stuff'-this is THE book to have!



5. 
   I love this book! Years ago there was a paint store in my town located minutes from a large retirement community. I noticed that retired painters would congregate in the shop and pass the time talking about paint and techniques with the owner. I learned more from those gents that I could have ever picked up from those glossy books that promise all you'll ever need to know and more. This book reminds me of those afternoons. Filled with sensible information that you will not find elsewhere. I have been restoring and refinishing wood for more than 30 years, and when I have a problem I turn to my copy of this book first.

5 comments about Shopping the North Carolina Furniture Outlets: How to Save 50-80% on Your Next Furniture Purchase.

1. My wife and I decided to make a trip to NC for our 10th wedding anniversary. Figured since we were going to spend the money to go someplace anyway, we'd go figure out the NC furniture mysteries. This book was a great guide to helping us plan the trip. As for the contents, it is everything you need. But, make sure to update the store hours via the web or phone calls before you travel. Many of the stores had changed hours/days. In fact, one location that is prominantly mentioned as a cluster of many retailers, a good one stop shop, is almost out of business. Most retailers have left.
   
   As for whether you save money shopping in NC, I really don't believe it. Before we left, we had found some furniture groups we liked here locally. We called several of the stores in this book for competitive quotes. The actual per piece price was about the same. Some were cheaper, some were more expensive, so the group price was about the same. Then you have to add on shipping. BTW, NC is collecting sales tax for most states now, so you won't save that, either. It would have cost more to buy in NC.
   
   So we took the trip. Even writing off the entire cost of the trip, which is not insignificant, but since we were going to spend it to go someplace anyway, we didn't count it, we didn't see where you could save money if you have to have the furniture shipped. At best the savings were $50-$100 per peice. The liquidation outlets are something of a joke. We saw two women get into a fight over who could buy something that was damaged. We saw a bedroom suite "on clearance" that was within $100 as a group of what we saw it new for in a showroom earlier that morning. You might get lucky in a clearance center, but having seen what we did, I'd never go back. The Thomasville factory outlet was OK, but the selection was extraordinarily limited, and if you wanted a group, you were out of luck. But, it is the only way to get Thomasville cheaper than your local store.
   
   Overall, the book is good, and it would be valuable to give you a few numbers to call to check your local retailer's prices. I am one of those people who research for a year before buying anything, and it is a good resource. However, unless you live in an increcibly inflated area such as New England/DC/NY area, you are going to end up spending the same or more by shopping NC. About the only advantage of going there in person is you can make one stop in Highpoint, by Furnitureland South, and in one day you can basically see every single piece of furniture currently made between the 6 stores clustered right there.



2. I just returned from a trip to NC for furniture having purchased this book as a guide. As it turned out, the book was not very helpful and I wasted a lot of time by relying on its recommendations. For starters, it's very outdated and the author's website for updates is no longer online. Many of the recommendations are based on the author's personal opinions without explanations that readers could use to judge for themselves. She lists her favorite stores and downplays others without providing a basis for her reasoning. Much of the information provided on the various dealers is straight out of the stores' marketing materials. There are a few useful tips scattered through the book but overall it wasn't very helpful.
   As far as whether NC is worth the trip- it IS, but only if you are already looking to buy very high quality name brand furniture (pieces that typically are special ordered in your pick of fabrics and finishes). NC is not a great place to go if you're shopping primarily based on budget. You aren't going to find very low priced furniture, but if you were already prepared to pay $4000 for a leather Natuzzi couch from a local retailer, it's worth the trip to save 40% on it. If budget is your most important criteria, you're better off at IKEA or a local retailer that carries lesser known manufacturers catering to a lower price point. Just from personal experience, we did great at Furnitureland South- AMAZING selection and service in one stop. This author had little good to say about FLS but her hands-down favorite- Rose Furniture- was a total bomb- rotten service, cramped showroom and so-so selection.



3. I used this book to shop for furniture in the High Point area. It was useful in locating stores and in knowing what product lines each store offered. There are two main problems I have; (1) I think the savings are overstated - it is probably more in the area of 20 percent off, and (2) I think the author was uninformed or else very soft on rating the customer service side of things. The salespeople treat you like family (as stated in this book) when they are trying to make the sale, but for me, that was where the good customer service ended. I bought almost all of my furniture at Rose Furniture. They were very helpful and responsive until after some items arrived damaged. That is where all the competence and responsiveness ended. If you read Ms. Shapiro's review of Rose Furniture, she only talks about how wonderful the sales people are - she offers no information about treatment after the sale. I think this is a huge oversight. What you want in a furniture retailer is good service - this is all they do. They don't build furniture, they service the customer. I waited 5 months for my order to be delivered - Rose estimates an 8 to 10 week delivery timeframe. Rose Furniture would consistently tell me something that just wasn't true. After waiting 5 months for my items, one of the items would not even function properly and was covered with some dark, gummy substance - all over the finish. I refused delivery and I'm seeking a refund. Rose Furniture has a condescending way of dealing with people that is very aggravating. They have a pleasant exterior appearance while all the time they could care less.



4. I agree with a couple of previous reviewers that this book is a bit dated now and to check specifics before making the trip. I used this book before my first trip to shop High Point, and have made two subsequent trips. I agree that the savings are not that great, and if you have to ship, plus now pay tax, you will probably not save over your local retailer. I priced a Henredon bed and dresser at Boyle's, and my local store quoted the exact same price. In the end, Boyle's offered a 10% discount, free shipping (as they should on the amount I was spending) and no tax, so I saved a bit over my local store who would not offer a 10% reduction, but it was probably a wash after the trip expenses. You may save more if you live in an extremely price-inflated area. On the flip-side, you can indeed look, touch, and feel an incredibly wide variety of furniture in one day. Sitting on that couch that you are spending a couple of grand on cannot replace ordering it from your local retailer's catalog sight unseen. Second, if you live in a more rural area like I do - we have only one good furniture store - you get a much better idea of what is available to you. This book gives you some good basic information on the stores and the lines they carry. I agree with other reviewers that the service is not that great at most stores. I have never been able to get anyone to give me "design help" and the sales staff at most places will clearly size you up based on appearance, so if you want serious help, dress like you have some money to spend. Otherwise they are just order-takers. Be sure to visit manufacturer websites before you go to narrow down what you are looking for.



5. Although I knew the copyright on the book was 2003, I bought the book and went shopping in NC in June 2007. A lot of the retailers are gone. I was looking forward to shopping at Rose and Utility Craft and both were closed for business. Blacks has moved. Furnitureland South has 1 million sq. feet of furniture and a good place to look, but prices were better at Blacks. Also be careful because a lot of the furniture is not from NC, but from Asia. This book was probably helpful years ago, but now is very outdated.

4 comments about Design Inspirations, Vol. 1.

1. I've been a Charlotte Moss fan for years, beginning in the late 80's when she opened her decorating shop in New York City in the 1980's and consider her books, "A Passion for Detail" and "Creating a Room" to be my very favorite interior design books (and I have quite an extensive collection). So, when I understood that her latest design book, "Design Inspirations" was being published, I was very much looking forward to it and ordered it sight unseen. Sadly, I found it quite disappointing and not nearly in the same league as her other decorating books.
   
   First, I should explain that the book examines four rooms that she has designed in recent years for interior design showhouses in NYC. It is not her rooms that I find fault with -- all the rooms are absolutely gorgeous, as I have always found her designs -- but the book itself is the disappointment. Unlike her previous efforts, this book is a thin volume -- not even 100 pages in total -- and unexpectedly small -- not much larger than a standard paperback. It is not the substantial, coffee table beauty that I've come to expect from this author. The illustrations are lovely, but there's very little text at all and I don't imagine the author spent much time writing the text and organizing the illustrations. In addition, one of the four rooms, the bedroom, has been covered and illustrated extensively in at least two recent home decorating magazines. The other three rooms are also well illustrated on her website, so there will actually not be too much new to be found in this book.
   
   Maybe it's me, but this book seems more like a little companion guide -- with some pretty illustrations -- to the showhouses in which she participated, than the beautiful and substantial "Passion for Detail" that I have revisited with enjoyment many times since it was published almost 15 years ago. In summary, I probably would still have bought this book, had I seen it first, but it would not have been the automatic purchase I thought it was when I ordered it.



2. Perhaps if the reviewer "Decorating Diva" had read the information regarding the dimensions of the book and the page count (not to mention the price) she--or he--would not have been so disappointed.
   
   While it's true that this is no coffee table book--and there are plenty of other decorators' coffee table books out there if that is what you are interested in (and, further, from what I understand, Ms. Moss will have a new one of her own coming out later this fall)--what I loved about this book was its almost keepsake aspect documenting four of Ms. Moss' favorite rooms from decorator showhouses. Though diminutive, this book is packed with information--96 pages is A LOT to learn about only 4 rooms. And, since showhouses exist for such a short period of time, this was an interesting memoir approach to the process of their creation.
   
   While many people in the design world often talk about their "Inspiration", it is very rare that you actually hear first-hand the actual experiences/images/dreams that lead up to the creation of something beautiful. In addition to being talented, Ms. Moss is a very interesting woman personally, and that is what shines forth in this book--how the essence of the creative person translates into her work.
   
   A worthwhile purchase for Ms. Moss' fans, as well as anyone interested in the ideas behind ideas.



3. This is a brief overview of Design. I found it unsatisfactory. I was expecting a book similar to Charlott Moss' book "Winter Home". Winter Home is a delightful book. Design Inspirations, Vol 1 was not.



4. I think Charlotte Moss is a wonderful designer and love her books. This one, however, is my least favorite. First, it is actually a very small book - not only in the number of pages, but the length and width is much smaller than most decorating/design books. Second, it is one of those books that is nice to look at once. I won't be grabbing it over and over for inspiration.

2 comments about Ideas for Great Wall Systems (Ideas for Great).

1. In Wall Systems, Scott Anderson and the editors of Sunset Books presents the non-specialist general reader with an impressive collection of ideas for truly great wall system options for creative interior design. Wall systems are an excellent way to organize and display one's possessions without becoming lost in clutter. From open shelves to extensive home theater systems, pullouts, lighting matters, and much more, Wall Systems presents ideas, and tips from what variety of wood to use to finding the right knobs, sample styles of storage furnature, and splendid full-color photographs to reveal a wide range of possibilities to embellish and enhance any home.



2. I am a custom carpenter in Metro Detroit, and purchased this book a while back as an idea book for wall systems. I have been verry pleased with the book. It has great photos of a wide variety of ideas that can actually be used in a normal person's home. It also presents well to my customers. Many do not. I would definately recommend this book.

5 comments about Building Real Furniture for Everyday Life (Popular Woodworking).

1. These really are quick projects anyone can start and finish in a day. The pictures are informative, the plans easy to follow. Best of all, you might find yourself planning more complicated jobs based on these simpler projects.



2. This book went into the garbage can 10 minutes after perusal. The projects are very simple but fit into no decor of any home I have ever been in. The coffee table in particular, looks like something found in the 1950's, without the "retro" appeal. In fact IMHO even the pictures of the projects found in this book would have very limited appeal to anyone.



3. The cover of this book is a bit misleading. The detailed plans call for really unsatisfactory approaches. These include plywood with bare edges on many projects, pegboard screwed on the front of a box for a clothes hamper, and end-screwed supports on a bookcase.
   
   There is nothing WRONG with furniture like this - if you want weak, visually unappealing furniture that will give you splinters in a year or two. But you don't need this book to help you build such pieces. This is all furniture anyone who can hold a saw or start a drill can easily figure out with a sketchpad. For the cost of materials you can get a better solution at IKEA.
   
   The book's one redeeming feature: the pictures inside are true to the projects - rough cuts, bare edges and ungainly proportions all show clearly in the illustrations. You will get what you see, and you won't struggle much to achieve it.
   
   There are far better books available with good starter projects that will teach you the RIGHT way to make joints, finish edges, and use attractive proportions: Danny Proulx' books are almost all good, with both plans and plentiful illustrations - such as "Build your Own Home Office Furnuiture", and "Fast and Easy Techniques for building modern cabinetry"
   both use inexpensive materials and good techniques to build pieces of which you can be proud.
   
   For good PLANS (but less instruction) you might want ot try : Quick and easy weekend woodworking Projects, and Build Your Own Contemporary Furniture (both also published by Popular woodworking mag and available on Amazon).
   
   Your project might not come out looking quite as nice as the picture, but you have a fighting chance of building something above dorm-room rejects.
   
   If its worth doing, its worth doing right.



4. Are you a cash-strapped college student, a single person or couple just starting out, or just a minimalist? Do you need furniture? Do you have some basic tools, or access to them, and at least average intelligence?
   
   If you meet the above qualifications you will find this book helpful. It shows how to build simple, very sturdy, somewhat funky looking bed stands, dressers, etc.
   
   These aren't my kind of pieces, but I enjoyed the author's laid back attitude, environmental sensitivity and willingness to stand out in the crowd.
   
   Especially helpful if you are into the looks of the 1960s, this book will teach you the basics of woodworking, including the skills which you can use to build "nicer" pieces when you've got the cash.
   
   Or you can just stick with the designs in this book, and someday end up on one of those "weird home" shows on the Discovery Channel. Either way, it's all good!



5. This is rediculous. There is no way someone would put these projects inside of a home! C'mon.... exposed plywood?!? Not in my house!

5 comments about The Chairmaker's Workshop: Handcrafting Windsor and Post-and-Rung Chairs.

1. This book is an excellent introduction to making chairs. It is an incredibley thorough and clearly written book. I highly recommend it.



2. Woah, what a book. I don't really know where to begin or what I can add to the many other fine reviews here, they that convinced me to buy this book.
   
   I don't even like Windsor chairs, I think they are kind of ugly, I've seen too many cheap country furniture knock-offs, they make me kind of sick. Some - very few - are stunning. There are a few good ones in this book, and in other books I have on furniture history.
   
   Why I bought this book was for the techniques involved, and reading the other reviews I was convinced it would be worth my money.
   
   AND IT WAS - AND THEN SOME.
   
   I have many, many books on woodworking and it is rare that I am surprised by something new, old or different that I did not know, but this book is so incredibly thorough and covers so many things - well - it blew me away. I am very impressed.
   
   If it introduces a tool, it tells you how to use it, make it, even with plans. It details everything every step of the way. I can't be bothered counting all the things it tells you but I would have paid the money just for info. on building a shave horse and designs for one chair and a bowsaw.
   
   Also, it is a BIG book. Tall, wide, and THICK, 300 pages makes it quite a thick book. PACKED with information, not waffle.
   
   I hope my rambling review helps convince you it is worth it, the other reviews here have more detail, I really just wanted to add my vote. I think everyone gave it 5 stars. I'd say it probably should be on every woodworkers' bookshelf.



3. This is quite good and covers "green" chairmaking. There is alot of data in this book and it's well worth the read.



4. Without a doubt one the best books on traditional chair making I have ever seen. From the tree to the living room !!



5. This is the best book on chairmaking. Period. Everyone knows that, which is why the price for the used books is so high. Go to Drew Langsner's website for Country Workshops and you can get the updated author's reprint for a very reasonable price.
   
   While you're at it, sign up for one of his classes. I learned more about furnituremaking and craft in one week at Country Workshops than I have learned over the past ten years reading every woodworking book in the library.

3 comments about Off the Wall: Fashion from East Germany, 1964 to 1980.

1. "East German Fashion"? Get your migraine pills and get ready to stare open-mouthed at some of the most blinding creations of the "Workers' and Peasants' State."
   
   My interest in East German fashion was piqued by reading sociological surveys of East Germany and watching the movie "Heisser Sommer," where you can see some of that fashion at its not-quite-worst. East Germany differed a bit from other Warsaw Pact states in that the rulers attempted to provide their subjects with more consumer goods than found elsewhere. Whether this stemmed from the rulers' professed belief that socialism should improve the lives of ordinary people, or their fear that the knowledge of West German standards of living would make the populace restless, is not important. What is germane is that East Germany had more consumer products than other eastern-European countries (although this is damning with faint praise) and the rulers paid some attention to providing "fashionable" clothing.
   
   The question, of course, is: what is "fashionable"? The clothing in this book was clearly an attempt to ape the wilder western fashions of the late 60s and early 70s. However, the clothing is much more cheaply made, and it shows: patterns do not match at the seam line, the colors are garish, and the execution of design is poor. Luckily (for the citizens of East Germany) this was considered to be cutting-edge fashion, and not day-to-day wear. This stuff is far worse than what you would see in a Sears catalog of the same era.
   
   But this is really not a book for the tiny niche who are interested in the fashions of East Germany. If you really care, see "Fashioning Socialism: Clothing, Politics and Consumer Culture in East Germany," by Judd Stitziel. This book is a side-splitting look at the worst of the worst of 1960s and 1970s Communist fashion, with more orange than any one person can stand. I was rolling on the floor laughing my a** off. For $10, you can too.



2. For a short time the bureaucrats who ran East Germany decided to bring some style into their lives, hiring professional photographers and models to represent fashion and socialist achievements. OFF THE WALL: FASHION FROM EAST GERMANY 1964 TO 1980 documents these daring images, adding a set of intriguing color photos rarely seen in the West to the chronicles of world fashion history. Some of the Republik's most daring fashion experiments come to life under the hand of photographer Gunter Rubitzsch, who hired local models and chose socialist-inspiring backgrounds to display fashion.



3. Beth Fox gave a fabulous and serious review above, and I'll add to it just to say that almost all of the photos in this book were taken from one photographer, so it's really just one person's limited view of the fashion from that era.
   
   But it's very, very entertaining nonetheless.