No comments about Idea Wise: Bathrooms (Idea Wise).

5 comments about Log Homes Made Easy: Contracting and Building Your Own Log Home.

1. This book is not for anyone who wants to build there own log home. It is clearly written from someone who wants to continually sell log home kits. There is a wonderful book called Home from the Woods that is much better and describes the details of building a log home from an everyday persons perspective.



2. I GOT THIS BOOK FOR MY SON, FROM THE LIBRARY, AND HE LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT HE WANTED TO 'HIGHLITE' SO MANY THINGS. I ORDERED IT FOR HIM AS HE IS INTERESTED IN BUILDING A LOG HOUSE, BUT THEN HE FOUND A 6 YR. OLD LOG HOUSE, BUT THIS BOOK HAD ADVISED HIM AS TO THE BEST TYPE OF TIMBERS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. HE WAS ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE OWNER THAT HE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WITHOUT THE WONDERFUL INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK.



3. This book had all the information regarding building, purchasing land, forming the foundation, getting contractors, - everything necesary to start a home from nothing. While containing all the information I needed, it informed me I am not willing to go through this much work to get my own house. I would rather purchase a pre-built home.



4. This is a great first book to buy if you are considering a log home. The author goes into the right amount of detail on everything you'd need to know about building one. It is a perfect overview of what you'd be getting yourself into and covers everything from finding the lot to being your own general contractor.



5. This book is a winner if you're contemplating building or even renovating a log home. The author is a builder of great experience and gives alot of information and advise I have not seen elsewhere. The checklists in back are handy too. Highly recommended.

2 comments about The Construction Industry: Processes, Players, and Practices.

1. This book is wonderful in its content. I especially like the way it chapeters separate into the overview (sorta History) and then the players and then the process and then communications. It has very good examples of things like specifications and partial drawings. it has exmple questions. it has very good charts and lists. But what I liked the most is the balanced portrayal of the players such as which contract method is preferred by say the architect and which most benefits the Construction Manager. We are using it for our Intr to Constr Tech Class. Saves me from copying info from several dif sources.



2. This book sucks. Everyone forced to buy it in my class thought it sucked, too. Yes, very eloquently put, right? Sorry, but this "textbook" reads like a half opinion piece, half pamphlet, and most of the actual information derives from bits and pieces that Liebing scanned and dropped into the book. I basically paid eighty bucks for a USED book of kindling scraps. I feel ripped off and unhappy. Liebing, this book sucks. I want my money back from YOU, you hack.

4 comments about New Strawbale Home, The.

1. This is the first "coffee table" book that shows how exquisitely beautiful straw bale homes can be. It also gives good information on how much they cost, various energy savings you can recieve from a straw bale home and other information on how the various owners and builders built and paid for their homes.

   Most of the homes are in the higher-end spectrum and I was disappointed that I didn't see less expensive (but maybe not as fancy) homes included. However I did like the coverage of the co-housing communities who use straw bale building.

   Overall, a lovely book that you will drool over if you like straw bale or any other natural building.




2. Beautiful book with much needed info..a real treat for the eyes..the best is it gives the cost of contruction for almost all the houses shown...if you want to build a strawbale than this book is one you will want to include in your library..does not give alot of hands on constrution but it does gives you visual ideas of what others have done with their houses..



3. For your money you'll be getting what amounts to a picture book with several different types of strawbale homes across the US and Canada. There is a small starter section, with pictures, on general construction details.
   For each house there will be at least two, sometimes four or five, pages of text and pictures about the owners homes and how they were built. Don't buy this book thinking it's a build it manual, that isn't the case as the information is more of an idea book type presentation. You'll get a little on costs, size and other things including square feet both inside and outside the walls (along with small floor plans of each home) and several very well done photographs.
   I found these photos to be the best part of the book as they will either give you some ideas for your own home or at least they'll show you what's out there. Some of the ideas had a Santa Fe look but some had a sharp edged box with lots of glass look (and not much straw either). Most of the homes were not displayed from all angles, just from selected views.
   If you're on a strict budget you won't want this book unless you can find a cheap used copy, it's much more of an idea book.



4. This book had some good pictures of different SB structures. But, to me that is all there was.

5 comments about Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Home Masonry (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library).

1. This was an excellent book on masonry and concrete projects. It was very easy to read and had several illustrations that show exactly what your project should look like. It goes through every step you should take. This is a great book for beginners and do-it-yourselfers.



2. The "Book Description" review is correct when it says that
   "The Complete Guide to Home Masonry is the most comprehensive and useful guide to masonry for today's do-it-yourself homeowner."

   About the only thing missing from this one-sentence summary is that the book is nigh-exclusively devoted to OUTDOOR projects. (The short exceptions are damp-proofing basement walls, and repairing fireboxes.)

   The book features clear step-by-step instructions and color photographs (one good photo for each and every step of every project -- HUNDREDS of photos total) for working with natural stone, stone veneer, brick, glass block, concrete block, poured concrete, patio tile, stucco, and hypertufa.

   The projects cover all the simple outdoor jobs (such as walkways, walls, and patios), the common elaborations (such as adding lattice panels to a block wall, or laying tile over concrete), and quite a number of complex constructs -- like "Building a Stone Moon Window".

   EVERY section of text has one or more illustrating photographs to show what they're writing about. EVERY photograph is in color, with good contrast, color rendition, and composition. EVERY project includes an "Everything You Need" box, listing all the tools and materials required. EVERY tool that's used in the projects has (1) a picture in the "Masonry Tools & Equipment" chapter early in the book; (2) a closeup of the tool in use; and (3) explanatory text discussing proper technique. EVERY material used has pictures of all states through its life -- from the bags clearly depicting brand names like "Quikrete" and "Lehigh", to the dry materials, the mixing process, the layout stage, and finishing with the final assembled project.

   If this book had the same comprehensive coverage for INDOOR projects (tiling bathrooms and creating concrete countertops are high on my wish list), it would be worth SIX stars!




3. With a chapter covering a project or two in each flavor of medium, this book in a general sense yeilds what you need to build basic walkways, walls, patios. On repairs of existing structures I believe it to do a much better job.

   I've been looking for something more in depth on the subject of concrete (acid staining, texturing, etc) as an alternative to the standard tile or plain grey concrete. Unfortunately this book could not help me at all, they have one chapter devoted to concrete and its far from inspirational. I'm not asking for the world here, but if someone is going to name a book "complete" and end up with something thats just barely enough, I have to give it a just passing grade.

   I recommend the following instead, especially since they are 1/2 the price but have better content:

   (Better Homes and Gardens)
   Step-By-Step Masonry and Concrete

   (sunset)
   Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials

   *note: Sunset has several books on masonry, 3 of them are called "Complete Masonry", I've only had a chance to look at one of them. Also for inspiration and more in depth coverage of concrete, check out "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" it is excellent, but you will sort of need a basic book in addition to it.




4. Has simple easy instructions with pictures for construction of typical DIY projects like pillars, patios. Excellent book!



5. While this book had fairly good instructions for completing walks, brick walls and patios. It was not very good for instructions on completeing indoor stacked stone projects. I could have saved money if I had just completed a search on line and down loaded the information from HGTV or DIY.

5 comments about Making Marble-Action Games, Gadgets, Mazes & Contraptions: Designs for 10 Outlandish, Ingenious and Intricate Woodworking Projects.

1. I am used to making projects for which dimensions for the various pieces are provided. Not only does the author fail to provide dimensions but he also fails to even talk about some of the pieces that are part of a given project.



2. This book was a terrible disappointment. I wanted to give it no stars but that didn't seem to be an option. For most of these gadgets he begins the chapter by explaining that they don't actually work very well, they tend to jam and clog up requiring a certain amount of tilting and tapping to clear the device. Many of the mazes and such are non-functional - they are there to make the contraption look complicated. It's clear to me from looking at it that the dice substitute will never generate a 1, 2, or 6, and the thing is definitely not uniform like dice would be. The spirit of Rube Goldberg is represented by contraptions that do a lot but accomplish very little. The mechanisms in this book just don't do anything. I didn't find a single satisfying project in here and felt like it was a waste of twenty bucks. And what are metric conversion tables doing in here? An embarrassment if you ask me. If you like this kind of stuff get Making Wooden Mechanical Models by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. It is far superior.



3. I was disappointed as well. I expected projects I could build, but nothing struck me as worth the time. The basic ideas are OK, marble rollers, and so on. But I would only use this stuff as a departure point for my own designs.



4. This book contains 10 ideas for games which seem to be what every child would enjoy. The problem is that most of the figures used in the book to give construction details leave a lot to be desired. Most of the photos are black and white and difficult to see any detail. The drawings are also in black and white and are also very difficault to follow.



5. In today's world not many woodworkers make things by hand. The book is hard to work with, difficult to find basic stock requirements and measurements. I would not buy again.

No comments about Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living.

3 comments about Small Spaces, Beautiful Kitchens.

1. If you like contemporary, modern, eclectic, and retro styles, this book is great to look at. If not, borrow it from the library just for the text. I have made more practical moderations to my original ideas from this book than any of the dozens of other books and magazines that I own.
   
   For instance, I originally was set on installing a microwave/range hood combination over our stove. This book points out that having a microwave in this position is inconvenient, even dangerous since it is very high up and over an area that is frequently hot. Also, it is difficult for children to reach. Instead, a built-in microwave shelf in a different location makes more sense. The suggestion may not be as space-saving as my original plan, but made sense nonetheless. This coming from a family of four with an 11'x 8' kitchen.
   
   The photos presented an assortment of styles, sizes, and cost-ranges although it leaned more toward high-end, contemporary, and larger than my kitchen.
   
   I would have liked to see more photos with large key ingredients like refrigerators. I would have preferred to see more floor plans and actual room dimensions. Unfortunately, I have not seen a book yet that was strong in this area. I think that any decorating book that has the word `small' on it's cover should strive to include those details.



2. I am pleased with this book. It has a lot of ideas for the kitchen that I would have never thought of. If you are undecided and can't figure out just what you want this is a good book. I'm very pleased.



3. This book might be useful to more people than its title implies. The emphasis is on efficiency and small kitchens, but some of the kitchens in the book are not so small. Most of the advice will be helpful to anyone who is considering a kitchen renovation, regardless of the size of the room. Of course, a large kitchen gives one the option to create unused space that a small kitchen does not, so the book is especially helpful for people with space-limited kitchens. I use that term rather than "small" because the dimensions of my kitchen are largeish, but the layout of doors (all necessary) limits the cabinets and countertops in the room. I'm looking for creative ways to think about reconfiguring the space, and this book has been very helpful in terms of encouraging me to think about where to store things (items used less often can be outside the main kitchen space, for instance), what I typically do in the kitchen vs. sometimes do or rarely do, and how to plan a cohesive design style that works functionally and makes the kitchen a pleasant place for the cook. For example, I've been using wire shelving units as a temporary solution to my kitchen's lack of counters and storage space, but I wouldn't have considered this as a permanent design option before reading this book. That wouldn't be everyone's preference, but this book provides examples of several design styles to suit a variety of tastes. Other kitchen books provide more advice about the nitty-gritty of kitchen functions such as including enough electrical outlets, materials choices, etc. For that sort of information, I recommend "This Old House: Kitchens" (an oldie but still the best). To help you think about what you want and need in your kitchen in terms of function and visual appeal, especially if every inch counts or if the kitchen is part of another room, this book is a good investment.

4 comments about Perfect Tables: Tabletop Secrets, Settings And Centerpieces for Delicious Dining.

1. This book is not what I expected. The settings were mostly the same, crystal and china. I was looking for new ideas with fabrics, flowers and other items to decorate the table for holidays and special occasions.



2. The photographs are lavish and the styling of the book is excellent, but what I find it lacks somewhat is the practical ideas. The focus is a lot on the china and table service.



3. I purchased this book for myself with an Amazon gift certificate. We give a lot of dinner parties and I am always fussing with the table. This beautiful book is filled with enough ideas to last the rest of my life. Even if I don't use the entire lay-out of a featured tabletop, there's at least one or two ideas that can be taken from each page and incorporated into my own design. If you love to "dress up your table," then this is the only book you might ever have to buy.



4. I like it lots. Some interesting views on dos and don'ts in table settings, and beautiful photos. My only problem with these lovely books is that they consistently don't identify flatware, and also most china, linens, and glassware. For a serious purchaser -- and I am -- I would like to know antique sources, provenance and contemporary patterns and such.
   
   Good job, Mr. Yeoward. As I write, I am pre-ordering your newest publication.

No comments about The Violin Maker: A Search for the Secrets of Craftsmanship, Sound, and Stradivari (P.S.).