5 comments about Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management (Oxford World's Classics).

1. This book is written in such a way that you are drawn into the past and standing alongside the mistress of the house...planning your day and making sure the "household help" do their jobs well. It certainly reminds us of the benfits we have currently - with washing machines, dishwashers, automobiles, pre-packaged food and yes,fast food, yet still don't have enough time to do all the things we need/want to do. How would you like to dress your own cow or help make every article of clothing you wear (even though the "hired help" did most of it)? A brief introduction to the book instills in the reader a sense of where Mrs. Beeton arrived at her thoughts for "proper household management." She seems to have been frustrated by societal changes she was witnessing and wanted her "good ol' days" to return. It is a book I highly recommend not only for the history, but for the entertainment value. I could not put it down once I started.



2. Anyone who fetishizes the Victorian life as a model for living should own this book, either in the facsimile edition or the Oxford abridged version.



3. This is just a wonderful travel back in time. Such timely advice that it can still be applied today. Imagine that!



4. Take a trip back in time and delve into the tips in this book, which are still valid today.



5. this is by far one of the most well-received gifts i given to people - especially if they're Virgos! It's real, and it takes you back to another time, when you have to know the proper way to treat servants, dye wool, and boil beef for a sick person. actually, i've tried some of the recipes, and they're not bad -especailly the cakes.

No comments about Complete Custom Closet: How to Make the Most of Every Space (Popular Woodworking).

No comments about Alberto Pinto Bedrooms.

5 comments about Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet.

1. I really liked this book, but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because I think the definition of "small spaces" is too broad. This book would be better if it showcased twice as many spaces from 100-600sqf, rather than going all the way up to 1000. Maybe for people who don't live in cities, 1000sqf is tiny, but I think a lot of the book's target audience would find that amount of space to be truly palatial. Many of the larger spaces had yards or terraces, sometimes doubling the real amount of living space, so that feels like a "cheat" to me. I got the most ideas out of the first half of the book, and the rest of the book was enjoyable as a general interior design book rather than a "small spaces" design book. Many of the featured homes' remodels involve knocking out walls and really re-working a space, so if you're a renter looking for what you can do with a small space you don't own, you might be disappointed. All in all, a very nice book with wonderful photographs, I just wish there was a greater focus on spaces under 600sqf, and more creative rentals being showcased for readers who are renters.



2. Well, I guess I'll add my voice to the chorus of reviewers for this book:
   
   This is a jewel of a book. Lots of fabulous examples of small spaces with a lot of character. People who love art, collect books and appreciate unexpected decorating ideas will enjoy this book."



3. Love the way the book shows apartments of varying small sizes and multiple solutions for small-space dilemmas (like little room for sleeping, tiny kitchens). I was able to brainstorm a solution for my own apartment after one look through this book.
   
   My only complaint is that there are no product resources listed--just designers' names and contact information.



4. This is a fun book full of pictures and ideas for making the most of a small living space. Take the ideas and then add your own style and personality to your small home.



5. This is a nice book and gives you some ideas on how to save space. Unfortunately almost all of the occupants in this book are architects or are friends with an architect. I can't afford to have an architect help me with my apartment space so it doesn't really apply. I still like the book though.

1 comments about Trinny and Susannah the Survival Guide.

1. The book is absolutely fabulous! A lot of the information isn't applicable if you don't live in London (or even Europe) but the hints are great! I definitely would HIGHLY recommend it.

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.

5 comments about PICNIC: 125 Recipes with 29 Seasonal Menus.

1. In Picnic, DeeDee Stovel draws upon her extensive experience and expertise as a cooking teacher and family chef to present 125 recipes with twenty-nine seasonal menus for creating that perfect picnicking experience. From Taco Salad; Sour Cream Chocolate Cake; and Thai Grilled Shrimp Appetizer; to Rice and Peanut Crispy Bars; Baked Chicken Fingers with Dipping Sauces; and Banana Frosty; Picnic has wonderful recipes for every possible outdoor outing from the mountain valley to the sandy beach, from the backyard to the National Forest. Planning to have a picnic? Then begin with browsing through the pages of DeeDee Stovel's Picnic!



2. First off, it is nigh impossible to find a decent cookbook for less than $..., but to find a great cookbook for under $... (Amazonýs price), is a true discovery.

   But we need to beg the question: even if it is a bargain, do you need another book just for picnics? I mean, picnics are simple, right? Chicken, potato salad, wine, salt, pepper and some napkins. Well, if you have picnic atrophy and go only once a year, then youýre fine with the ýColonel.ý However, if you, by chance, plan to cultivate the cultured outdoor dining side of you, Stovel is your mentor.

   Stovel breaks up the book into the four seasons, and within each season she gives multiple menus (Spring 6, Summer 12, Fall 7 and Winter 4 menus). Each menu normally has five items. For example: Stovelýs, ýSpring Day-Hike Picnicý menu has: grilled chicken fillets in a spinach wrap, artichoke salad, carrot sticks, gingerbread and fruit, with herbal iced tea. Her menus are thoughtful, flavorful, and balanced by having only one or two unique items out of the five. Her recipes are easy to follow and very tasty. This is a text only, there are no photos of the plates.

   I thought Picnics were fun, kinda fast, intimate (like for two) and cheap. But the recipes here are for eight people! I have never had a picnic with eight people. I have had a church gathering and a Super Bowl sporting event, but not a picnic with eight people. Perhaps Stovel comes from a large family and see her readers bringing mom, dad, grandma and the five kids along; but in todayýs world of virtual families, recipes for eight are an overkill. Thus, because my picnics are for two, every recipe has to be cut in half and then I still have a picnic basket of left overs.

   Also, sometimes, the ingredients for these recipes doubled my weekly grocery budget. For example, the ingredients for the ýArtichoke Saladý (pg.16) set me back $16 by the time I bought three jars of marinated artichoke hearts $9, six sun-dried tomatoes [you gotta buy the whole jar] $4, mushrooms, scallions, etc. Or consider the ýFresh Fruit Bowl Kaleidoscopeý costing more than $17 not counting the Grand Marnier Liqueurý which is a heart-stopping $4, just for 50ml.

   These points aired, this is a wonderful book that has recipes that can be used year round, picnic or not (Try ýTanteýs Coffee Cakeý and ýCurrant Oat Sconesý - Excellent). ýPicnicý is an excellent buy for the money. Recommended. 4 stars




3. I bought DeeDee's book mainly because of the price. I thought an inexpensive book on picnics: some good recipes and tips - forget it.

   On my first inspection only one or two recipes interested me. Well, maybe I just wasn't hungry. I put the book away and tried again later. Nope, nothing here.

   Most of the recipes, if not all, are for the wine and brie set picnicing in the Hamptons. If your picnic ideas include hummus with creamed cucumber dressing, garnished with figs that are stuffed with walnut and endive, this book is for you, otherwise look elsewhere.

   I really think this book was put through a marketing survey and they felt they could only get the ten dollars for it if they were lucky.




4. "A picnic evokes thoughts of leisure, relaxation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. It can be a still life in the open air or a boisterous frolic on the beach. Some picnics celebrate a special occasion, some offer the opportunity for friends to gather, and others provide an excuse for breaking the routine of daily life." ~DeeDee Stovel
   
   Are you dreaming of sipping hot chocolate out in the snow or nibbling on brownies after skiing, then there is a lot to offer even in the winter. DeeDee Stovel is a caterer and cooking teacher who is also the author of "Weekend! A Menu Cookbook for Relaxed Entertaining." The recipes in this cookbook are family favorites so most are for eight people. You can easily cut the recipes in half or plan to have leftovers. The picnics for Romantic outings are designed for smaller quantities.
   
   In this creative work, you can find picnic ideas for every season. This would be perfect as a gift with a basket filled with items needed for some of the recipes. The recipes are a reflection of the favorites on the East Coast, but they will appeal to anyone who loves to go on a picnic. You will find information on:
   
   Picnic Planning
   Spring Flings
   Summer Spreads
   Autumn Outings
   Winter Wanderings
   
   DeeDee Stovel loves art and introduces the reader to famous artists who loved to paint picnic scenes. She briefly introduces picnic history and includes information on portable meals from the past.
   
   The useful information includes ideas on how to keep food safe, how to prepare meals to go and how to keep food cold or hot. If you are looking to create "ambience" then she gives recommendations for flowers, mints, candy and other items to add to your checklist. There are two ready-to-go checklists for "Baskets at the Ready." This enables the picnic prone to be ready to travel at the hint of a picnic longing.
   
   Picnics of Interest:
   
   Breakfast in a Meadow
   Spring Day Hike
   Family Celebration in the Backyard
   Summer Canoe Picnic
   Beach Picnic
   Sunlight Through the Trees Picnic
   Music Festival Picnic
   Sports-Fan Picnic
   Moonlight on a Mountaintop Picnic
   Teddy Bear's Birthday Party Picnic
   Cross-Country Ski Picnic
   Workday Picnic
   
   Recipe Ideas are organized according to the Picnic, but you can even just take one new idea from your favorite chapters and create your own outdoor feast. There are tantalizing recipes for:
   
   Gingerbread
   Herbal Ice Tea
   Champagne Mimosas
   Bundt Cake
   Brownies
   Apricot Almond Bars
   Barbecued Chicken
   Red Potato Salad
   Grilled Salmon Fillets with Mustard Dill Sauce
   Frosty Fruit Salad
   Chocolate Zucchini Cake
   Tortellini Salad
   Fresh Peach Ice Cream
   Marinated Pasta Salad
   Sun Tea
   Petite Lobster Rolls
   Cucumber Sandwiches
   Gazpacho Madrileno
   Cold Rice Salad
   Strawberry Cookies
   Spicy Beans with Sausage
   
   If I had to choose one picnic book to keep in a basket for spontaneous outdoor feasts, this
   would be it. There are 125 recipes with seasonal appeal and lots of classic favorites and some intriguing surprises.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. I love to have picnics and have many cookbooks on that subject. Out of my collection, this is the one I go to the most. No pictures, but easy and excellant tasting recipes.

1 comments about Creative Ideas For Organizing Your Home (Creative Ideas).

1. This is a great book full of great ideas. They are easyto do too. I am always going back to this book when I run into a clutter problem and it always has an answer fo me. There is bound to be something for everyone in this book. Great book and I LOVE IT! HOPE THIS HELPS

2 comments about Classic Houses of Seattle: High Style to Vernacular, 1870-1950 (The Classic Houses Series).

1. I'm the third owner of a 1908 house in downtown Seattle that has survived relatively unmolested. I was looking for details of how the house should have been decorated in the period and how I could make small changes to the house to make it functional, yet remain honest to the period. The book is great at showing the history and architecture of each period with nice photo examples inside and out. I only hoped there would be a little more detail about how to find an architect that specializes in restoring these types of homes.



2. 
   This book covers the basic styles of homes seen in the SEATTLE areas, from around 1879 to around the 1950's.
   
   Many of the earlier homes have since been destroyed, so the author had to rely on archival photos. All those photos are, of course, in black and white.
   
   Then the author did a wonderful research job by showing the following architectural styles from the early 1900's to the 1950's.
   
   The reason that I give this book a 4-star,rather than a full 5-star rating, is because I wish the author had shown more photos of the LATER homes discussed, & that are still available in Seattle. Instead, the author showed one photo (mostly) of the later homes, when she surely could have included a few more photos of the LATER homes, since they are still available for photo-taking.
   
   The photos of the available (modern) homes, are all in black and white also ---not in color. I suppose the author wanted to show continuum throughout her book, so she chose to show all the book's photos (even the modern photos from 2004-2005) in black and white.

5 comments about The Woodburner's Companion: Practical Ways of Heating with Wood.

1. In an age of rapidly rising energy costs for the homeowner, fresh attention is being given to heating alternatives to electricity and natural gas. Foremost among them is the woodburning stove and/or fireplace. Dirk Thomas is a Vermont chimney sweep how drew upon his many years of experience and expertise to write The Woodburner's Companion, a definitive "how to" manual and guide on the proper ways to utilize wood and fireplace stoves, boilers, furnaces, masonry heaters, and more. Thomas comprehensively covers such pertinent issues as the fuel value of various woods, how to purchase firewood, getting the most heat from what you buy, the environmental impact of woodburning, and a variety of chimney and flue arrangements for best efficiency. Curry provides specific emphasis on the safety issues involved with burning wood for fuel and heat. "Must" reading for the novice wood burner, The Woodburner's Companion will also offer considerable value for experienced woodburners with detailed discussions of woodstove installation, and American and Canadian building and fire codes.



2. If you operate a woodstove, you should have this book. It covers every topic the woodburner should read prior to purchasing, for installation and operation. The information on safety, cleaning and chimney problems is vital. The advice on buying wood will prevent a rip-off (very easily done in the cord wood biz). Woodstove manufacturers should ship this book with their stoves. Highly recommended.



3. In his earlier, complementary book "The Harrowsmith Country Life Guide to Wood Heat" Dirk Thomas lays out burning wood for heat from A to Z. Everything is covered from felling and limbing trees, using block and tackle to move them on any kind of surface, rigging up trucks to remove trees on hillsides, bucking wood, to installing stoves and chimneys. "The Woodburner's Companion" is more for the less adventurous homeowner who gets his wood ready-to-go or who is building a new house with woodburning in mind.
   As such the book is very useful. Heating values of wood, fuel, coal and the like are compared, stove installation and chimney maintenance are covered in some depth, and enlightening facts about clean burning and types of creosote are discussed. I especially value Thomas's remarks on the best way to keep a proper fire in a wood stove going, which is to neither frequently feed it all the time nor starve it down to embers.
   He covers types of chimneys, pros and cons of various materials, chimney cleaning techniques, and how best to handle fireplaces and fireplace inserts, as well as wood stoves and wood furnaces.
   This is a capable book whose information will get the novice off to a flying start and hone the woodburning skills of the veteran. It will enhance efficiency and safety in the home.



4. I found this book to have answered every question that can come to mind involving burning wood either as a primary source of heat or esthetic enjoyment. It is enjoyable reading as well as informative. I particularly enjoyed the pros and cons revealed about different methods of wood heat and also Dirk's subtle sense of humor in defending the burning of wood as an institution---as he so aptly states, it is defensible politically since no wars have been fought over wood (unlike oil), and if you have a wood spill, you're not looking at a major ecological catastrophe. It's not hard to see that Mr. Thomas likes his trade (chimney sweeping)and is the best choice to write a book of this nature. To all prospective readers: Enjoy!



5. I have burned wood in a woodstove for years, but there was a lot that I didn't know, especially regarding chimney safety. I will be having my chimney inspected for cracked flue tiles, since I know that there was once a chimney fire (before my time). I don't want to endanger my family to save a few bucks. Thank you, Dirk, for writing such a clear and sensible guide. I expect that more people will be using wood to heat their homes as fuel and electricity costs continue to rise. This book is well worth buying as a reference and guide to safely useing a woodstove or fireplace.