No comments about Contemporary Seaside Houses (Evergreen Series).

2 comments about Faux and Decorative Painting (Sunset).

1. Faux and Decorative Painting is a no-nonsense guide to beautifully coloring one's walls with water-based painting and glazing. Full color photographs and step-by-step instructions demonstrate 37 quick and easy latex painting techniques, from simple solid colors to designing petroglyph wall stencils. A superbly enjoyable home improvement resource, as fun to page through as it is to pick out follow project ideas.



2. I compared this book to several others. It is the best for several reasons. First, it has an introduction with basic techniques and tools. The tool section has actual pictures of every tool you may need. This helps when going out to buy your supplies. Second, the has excellent step-by-step instructions for every technique. Third, the techniques covered range from simple to moderate, but all seem do-able. Other texts have fancier effects and styles, but are probably out of the skill range of the beginner.
   
   Overall, this book makes faux finishing seem like a thing you can do and gives you the knowledge you need to do it.
   
   Later you can move to the more complex techniques. However, you may not need to.

4 comments about Houses of the Berkshires, 1870-1930 (The Architecture of Leisure).

1. I found this to be a well researched and mostly through book covering a wide selection of architectural examples from the Berkshires. It has a good mix of numerous previously published historical photos (the Lenox Library put out a photography book of note, too) but also many photos I have not seen before. While many of the properties are still standing today few of the photographs used are current, which is a shame, and fewer still are from the middle of the last century.
   
   The title is more sterile in comparison to the almost Bible-like reference on the Berkshire estates, Carole Owens' "Berkshires Cottages: A Vanishing Era" from 1984. The Owens title came out when architecturally the "Inland Newport" was just starting to awaken from years of abuse and neglect of many of these delightful white elephants of the Gilded Age. Now this title, "Houses of the Berkshires", is being released when the area couldn't be any more desirable and vibrant with almost none of the remaining and covered Berkshires `cottages' in any state of disrepair. A large exception is the in-restoration Rotch & Tilden designed Ventfort Hall. It would be nice, as a means to better appreciate these homes, to also share in such a book as this the state to which many of these homes sank before they rebounded to the condition they are in today.
   
   The book is more brief then I'd prefer on some homes, but often those noted residences have been far better covered in books devoted to the architect or the family. Case in point, Elm Court was best detailed in the 1991 book "The Vanderbilts and the Gilded Age: Architectural Aspirations, 1879-1901" and High Lawn in the 2003 title, "The Architecture of Delano & Aldrich". Although the latter seems to be a place forever cloaked in mystery matching its beautiful fa?ade and vast feudal landholdings.
   
   Published by Acanthus Press who republished the brilliant architect Harrie Thomas Lindeberg's 1940 original "Domestic Architecture" as well as an assortment of reflective regional focused titles with areas of wealth and architectural significance. Among those titles is the delightful "The Main Line: Country Houses of Philadelphia's Storied Suburb, 1870-1930". This book is recommendable for those who enjoy grand domestic architecture mated with true landscaping skill which should be preserved and harkens back to a time when having money did result in good taste - at least for the Berkshires.



2. Mr. Millen brings up some criticisms that are valid but are misplaced. This is not an ENTIRELY fresh view of the Berkshires but local authors Gilder and Jackson bring to light much fresh architectural and social history. Also, they have found a number of previously unpublished photographs that delight, such as the early view of Naumkeag that appears inside and on the back cover. Ms. Owen's work was groundbreaking, but this work supercedes it, particularly in the great production values for which this publisher is famous.
   Most curious about Mr. Millen's criticism is his desire to see the houses in mid-century ruin. There is romance in ruin, but this exquisite book's goal was to show these great estates in their glory days. Perhaps he should approach the publisher to produce his very own "Berkshires in Ruins" volume. That might indeed be a charming tome and one I would consider buying.
   I highly recommend this book as an intelligent and distinctive coverage of the great houses of Lenox and Stockbridge and environs.



3. Acanthus is the gold standard publisher of books of this kind and their latest book does not disappoint. Mr. White does a supurb job of selecting wonderful images of these amazing estates and his research is scholarly and highly informative. If you appreciate beautifully crafted books on Gilded Age residential architecture, then I can't imagine you not loving this book. I have never had the pleasure of visiting the Bershires, so I guess this will have to be the next best thing to experiencing in person.



4. A beautiful book, beautifully written, about a memorable part of American history, architectural and otherwise.

No comments about Live/Work: Working at Home, Living at Work.

No comments about Small AC Generator Service Manual, Volume 2: Covers complete maintenance and repair information for most portable generator models.

5 comments about Home Therapy: Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers.

1. Anyone who feels their home needs help in the decorating department will be surprised and pleased when they see what they can achieve after reading Home Therapy. Like Lauri Ward's previous books her newest volume of makeovers also shows us how we can give our homes a whole new look without cleaning out our checking accounts. This book has color photos and really fascinating personal stories which make it even more interesting. All in all it is her best book yet. Highly recommended.
   
   Note to reviewer "CnK" from Texas: From your review it is clear that you did not read Ward's previous "how to" books which are filled with excellent information. Try reading her classic "Use What You Have Decorating."



2. What a pleasant surprise. Use What You Have Decorating has been my favorite interior design book for years. It actually taught me what I was doing wrong and how to make it right. I still refer to it when I have questions.
   But Home Therapy has brought my decorating education to another level. It has impressive before and after photos, interesting stories and a ton of really useful advice.
   If you want to give your home a new stylish look you will be very happy with what you can achieve from reading it. Highly recommended.



3. I did not like the layout of this book at all--particularly annoying was the fact that you had to turn pages between the "before" and "after" room drawing layouts-they should have been either put on facing pages or on the same page.
   
   Also, her first book worked well because it seemed to focus more on average people with decorating issues, this book was definitely skewed towards people with scads of money like the people with the view home in Laguna Beach, who practically had walls made of windows--hardly what the average person is looking to showcase!
   
   I would borrow this one from the library, but buy her first book.



4. This is a horrible book. I have Use What You Have Decorating, which is a very good book. This book shows a black and white before picture with an endless list of every piece of furniture, pictures, etc. and where they are located in the room, followed by a color after picture with an endless list of where every piece of furniture, pictures, etc. are located. After reading this same format in each chapter (over and over again) for each of her customers, and not being able to relate any of this to my own home and with little or no explanation of why she changed what she did, I dumped this book in a box of books to give away. Don't waste your money. There are lots of better books out there.



5. Lauri Ward brings affordable decorating advice to her readers, once again, and this time via stories about 25 clients. Each person has an interesting tale to tell, such as the woman who survived the collapse of the twin towers on 9/11 and sought help creating a tranquil environment, to the family of a world-famous dancer who needed help making their too-large space comfortable.
   Each home provides clear examples of everyday decorating challenges that most people are confronted by, but never know how to solve, and the author corrects each one. She offers practical solutions that anyone can apply to their own home and, at the same time, a very interesting read.

No comments about Carving Wooden Santas, Elves & Gnomes: 28 Patterns for Hand-Carved Christmas Ornaments and Figures (Woodcarving Illustrated Books).

No comments about Introductory DC/AC Circuits (6th Edition).

3 comments about What's In Style: Fireplaces (What's In Style).

1. The fireplace continues to be one of the most desired amenities for new home-owners and quite justifiably considered to enhance the value of any dwelling. In What's In Style: Fireplaces, Joanne Still surveys the latest designs for traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces, as well as clean and elegant gas unit fireplaces. Readers will discover how to easily upgrade an old fireplace to make it an energy-efficient luxury item for any room. What's In Style: Fireplaces is enhanced with more than 150 color photographs; presents an extensive variety of mantels and accessories; offers expert advice for arranging furniture and accessories to enhance fireplace living; offers tips for creating attractive mantel displays and wall groups; poses great ideas for outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas, and patio heaters; covers the latest fireplace technology in terms of efficiency, fuel, and finishes; and has an informative guide to fireplace manufacturers and associations. If you are planning to incorporate or update a fireplace into your home, begin by reading Joanne Still's What's In Style: Fireplaces!



2. Not a complete work. Covers almost no construction details, and the styles shown are in no way a complete work up of mantels.



3. This book has great pictures and gave us many ideas. We were able to build the fireplace of our dreams by reading this book.

4 comments about Box by Box (Popular Woodworking).

1. This book is sub-titled, 21 Projects for developing your woodworking skills.
   
   More than plans and procedures for building a bunch of boxes, this book is chock-full of clever techniques for building. Even if you never build a box (and if you build any furniture, you are probably building a box somewhere in there), read it all and you will learn a lot of good techniques in the sidebars and procedures.
   
   He organizes his projects in ascending degree of difficulty so that whether you are a beginner with a hand saw and a hammer or a seasoned woodworker with a shop full of tools, there is something here for you. The book is profusely illustrated with clear color photos.
   
   Jim Stack is one of my favorite authors (and the only one still alive). His sense of humor and creative and imaginative techniques make this a delightful book. He is a very clever guy in his approach to making things work. For an interesting project, try the icosahedron box.
   
   Interesting spiral-bound format makes it easy to sit on your workbench during your project work.
   
   Warning: If you are like me, once you start box-making, every piece of scrap starts to look like a box.



2. Sure was disappointed by this book. I am a beginner and from the description felt that this would be a good place to start. It really assumes more knowledge than a true beginner would have.
   
   The text seems to leave out steps and requirements. It seems that the book was edited by someone who didn't understand everything involved to complete the projects.
   
   On the good side, the projects in the book are great.



3. I would agree with Boxmaker. This is a good book but the projects advance very quickly to more advanced designs. I got some good ideas that I will eventually use but there are several that I will never attempt due to their complexity.
   If you have already built some boxes and you need more ideas and designs, you could do worse than this book. If you are a beginner and have a bandsaw, I would recommend "Making Beautiful Boxes with your Bandsaw."
   Build on!



4. I don't write many reviews since what needs to be said usually already has been. This is true with this book as well but I have enjoyed it so much that I felt the need to add my two cents. This is a great book for beginners and offers some great lessons for more advanced woodworkers as well. It starts with the most basic box you can build and project by project it teaches a new skill. I think some of the concerns expressed in previous reviews may be due to the advancing nature of the lessons. Once one new skill is learned, a new one follows. There is not a lot of variation in box types at any one level. But with all the lessons available, I'm sure that anyone will find at least a couple of boxes that they just have to build. If you are looking for a book that deals in depth with basic woodworking skills with lots of pictures of each step involved, the Taunton book may be a better purchase. But if you want lots of great ideas with a good basic instruction on each step involved, you can't go wrong with this book.