5 comments about Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life As It Should Be.

1. I really liked this book. Of course when you read many of the suggestions you think, "well, DUH...," but Cowie lays out a plan to make the chic things in life manageable. A "busy lifestyle" and "no time" are no longer excuses for enjoying the small things in life.
   
   I also enjoyed his ideas for hostess gifts, thank you note writing, welcoming guests, and hosting small gatherings at your home. And thanks to Colin Cowie, my husband and I now bring out our good china to eat meals -- why wait for only holidays to eat off fine china?
   
   Plus, this book looks great on my coffee table. Cheers!



2. This book was a quick read that I enjoyed. Colin Cowie does have exacting standards what with all the talk of ironed sheets and shunning disposable plates and napkins, but I think that's the more aspirational part of the book moreso than practical advice. Cowie is full of good tips on entertaining and hosting overnight guests in your home, and this book includes gorgeous photos. And as another reviewer noted, the book looks great on the coffee table.



3. I expected so much more from this stylish purveyor of chic. Boring rehash, mostly using dull photos of process and procedures we have all learned and been doing for years. I expected much, much more for the hefty price tag. This really fell flat. Not even big enough to be recycled as a coffee table book. Guess I'll have to regift!
   
   Nicole Katz
   Beverly Hills, Ca



4. I thought this book was a great primer on living a stylish life-- all around. Very well thought out and beautifully executed. Good stuff!



5. As a fellow perfectionist, I enjoyed this book greatly. It's not a heavy read, it's light with pictorial images to support it. Just reading it and looking at the images made me want to immediately rectify my own living and working space. Some of his ideas are common sense, some just great ideas, and others just purely inspirational. I found myself nodding at some ideas as I am already doing it, giggling at others thinking it was so over the top - but I loved it!
   
   As Colin Cowie would say, "give a gift to the host to say thank you" and perhaps this book would make a nice gift.

5 comments about Graphic Guide to Frame Construction: Details for Builders and Designers (For Pros by Pros).

1. This is a good reference for framing details, which I turn to frequently as we work on the design for our new home. That said, there are numerous gaps and while some might be excused as esoteric, like framing a swept roof at the eaves (though it is pictured on the cover of the book), many others are not, such as flashing at masonry entry steps. I would like to see the book updated to include more "Building Science" lessons, OVE (Optimum Value Engineering)and perhaps SIPS. Still a good book, overall.



2. Have been using this reference for years as an Architect. Probably the best one out there that covers all the basics. Not overly complicated. Could use an advanced version for more complicated details, especially in roofing (half-hips, etc.) and foundations.
   Great reference for the nomencalture of all the parts.
   Do not expect to build from it as codes and structural sizing are required and vary too much, but good, basic detailing and understanding overall with plenty of illustrations.



3. I do a lot of non-professional new construction. For me, visualizing the right way do do something is the problem. Once the skin is on a building I have no idea what lies underneath -- I have no 'guide' to model my construction after. Also, building according to convention is useful -- for instance, it's good to know that you can expect to find a vertical stud in a wall every 16 or 24 inches, regardless of who built the building and when -- and this book clarifies what those conventions are.
   
   This is a great book. The graphic representations are exceptionally clear and detailed. Many alternatives are given, and in building you simply choose the alternative that gives you the most of what you want and follow the diagram.



4. This book has a lot of good framing scenarios interesting tidbits. Both a good reference and interesting to page through.



5. A great reference for the DIY homeowner. Lots of drawings to show you the right way to do things from foundations to framing.

5 comments about Sidetracked Home Executives(TM): From Pigpen to Paradise.

1. Loved this book. It's an easy read and I've implemented the organizational strategies immediately for my whole family. It's working so far!



2. I have always been very organized until I had my second son. I am not sure what happened but I lost control of everything in my home. This book is quck and easy to read. The best part is you don't need any hard to find or expensive items to put this system to use. I can't say enough about this book. I even used it to organize my homeschooling lessons.



3. I've read many books on organization (and hope to someday accomplish all I've read!), but this book will always be my favorite. Pam and Peggy have "been there." There's nothing worse than an organization or "decluttering" book that's written by someone who was born organized (or a "B.O." as Pam and Peggy would call them!). You have to have walked a mile (or waded through the clutter) in the shoes of someone who is easily sidetracked, organizationally-challenged, and wasn't born with the organization gene. Pam and Peggy make you feel like you've found a kindred spirit who somehow waded through all their stuff and found a better way! I wish they'd re-release their original kit that included a de-junking video and a few other goodies!



4. Easy and entertaining read, plus tons of great, practical ideas for getting your home and life, organized!



5. I initially bought this book 15 years ago and my home was so organized, even with three children. I bought it again recently because we downsized homes and everything was chaos. My home is in order again, and it isn't even difficult! Great plan!

2 comments about Black & Decker Complete Home Repair (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide).

1. My husband loves this book..a friend had one and he too just had to have it.



2. I have had this book for over a year now. It has helped me with small projects like changing a light fixture and unclogging the drain to painting and hanging large pictures and an LCD TV, and to remove and plane down my door that always sticks. I have never been particularly "handy" but the pictures and step by step instructions are actually really good. The only real downside is that sometimes they expect me to follow from one step to the next with minimal instruction, and I cannot based on my lack of experience. This is far and away the exception, and most times I could figure it out anyway. It has inspired me to take on bigger and more complicated projects and I refer to it often.

5 comments about The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling.

1. This book is excellent and received in great condition. Thank you. - jac



2. My copy of this book is a mess. It has highlighting and notes all throughout the pages and looks well worn even though I've only had the book for a year.
   
   When the time came to do some studying on solar design, this was the book that was recommended to me. And for good reason - it packs a wallop and provides SO MUCH great information in its pages. At the time I got the book I was somewhat of a novice to solar building and was concerned that the book would have too much jargon or concepts that I didn't understand, but Chiras does such a great job explaining everything in layman's terms that by the time I finished the book I felt like an expert myself.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend this to ANYone looking to building solar/green. I consider it the best of the bunch.



3. Everyone I talked to stated this as the first book someone should read to come up to speed on passive solar designs. And it is a good overview. But only an overview, providing lots of concept and a few "rules of thumb" only. Taken for what it is, this is a very good introduction to passive solar concepts. You'll have to look elsewhere for more detailed information if you plan to participate in the design phase of a passive solar building, or to learn enough to evaluate another's design. There are a few good references in the book to other materials as well.



4. This book covers much more than Solar Energy by including many energy saving features to build into a house. I bought a copy for both my Architech and General Contractor.



5. I've read many other green building books. What I liked about this one was that it really goes into the nuts and bolts more - it give more detail than other books including some of Dan Chiras's other books - which I guess makes sense since it is about a limited area/topic.

5 comments about Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes.

1. I love this book!! I live in an "Atomic Ranch" and this book covers the subject very well. Not only are the pictures great, the text is informative. I also subscribe to Atomic Ranch Magazine published by the same authors. If you are a fan of this genre, both are highly recommended!



2. I love this book! The author's magazine (of the same name) is awesome and this book covers homes from the early issues which are no longer available (issues, not homes). I love seeing the beautiful interiors and exteriors of modest size homes which most people consider beneath their notice because they aren't historically "old enough" or architecturally significant.
   
   I have learned a lot about mid-century modern homes from reading this book. The photos are great and the book is very informative.
   
   If you live in a plain ranch home, and enjoy a streamlined style of living, then I highly suggest you get this book. It is full of practical tips and resources.



3. Very nice book with lots of great photos they are mostly a collection from the magazine but worth having if you are into MCM.



4. God Bless the folks at Atomic Ranch! I have been a subscriber to the Magazine for over 2 years now and have been dying to get the book. Finally, after a couple of strong hints, my wife got it for me for my birthday.
   This book is chock full of beautiful photographs of incredible mid-century masterpieces. Some are preserved, some restored, and some modernized.
   If this is your thing, (and I doubt you'd be reading these reviews if it wasn't)then this is the book you want. I've gambled on a few other books covering ranch homes, and none of them come close to this book. BUY IT!



5. Good book with lots of interior and exterior pictures of houses. Only improvement would be more mod accessories shown, but overall I would recommend.

5 comments about Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath.

1. This is one great book! Very informative. My husband is now in the process of changing our old countertops to new "concrete"ones. I can't wait to see them done and installed.



2. Those whose need to obsessively clean, clean, clean will find in this volume the very thing that will give order, utility and meaning to their affliction. The many and colourful photos in the book, especially those promoting the author's own business (all of them) show the gleaming and pristine surfaces that a concrete countertop offers to those prepared to perpetually be wiping them down. I will not be surprised to learn that Howard Hughes had these babies installed.
   
   Drinking too much? A concrete countertop may be the answer! Wine, even in relatively small amounts, left on the countertop will rapidly etch and discolour the surface you laboured so long and hard to produce. The proud owner of a concrete countertop soon learns that a hangover is hardly the only thing that remains after the party ends. You'll reminisce about the good times you've had as you survey the rings and semicircles that each glass or bottle leaves, and the imbiber soon learns to moderate his consumption in the interests of maintaining perpetual vigilance.
   
   Fitness, too can be maintained through judicious pursuit of the simple activities described in this slim volume. If your mania for a high fruit diet has left you thin and weedy, and lacking the vigorous physique that gains respect and attention, cease your fretting! The process of creating a set of countertops rewards the devotee who follows the instruction provided with the equivalent of a 6 month strength training regime, within a single 24 hour period in which you will mix, pour the concrete, and then clean up the mess that is produced. My own set weighed an easy half-ton, and after completing and installing it, no-one ever kicked sand in my face again. And, the resulting surface is even more prone to damage from citrus than wine, so that fashionable but fey diet with lots of fruit will soon be a thing of the past, replaced by a healthy preference for beefsteak and blood sausage.
   
   All of this points to another advantage that this book will provide its devoted apostle: a more complete appreciation of modern chemistry, and in particular the many and varied chemical compounds found in the modern kitchen, many of which - certainly more than I suspected - have an acidic nature which the counter will soon reveal.
   
   Even after the process of pouring, the prospect of moving your creation combines all the most challenging aspects of a forced march, a bulgarian weight lifting camp and nineteenth century quarry work. Trust me, there's nothing like it, and it's all in here.
   
   I am surprised that others who bought this did not also buy Bullfinch's Mythology. Through this book I rediscovered the joy of the study of mythology, specificaly the myth of Sysiphus, to say nothing of Prometheus, especially the liver bit.
   
   If you've heard about concrete countertops but thought that no guide existed to introduce you to concrete's magical world; if you thought that you lacked the skills and energy to take on such a job; if you thought that agonizing labour to produce a dated-before-it-is-finished work surface cum impossible-to-dispose-of millstone was beyond you - well, let's hope you're right. For the rest of us, this book is just what the clinical psychiatrist ordered. Next time, I'll use Lithium.



3. This book is o.k. for the do it yourself person who has some previous experience, but not for the novice.



4. The book only details a start to finish job of a single (albeit fairly complex) kitchen counter. It would be helpful to cover some other methodologies to make it a more diverse compendium. It looks to do a good job of covering many of the pitfalls that a novice like myself may encounter on a first project. Some beautiful pics included of other projects as well.



5. This book really goes through all the important steps. And pictures are worth a million words..The were very helpful...I highly suggest purchasing this book.

5 comments about Alton Brown's Gear For Your Kitchen.

1. If you're like me, and you walk through Bed Bath & Beyond or similar stores and just get overwhelmed with stuff that looks neat or that you really THINK you need - you're going to love this book.
   
   Personally, I'm a mega neat freak - so this really helped me know what stuff in my kitchen I could really do without. It forces you to be really honest with yourself about what a good home cook really needs and how much is overkill. If you're a packrat - this book is definitely not for you!!!
   
   Inside, Alton Brown not only gives you a run down on what a particular kitchen apparatus does - but what makes one kind or style better than another. He's also got some recommendations on his favorite brands - although it never seems like he's pushing a product as a sales pitch. Any recommendation is backed up with a why and a reason. This is not a book for recipes - you just won't find that here. It's value lies strictly in giving you the ability to say NO to that really neat salad shooter slice-o-matic - even if you do have the 20% off coupon!



2. I am really enjoying reading this book. I first checked it out of the library, but it's a little dense to read cover to cover. Plus, I find it a great reference as I fill out my kitchen gear collection.
   
   What I would like to recommend is that you only purchase this book either by itself or with other books, to enjoy the shrink-wrap protection. The soft cover dirties easily. While Amazon normally shrink-wraps all books, this book was packed in with the crepe-maker I bought, without any overwrap or other sort of protection. When it arrived, the cover was noticeably dirty. I would not have felt comfortable giving it as a gift, and would have returned it if the item were not for myself. Shame on you, Amazon!



3. I bought this book in the hope of obtaining straight forward technical information regarding kitchen tools. There is quite a bit of technical information, but I do question the intent behind it. For example, he writes about how good Shun knives are. When I searched these, I found they pay him to advertise for them. They even have a line of knives named after him and he does a video advertising them. (He also recommends in that video storing them in a knife block, conveniently sold by the manufacturer, despite advising against it in this book!) The point is, I am unsure if the information he gives in the book is primarily in order to instruct or simply to sell that which is he paid to endorse. I didn't see anywhere in the book that he discloses these relationships with manufacturers, either. The closest I could find was his recommendation to research 'Consumer Reports' and 'Cook's Illustrated' because they "don't accept advertising." He then says "don't fall for marketing ploys." Good advice! I think that's essentially what this book is. Very disappointing.



4. GREAT BOOK ON KITCHEN INFORMATION. WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR KITCHEN ETC. I LIKED READING IT. WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT WHEN I FIRST GOT MARRIED TO HAVE A BOOK LIKE THIS. TELLS YOU WHAT IS NEEDED TO START YOUR KITCHEN. HELPFUL INFO.



5. This is a must have for any Alton Brown fan!! The book is full of great information on kitchen must haves and items to pass up. Highly recommended!

5 comments about How to Build Animal Housing: 60 Plans for Coops, Hutches, Barns, Sheds, Pens, Nestboxes, Feeders, Stanchions, and Much More.

1. As a hobby, I enjoy capturing wild animals and putting them in cages. But I am fairly new to this hobby, so I do not own many cages. This book has helped me learn how to build my own animal cages.
   
   As a child, I enjoyed going to the zoo. But something was always missing in the zoo experience. Now that I am an adult, and capturing my own wild animals, I feel more fulfilled.
   
   When I see an animal in a cage, it makes me feel important and powerful, especially if I'm the one who captured the animal.



2. This book is absolutely fantastic for those who are just starting out. There are plans and pictures for every style and taste you may be searching for. It's easy to read...with great graphics.



3. I bought Carol's book about two years ago; now it's battered and ragged because it's been hauled around the farm so much, propped up on things as we use its designs to make new stuff. This is one of my all-time favorites. If you live on a small farm and you're a do-it-yourselfer, you NEED this book!



4. This book is more for the professional builder then for the do it yourself. I would bother with this one unless you have the skills to build it.



5. Great projects, concise writing, great way to add to your design ideas for building "homes" for your "crew".

5 comments about How to Build Your Own Greenhouse.

1. I am always looking for ways to improve my gardening and this book offers excellent instructions on building several different types of greenhouses.



2. Any who would build a greenhouse will find HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE: DESIGNS AND PLANS TO MEET YOUR GROWING NEEDS offers up the hope of year-round gardening as it explores a range of greenhouse designs and options, from simple cold frames to elaborate freestanding tropical constructions. Chapters cover basic freestanding and extension designs for greenhouses, include lean-tos and garden shed blends, and discuss not only construction of independent structures, but how to incorporate them into an existing home. From floor to ceiling options, HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE covers it all, includes design tips and basic plans, and is a pick for any library strong in homeowner's or gardener's construction references.



3. I originally bought this because I am thinking about making a greenhouse. The book is very comprehensive with lots of drawings and pictures. It was well worth the investment.



4. I finally "sprang" for this book because I read a good review on a garden club website. It is a wonderful book on all aspects of greenhouse design. I am sure glad I spent this money before we started spending the serious money, and hard work, on the real thing.



5. If you're operating a small or a LARGE greenhouse - this will be your "bible"...... for operation.
   
   I have 2 copies! In the house and greenhouse.