4 comments about The Pocket Renovator: Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Home Renovation.

1. This is a wonderful resource to have on hand when experiencing all aspects of a home renovation. To be able to speak the same language as your contractor is priceless, and to understand what he is talking about makes all of the difference. Built-ins, cabinetry, bathroom and kitchen projects, etc. are all addressed in this handy book. The book includes all sorts of vocabulary previously foreign to me, and is written in a refreshing, accesible style. Would be a great gift too.



2. An extremely useful reference guide for navigating the jargon of renovation and construction. A visual dictionary, the book helps you figure out what it is you're looking for by matching illustrations with terminology. Now, when your contractor asks whether you want your new sink to be drop-in or undermount, you'll understand what he means. The entries frequently contain useful guidance points and tips, though that's not the primary point of this book. I really enjoyed the Pocket Decorator, this team's previous book, and am glad to see they've pulled off another success.



3. First off, do not buy this book if you are looking for a how to book. This guide is not intended to show you how to complete a project. It is intended to show you, the average homeowner, with little or no construction experience what materials and techniques are available to do projects around the home. The authors cover a broad range of subjects, but not in depth. This book will enable you to communicate more effectively with your architect, builder or home improvement contractor.They cover alot in 200 pages, however there is so much to know in this field, that you could spend 200 pages alone on one subject such as fireplace techniques. However, for its intended purpose I rate it 5 stars.



4. Written by a mother and daughter team, this like their earlier book, The Pocket Decorator, was born out of necessity. Leslie was totally remodeling her condo and wanted to know and use the correct terms when talking with the various craftsman.
   
   Designed for anyone remodeling, renovating or building, this book is a tremendous resource. The terms are listed alphabetically to allow easy access.
   
   I loved their tips for "smooth sailing" when working with construction people. Their suggestion is to work as a team as much as possible with architect, builder and designer. They suggest you learn the symbols used on a design plan so you understand what is being done and where.
   
   Not only do we learn a term, each has an illustration-and when relevant, we can read about its history and how the word was derived.
   
   Do you know the different between undermounted and drop-in sinks? I do now. Each has a different look and demands certain know-how when being installed. What do you know about toilet heights, shapes and flush/water efficiency?
   
   The chapters cover construction issues like cabinetry and built-in furniture, interior layouts, kitchen, baths and vital systems like heating, cooling, etc.
   
   The authors also added four newly important areas: green design, safe and healthy home, financing and real estate transactions.
   
   I found the safe and healthy house interesting as it covered the toxic things in our homes like lead, carbon monoxide, asbestos, mold and radon, as well as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
   
   This writing team is very thorough. If it isn't in this book, I wonder if the average homeowner really needs it.
   
   The Pocket Renovator would make a great gift for yourself and anyone who is buying their first home, building a new one or remodeling/renovating. Carry the book with you in case someone uses an unfamiliar building term.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: With The Pocket Renovator, you will have the answer at your fingertips.

1 comments about Pattern Cutting for Women's Tailored Jackets: Classic and Contemporary.

1. Winifred Aldrich is a master at producing books with clear istructions for well fitting blocks and this book is no exception. It also includes one of the few chapters detailing the history of tailoring that i have seen. This is important as to come to term with tailoring in all its guises knowing the history helps. Her blocks as usual are straightforward to draft and fit really well, but ... she still retains the 'blow by blow' instructional format which as a teacher i find difficult to work with. She provides line drawings of many variations of collars, vents, sleeves, necklines, etc... and then provides detailed instructions on how to draft these exactly leaving no room to develop a knowledge of why you perform each action. Winifred also provides blocks for use with bespoke or hand tailored construction and for engineered or more contemporary construction - and discusses this difference clearly, one of the few books to cover both. For novice pattern makers, those new to tailored patterns or those seeking well fitting basic blocks you can't go past this valuable book. However those of you wanting to develope more sophisticated tailoring skills will be better off with one of the classics such as Helen Joseph Armstrong or Martin Shoben but would appreciate Aldrich as she has much better and more modern fitting blocks.

1 comments about Easy, Easier, Easiest Tailoring.

1. This book provides the information and different methods to create a tailored jacket. Step by step instructions from the cutting to the assembling, a very interesting book and can be used with any other books on tailoring. This book also shows you how you can have a very expensive looking wardrobe without having to spend too much money.

5 comments about The Abrams Guide to American House Styles.

1. In the United States, there is a very rich history of producing field guides to American Domestic Architecture. So it was into this already crowded field that "The Abrams Guide to American House Styles" was published in 2004. In my opinion, if you are going to introduce a new book into an established field, you need to do something new.
   
   This Guide has two features that are unique. First, all of the photos are in color. This is the first Guide that I have seen that has done this. I really enjoyed seeing the photos of the earliest American homes. Second, unlike most field guides, this Guide continues to the current day. I thought that adding examples of McMansions was a very nice touch. Most other field guides stop somewhere around 1950.
   
   Field Guides can be divided into photo books and line drawing books. I prefer line drawing books because they help the reader concentrate on the architectural features that combine to make a style. I think photo books are less effective because they are too specific. Instead of concentrating on the stylistic details, the photos make the reader concentrate on a specific house. The other reason I do not like photo books is that photos are inherently distracting. Instead of concentrating on the architectural features, the eye is drawn to foilage, electrical poles, cars and people walking in front of the building.
   
   The Abrams' Guides does a good job of cutting out most of the distractions but where if fails miserably is in the trees around the house. A good 10-15% of the images are ruined by trees getting in the way of the photographer. Either they block the full image or their shadow obscure key details. I can accept a few trees around a house but to have so many photos ruined is unacceptable. It as though the editors did not have enough photos and they were forced to accept poor quality photos to fill out the book. If you want to see a field guide with beautiful color photographs of houses, see Robin Langley Sommer's "The American House".
   
   If your tastes run to photos, purchase "A Field Guide to American Houses" by Virginia McAlester. If you prefer line drawings like I do, check out, "The Visual Dictionary of American Architecture" or Lester Walker's "American Homes".
   
   Looking at old homes and determining their sytles is a great hobby. The Abram's Guide is a very poor introduction to this rewarding past time.



2. Despite the unfavorable comments in "A VERY POOR EFFORT," I decided to buy this book and try it for myself. I'm so glad I did. This reviewer seems to be confused about this book. Of all the books on the subject, this is the only one that's written by a Pulitzer-nominated architectural historian, comprised of all-color photos, inclusive of the late-20th and 21st cent styles, designed like an art book, and packaged in a compact/portable format for taking it on the road. These 5 features are completely NEW to this genre! The unhappy reviewer's other point of criticism (that there are too many trees on the property of some of the photographed houses) is simply absurd. How can a photographer remove trees and foliage from a house's property before photographing the house? These houses are important examples, not slouches. The book states clearly that each picture was taken from public property. Should the photographer have given each house a fresh coat of paint, too, before he photographed it? Such a criticism is illogical. For my dollar, this is the best book in the genre and thus should be given a fair evaluation. I'm glad I bought it. As a realtor, I need this kind of book, and this one's the easiest to use of all of them.



3. The color pictures are all new and the subjects very well chosen, and paging through this book is enjoyable. The concise text reviews the usual classifications in the usual ways, its academic tone partly redeemed by occasional wit.
   
   He renames Richardson Romanesque as Richardsonian, Federal as Late Georgian, and says Queen Anne originated from Arts and Crafts rather than medieval styles, although I think there's a little of each. Like most authors, he discusses the white flat-roofed Modern examples as though they were the next in line to follow the Tudors and Colonial Revivals, despite the fact that they never amounted to more than an insignificant fraction of houses built, then continues with the Post Modern and Deconstructivist styles, pure "magazine architecture", marking an era in which architects begin to serve a new and powerful patron of the arts, the media.
   
   But the countless postwar ranches and split-levels are never mentioned. Trying to keep it highbrow, I guess.
   
   He returns to ordinary houses at the very end, to jump on the mock-the-McMansions bandwagon, using as examples, ironically, some of the prettiest houses in the book.
   
   A few nits to pick:
   
   * Medieval homes had steep roofs because they used thatch, not due to the narrow London streets.
   
   * Le Corbusier's "machines for living" quote actually was intended to extoll creature comforts, not stark Modernism.
   
   * The Arts and Crafts post-and-beam masterpiece, the Gamble House, is ordinary stud construction where it doesn't show.
   
   * Beams are always horizontal, as are clapboards.
   
   * It was Louis Sullivan who said architecture was set back 50 years by a late 19th Century exhibition, not some academic.
   
   Still like the James C. Massey book, available used. But you may like this one for its pictures.



4. This book is a good guide to house identification as well as a pleasure to look it. The photographs are beautifully done, and in full color which I think is important for noticing details that help one identify a house. The text is helpful in explaining historical information, and there are quick reference charts for each house type that condense the major features of that type. Sometimes the distinction between early, middle, and late Georgian is hard determine, and I didn't find it very helpful there, but other than that it is a great guide and a nice coffee table book as well since the pics are so fabulous.



5. If you are just getting interested in the topic of house styles, this book is an excellent introduction. The color pictures are a great help versus black and white pictures or even sketches. If nothing else, this is a great starter book!

5 comments about Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook.

1. we have looked at a number of manufactured home brands, and found this a very worthwhile book. Easy to read and lots of good advice.



2. This book does a good job of giving you a heads up to the potential schemes, scams, and situations you can run into when purchasing a manufactured home. The focus is on new homes, there isn't much regarding the used or preowned market, so if you're looking to buy new, this book is a must read.



3. The book documented the pitfalls of the entire process from buying to initially living in a manufactured home. It was written from the prespective of documentating the author's excursion into buying a home and sprinkled with some anecdotes of other buyers experiences. It was strong on counter tactics but I felt weak on prevention. The book was padded with court cases and amortization tables. After I read the book, I concluded the entire process was so full of crooks - why bother. Why bother - obviously you need a cheap house, which as the book illustrates may become, in time, very expensive. The book did not live up to my expectations based on the earlier reviews.



4. This is a "must read" for anyone contemplating the purchase of a manufactured or modular home. The book does a great job of poinintg out specific things to look for and also offers good general advice on selecting a home and having the right "mind-set".
   I am currently going through the "process" of purchasing a modular home and have found this book to be very helpfull. The book comes across very negative towards certain areas of the industry but I'm having very similar experiences even after doing my research and going with "one of the best" companies.



5. I was very pleased with this purchase. Of the other books I've bought on the subject (five so far), this by far gave me the most important, relevant information. The author uses his experience as a buyer to warn of the many possible ways to be "ripped off" during and after the process of manufactured home buying. It can be a little scary to know about so many possible pitfalls, but it's much better to be aware and knowledgeable. When buying any kind of home, ignorance is NOT bliss.

No comments about IndiaColor: Spirit, Tradition, and Style.

5 comments about Yankee Magazine's Living Well on a Shoestring: 1,501 Ingenious Ways to Spend Less for What You Need and Have More for What You Want.

1. If you think you'd like to decorate your home with cardboard tubes, construction paper, and glitter, this is the book for you. Otherwise, you might not find it very useful.
   
   The book does have some hints that I found helpful, especially in the section on home remedies (the things you can do with vinegar!). Also, some hints on saving money were sensible, if obvious (if you don't read a magazine, quit your subscription -- sounds obvious, right? If only I could follow that advice...)
   
   But for the most part, I didn't find much I could use. For example, instead of simply saying "have a garage sale and advertise for it" as an idea to make some cash, they give five or six ideas for advertising for a garage sale, some of which are just absurd (eg, painting footprints on the sidewalk leading to your house).
   
   Some advice just seemed ill-advised to me, such as using your 401(k) as a savings vehicle for college or a first-time home. Sure, you're allowed to tap it for those purposes, but you shouldn't plan it that way!
   
   And a lot of the advice just seemed to lead you down the road to a more cluttered life, for example, the tip to fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand and motor oil to clean off the metal parts of your gardening tools. How are you supposed to dispose of that properly? Who's got space for a bucket of oily sand? Ugh.
   
   If all the examples I've cited really excite you, then by all means, buy this book. Otherwise, just check it out of the library. Or just check it off your to-read list altogether.



2. I have not even read close to 1/2 of the book. So far, I have found a lot of info that is not useful to me. My advise is to just not spend any time on those parts. I did find, so far, 2 good ideas and the day after finding them, I implemented them. The result is cold, hard cash and an ubelievably better use of some cash I already had.
   
   I expect the rest of the book will be the same way. I will skip the parts that do not apply to me or interest me. I will however, find more good ideas. Heck, the 2 ideas I have already found paid for the book and my future will be "richer."
   
   I also plan to provide the reviews of this book to my smoking cessation classes. Until they quit, they need to be frugal. Once they do quit, they need ideas for all that extra money.



3. As you may have been reading in the other reviews, this book is very different. Most of the suggestions are wacky, and really could only save you pennies to say the least. Once in awhile, the suggestions are okay, if you own a home (which I don't because I don't have money) but if you followed every suggestion in the book you would be the laughing stock of your community. There are much better books on the market for the purpose this book is supposed to serve. If only they would update it, it wouldn't be half bad. I mean, they talk about going to the library to use internet when almost everyone has internet on their phones nowadays and other wierd "hints" that just don't make sense. They spend a whole section on just organizing your bills and putting them in places like a shoe organizer or an empty cereal box because this will help you save money.
   
   Real frugal people would just save their money and skip the book to read something that will actually help you.



4. This book suffers from trying to cram too many ideas into a small space. Each chapter is divided into small sections which are then further divided into very brief tips. Amidst all that are margin notes and quotes from readers with frugal suggestions, and it makes for a very cluttered read.
   
   The ideas given in the book range from common sense to handy new ideas to the downright silly and unfeasible.
   
   Here's a few examples: One suggestion for creating a savings is that book lovers borrow books from the library instead of buying them, and then putting the price of the book in the savings account. Another tip is to pay attention to the cash register receipt immediately after making a purchase and deal with overcharges right there. Those are good ideas.
   
   Then there's common sense ideas such as making your own coffee/food or doing your own repairs. But does anyone really need to be told that it's cheaper to do it on your own? What if certain repairs are beyond your capabilities?
   
   One so-called helpful hint suggests saving the change that falls out of pockets in the laundry: "When you save enough change, you can buy more laundry detergent." If I was to wait until I got enough stray change to buy detergent, I'd never have any soap. It's a silly idea, not practical in the least.
   
   Too much weight is placed on the cleverness of some ideas. One suggestion is to trim your hedges around your home instead of buying alarms or locks. While it's a good idea to reduce the hiding places around your home, one shouldn't rely solely on a neat yard for theft protection.
   
   However, there are some good ideas in the book, and if you're serious about learning new ways to be frugal, it's worthwhile to check this book out. It's a quick read and occasionally entertaining.



5. I was trying to battle my way out of debt, and needed all the help I could get. This book was full of resources, and I'm using quite a few of the ways presented. Still fun now that I'm out of debt to see where I can spend even less.

5 comments about Paint It Black: A Guide To Gothic Homemaking.

1. If you're a fan of Voltaire's brand of snarky humor, you'll enjoy this book on gothic homemaking. The design of the book is worth the price on its own; the black-white-and-red color scheme and black pages are sleek and lovely. My only "complaint" (and it's not really a complaint so much as an observation) is that quite a few of the ideas are very basic and straightforward, and could be found online for free. (Examples: hanging cloth on your walls instead of painting; turning boring dolls into demon dolls.) But, there are a lot of really cool and inventive ideas with complete and helpful instructions, such as the "goth box" shelves, picture frames, and the graveyard cake (which looks as delicious as it does spooky). Voltaire also gets points for including specific recommendations for where to find some of the materials, such as car decals for "pimping your ride." These details turn what could have been rather bland ideas into truly helpful ones. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who's just getting started with gothic decorating, wants a few new ideas, or just enjoys Voltaire's signature humor.



2. A friend of mine let me borrow this book. I am amazed that I gave it back without crying like a baby. From spooky dolls to bottle candle holders to a Gothic wedding, this is the perfect starter guide for the do it yourself goth. Or, if nothing else, it is a good laugh and an easy read.



3. While I enjoy Voltaire on general principles, and try to support all his efforts in whatever media, I was hoping for something a little more...dense. Thicker, more full of information. Not really why I bought the book of course, but still. Anyway, some fun is still to be had, and once I get over the headache from reading white print on black pages (of course!), I will be glad it is now part of my growing Goth Home Decorating Library.



4. I bought this book shortly after it was put on shelves, few years back, knowing that despite it being a slim book, I'd get a nice chuckle out of it. Indeed I did, but I also did receive a lot of unique and inspiring ideas for sprucing up my living area.
   There are many suggestions for the dark at heart for interior decorating, gothing out one's car, baking spooky treats, and other such little arts and crafts, all of which are not that expensive. Even someone of little talent can pull off some of these crafts. Many of these crafts are literally... painting something black. Or you could be really creative and throw some red in there. Maybe plaster a bat sticker on it to break up the monotony.
   I can't say I'm really hard-core into the scene like I used to be. My Siouxsie and the Banshees CDs are collecting dust. I'm not sporting the velvet skirts and pointy boots as often as I used to. But I still collect the old wine bottles for some neat candelabra displays. Where did I happen to get that idea? From this book. Even if you're not the uber-goth that has racked up on the goth points over the years, you still can get some unique, money-saving tips.
   
   My only complaint for this book was that it was too short. *shrug* But you have to take the Goth style for what it is: minimalistic.



5. I would personally say that Voltaire is a literary genius.
   His words speak to you in a gentle tone, never snide or rebuking, simply informative.
   
   He does seem to embrace his sarcasm, but it's always in a "good" way;
   Even his sarcastic remarks lead to and emphasis a strong point.
   His book provides a plethora of decorating ideas, not only for a gothic designer, but for any person trying to make they're dwelling habitable.
   
   I would certainly recommend this book, I don't think my words do it proper justice.
   
   Side Note:
   Voltaire also has several music albums, the majority of his songs have a very amusing satirical background, while he also has a phenominal CD with a more serious setting.
   
   He has live shows throughout the east coast (not sure if he goes past that, I'm sure it lists it on his site), if you ever have the opportunity to see him perform live, it's something you'll simply never forget.
   You can get more info on all that at http://www.voltaire.com.
   
   10/10.

5 comments about The Feng Shui House Book: Change Your Home, Transform Your Life.

1. Well I'll add my voice to the chorus of recommendations. I'm a feng shui rookie and this was the first book I bought on the subject. I'm very pleased with it. I'm interested in home decorating applications, so the many great color pictures of home interiors are what sold me. I was looking for inspiration and found it.

   The book also has a solid overview of the principles. Though I consider the author a good teacher, but not a great one. Perhaps it's just the complexity of the subject that left me a little confused about some of the principles (or my own shortcomings :)). But it seemed like some things could have been clearer. For example I'm still befuddled about the precise methods of using elements to correct defects in sections of a bagua. Do mirrors and wood and other materials have the same compensating effect in each area?

   Anyway, I need to keep studying the subject. But this book was a really good start.




2. The pictures in the book are pretty, but the book read more like a western design book than a feng shui book. It discusses the most rudimentary elements of feng shui and I recommend it to people who are not really interested in learning about traditional feng shui. This book is designed for westerners who want a simplified, superficial look at the westernized notion of Feng Shui.



3. It sure has pretty pictures, but it isn't very well written. If you don't really like the author's style of decorating, you will probably not like this book. It seems to exclude some information, for example different decorating options you have and also lacks answers if you have any questions about your specific house. There are alot of case studies with before and after pictures. It is more westernized than some books, but if you are looking for a good feng shui book, there are many out there, and alot are better than this one.



4. My favorite part of this book are the transformations. Nicely decorated rooms are turned into beautiful, comfortable ones.

   I've given it to a few people; always positive response.




5. Invented by someone years ago, each teacher claims they have the answer to all of life's problems if you move your furniture around in your house and paint it certain colors. If not you're going to have bad health, a bad love life etc. Tired of these books that are really evil in trying to control people in need by telling them to use a system that can help them. If you feel moving your couch will change your life, look at the level of gullability you have.

2 comments about Pattern Cutting for Lingerie, Beachwear and Leisurewear.

1. I'll give it 3 stars, because I got a lot of ideas in this book which actually inspired me. The fact that the patterns doesn't work for me hasn't stopped me from learning a lot from it.
   
   I have followed two pattern design courses and am designing my own clothes which fit pretty well. I bought this book because I also wanted to be able to design a bra, which wasn't included in my courses. Unfortunately the bra block givin in this book doesn't consider the underbust measurement - only the bust measurement itself. The cupsize of a bra is determined by subtracting the underbust measurement from the bust measurement and the support of a bra comes from the snug underbust fit. For that reason I couldn't get the bra pattern to fit me (cup turned out too small, while band too big around body) and I am busy to figure it out myself by adjusting the lower dart to fit my underbust measurement while making a bigger curve towards the bustpoint.
   
   Still the back cover of the book claims that all the patterns has been tested and therefore works. I suppose it could work for someone with a much smaller cupsize (the bust line not much bigger than the underbust).
   
   Also, according to the author's instructions to the bodice block, all women's bust points are at the same height. (half of the nape of neck to waist measurement plus 4 cm's toward the waist). That simply isn't true, so I'm using my own bodice block where you have to measure your (individual) height of your bust point and mark it on the pattern accordingly.
   
   I was very excited when the book arrived in the mail and started working immediately. Unfortunately I was quite dissapointed soon afterwards.



2. perfect to complete you cutting skills. a specific book on a matter which is usually superficially examined in pattern making classes.
   ok!