Reviews (40)

Informative but not comprehensive
I had the idea that I would make my own very customized concrete countertops, but after reading the book I decided on granite instead.
Concrete a la carte
If you want to see everything that can possibly be done with concrete, this is your book.
Great Book
With out saying too much this book covers everything you need to know about DIY concrete countertops.Equipment to time involved very well worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete    2. Countertops    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Remodeling & Renovation - Kitchens    10. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    11. Building skills    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Design & Construction    14. House maintenance    15. HOUSE & HOME / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (30)

Simply excellent, from start to finish
This book is a must. It will show everything from start to finish.

It helped me with my DIY furniture !
As I went into some DIY woodworking projects and needed some help, I bought this one together with another Taunton series: Gary Rogowski's "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery". Excellent books both of them. The sections are very well balanced and the techniques are discussed starting from a logical sequence in a furniture building project (framework, joinery, sides etc). Moreover, it gives you freedom to choose the most appropriate technique but you also have the basics (without power tools) which is very helpful in order to understand them better. No fuss about gear and promotion of one brand or another, the book it is very careful about that and it gives you freedom to choose between category of tools and not vendors. Also it has some chapters about wood finishing which are very well done, providing information in a very concentrating manner. For this one alone Taunton convinced me to buy another one, Jeff Jewitt and Susan Jewitt's "Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing". The photographs are beautiful and high quality print (it is printed in Italy, famous for its publishers) and worth the money. Really, you have a lot to learn if you are a beginner or mid-advanced in the art of woodworking and it is a very practical lecture whenever you want to build something wood-wise. Also, the book is a very good reference for those that are teaching these techniques given the quality of the pictures and clarity of text. Five stars, worth every penny IMO.

Ideal Starters
As you would come to expect from Taunton Press Books, they know their stuff when it comes to woodworking. The person who would like this book would be someone who is looking for an overview of all the techniques and hardware that can be used to create fine furniture. It tries to accomplish a lot in one book. So if you are looking for a book to be a idea starter, this is a good reference. I would suggest that you get this to set the foundation and add more books as you pick up a technique you would like to learn more about.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Cabinetwork    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Design & Construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Furniture    7. Furniture making    8. House & Home    9. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    10. Woodworking    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking   

Reviews (11)

Detailed Information
Very clear and detailed information.All steps are covered.This will be in my shop, close at hand!

Required for all wood workers out there...
Great book.Presents all the tricks of the trade for finishing wood projects.This book helps me to manage all my finishing tasks much easier.No longer do I "hope" for a match when it comes to staining.Through the techniques presented I have been able to take most of the guess work out of the process.I highly recommend this book for those serious about their project finishes.

Jewitt does it again!
There have already been excellent & thorough reviews of Jewitt's newest book on finishing - but I must 'object' to the quite negative 1* rater who was disappointed that the book did not contain enough information on re-finishing - Jewitt's book is entiled '....Finishing' implying on how to prepare & use finishing products on new wood.There are plenty of other books on re-finishing, and if one is looking for a specific need then a review of the contents of the book or a perusal of the book in a store and/or library would seem a first suggestion.Bottom line - if you need a book on how to finish your 'new' projects, then this is an excellent choice; having said this, I am currently reading the new edition of Bob Flexner's book on finishing - another outstanding contribution to this often confusing area (and let me warn those who are interested in 're-finishing' - only one chapter, so don't apply). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Furniture finishing    4. House & Home    5. Woodfinishing    6. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    7. Woodworking    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork   

Reviews (6)

A Real Eye Opener
I have only been selling Japanese Antiques for a short time and I found this book is fantastic to show potential tansu customers. It has also helped us (Japanache dot com dot au) with selection when on buying trips to Japan and restoration once back in Australia.
Strong on Art , Light on Craft
I am biased; I am a woodworker.This is actually a terrific book offering a huge collection of beautiful photos, and an extensive commentary about the role of Tansu in Japanese lifestyle and culture.However the craft of making Tansu was not well represented.From the title I would have expected more on tools, techniques and joinery.

A Tansu Tribute
If you are fascinated by the creation of handmade Japanese cabinetry, this is one of the few books you can find on the subject because for some reason, the cabinetry of Japan is one of the least recorded aspects of Japan's woodworking history. Throughout this guide, you will find lush photographs of opaque and transparent lacquered chests, their hand-forged iron handles and the tools of the trade. I especially enjoyed the hand-colored photos of family life, rice fields and the textile sellers. Not only do you get to glimpse this magical world of Zen temples and street merchants selling sweet rice drinks, you will be able to view page after page of stunning merchant chests, bedding chests, clothing chests and mizuya-dansu (kitchen cupboards).
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Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Architecture    3. Cabinetwork    4. Chests    5. Furniture    6. General    7. Japan    8. Antique furniture    9. Art / Design / Furniture    10. Furniture & cabinetmaking   

Reviews (7)

Waste of time and MONEY!
Based on the reviews of this book I decided to buy it! To my absolute shock, I dont understand who wrote these great reviews??? They were probably written by the publisher or author of this book.
Good Guide
I was not impressed when I received this book, with the quality of the paper or the overall presentation.I thought some of the photography left much to be desired quality-wise.However, it is quite a comprehensive book and I leaned on it considerably in my studies of furniture and design.So don't let me put you off.I just think that, with all the research and hard work involved, and considering the price, a better quality might have been forthcoming.

Like Cliff Notes for Furniture!
This book has brief history lessons on furniture from the begining of time!It's a great reference when you need an answer about a design period- quick! A must for every Interior Designer! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art    3. Decorating - General    4. Design - General    5. Furniture    6. Furniture Arts And Crafts    7. Interior Design - General    8. Styles    9. Art / Design / General    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (5)

"Du Marivaudage" or about Seduction in french style fashion and interiors
This is a book you will enjoy. It will appeal to anyone interested in decorative arts in France between 1750 and 1789. The fashion focuses on dress and its aesthetic interplay with art, furniture, and the decorative arts of the period. Presented in a dramatic setting, the beautiful pictures of the Metropolitan Museum exhibition explore the dressed body's spatial negotiation of the 18th-century interior as a choreography of seduction and erotic play.

Stunning collection of costume photos
Beautiful full color photographs of the Met's Louis XIV's clothing collection and furniture.Manequines are dressed in beautiful originals and posed in drawing rooms and boudoirs in real life poses, flirting, playing piano, having their hair done, playing cards.The photographs are very well done, clear and the detail pieces will be a boon to any costumer.I highly recommend this book for costumers and other historical clothing buffs.

Fusion of Fashion and Style, done with amazing grace
When I was young, I read a biography for children about the tragic Marie Antoinette, last queen of France, and found myself enthralled by the exquisite decorative arts of the time. It was a culture that viewed that every surface and substance was an opportunity to embellish and use. Sometimes the end results were overblown, but also managed to stay on the edge of good taste.
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Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Clothing and dress    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    6. Design    7. Design - Decorative    8. European    9. Exhibitions    10. Fashion    11. France    12. Furniture    13. History    14. History - General    15. Metropolitan Museum Of Art - Exhibition Catalogs    16. Art / Design / Decorative    17. Fashion design    18. Furniture & cabinetmaking    19. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (3)

Perfect Book For 3D Modellers and general Artists
This book is really the reference book for furniture and has a Wide variety of furniture types covered! About 99% of the books pages contain Beautiful and 100% clear Photographs.
Furniture by Judith Miller
A few months ago, I found this book while browsing through the shelves at a local bookstore. The fantastic pictures and descriptions in the book ignited my interest in furniture history. This is not a how-to book, but if you want an understanding of the details that are characteristic of particular furniture styles -- as well as some background on the historical, political and social forces that influenced these designs -- you probably won't find a better reference manual.
Great new book
This is an absolutely beautiful book.The photography is spectacular, all of the pieces are on a white background so you can really see the details.It has a lot of information accompanying the photos and covers all the major time periods.I would like to use this as a text for the History of Interiors class I teach. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques / Collectibles    3. Antiques/Collectibles    4. Encyclopedias    5. Furniture    6. Furniture Arts And Crafts    7. History    8. Styles    9. Antiques & Collectibles / Furniture   

Reviews (2)

Excellent Woodworker's Tool
A basic guide that covers just about all you need to know on the subject.Taunton is always the source to use for the best in anything to do with carpentry and home repair.

Starting Out Right
It's not like me to wax poetic over a an introductory how-to book, but Lonnie Bird's tome on Using Woodworking Tools really is one of the finest effots I've ever seen.Taunton continues to set the bar with their 'complete illustrated' guides, but this one is exceptional for even that series.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Furniture    4. Hand Tools    5. House & Home    6. Power Tools    7. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    8. Woodworking    9. Woodworking tools    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    11. House & Home / Woodworking   

Reviews (13)

Simple Step by Step Instructions
Lists the tools and the measurement techniques on how to make simple traditional cabinets that look great.It is best used with Building Kitchen Cabinets by Udo Schmidt.They cover slightly different techniques using different tools.Between the two books, I was able to mix and match techniques to fit my set of tools.If you had to get only one book, this is the better book of the two.

The one book for cabinet construction
I own several books on cabinet construction.This one is my favorite.It provides step-by-step examples of how to layout, design, build, finish, and install traditional face-frame cabinetry.The graphics are certainly not flashy, most appear to be hand etched, but I find them to be useful.
LIKE ALGEBRA
Great book. Lots of details. Lot's of math. I recommend it, however I found an easier instructional book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabinet work    2. Cabinetwork    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. General    6. House & Home    7. Kitchen cabinets    8. Kitchens    9. Remodeling & Renovation - Kitchens    10. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    11. Woodworking    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking    13. Furniture & furnishings manufacture    14. House & Home / Carpentry   

Reviews (11)

Most helpful book
I have recently been collecting and reading cabinet making books.This book has been the most informative and helpful book in my collection.

FANTASTIC introduction to building face frame cabinets
I did a lot of research prior to building my own kitchen cabinets earlier this year and this book was what inspired me the most as Udo's Schmidt's cabinets are simply BEAUTIFUL encompassing many custom details like: mitered corner returns, beaded inset face frames, raised panel doors/drawer fronts, dovetailed drawers and arched mullion glass upper cabinet doors.
great book
very interesting book with a lot of knowledge put into the writing.Helpful, full of comments and pictures to explain complicated cuts.
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Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Carpentry    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Maintenance And Repair    7. House & Home    8. Kitchen cabinets    9. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    10. DIY    11. House & Home / Carpentry   

Reviews (26)

Yes, the example cabinets are UGLY...
but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!
For utilitarian cabinets, not fine woodworking
I was disappointed in this book at first. I have never before bought a book where not one pictured project was attractive to me personally. You will not see any kitchens like this in magazines. It's all one big paean to particle board.
Suppliers List
The suppliers list on page 126 is weak. Proulx's system requires leveling legs. He show photos of the legs he uses, but does not provide a source for legs shown. It would be very helpful to have that information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - Carpentry    5. House & Home    6. Kitchen cabinets    7. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    8. Furniture & cabinetmaking    9. Woodworking   

Reviews (7)

High quality work
I took the initiative to build the carved corner china from the plans in this book and they are excellent. When I was done with my project I wrote Mr. Gottshall with photos of my project and he wrote back immediately, as I am perhaps the only other person he knew who built this particular project.
Instructions and Measured Drawings for 40 Classic Projects
I gave this book "Making Antique Furniture Reproductions" as a present to a person who is learning how to make furniture. This book was very well received and appreciated for all of its detailed information and illustrations.

Gottshall will be a good companion.
Franklin Gottshall has written a number of great woodworking project/reproduction books and periodically reshuffles and reassembles his popular plans. This book one is similar to an earlier red cover version on Reproducing Antique Furniture. I built a variation of the blockfront chest. Gottshall's construction explanations are very clear and his drawings are thorough, and accurate. I wanted a four drawer instead of a three drawer chest. I used a Kittinger catalog to rescale the piece, but basically followed Gottshall's construction. His piece did call for full 7/8in sides which required a little research to find.A source supply would have been nice. I accomplished the carving of the shells from his layout, though I modified the center design somewhat, and thought his shell looked a little thick, but simply thinning it down did the trick. Because when I built the piece in 1974, I didn't have the variety of router bits available today, I found I had to design some templates and jigs to ensure success on the complex cuts. But all that is doable. Recommend that you draw up full scale plans from Gottshall's plans for complex pieces. It will help you learn the construction. Even if you do not like or build all the pieces, it is a valuable reference on fine furniture construction that you'll reference often. It's a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques/Collectibles    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Furniture    6. Furniture making    7. Woodwork - General    8. Antique furniture    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    10. Furniture & cabinetmaking    11. Reproduction of artworks   

Reviews (8)

Shojis on time
The book arrived speedily and in great condition.What more can I ask?

A woodworkers guide to shoji for your home
Shoji are really beautiful.There is something wonderful about the light passing through the semi-translucent rice paper, creating an atmosphere that is romantic and relaxing.Having lived in Japanese houses for several years, it was something that I wanted to recreate when I returned to the US.
Not traditional japanese woodwork, but who cares?
JVA uses a simplified approach to building shoji. Odate's book is the one for you if you want to build an authentic shoji using Japanese technique. Having said that, this is an EXCELLENT primer on shoji measurement and building practice for quick screens. I have built screens in both styles and take my word for it that JVA's method is quicker and no-one can tell the difference. Two things: the screen on the cover is NOT the one detailed in the text (check the corners). Also, I would HIGHLY recommend cutting your stiles long (leave a horn) and trimming them off post assembly with the table saw followed by a pass with a plane. Buy it and get building! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carpentry    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Decorative arts    5. Design and construction    6. General    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. Shoji screens    10. Woodwork    11. Furniture & cabinetmaking    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. Japan   

Reviews (9)

Great book on workbench philosphy and design
This is a great book for what I wanted - a survey and idea book to design my own bench. Essentially the author surveys a number of different woodworkers and what type of benches they use and why. The book is broken down into logic chapters on various components of the bench including the top, base, vises and holding techniques. He covers ideas on how the bench fits in the shop, ergonomics, tool storage/trays, holding wood, and other issues related to layout and placement. It covers some history of workbenches but isn't a history book.
Buy this book
Though I am a huge fan of Scott Landis' book on this subject, I think I like this book even better.Because I will soon build my third and final bench (yes I am a dreamer), I have been reading a lot about this subject lately.This book does a great job of grabbing your interest, showing you the thought process you should use to determine what design and features are best for you, and then showing many beautiful examples of hard working benches in scores of woodworking shops.
Excellent Book
This is an excellent book.If you are thinking of designing and building the perfect workbench, you absolutely should buy this book.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Design and construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Equipment and supplies    6. Furniture making    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Woodwork    10. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    11. Woodworking    12. Workbenches    13. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    14. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Subjects:  1. Antiques    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Chairs    5. Design - Furniture    6. Furniture    7. Furniture Arts And Crafts    8. History    9. History - General    10. Art / Design / Furniture    11. Decorative Art; furniture; interior design    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking    13. Product design   

Reviews (5)

The Best!!!
Perhaps the best book of its kind currently on the market.Positively dripping in excellence, this book is your one stop resource for all of your furniture restoration questions.Warped tabletops, veneer repair and replacement, broken chair leg, worn chest of drawer's runner, dents, scratches, staining and finishing, no subject is given short shrift, and all of the examples are accompanied by a plentiful supply of colour photographs, and clear instructions.It even makes a great read for those who lack the time and resources to undertake such repairs.A thoroughly satisfying book.

Excellent book
If you only wish to buy one book on repair of old furniture, this is the book. The author is a true specialist within the field and everything is explained and illustrated excellently. In addition it's a very pretty book with many fine photos. The only little flaw is that the info on refinishing is a little scattered. Anyway, the info is there. Go buy the book!

A great book for the DIY furniture repair
This is a great introduction book to furniture repair.Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Furniture    3. Furniture finishing    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Repairing    8. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    9. Antique furniture    10. Furniture & cabinetmaking    11. House & Home / Furniture    12. House maintenance   

Reviews (1)

Lounging about
At last a book about THAT chair.Thomas Hine, one of the contributors to this interesting book, writes a chapter about the way the chair kept popping up in all the right media and this probably helped it along to its iconic status.I was aware of the chair many years ago and kept seeing it in interior design photos, adverts, and anywhere that visually needed to project an upmarket ambience.Strangely I never saw anyone sitting in these chairs and I was surprised to find, when I bought one, that the back does not support one's head.A 1956 photo used in a Herman Miller ad shows a stockbroker friend of Charles Eames clearly with his head on the back, he was either a short guy or had moved well forward in the chair.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - Furniture    4. Individual Artist    5. Furniture & cabinetmaking    6. Product design   

Subjects:  1. Arts and crafts movement    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Drawings    6. Furniture    7. Furniture Arts And Crafts    8. General    9. Hobbies/Crafts    10. Measured drawing    11. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    12. Woodwork - General    13. Woodwork Arts And Crafts    14. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    15. Woodworking   

Reviews (4)

Excellent book
Now this is how a book of this type should be done.Nice easy to read detail/plan layouts/etc.Nicely done color photos.This book is a excellent choice.

Excellent Guide to Building Fine Furniture
I own this book and "Building Fine Furniture" (also by Glen Huey).They are both very detailed, providing complete cut lists, exploded diagrams of each piece, and thorough instructions with plenty of pictures.
Every design is an elegant and beautiful classic piece.
This book is a standout because every piece in it is an elegant classic worthy of the effort required to build it. I don't know of any other book for which I'd make that assertion. More often books have just a few designs that meet the requirements of truly elegant proportions, classic design and practical utility for a modern home, while the majority of plans given are historically interesting but often display awkward proportions and have little practical value for the way we live now, and the spaces we live in. Not all old designs are good designs! The title of this book, "Fine Furniture for a Lifetime," is appropriate because the designs are so excellent that you'll never in your lifetime come to the realization that you've outgrown them, which can happen with lesser designs. Instead, I think you'll appreciate them more as your design sense matures.Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Furniture    5. Furniture making    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Reproduction    8. United States    9. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    10. Woodwork - General    11. Woodworking    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking    13. Handicrafts    14. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (4)

This is an excellent collection!
I would classify myself as an intermediate level woodworker and a book expert (I am a librarian after all) and I can honestly say that this is one of the absolute best books of its type on the market.As I see it, the normal downfall of a book such as this is the authors either spend way too much time giving us all of the philosophical and historical background behind the furniture style in question, or once they actually get to the furniture projects section they disappoint by selecting such rare (and odd) pieces to reproduce that the book ultimately becomes more of a novelty rather than a useful tool. Build it all and have fun!
I have built almost everything in the book.I made a few mistakes because I misinterpreted the drawings, but if you study the drawings very carefully before construction then you will truly enjoy this book.Author needs to write another book like this.Watch the interpretation of Dado and rabbet joints in particular.

Excellent Writing and Furniture Designs
This book was the first that I picked up when I started building my own furniture.The projects turned out great and the finishing process that he recommended was excellent.The diagrams and step by step instruction give you all the information that you need to complete each project even if you're an amateur like I am (you do need to have/buy some good power tools though).I've made two of the projects he describes and there are still a couple more I'd like to do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Arts and crafts movement    3. Crafts & Hobbie