Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Science/Mathematics    3. Technology    4. Technology & Industrial Arts   

Reviews (12)

If you have the time, you will save money
If you have the time to be your own general contractor, you will save money on your house construction, according to author Smith. This is true; I know two people at least, maybe more, who built their own house in a pricey market and got better results for a lot less. But...they had the time to be a full-time or nearly full-time general contractor.
All the tricks of the trade in one book!
A step by step plan to constructing and saving on your dream home.This book helps to make your dream home even better, by saving money you can put more into it!We can't wait to start our project, and use this book as our guide!!!

Great Motivator
This book was an easy read and really motivated us to contract our home on our own.Has some great suggestions on saving money and planning a home build.Read it before you get too far on your project.Very enlightening. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Contracting    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home / Design & Construction    6. House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation    7. Technology    8. Building    9. Building construction & materials    10. Construction    11. House    12. House & Home    13. Housing & property for the individual    14. Remodeling & Renovation   

Reviews (15)

good pictures but short on how-to
The pictures were great and the book needs more of them.The technical side of how to create the looks needs much more material and better presented.

CONCRETE as a work of art...
BEAUTIFUL...to find out what can and is being done with concrete. I knew that it had potential to be a beautiful art form, but did not understand how wonderful concrete could be until looking at the many photos in this delightful book.
An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home
Fu-Tung Cheng and Eric Olsen's Concrete At Home may sound like an unlikely mix for a home environment, but when used property, concrete can look and feel soft and warm while retaining extra durability. Cheng demonstrates how to mix colors and textures for this effect, from achieving a translucent effect to using thermal foam insulation to provide insulation to concrete, which typically has no insulating qualities to speak of. An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building fittings    2. Concrete Construction    3. Concrete products    4. Construction - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    8. Dwellings    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. Home Maintenance And Repair    11. House & Home    12. Materials    13. Methods & Materials    14. Architectural structure & design    15. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (4)

Disappointing
I eagerly anticipated this book, since there is so little published information on the subject, but I was disappointed when it finally arrived.It appears that it was never proofread.I read a lot, and this is the worst job of editing/proofreading I have ever seen in a book.This may sound like nitpicking, but there were places where I could not figure out what information the author was trying to convey it was so garbled.It is FULL of typos, grammatical errors, and garbled sentences.
A wealth of insights and tips on how to construct - and maintain - a natural garden pool
NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS: INSPIRATION FOR HARMONY WITH NATURE offers a wealth of insights and tips on how to construct - and maintain - a natural garden pool. Surprisingly they are less costly to maintain than traditional chemical pools, save on water, and beautify a garden area more than less ecological offerings. Full-page color photos throughout illustrate such pools, surveying a range of designs and options and discussing biological conditioning, ecology, regeneration zones, and construction choice alike. It's the multitude of options and in-depth coverage on these options, paired with the color photo coverage, which makes NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS an extraordinary survey.
Long overdue book on an overdue topic
I have been keenly interested in the topic of natural swimming pools for about 5 years, but have been frustrated by the lack of information in English on the topic (there are several books in German - the homeland of the concept - but only a single manual in English).
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. House & Home    4. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    5. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    6. Swimming pools    7. Water gardens, pools   

Reviews (3)

Perfect for Beginners to Experts
This has been one of the most enjoyable creative books I have purchased in a long time.I orginally got it for my business which is moving into concrete molding and casting.I knew my mom would thoroughly enjoy it and immediately bought and Amazon sent her the gift copy.She LOVES it too and has already played around with some of the ideas in her desert garden.So thinking about it...I decided to buy my own copy!Next summer I plan on doing several of the creative ideas in it, but with my own artistic twist.I can't wait!
Thorough and Inspiring
I am thrilled to have this book. I knew people were doing this type of work, and I have wanted to know how. Other books have provided bits & pieces, but Sherri's book is THOROUGH. Each time I came up with a question in my mind as I was reading, the answer would be on one of the next pages. After reading through her book, I feel confident and inspired to take on projects I had been afraid to tackle. She shows a wide variety of projects -- her instructions are CLEAR and easy to follow. I shared this with my sister (out of state) & her comment was, "I can't believe you let loose of this!" A truly inspiring book!

Both practical and beautiful...
I like this book because it has very detailed "how to" instructions to make concrete ornaments for your garden.The "how to" illustrations are very clear.The photographs of actual designs are beautiful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete    2. Design and construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    5. Garden Furnishings    6. Garden ornaments and furniture    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Gardening    10. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    11. NATURE - ANIMALS TRD HC   

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. House & Home    4. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (278)

THE SECRET TO DECLUTTERING YOUR LIFE
I've been a subscriber to FlyLady's yahoo group for nearly a year, yet I felt like I wanted to really know what got her started. This book was great for giving me a a behind-the-scenes peek.
Wonderful if you're paralyzed by perfection, but...
Sink Reflections is a fun, lighthearted read that will inspire anyone to take better care of herself and her home. The get-organized program she recommends is perfect for people who are paralyzed by perfection, (e.g. you never clean because you don't have time to do it "the right way").
Change your life.Have peace in your home.
This book isn't for everyone. It only works if you are a sidetracked homemaker.Born organized people don't get it.My house is cleaner than it has ever been, bills are paid ahead, Papers are filed or thrown away, I only work on the house an hour a day or less, and it is very liveable. I work 50 hours a week and don't have a lot of time for housework.No one's house is too cluttered or dirty for this system not to work.[..] ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. House cleaning    3. Inspirational    4. Motivational & Inspirational    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Self-Help    7. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (25)

Are Kelly and Jonathan The Same Person?
Is Kelly Wearstler Jonathan Adler in drag? Or vice versa? Both are wildly talented people, who just happen to use the same things in their work, same colors, etc. Jonathan is an artist, who adoringly references and copycats retro pottery, and makes it unqiuely his own. Kelly is a cool chick, good dresser, has tons of style and can make a pretty room out of old glam junk and ideas. I love them both, and their books are worth having. I wish Kelly had more personal rooms. Too many hotel rooms which are very stagey. In the book she says she didn't like doing set design, yet that's what she does - designs sets for cool people like her to inhabit. Hollywood Regency is the word bandied about to describe both Jonathan & Kelly, he sometimes getting the East coast moniker of Palm Beach Style too (and she the West coast of Palm Springs). I say if you shop on eBay you will see all this great junk (just search Hollywood Regency) that I call eBay Regency. Both books give you a few ideas of how to put it together. Jonathan is more playful, Kelly more serious, but both make wonderful, zany, colorful, retro inspired modern human rooms. I think they bring back the words INTERIOR DECORATOR, so refreshing after everyone and his mother is a DESIGNER (used to be everyone's mother was a station wagon driving decorator with a business on the side). I wonder if these two have ever met, and if so do they like one another, or are they really the same person?
Fifteen Minutes of Drama.
This designer clearly aims for exclamations of surprises from viewers. She has an admirable eye for color. But for real class and style, refer to and study truly great and original minds like the late David Hicks, Madeleine Castaing, Jacques Garcia, and the highly intellectual Jacques Grange. Then re-interpret to suit your life and add your own sense drama for a real originality.

Inspirational
Read it cover to cover... enjoyed learning how Kelly approaches the art of design and deconstructs her projects to give the reader a clear understanding of how she pulls together the beautiful results. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. History    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior decoration    9. KWID (Firm)    10. Residential Interior Design    11. Themes, motives    12. Architecture / Interior Design    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. Interior design   

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Technology    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. Building construction & materials    7. Study Aids / General   

Subjects:  1. Building Codes    2. Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Construction - Plumbing    5. Mensuration    6. Plumbing Technology    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (33)

Great
Love Nate and really like the book. I watch Oprah and regularly see Nate on the show. The only down side for me was that he features alot of the make overs from the show. This may be a positive or a negative depending on what you want. There wasn't too much info to absorb but enough tips to help stylise your home. I look forwrad to his next book and will keenly purchase that too.

A great gift for brides and grooms!
Help your favorite bride- and groom-to-be decorate their future home in style with Nate's terrific advice and examples. Sure, you could get them the proverbial blender for their shower gift, but they'll LOVE you for getting them this helpful and inspiring book for their home design. Their home is the center of their life together, after all, and even if they lived together before marriage, decorating their home for after the wedding marks the big transition in their lives. I've always suggested that brides and grooms prepare for the marriage, not just the wedding, and this book is one of my favorite ones to recommend to brides and grooms (and to guests looking for the perfect shower gift). Nate has a wonderful talent for color and room functionality, and this book is beautifully produced. The bride and groom will be very excited to unwrap this one!

Nate's Viewpoint
Although Nate obviously comes from an affluent background, he, for the most part, is reasonable in changing environments and finding the right combinations . . buying at yard sales andauctions.Being a nature lover, I love how he uses readily available bits of nature to brighten up and enhance a room.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration & Ornament    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design    7. Interior decoration    8. Psychological aspects    9. Remodeling & Renovation - General    10. House & Home / Decorating   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Decorating - General    3. Entertaining - General    4. House & Home   

Editorial Review

When describing a favorite room in the house, do you find yourself using terms such as "expansive," "formal," and "spacious"--a marble foyer or a formal dining room perhaps? Or do the words "cozy," "intimate," and "warm" come to mind--a cheery little breakfast nook or a window seat complete with plenty of pillows and a breathtaking view? More than likely, you--like thousands of other homeowners--are drawn to the more personal spaces in your home, where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet. In Read more

Reviews (121)

Quality over quantity
This book is a great resource for anyone wanting a home that places quality over size. There are numerous tips on how to make smaller spaces work smarter and for adding quality touches in simple yet elegant ways as well as hundreds of inspiring photos. In our effort to design a reasonably-sized log home that truly reflects and enhances our lifestyle, this book has given us many ideas for making small spaces work. In the age of 3000+ sq. ft. homes, it is refreshing to see a return to the principles of the Arts & Crafts movement. In fact, you will notice many of the houses pictured have many Arts & Crafts influences. That made the book all the more relevant to us as we plan to incorporate some of those elements in our design.
this book is about HUGE, non-urban custom houses in the rural midWest -book is irrelevant to small urban homeowners
I am puzzled by the title and the contents.
The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Fascinating book, I am reading it from cover to cover. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior architecture    10. Psychological aspects    11. Repair    12. Space (Architecture)    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General    15. House maintenance    16. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (15)

BEST BOOK EVER!!
One of my friends had this book and after using it multiple times on all kinds of home improvement projects I decided to buy a copy for myself.

A must have for new homeowners
My wife and I just recently purchased a home and I know enough about home improvement to get little jobs done, but we had decided to re-do the bathroom before we even moved in.I had no idea what I was getting into so I figured I'd take a chance with a home improvement book.This book will help you understand the basics of doing literally everything in your house, big and small.With full color pictures, there is no guesswork.An absolute MUST HAVE for anyone looking to be a do-it-yourselfer...

A great reference book.
What a great visual tool!I am taking an NKBA course in kitchen and bath design and have found this book to be a valuable reference both in text and photos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Dwellings    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Houses    8. Pictorial works    9. Remodeling    10. Remodeling & Renovation - General    11. Home & House Maintenance    12. home improvement   

Reviews (4)

thoroughly covered material
I used this textbook in a college course called Survey of the Fashion Industry. The text covers all aspects of merchandising, with a strong focus on fashion design (entire chapters on textiles, etc). Good photos and lots of material!

Fashion : From Concept to Consumer (8th Edition) by Gini Stephens Frings [Hardcover]
Quality book. Received in a timely manner.

The best
Plain and simple this is the best fashion book to study! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Clothing trade    4. Decorating - General    5. Design - General    6. Development - Business Development    7. Fashion    8. Fashion merchandising    9. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Art / Design / General    12. Clothing & footware manufacture   

Reviews (9)

Interesting book
The book is wel written and very beautifully photographed. The history is interesting, but would have liked to see more current info.

Interesting overview of prefab homes, past, present and future
In PREFAB, author Allison Arieff presents an interesting overview of "prefabricated" buildings, past, present, and future.Yet, I would not recommend this book to average modular home consumers, as many of the projects described in PREFAB are highly customized, somewhat eccentric, and generally impractical for those looking to save time and money by utilizing prefab construction as opposed to regular, stick-built construction.Some of the buildings aren't even single-family dwellings, but apartment buildings.Nonetheless, PREFAB is a helpful resource for those who'd like to learn more about the history of prefabricated buildings, as well as the current state of affairs, and in which unusual directions the industry will be headed in the future.
so-so
ok, if you're looking for more of a coffee table book than a serious research source.arieff does provide a brief history of some selected prefabricated ventures, but the other 3/4 of the book is of more modern attempts, all of which are not described or displayed as thoroughly as i had hoped.most of the designs are also of doubtful marketability, and the pompous attitudes of some of the designers is off-putting.some pretty pictures, however. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Domestic    2. Interior Design - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Architecture / Methods & Materials    5. Interior design    6. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    7. Architecture    8. Architecture, Modern    9. 20th century    10. Buildings, Prefabricated   

Editorial Review

It's about time! Julie Morgenstern has written an organizing book that covers a new way of looking at the task of organizing effectively without labeling or blaming the person behind the lack of organization. Rather, she says, people who don't organize just never learned Read more

Reviews (141)

excellent
I always get books from our interlibrary loan system before I buy, this is definitely one that I will be putting on my shelf. I have not finished the book yet but I have learned so much in the first third that I know I will be referring back to it often. There is something for everyone in this book, read it and understand why you have a problem and how to fix it for you (not anyone else, you).

Excellent Resource
Relatively straightforward book that does as the title suggests and organizes from the person's habits, quirks and follies to their environment. Ms. Morgenstern may not say anything that revolutionizes the idea of organizing one's space according to how you'll use it, but she puts forth solid theory, and then proceeds to detail how to put her method of first organizing what the space is used for, who uses it, which items need to be there, and finally how to make it all fit together.
Fabulous!
I have tried several organizing books & this one is the most realistic & easiest to follow and impliment into your lifestyle!Highly recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business Life - Health/Stress    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. General    4. Home Economics (General)    5. Home economics    6. Orderliness    7. Personal Growth - General    8. Psychology    9. Self-Help   

Reviews (1)

ambitious room murals
I have been trying to get this book for over a year - I kept ordering it and it kept getting delayed. But now that it's here *sigh* what a marvel!gorgeous, giant fold-out illustrations of ambitious rooms sets shown in great detail.The text is a little hard to follow, but there is some interesting information about the designs, and process of printing this hugepanels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Design - Decorative    5. European    6. Antiques & Collectibles / General    7. Antiques & collectables: pictures, prints & maps    8. Europe    9. Graphic design    10. Interior design   

Reviews (4)

The Moral Impetatives of Architecture in the 21st Century
This book is a credit to Princeton Architectural Press because, rather than recite simplistic platitudes about green architecture, it illustrates green buildings that not only reflect the ecologically and socially responsibile principles of sustainable architecture but that serve the needs of, and indeed uplift, their inhabitants through the promotion of health and spirit.Indeed, as this book informs its readers, green architecture is more than energy efficiency and preservation of natural resources, it is the creation of beautiful environments that integrate cost-effective design and materials to better the well being of their inhabitants.As our consumption of natural resources threatens the vitality of our planet, these principles deserve far more consideration and application.

Excellent incubator for ideas and more
The book is more than a good addition to a coffee table to tempt your unsuspecting guest.The book begins with a short philosophical journey on the definitions of sustainability.I was surprised to find how the word has eveolved as well as its application to architecture.Following the introduction is an excellent breakdown of a wide range of houses and buildings created in diverse environments.The creative ways in which "greenness" was incorporated into the construction of the buildings was fascinating.My wife and I want to build a "green" house, but I realized as I read this book that I really didn't know what that meant.The book is not a how-to manual for direct applications, but offers important perspectives that will likely apply to whatever project one may consider.The book serves as an excellent incubator to reflect on how you create a "green" house.We have a folder of ideas for our "green" house.This book dhowed us how we can make it happen - but without the final blue prints.The book also provided names and examples that provide key references to realizing "green" architecture.For example, we have names and ideas that we can incorporate into our collaboration with an architect for our house design.Overall, I highly recommmend it.

Over twenty residences are featured
Any home builder who would learn better ways to fit a home within a landscape or ecological environment would do well to consult The Green House: New Directions In Sustainable Architecture first: from tropics to urban jungles and arid Arizona deserts, the authors have traveled around the world studying sustainable or 'green' homes to determine which fit best into their environments. Over twenty residences are featured: the best of those which not only fit into their surroundings and are sustainable, but are also the best places to live. Color photos, blueprints and design specs, and comments on the unique features of each offer plenty of opportunity for learning what makes a home 'sustainable' and 'green'.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Ecological houses    4. Exhibitions    5. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning    6. History - Specific Styles    7. Sustainable architecture    8. Architecture / General    9. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (11)

Very Inspiring
This book is certainly not a how to book. It is most definately a coffee table book showing off the talents of Mr. Bailey & his design team.
preston
the book is quite illustrative, however there is a lot of overlap with his other book on Fantasy Weddings, which has better theme pictures.

Preston Bailey's Design for Entertaining: Inspiration for Creating the Party of Your Dreams
Gread ideas book - wonderful, stimulating pictures.Interesting reading - provides what I would term an overview of how to achieve a good design for an event.It is NOT a how to book however and there realy are no specifics on creating a specific look. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Entertaining    6. Entertaining - General    7. Entertaining - Party Planning    8. Interior decoration    9. Parties    10. Planning    11. Table setting and decoration    12. Cooking / Entertaining