Reviews (14)

EXCELLENT!
Love this book, it will help a great deal.My home will soon be "the Linda Koopersmith of it all"!

Great book - if you own a home
I was excited to buy this book after hearing rave reviews about it.When I got it, I set aside some time and started pouring over all the chapters.Unfortunately, I rent a small apartment with not a lot of storage, small closets, and not many cupboards.I figured this book would be perfect.Boy, was I wrong.If you don't have large closets, a ton of cupboards or a pantry, this book will be a waste of your money.The only good tips I got from it was how to fold my clothes, socks, etc., so that I could fit more in my drawers.The rest of it I skimmed through, and then put the book away since I couldn't use it.As I said, if you own a home, this book would be perfect for you.If you rent a small apartment with not a lot of closets and storage, then don't waste your money.

Time to Get Organized
If you think you need a bigger house or a storage space, then you need this book instead. Here's what it covers:
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home economics    8. House & Home    9. Housekeeping    10. Home & House Maintenance   

Reviews (8)

AFavorite
I find myself reaching for this book over and over again. In it the authors generously give us a glimpse of the life they have made on a small island in the Bahamas. With a lot of hard work and no pretension, they have gotten it mostly just right. Their houses are neither overdone nor underdone, but pleasing to the eye, soothing and liveable. Highly recommended.

Never got item - it was unavailable
Never got item - waited several weeks and then was notified.

Nice to look at....PERIOD
The cover was very appealing.First impressions etc;.The inside photos even more so.The writing however sounded likethe ramblings of a spoiled child living in an unreachable reality sometimes and at other times, the snobbery of an aristocracy only appreciated in the mind of the writer and those who really believe that paradise can only be created by the writer. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Bahamas    4. Decorating - General    5. Hicks, India    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Themes, motives    12. Architecture / Interior Design   

Reviews (4)

Someone Needs to do a good book on Silver Lake
The L.A. neighborhood called Silver Lake is home to a large number of iconic Modern-era houses, with many created by the West Coast's masters of the period. In recent decades, as "mid-century modern" has found new admiration, a new generation of architects has been called on to add to the already rich Silver Lake Modern storyline. Thus, today, perhaps more than any other neighborhood in the U.S., Silver Lake---a neighborhood with distinct, widely acknowledged geographic boundaries---is a mecca for Modern. What's more, there's actually enough extant iconic Modern houses in Silver Lake to merit a book-length treatment. After all, many of these daring examples of design have fascinating stories.
Enjoyable overview of America's most interesting neighborhood
Beautifully illustrated and informative exploration of the design and architecture of America's most unique and unheralded artist community.The author seems a bit eager to anoint herself the leader of the BOMO movement, taking great pains to establish her legacy as its central figure.At times this leaves the book feeling like an overpriced brochure for the Barbara Bestor Studio, however, there is enough content to make it a worthwhile read, particularly for those familiar with the area.

Must reading for Silver Lakers!
As a journalist and Silver Lake resident, I found this book very informative.I have driven or walked by many of the homes featured in the book, and it is fascinating to learn about the people who live in them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Domestic    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Individual Architect    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Residential Buildings Architecture    10. Residential Interior Design    11. Architecture / Domestic   

Subjects:  1. Decorating - Upholstery/Fabrics    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Furniture    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House & Home / Furniture   

Reviews (9)

love this book
I absolutely love this book. The photos are beautiful! I look at this book so much I guess it is my decorating bible right now haha. If you like Designers Guild fabrics you need to get this book.

Colorful Accessories
Like other reviewers, I wondered, where are the "Rooms to Live In" mentioned in the book title.
Finally!! A book for us "outside the box" decorators
I will preface this review by saying: If you want a "how to" decorating book, with step by step instructions and perfectly laid out rooms that you can easily duplicate by buying each piece in the book, this book is not for you. If you, like me, are looking for decorating books that are a little outside the box... a book that gives you new, fresh ideas with inspirations stemming from items you aesthetically love (the pearly pink of the inside of a conch shell found on vacation, the smooth sophisticated grey from a river stone) and build a room around it... you have found the book you have been searching for! Read more

Subjects:  1. Color in interior decoration    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Architecture / General   

Reviews (15)

I need a studio to make this stuff.
I liked most of the ideas in this book. They are beautiful and look doable. The problem is space. Unless you have a garage or outdoor space to make the stuff in you will not be able to make most of these projects. The instructions could also be more detailed by adding information like "this type of wood" or "this type of light fixture". Still, there are a couple of fantastic ideas I will try like a lantern-looking lamp and a lap blanket. If I hadn't had a gift certificate, I would be dissapointed.

Great eye candy
The projects look great, but intimidating. The materials would be pretty expensive (not counting the tools) & I would hate to mess up & I'm an accomplished diy-er! All the great projects are hard 4/5 skill level. Everything under a skill level 4 is kind of lame for lack of a better word.
mid century you can make
this is the perfect craft book for anyone who i a fan of crafting and mid century design. this will help you craft items to keep along side your vintage finds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Home Furnishing    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Interior Design    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior decoration    10. Home furnishing & decoration    11. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Decorating - Windows    4. Draperies in interior decoration    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Management    7. House & Home    8. United States    9. Windows in interior decoration    10. Home furnishing & decoration    11. House & Home / Decorating    12. Interior design   

Editorial Review

One of the best methods of gaining decorating inspiration is by visiting other people's homes, a task author Suzanne Trocme expertly carries out by assembling the work of the world's greatest 20th-century interior designers, including such important figures as Jean Michel Frank, Albert Hadley, Nina Campbell, and Mario Buatta, in Read more

Reviews (3)

not very impressed
There were a lot of insights about specific designers, but not many graphics on more traditional styles - I'm not sure exactly what to make of the "elegant section" at all. I was fairly disappointed with the lack of information on how a non-professional could help immerse the professional techniques into their own style, or rather, into a contemporary lifestyle.

Great ideas for interesting interiors
Love the variety of upscale interiors selected for this one. Photography is quite good.

I didn't know how much I didn't know about interior design
For so many years there have been books published detailing the lives and achievements of certain influential designers, architects, the most important figures. Never before have we heard the entire story of who wasinfluenced by who, how it came about, who was trained by who. FinallySuzanne Trocme has grouped all this information together to give a succintand illuminating text to accompany photographs of some of the world's mostcopied rooms. An education. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Biography    4. Decorating    5. Decorating - General    6. Decoration & Ornament    7. History    8. House & Home    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior decoration    11. Interior decorators    12. Residential Interior Design    13. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (70)

Easy and Complete Decorating Approach
Love this book.It breaks down the elements of decorating in a way that is easy to follow yet effective.More importantly to me..this book gave me enough guidance and encouragement to break free of my very, very tall white walls!I followed his advice on color selection and coordination and the results were great!

Christopher Lowell'sSeven Layers of Design
Very helpful.Well written.Easy to read.Great ideas!

Seven Layers of Design
I have never been a fan of Christopher Lowell, but I borrowedthe book from the library on the off chance of getting ideas on using colors.It turned out to be extremely helpful and is filled with great ideas on the use of color and making the most of a room.I have now purchased it for myself and my daughter-in-law to have available for future decorating projects.A word of caution, to really get the most out of the book read it, don't just thumb through the pages looking for ideas.You need to read and understand his Seven Layers for optimum use.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. House & Home / Decorating   

Editorial Review

Books about pared-down minimalist décor--most of them featuring the much-ridiculed all-white-box room with one lonely straight-backed chair in the center--are plentiful. Few people can actually live in those rooms, though, and for those who prefer a little color in their lives, there's Jane Cumberbatch's Read more

Reviews (5)

OK for a Browse
Liberal use of white space and highlighted key words try to lend weight to the flimsy text of this lifestyle book.Unfortunately there is barely enough content for a series of newspaper columns.
Down-to-Earth Living Style
"What is this life if, full of care,
Great photos, silly text
This looked very tasty and the photos are indeed quite lovely. Unfortunately, there is not an original idea in this entire book. The author sets herself up as the next Martha Stewart but she just hasn't got it. Take this excerpt on serving raspberry fool "Spoon it into small wine glasses or secondhand 1930s ice cream glasses." Yuck! They HAVE to be secondhand, and 1930s, not '40s. The whole tone of the book is ignorant and twee. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior decoration    7. Interior decoration accessorie    8. Interior decoration accessories    9. Psychological aspects    10. Reference    11. Architecture / Interior Design    12. Home   

Reviews (40)

The "Shcbby Chic" home design
This book protrayed the essence of the Shabby Chic home
A total joy!
This was the first book I bought when I closed on my country home. My style has always been contemporary and I wanted ideas for decorating a turn of the century farmhouse. This and Shabby Chic Home is to decorating what Betty Crocker is to cooking. You will never go hungry again!:)

Good info
I've find the information in the book (text) very useful in creating a soothing, unfussy, shabby environment at home. However I was expecting it to be the otherway around; I thought there'll be beautiful photographs in the book and the text just going to state the obvious...
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Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House furnishings    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Social Science    10. Home furnishing & decoration    11. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (6)

Too Primitive!
The disigns elements were too rustic for my taste.I was looking for more of a casual elegence.

Ótimo livro sobre casa toscanas
Recomendo esse livro para quem, como eu, pretende construir no estilo toscano. Claro est� que n�o se encontra mais tijolos de 300 anos, por�m, pode-se ter completa id�ia de como � o ar de uma propriedade toscana. �timas fotos e boas dicas.

Tuscan Elements
This is the best book of its kind that I have seen on basic Tuscan home design elements. Concise descriptions, beautiful photgraphy. I would heartily recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Gardens    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. Italy    10. Tuscany   

Reviews (3)

Truly Wonderful!
This book has delicious, detailed pictures that calmly transports readers into the most wonderful parts of Indonesia.I was looking for a book that would give me design ideas to use and this book delivered those ideas and more. If you're looking for authentic,tropical designs, I think this is one book in which to begin your journey. Get it, sit back and enjoy the absolute beauty it has to offer.

I love this book!
I love this book. I've always dreamed of living in Indonesia. This book has many magnificent pictures that makes me more excited in moving there with my family! This is a great book because it exhibits many architectures unique to the balinese culture and would truly be enjoyed by anyone interested in tropical designs. I highly recommend it.

Great book!!
This book features many amazing pictures- of exclusive hotels as well as private homes.I was most impressed with the pictures of Amanjiwo- a famed Aman resort - and with Begawan Giri in Bali. This book is also well laid out and well written.Highly recommended for people who are interested in Balinese and tropical architecture and design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. Interior Design - General    5. Interior Design - Style Books   

Reviews (16)

Not instructional
This is a great book to see what someone else has done using trompe l'oeil, however it is not instructional.

Oh The Possibilities
The murals in this book are beautiful, fantastical, grand and WAY above my abilities. :-) I enjoyed this book because of the possibilities and the ideas it fostered versus my ability (or inability) to mimic the designs. I've been looking for a book that addresses how to incorporate doors into murals and this is the first one that I've come across that showed some ideas.
Not useful
Although the work depicted in the photos is incredible, none of it is very useful.Nice to look at - not at all practical for everyday painters. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied Arts (Specific Aspects)    2. Decorating    3. Domestic    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design    7. Interior decoration    8. Mural painting and decoration    9. Rust, Graham    10. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (10)

Exactly what I was looking for.
I was looking for a reference book to guide my Mexican-style remodeling and redecorating efforts, and this is the best I've found yet.(I have about a dozen!)Gorgeous pictures, and plenty of them.Each section discusses a particular room type (kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms etc.) and each room type gets a good amount of attention.Something I dislike about other books is their tendency to look only at the courtyards or living rooms of Mexican or adobe-style houses -- not so useful if you're considering how to tackle your kitchen.This one covers it all, including touching on gardens and indoor-outdoor spaces that are such an integral part of Mexican living.
Great ideas for learning about Mexican
This is a great resource if you want to get an idea of traditional Mexican-style decor. The book contains beautiful examples of homesin Mexico and the US.If you're looking for ideas and inspiration, this is a wonderful tool!

Great photos of mexican homes
I bought this book to give me decorating ideas for a home that I am building in the Yucatan. This book is filled from cover to cover with great photographs of Mexican home interiors. From furniture to paint colors, it has given me many ideas that I have incorporated into my home. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques/Collectibles    2. Architecture    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Design & Drafting    5. Interior decoration    6. Mexico    7. Themes, motives   

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - General    7. GAMES (bks) - Games TRD PB    8. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (7)

Pretty good
This book isn't bad at all.I find myself picking it up when I'm trying to watch t.v.It has pretty good details about different things...fabrics, lighting, flooring, walls, etc.As another review stated, 'I wish it had more pictures', and I also wish it were longer.I really don't think it could have had any more detail though.It's well worth the money, no doubt.My next book will be "remodeling for dummies"....

It is basic but not really for dummies!
After checking out many books from the library and pouring over glossy photos of rooms as large as my whole house, I felt more discouraged than inspired.If you can get past the name of this series of books, thisparticular "Dummy" book has all the same information aboutinterior design as the books that cost three times as much. Get those outof the library and look at the photos for free. There are only a few photosof rooms in this book.It is mostly just the basics of what you need tounderstand very basic interior design concepts.Is everyone but me livingin a house with 12 foot ceilings, rooms that are 400 square feet andwindows looking out on the ocean!

Good, basic start
Like all the "handbook for Dummies" series, this is good, basic, straight forward information for the novice, written in a very friendly, unintimidating style. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Interior Design    8. Interior decoration    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Soooooooooo Helpful
Ready to buy a new home or property? Want to follow the principals of Feng Shui? Ms Ziegler's latest book is a MUST! It is easy to read, has great design, and is loaded with information - whether you are in the market for your first home, your fifteenth home, or a vacation home. And, Ziegler's clear concise explanation of the dos and don'ts of purchasing a home with Feng Shui can easily be applied to any real estate you are looking to purchase. The graphics and easy to understand 'check off' lists quickly enable you to get up to speed in setting positive goals in this confusing market. And the correct home enables all other life enriching doorways to be easily opened for you and your family. An absolute must for anyone in the new home market. And since you are 'on the move' don't overlook Ziegler's companion book "Sell your home FASTER with Feng Shui," it helped us sell our home in one day! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Decorating - General    4. Feng Shui    5. House buying    6. New Age    7. Parapsychology    8. Property Management    9. Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes    10. Real Estate - General    11. Body, Mind & Spirit / Feng Shui    12. Property & real estate   

Reviews (16)

Good ideas and projects
The book showcases some of the ideas from the show - with pictures, explanations and instructions for some projects.I also have "6 Steps to Design on a Dime" and I like it better - more useful info and nicer pictures.

Not as Good as the Show
After watching the show, I eagerly grabbed the book. Flipping past the designers' bios, I gazed in dismay at the uninspiring photos. Somehow the rooms look less on paper. Less high style, less creative, less appealing...
Decent decorating book
I've looked at many, many home decorating books lately. This is the only book where the basic house and furniture looks like the mix-matched hand-me-down stuff I have. Going on a shopping trip to France for antique furniture is just not an option for me. I appreciated the everyday practical approach to design and decorating. Some of the designs are not my style but I found a lot of inspiration. I do wish the book was a little more detailed in the before and after pictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design    9. Interior decoration    10. Television Programming    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (2)

Great flooring book
I've only helped a neighbour lay a wooden floor before so I needed all the help i could get. This book is informative with good pictures and ideas. It details everything from the tools you need to the different types of flooring and how to lay them
Something To Stand On
I suspect that one of the most insane decisions in my life is deciding to redo my kitchen - on my own.This makes all kinds of practical sense, given what labor costs.But I am incorrigibly un-handy.But in a fit of pseudo-parsimony (you never really save any money doing something yourself - you just buy tools instead of labor) and a determination to recover my macho I have sailed into the unknown of plumbing, cabinetry, plastering, tiling, and, worst of all, flooring.Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Decorating - Floors    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Flooring    6. Floors    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Maintenance and repair    11. Remodeling & Renovation - General    12. Home furnishing & decoration