Reviews (19)

WONDERFUL!
whoever gives this a so-so review is downright silly.
MIchael Answers With Inspiring Decorating Ideas
Our TV fav host and ID does a neat thing: he answers emails and the publishes them with his answers and graphics. Easy to Understand & Pratical Answers
At last an easy to understand interior design book offering a lot of worthwile information.Michael Payne delivers the same informative solutions "Designing For The Sexes" offers.This book walks the reader through design projects in such a way everything becomes possible. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

AffectationIn-A-Box
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Jolene's Reviews
This book has beautiful photos and sketched home plans for luxurious living.If you are looking for ideas to build an estate or a waterfront home, this is a good choice.It has home plans from designers like Sater. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    10. Southern Europe   

Reviews (17)

Great Idea Book for Window Treatments
This fifth edition has all the sketches in color.Just to give you an idea of how comprehensive this is, there are 19 pages showing valances, with five per page.I love this book, as it really opened our minds to the variety of styles available for windows.No more boring windows.
Picture guide--okay but not complete
This is a book of window treatment sketches.Unfortunately, it is far from complete and lacks many styles. We do use this book in the trade, but I wish it were more complete--I find it lacking with many new styles.It also lacks many of the current styles being offered by the professional pattern companies.

Encyclopedia of Window Fashions
This book has great ideas and beautiful pictures and drawings.It is, however a little outdated in my opinion.Would like to see a revised edition by this author with more up to date styles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - Windows    3. Draperies in interior decorati    4. Draperies in interior decoration    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Reference    7. Window shades    8. Interior design    9. Soft furnishings   

Reviews (14)

Really helps
Unlike a lot of other books about design and interior spaces, this one doesn't give you photos and examples of what you can do with the space... it really helps you evaluate what it is you feel/have with your living space and steps to take to make it into the space you feel better living in. It's as insightful into your self as it is where you live.

User friendly and inspiring.I loved it!
Its hard to find books that are accessible and inspire you to find your own aesthetic (rather than imitate the authors).In many ways this is a very gentle and non-judgemental book - its not flashy, hasn't got photos, but it gets the job done.My apartment is coming together beautifully.
A Great Recipe
As a reviewer previously noted, there really isn't anything new here. But like a chef who takes ingredients we are well familiar with and combines them to give us a new experience, so too does Maxwell. There are the little gimmicks--calling people warm and cool, talking about the house like a body when he could just say he's writing about attending to repairs (bones), arranging and organizing the stuff in your space (breath), figuring out the functions of each room (head) and decorating (heart). But this is not a meal of last night's leftovers. Instead it is packaged into another gimmick: the eight week cure. There's a lot to do in your eight weeks: and the work seems unbalanced. It starts out slowly (throwing out one thing, making lists) and ends slowly (preparing for a party) but in the middle there's almost an impossible amount of things to do. But it's all laid out. There are worksheets and practical tips to begin. Maxwell has taken all the steps to transforming a living space and laid them all out sequentially. This book is about more than just fixing up your place however: Maxwell aims to change and enrich your experience of your home. And that's the spice that makes the book worth consuming.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior decoration    8. Psychological aspects    9. House & Home / General   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorative arts    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior architecture    8. Interior decoration    9. Architecture / General   

Reviews (19)

Excellent content, Repetitious Photographs
As a non-designer, this is an excellent design book in that it explains how we can make changes to our homes (or use this as a tool during initial home design prior to construction) to make the home more cohesive, more welcoming, more comfy.The concepts are well described; the biggest weakness of the book is its photography.The small photographs did not bother me per se, but the repetition of photographs really took away from the book.The same photographs are used multiple times to highlight different aspects in different chapters.The homes are primarily architecturally gorgeous, and they are wonderful to look at, but I would like to see these concepts described with less elaborate homes and a wider variety of homes.Most of these have a lot of wood, beautiful views, and lots of investment in design features.Using the same photograph more than once is unnecessary, it would be more helpful to show another home to explore the concept.That said, the content is sufficient to recommend this book to others.
Great support for dreams
As usual, Susanka's books are worthwhile and support in depth looking at pictures and thought.It arrived promptly - 3 weeks faster than another book ordered on the same day.

An Aussie's Perspective
I really love Sarah Susanka's design philosophy.It just makes sense.Here in Australia, there are so many fringe suburbs which are filled to the hilt with McMansions.These houses are built to within centimetres of their boundaries and are generic and worse, shockingly ugly and devoid of character. I loved this book which illustrates the way seemingly small details and good quality workmanship can make such a difference to the feel of a house.If more people embraced these ideals, our cities would improve drastically - more green space has to be a good thing, doesn't it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Designs and plans    7. Do-It-Yourself    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Residential Interior Design    12. United States    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Clothing Design    4. Decorating - General    5. Design - General    6. Fashion    7. Fashion design    8. Art / Design / General    9. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (6)

Rat's Tail at his best!
I LOVED this book!I think my designs are so much better now that I know when to open and close the windows at the right time!I was always so confused before.I can also make sure that I get good air flow by drawing those great ribbon arrows. This book is perfect for anyone who has never looked at the sky or felt the wind before or chooses to ignore their own senses!I think Brown could of done this without DeKay though.RULES-O-THUMB LUV!

Sun, Wind and Light, Architectural Design Strategies
This is one of the most important books of the decade.Anyone who builds or designs buildings, needs to own and read this book. I am amazed at the thoroughness of information it presents about design, all there, in one book, it is worth five times what they ask.

Detailed handbook for architects
This book is on architecture and energy conservation. From the cover - This book is for designers who want to consider the form-generation potential of sun, wind, and light in the earliest stages of the design process. The book stresses the energy implications of using the sun, wind, and light. However, it is organized by the architectural elements designers manipulate - streets, open spaces and buildings, rooms and courtyards, and walls, roofs, floors, and windows. The book is divided into three sections : Design Strategies, Analysis Techniques, and Strategies for Supplementing Passive Systems. Extensively referenced and indexed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Detail    2. Architecture    3. Architecture And Energy Conservation    4. Architecture and energy conser    5. Architecture and solar radiati    6. Architecture and solar radiation    7. Decoration & Ornament    8. Design & Drafting    9. Interior lighting    10. Methods & Materials    11. Architectural structure & design    12. Architecture / Methods & Materials   

Reviews (5)

Great ideas!
To make the most of our new home, I was looking for ideas for custom made cabinetry and other storage options.
Great ideas
I want to install severeal built-ins in my older home, as space is limited.This book definitely gave me lots of ideas. The pictures are excellent and really provide inspiration - whether you copy exactly or adapt the ideas to meet your needs.Full of ideas and inspiration - not a how-to.

Talk about IDEAS!
This book, by far, exceeded my expectations!It is full of wonderful photos - cover to cover.We are getting ready to build a new home and we will definitely use a few of these creative ideas.
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Subjects:  1. Built-in furniture    2. Cabinetwork    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Remodeling & Renovation - General    10. Storage in the home    11. Woodworking    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Design & Construction    14. House & Home / Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Remodeling & Renovation - Bathrooms    6. Home furnishing & decoration    7. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (8)

Puts the French on Pedestals
The book is written as if the French have a monopoly on good taste.B. Phillips gushes over the French lifestyle to the point of annoyance.I found myself saying, enough already! I got the book because I've travelled to France since I was a kid and now I'd like to decorate my home with French influences.But after reading her book, with its genuflecting and contradictions, I was turned off.An example of contradiction:At one point the book states that the French are not ostentacious and prefer simple, tasteful items in the home.But from the interior pictures of mansions, that hardly seems to be the case.Also, I couldn't see any children being happy in these homes.They look like hotels and museums.The book had one very redeeming quality.The guides outlining "must haves" are very good.

French Details
"Detail is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary." ~Unknown The Nicest Room is on the Cover
The rest of the book is page after page of heavy, ornate rooms that lack individuality and warmth.The decor is superficially beautiful because all the "signals" of wealth are there:expensive sofas and chairs, brocade curtains, period furniture, "French" bric-a-brac, but ultimately it's a collection of overly-designed showpieces. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament    5. France    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Influence    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior decoration    11. United States    12. Architecture / Interior Design    13. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

Inspiration for western architects and craftsmen
Among our collection of a dozen or more illustrated books about Japanese architecture and design, this is by far the best. The exquisite photographs are accompanied by a thorough yet interesting explanation of the various traditional styles found in Japanese architecture.
Great Book on Real Japanese Interiors
Beautiful photos of great interiors.Mostly traditional Japanese homes as they are currently lived in.Features homes with collections of traditional Japanese crafts.Also, some modern homes designed with Japanese aesthetic.I would also recommend the book "Japanese Style". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Interior Design - General    4. International Architecture - Asian    5. Home furnishing & decoration    6. Interior design    7. Japan   

Reviews (9)

Designers
A great book for interior designers. Serves as a great refrence. A must add to any library collection!

One of the best.
A very informative and usefull book for all designers.

DO NOT BUY! it's hard to imagine a more worthless book
This book is a fiasco. As a professional in commercial space planning for many years, I picked it up based on a 'glowing review'. I find another few good ratings here on-line. The authors mother must be writing them, because no one who actually attempted to verify the faulty and incomplete information within, could ever see this tome as worth the paper upon which it is printed.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architectural drawing    3. Architecture    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Design & Drafting    6. Designs and plans    7. General    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior architecture    11. Standards    12. Study & Teaching    13. Technique   

Reviews (9)

Wow !
Informal is an extraordinary work. I guess the reason why it's so shocking is that the content of the book is not like those static structural forms or solutions that we see in structural class. The case studies that Balmond brings to the table are very recent and genuine by star architects. I guess I was shocked by the fact that all these architects are not structurally oriented architects such as Foster/ Piano/ Calatrava/ Hopkins. Rather, they are theoretically approaching architects such as Koolhaas/ Liebskind; or, tectonically approaching architects such as Siza. I never thought projects by them had anything to do with structural or mathmatical innovation. Reading Informal, one can easily detect where the originality lie in each project. Sometimes it's in the irregularity of geometry or sometimes it's in mathmatical mystery. Balmond contends that they are all in mother nature. Unlike a formal structural engineering (e.g. Peter Rice) Balmond's originality comes from the informal networks. In High-tech, the ingenuity of structural entity was condensed into joinery. Informal networks is much more diverse and complex than that. It is against the conventional formal structural idea of hierarchy/center/symmetry. Balmond argues, formal approach is defining a problem in a "fixed" or "contained" manner; hence, leading to a same old idea of solution/ detailing. In Informal, Balmond redefines it in a more active/dynamic geometry, to bring about unexpected realities. Sometimes through structural innovation and sometimes through special surface treatment, Balmond promoted and realized the ideas of star architects. Overall, he has freed architecture from the "Cartesian Cage".

A behind the scenes of great architecture
It was quite interesting to get a look at the somewhat unusual engineering process of Cecil Balmond. Balmond Student
Cecil Balmond is passionate and inspirational. When working with him, you know there is something amazing happening.I had the pleasure of having him as a studio instructor at Yale University, School of Architecture.Cecil believes in the possibilities of architecture and engineering working together in ways that enhance and grace both fields.This book brings his insight and passions together.I highly recommend it to engineers and architects alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architecture    3. Drafting & Mechanical Drawing    4. Engineering - General    5. Engineering Design    6. General    7. Interior Design - General    8. Mathematics    9. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. Technology   

Reviews (18)

Furniture is the Focus
This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.

Moderately interesting
This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.

FABULOUS!
I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style".This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Furniture    4. Furniture design    5. Furniture, Colonial    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. West Indies    10. Art / Design / Decorative    11. Caribbean islands    12. Interior design   

Reviews (23)

I'll never be the same!
Patterns of Home describes principles of nature at a deep level. I found my self awestruck as I mused over all of the different aspects of nature that manifest principles described in this book. Nature is the essence of all things beautiful and functional. Patterns of Home explains how to build dwellings according to rules written long before humans arrived. These suggestions can be applied to homes of any style and budget. This book describes an order of design that is practical and elegant.

Very readable, good principles, good overview
Readable, good principles, good examples, good overview of architectural design work.The only thing I find missing is - as with most books on design - any connection to the realities of cost.

Brings a New Concept to the Reader
There are a lot of books on residential architecture that show beautiful house designs. This book takes a different tact that I find most interesting. Instead of looking at the house first and then emphasizing features, it turns the process around. This book defines ten elements, or essentials, or patterns that help to define what goes into houses that are time proven to be a part of the design of exceptional houses.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural design    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating    5. Design & Construction    6. Design & Drafting    7. Designs and plans    8. Domestic    9. House & Home    10. Technique    11. House & Home / General    12. Interior design    13. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (2)

Traditional Adirondack Design
"In time the Adirondacks became synonymous with rugged living, fishing and hunting, other outdoor activities and all sorts of rest and relaxation. It was because of the great camps and rustic furniture that Adirondack became a style until its own." ~Ralph Kylloe
Dream Away The Hours . . .
imagining yourself in the homes pictured in this magnificent book. Again, Kylloe has outdone himself capuring the pure essence of what a true home in the Adirondacks is all about. No author has a better technique on showing the reader all the rustic beauty thats out there far beyond our imaginations, by taking us on his personal home tours into some of the most gorgous beautiful Adirondack homes, most on lakes. He includes Adirondack history and again shows us in many of the homes the rustic furniture and decorating styles that depicks the true meaning of what life must be like for some toown these truely magnificent homes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camps    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    5. Domestic    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. United States    10. Vacation homes    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating    13. Interior design    14. USA   

Reviews (18)

Fantastic Book
This is a great book. I love the pictures and have actually called one of the artist to order one of her creations. It would be a much better book if the author would have included a resource guide as to where to purchase the organizing units that the women use to create their working envirnoments.

Good book but......
This is a good book with beautiful pictures of craft spaces.I ordered in the hopes of getting ideas & inspiration for my craft space, but got none.

Where Women Create
This is an agreeable book, but I found Organizing Your Craft Space by the same author much better and more useful.Much material is duplicated - you really don't need both books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists' studios    2. Careers - General    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. United States    11. Women artists    12. Women designers    13. House & Home / Decorating    14. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes   

Reviews (26)

WOW! Love It !!!!
It's Charles Faudree!!What more needs to be said.I've been a fan of his for years.Noticed his rooms in some of my favorite magazines.Especially Traditional Home.He NEVER fails to delight and inspire.Tons of ideas on every page.Wish he would publish a book every year !!

My New Bible
Charles Faudree is my ultimate favorite designer and this book is not a dissapointment.It is something I can study over and over again.Being close enough to Tulsa, I recently got to experience Mr. Faudree's personal decorating first hand. This book is testament to his impeccable taste.

French Country at it's best!
If you love the french country look then this book is for you. It is like the bible for decorating in the french country style. Yet Faudree's genius lies in his ability to mix in English, Swedish and other genres so that it looks like a real home and not something out of a French country showroom. He can even mix antiques into a contemporary home for a flawless look. You will want to jump into the pages of this book and live in these rooms. They are absolutely gorgeous! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    5. Faudree, Charles    6. France    7. History    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. Influence    10. Interior Design - General    11. Interior decoration    12. United States    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / Decorating    15. Interior design   

Reviews (5)

BIG TOME. BIG TIME MOVIE STAR. BIG TIME DECORATOR
Part-time P'town resident William Mann's Wisecracker was the first (and definitive) bio of Haines, on of the silent era's greatest stars and one of its first certified heartthrobs. But Haines was gay---something eh refused to hide---and when MGM honcho fired him. Haines began a new (and much more lucrative career) as a self-taught decorator. His work graced the homes of Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Constance Bennett, and mega-watt socialites Alfred and Betsy Bloomingdale an d Walter and Lee Annenberg; even in his death in 1973, Haines` legacy followed, with his associate Ted Graber in charge of the décor of Ronald and Nancy Reagan`s private riddance at the white House. This coffee table book is the price of a good steak dinner (with wine), but the hungry of film fans and stylists and interior designers will long be satisfied by the intellectual text and more than 300 vintage and rare drawing, illustrations and photos.

Crossover: Movie Stars to Decorating
This book is appealing to both those who are fascinated by the movie star world from the glamorous 1920's thru the 1960's.Haines world was a fascinating one with close friends from the movie world such as Joan Crawford. His decorating style was classic and timeless.The book is filled with wonderful illustrations of his work throughout the many years of his long career.

Elite Hollywood /unique photos
Peter Schifando and Jean H. Mathison's CLASS ACT: WILLIAM HAINES, LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD DECORATOR (0972766146, $95.00) tells of talent contest winner William Haines, who came to Hollywood in 1922 and appeared in over twenty films as a leading many to many famous stars, then recreated himself as a decorator using many of his costars as clients. Haines developed a unique style over a 40-year period, designing elite homes and producing notable designs for business leaders, socialites and arts patrons. Pack in photos in both black and white and color - many of which haven't seen print previously - with a survey by members of the Haines firm and you have an authoritative, in-depth expose which will prove an outstanding pick for any collection of Hollywood history or interior design arts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Interior Design - General    5. Biography: general    6. Home furnishing & decoration    7. USA