Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture (Specific Aspects)    4. Domestic    5. History    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. Methods & Materials    10. United States    11. Vacation homes    12. Architecture / General    13. Houses, apartments, flats, etc   

Reviews (4)

A Great Tile Summary
I'm in the process of building on the Maya Riviera so this isn't a book read for fun.This is real research looking for real ideas.Building in Spanish Colonial style can't be done without some incorporation of Mexican Tiles.This book is basically 90% pictures and 10% background and history of Mexican Tiles.The background write-up is excellent and gives good history of Talavera and Talavera-Style Tiles.Then it's on to different uses, floors, kitchens, bathrooms, walls and stairs, and patios and gardens.
A bit of a let down.
I love Mexican tiles but I felt the book was a bit of a let down. The pictures were a bit small and there wasn't enough information about tilemaking in the book. I think the book would have been much more effective in a larger format where the tiles would have been more impressive. There are some wonderful talavera tile websites on the net for anyone who wants a better overview.

Great content
Book has great ideas.Wish it had been hardback.Book binding,does not want to hold together, considering the wear and tear it shall receive.This is also a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    4. Ceramics    5. Color Theory    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Mexico    11. Pottery & Ceramics    12. Tiles    13. Tiles in interior decoration    14. Architecture / General    15. Art techniques & principles   

Reviews (7)

Not a do it yourself interiors book....
Not intended for those wanting a simple step by step to revamp their kitchen or lounge. This book is filled with sumptious images of spaces well lived in and loved. A fabulous reference for architects or designers who want to inject character and texture into a space.

#12 Grimauld Place, ala Harry Potter :)
Pealing, ancient wall paper.... Narrow dim hallways....ballrooms with ancient chandeliers, what the well dressed haunted house is wearing today. Formerly grand interiors that have NEVER BEEN RENOVATED - It's all about "Authentic." Not one single floor has even a SPECK of finish left on it, they're referred to as "Well scrubbed." Most of these original interiors are European or English from 200 years ago or so. Once grand, these houses are beyond lived in. There is a least one oldhouse from the sourthern United States featured.

The Well Worn Interior
Although these interiors are probably too worn for American comfort, the style shown gives one ideas to help design an inviting room. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques in interior decoratio    2. Antiques in interior decoration    3. Architecture    4. Decorating    5. Decorating - General    6. History    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Architecture / Interior Design   

Reviews (4)

It's in the fine details
Yes, the pictures are lovely...but as one reviewer noted, one will want to go through the book several times just to see everything one missed.On my second time through, I noticed almost every photo had many books (sometimes shelves full of books)in the background.99% of those books were titles in English.Yes, yes, I know the French speak English very well..but what are the odds that ALL the books would be in English?Wouldn't they at least own a few titles in their native language?Made me wonder where some of these homes are located and if I was truly looking at an American (or UK) home decorated in French Country style.

Beautiful inside & out
A fine representation of French country decorating style.This book covers exterior, interior and a bit or garden landscaping.It has many fresh ideas for a real french country feel, but with a touch of elegance.Wonderful "Rooms for Living" with decorating ideas to suit every budget, as it mixes all kinds of things.The traditional effects are softened by simple yet beautiful touches.Once you go through the book for the first time you will want to go through it again to catch all the detail work you missed the first and second and third time.

I gave this book 4 stars only because I wanted more to see!
This lovely book is quintessential French country. The authors take the reader on a tour of vistas from the Mediterranean Sea to Provence; country homes range from the rugged to the elegant. The text reveals to the readerthe common elements to be found in the variety of homes found in the Frenchcountryside. Vibrant colorsfollow paticular painterly selection if onewants to create the true feel of a French country home. Shutters areFrench, not American. Lace is typically at the windows, or for a more grandeffect billowing panels with French pleats, caught and pulled to the sideabout 3/4's from the top of the drop. Window boxes brimming with color areessential for this style, and borders of lavender would make you feel thatyou are really there. Terracotta roof tiles would complete the exteriorview. Inside, the walls vary, but they definitely make the statement: I amFrance. Terracotta tile floors are very common, but hardwood floors arefine, too. Mouldings are landmarks, andthey are abundantly visualized inthis volume. Provencal prints, bergere chairs, ladder back dinning and/orkitchen chairs, flowers---all are shown in French homes. In the kitchen,pots on display, wall tiles, a baker's rack, a country table, open shelves,walls that are rubbed with earthy hues make the room inviting and warm---agathering place. Dining is wonderful, inside or out. The French love to eatoutside. The bedroom is simple or elegant, but deliberately French. Lace,panels, sometimes two layers, billowing to the floor, European pillows, anddefinitely a bolster and duvet enrich the feeling of a retreat. At least atouch of toile should be seen. I remember a French friend telling me once,that one of the most important things a true French person does whenconsidering something for their home. She said the French don't decoratelike Americans do, try to figure out if an object will work; for theFrench, if they like something, they find a place for it. They learn veryearly how to put things together. And you can always see it no matter howmuch they have to spend. It's just perfect. This beautiful volume is filledwith beautiful pictures to create your own French Country style. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Country homes    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Design & Drafting    7. France    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior Design - Style Books    11. Interior decoration    12. Regionalism in architecture    13. Vernacular Architecture    14. HOME REFERENCE - Decorating TRD HC    15. House & Home / General   

Reviews (2)

Authentic Decor
This is an essential tool for anyone interested in historic European (incl. England) interiors.From a discussion of spatial relationships, to room arrangement, to the minutiae of room decor - ceiling to floor- Thornton describes interiors from 1620 to 1900 with fluidity and wit.The book reads like a good novel, but the information is rock-solid.

Engrossing Study Of The Domestic Interior.
Authentic Decor: The Domestic Interior 1620-1920, is far more than ahistory of the evolution of the domestic interior.Written by PeterThorton, of the Victoria and Albert Museum, it showsfirst and foremostthat an interior is a reflection of its owner.Everyone is wellrepresented in its 408 richly illustrated pages, from the poor, to themiddle classes, to the rich & the grand.Much valuable insight is tobe gained from reading this book.I have kept it on my coffee table foryears and have guarded it with my life, because people are so engrossed byit.I hope that somebody will use all of their powers of persuasion toconvince Viking Penguin, Inc. to re- issue this stunning & informativebook! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. History of art & design styles: c 1600 to c 1800    7. History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. House & Home / Decorating    10. Interior design    11. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes    12. c 1600 to c 1700    13. c 1700 to c 1800    14. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (8)

Sumptuous and inspiring
I received this book for my birthday last year and still enjoy looking at it. In fact, I was getting ready to order it for a friend for the holidays when I saw an earlier review of this book that also mentioned another vacation home book called Second Home, I bought it, too. I highly recommend both books. This is wonderful dream book, as is Second Home. Second Home also includes pointers (throughout the book) on deciding where you might want to have a second home, real estate shopping tips, and ideas on building and decorating, too. Second Home is as inspiring as Family Houses by the Sea, but it offers the bonus of being practical and talking directly to me about what I can do to actually realize my dream of having a weekend house.

One of our favorites
We are accumulating a wonderful little stack of books related to second homes as we plan a getaway of our own. This one is a favorite because of its dreamy photography. I also highly recommend SECOND HOME: Finding Your Place In The Fun, which is a new book that mixes dreamy photos of real homes with some helpful tips on finding a location as well as buying, building, remodeling, or decorating a second home. Like Family Houses, Second Home is a larger hardback book. Gorgeous.

Family houses - eclectically by the sea
And therein lies the beauty of this book. Yes, some of the homes are older & some are rustic-but there's the sleek & contemporary too. In other words, something for everyone who loves to live by the water (or wishes they did). Buy this book to appreciate the different ways to express loving the natural light & atmosphere in a home that is reflective of the sea. You may not get Decorating Lessons 1-100 - but thats not the point. You can escape thru this book, dream thru it, share it, admire those who have created beautiful spaces in beautiful places - without displaying every obvious "seaside" nic-nac but with much good taste & class. Buy it for those pleasures & of knowing that kind of life does exist & can be lived by those to whom it means the most. To the authors - a beautiful volumn - thank you for seeking these places out & creating an arm chair trip to some incredibly beautiful spots by the water. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating - General    3. Europe    4. History    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Pictorial works    9. Residential Buildings Architecture    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - Marriage & Family    13. United States    14. Vacation homes    15. House & Home / Decorating    16. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Historic Preservation    4. U.S. Architecture - General    5. Architecture / General    6. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. Interior design    9. USA   

Reviews (6)

Enjoy the show more than the book
I enjoy watching the show, but I didn't get the same things out of the book.Basically the book recaps how they acheived their version of the designer room - something that is fun to watch but not so interesting to read about.

Full of Decorating Tips, even if you don't watch Sensible Chic
This book is based on the TV show Sensible Chic. It takes an inspiration room and tries to create a "similar" room without the high cost of the inspiration room. Like another reviewer, in this book, many of the rooms DID look better than the inspiration room. This is probably because the "Sensible" roomswere generally not as foo-foo (my word) and less cluttered than the inspiration room. The show and the book are good if you need a jumping off point and don't have any idea where to start. If you find a photo of a room you like, then you can try to create a similar room based on YOUR budget.
check it out from the library
I thought this book was disappointing.I was looking for more general ideas on how to decorate, but this book doesn't give that type of information.It shows specific rooms and how they were decorated.Also, in the quiz to find your decorating style, there are 20 question, and I scored 5 points in three of the categories (Traditional, Country, and Ethinic.) So, you'd think there would be a section on decorating in an ecletic style, but there isn't.If you want to see this book for decorating ideas, check it out from the library before buying--you'll be glad you didn't spend the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Interior decoration    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (5)

Sweet but dated...
In 2006 this book looks quite dated.The photos don't seem quite... modern.I can tell that this was published more than a decade ago just by looking at the super-annuated home fashions.Pretty but not of today!!!!!

Color:Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms by Donald Kaufman
This book was recommended to me by an Interior Designer.I have literally spent pleasurable hours studying this book in preparation for decorating and ten years later redecorating our home.It is absolutely THE BEST source I have found and I have shared it lovingly with others.
I was a little disappointed....
that there wasn't more info on what pigments the author used to create the colors for each of his beautiful palettes .Read more

Subjects:  1. Color in interior decoration    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration    5. Domestic    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior design    10. Interior walls    11. Residential Interior Design    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Decorating   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (7)

Island living
Excellent book with something for all tastes.Beautiful pictures make you want to go home and decorate immediately.

Beautiful and Exotic
The cover is just a teaser to the exciting tropical houses Tim Street-Porter captures in this wondeful book.A real treat to exclusive tropical living around the world.Also an excellent reference to decorate in the tropical look.Street-Porter does it again as he did in Casa Mexicana.A book to enjoy over and over.

Perfect for Decorating Ideas
We are trying to get an "island" feel for our home and this book was the perfect reference.Not only are the pictures of the homes (inside and out) breathtaking, but there is enough detail about the decorating itself to be useful for our purpose.The only downside is that it makes you want to sell your current house and just travel the world staying in these amazing homes!Especially tempting is the contact information at the very end in case you actually want to rent one of them on vacation... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture And The Environment    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Architecture, Tropical    5. Building Construction    6. Construction - General    7. Domestic architecture    8. General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. International Architecture - General    11. Technology    12. Tropical architecture    13. Architecture / Interior Design   

Reviews (5)

what are you looking for?
This is NOT a how to book any way,shape,or form. It IS a beautiful wish book that will give ideas and inspiration for your project, but thats where the help stops. Rate it a 1 star for the how to crowd and a 4 star for the wish list/coffee table crowd.

What a nice reference this book is!
I'm a Japanese reader and living in Log Cabin. This book provides me with many decoration ideas. I wish to reccomend this book to my friend who are living in Log cabins.

Beautifully done, inventive, resourceful and entertaining!
Hands-on Log Homes is our third, full-color, idea design book on the subject of log home architecture. As such, it was also my third opportunity to loop America - cameras in hand - seeking out unique log homes and meeting the people who build them.In this case, those people happened tobe mostly involved owner-builders.That is, creative, resourceful peoplewho used sweat equity to help build their dream. Similar to our secondbook, "The Log Home Book", there is a virtual photo-feast inside.The only difference is that the scale of these homes tends to be moremoderate, and the owners themselves share their own unique and entertainingbuilding stories along with practical bits of advice gleaned along the way.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Conservation and restoration    3. Construction - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Design and construction    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Log cabins    10. Log cabins and houses    11. Popular works    12. Residential Construction    13. Technology    14. United States    15. Wood Construction    16. House & Home / Design & Construction    17. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    18. Interior design    19. USA   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful beach HOTELS!
I like 5 favolite HOTELS. Park Hyatt TOKYO.The Royal Hawaiian Hotel.Hotel de Paris.Hilton Maldives.Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa.This book teach me other beautiful HOTELS.I use this book and virtual Trip by GOOGLE EARTH!!

Good concept-sloppy execution
I recently ordered this book - what a disappointment!This book profiles luxury beach hotels around the world and includes leading hotels in locales such as the Seychelles, Maldives, Oman, Bora Bora and numerous other places.There are two problems however.First, the quality of the pictures is inconsistent - some pictures are good but there are too many that are blurry. Also, many of the pictures are from the hotels themselves.The problem with this is that the pictures can be found on the websites of these hotels already and can be viewed for free.Second, the descriptions of the hotels are poorly written and provide next to no information.I could go on but why bother - Skip this one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Hotels    3. HotelsInnsetc.    4. Hotels and motels    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Pictorial works    8. Seaside resorts    9. Hotel & holiday accommodation guides   

Reviews (10)

Mexican HOuses
This is the best book I've seen on Mexican houses..comprehensive and are they beautifully photographed! and all kinds of examples, from the very oldest colonial, Porfirian, to modern.I
Fell short of what I hoped
I bought my copy because of the name, since I am FACINATED with interior design and decorating ideas with ANYTHING Mexican.My text IS in English, and if I would have known it was available in Spanish I would have preferred to have it that way!! It is a great book!!
I am a Mexican woman studying in the USA.I read a commentary above saying that these are European houses, they are not. We were conquered by the Spaniards centuries ago and thus the architectural style blended creating a "Mexican Style". This so called Mexican style includes european traces with Indian influences. This book represents Mexican houses that complies with this style. Obviously you can find native houses following Indian design, but for sure not in anyMexican metropoli. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Architecture, Mexican    4. Design & Construction    5. General    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Mexico    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Architecture / General    12. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (2)

Paradise Available!
LIVING IN BALI is more than just a pretty picture book, though the lush photography by Reto Guntli is superb.This is a romance with a place few have had the pleasure of experiencing - the tropical paradise still very much in place in Bali.
Gorgeous and Succulant!
As most Taschen design books, Living in Bali does not pretend to be a literary read, in fact the blurbs are positively sparse! It is unapologetic in its display of huge and fantastic images of the types of homes which typify the tropical asian paradise abode, and makes a point that the space and atmospheres of the designs and ambience tranfer all that is necessary. It would have been refreshing if they could have stuck to just the amazing residences, but one can't complain when the hotels, such as Begawan Giri are literally breathtaking and dreamy. I found myself gasping continuously and just gazing for an embarrassing length of time at each layout.There is enough juice in this book to inspire you to create you own personal paradise. Even if you live in nyc, as I do! Well, even if it is only in your dreams!While there is some overlapping with other asian style publications from Taschen, they are mostly all very refreshing, as they include new shots and more indepth voyeurism. The quality of the beautiful, simply stunning photographs are commendable, and the layout manages but to be expansiveand detailed. In my mind, there is no book which better exemplifies what defines and justifies Bali as the jewel in the crown of tropical asian style.Owning this book, is like owning your personal ticket to a journey which shows you what is possible in life, that reality and heaven can meet! um, yes - I recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Interior Design - General    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. International Architecture - Asian    5. Bali    6. Places & peoples: general interest   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Interior Design - General    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. Home furnishing & decoration    5. Interior design   

Reviews (1)

Agood beginner's handbook
This book is good for those who have limited background in color theory and want a concise history of color. Most of the book discusses color from cave to modern and contemporary periods culminating with applications to decorating. The color plates are good examples of the content being presented. Certainly a good handbook for a beginner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Color in interior decoration    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. House & Home    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. House & Home / Decorating    11. Interior design   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. History - Specific Styles    5. House & Home    6. Architectural structure & design    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. Interior design    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    10. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (6)

Awsome!
This book features some very interesting residences. Many of the exotic homes featured in this book are loaded with color and texture. Each property is unique and full of character. The book is fairly large and the photos are awsome and the price was great too!

Tiny, unreadable print
Absolutely georgeous photography and Lovatt-Smith has obviously hiked all across Morocco searching for homes. I was most impressed with the variety of homes, especially the cave homes.
This is an OH WOW, LOOK AT THAT book
Preservation or desecration of certain architectural styles and decorative heritage goes in and out of fashion the world over. It's not only Morocco that wanted to demolish the old and over-value the new. How much of the beauty and culture of the East has been lost in the name of "progress"? The situation is not simple, however. In the latter part of the 20th century there was an urgent need throughout the Mediterranean for affordable, modern housing for quickly expanding populations and growing economies strapped for cash, skills and resources. Unfortunately aesthetics and the traditions of artisans often got trampled in the rush. Lisa Lovett-Smith's sumptuous Moroccan Interiors reminds us that embracing preservation has so much to offer the present and the future. While she focuses on the homes of the rich, ex-patriate and famous and could therefore be accused of being elitist, she also illuminates the beauty of the simplest of objects that could be found in any home, rich or poor. Lovett-Smith has divided Morocco into regions and cities and celebrated the best of each, appreciating the exquisite, ornate beauty of Islamic art and the colour schemes reflecting the dramatic terrain of the Mediterranean: desert ochre and blistering reds, turquoise, azure, sapphire, gold, saffron and cinnamon to name a few. Lovett-Smith is aware that a picture tells a thousand words and her accompanying text in several languages is brief. The photography is faultless and the lighting of the interiors unobtrusive. This is not just an ornate coffee table book. It is a valuable archive, a celebration of great style and a treasure trove of inspiration for interior architects, artists and designers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art    3. Design - Decorative    4. Interior Design - Style Books    5. International Architecture - African    6. Interior design    7. Morocco    8. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (1)

A great resource
This book is HUGE (525 pages) and took me almost 2 hours to skim; I look forward to going through the book more thoroughly when I have the time.The majority of the stores featured are ultra modern, minimalistic styles... works of art themselves.You'll find stores located in Europe (London), Asia (largely Japan), and some from the US (LA and New York).
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Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Architecture    3. Interior Design - General    4. Interior Design - Style Books    5. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    6. Interior design    7. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc   

Reviews (8)

Excellent Book
The photo's are wonderful especially if you're looking for ideas to decorate your house in southwestern style. That's what I am doing and I actually got some great inspiration from many of the photo's.I'll be honest, I bought it for the great photos and decorating ideas and I haven't actually read any of the text!

Wonderful inspirations
Moving from Florida to New Mexico is a learning experience. Styles of homes and furnishings are very different as one might expect in leaving the tropics for the desert.
A wonderful book!
I love other people's homes because I get decorating tips, art suggestions, perhaps color ideas and room layout pointers for furniture. I also like other people's homes because I'm curious and I want to see where they live.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Interior decoration    7. Remodeling & Renovation - General    8. Southwest, New