Reviews (3)

Must have book for gardeners
This is a book that should be in everyone's collection.Not only does it tell you what you need to know about heirloom seeds it has some of the most beautiful and real pictures of flowers, fruits and vegetables.The section on where to find seeds is most helpful.

A must have for every home gardener.
Vintage, antique, old-timey.Use your own choice of words to apply to collecting venerable items.Antique automobiles, vintage clothing, and heirloom seeds.All have their unique charm and attraction to certain aficionados.
An heirloom in itself
A must for anyone who cherishes the beauty and bounty of a garden.This book is well-written, meticulously researched, and beautifully photographed.The information and wisdom it provides on flower and vegetable varieties handed down through the generations are well worth any gardener's attention. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Flower gardening    2. Flowers - General    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. General    7. Regional - South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA    8. Seeds    9. Vegetable gardening    10. Vegetables    11. Gardening / General    12. Gardening: plants    13. heirloom seeds; heirloom plants; heirloom flowers; heirloom vegetables; seed savers exchange; Kent and Diane Whealy; David Cavagnaro; historic gardens and plants; ethnic gardens and plants; country gardens; history of American gardens; old fashioned flowers, vegetables, plants, gardens; passalong plants; classic ornamentals; antique flowers, plants; garden seeds; heirloom tomatoes; garden legacy; seed sellers; seed to seed; seed saving; gardening with seeds; seeds of yesterday; seed sources; cottage gardens; old-fashioned ornamentals; gardening heritage; country flowers; wildflowers; antique species; antique perennials; antique annuals; plant hunters; plant explorers; early American gardens; edible heirlooms; gardening atlas; Denise Wiles Adams; William Woys Weaver; Rosalind Creasy; Amy Goldman; Tovah Martin; Dr. Virginia Nazarea; Dr. Robert Rhoades; Felder Rushing; Steve Bender; Jo Ann Gardner; Benjamin Watson   

Reviews (3)

Nine California Style Cottages
Nine different California communities of well-loved cottages through photographs are accompanied by text to reflect a time, a place, and a need for shelter, as well as available building materials, traditions and collective memories of their builders and owners in this charming 144 page book.You can understand the duel forces of the charm and challenges of cottage living from brilliant photography and text with intense vibrant historic detail.

Looks like a great book
Great coverage on all of the cottage styles.

Awesome
Superb descriptive writing, delicate exposure of photography, this book is a must for those articulately inbued with historic archectural dignity.Nine prominent California style cottages are revealed with discriminating taste. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Cottages    3. Country homes    4. Decorating - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. House & Home / Decorating    11. REFERENCE - Portable Professor   

Reviews (2)

Wright's Space Rightly Revealed
Hildebrand really puts you into a selection of Wright's built spaces; you can imagine what it is like to move through and experience the changing spaces (height, length, turns) in several of Wright's famous houses, evenif you've not visited in person. Hildebrand's extended discussion --anddemonstration through stunning "3D" exploded diagrams-- of theprimordial concepts of Refuge/shelter (those dark fireplace cores andinglenooks) and Prospect/outlook (distant elevated windows) applied tobuildings dating to different stages of Wright's practice is most originaland convincing. Author's scholarly prose is serviceable rather than equallysoaring. Highly useful small plans (newly corrected and with compassindications!) and evocative B/W photographs supplement those amazingdiagrams by Wm. Hook.

A new insight into architectural aesthetics
Wright's buildings are some of the most appealing in history. Why? Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-1959    2. Architects and patrons    3. Architecture    4. Architecture, Domestic    5. Criticism and interpretation    6. Domestic    7. Individual Architect    8. Space (Architecture)    9. Themes, motives    10. United States    11. Wright, Frank Lloyd,    12. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book.I read it several times!
A must for all students of social history ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Cottage industries    4. Europe - General    5. General    6. History    7. History: World    8. Sociology    9. Switzerland    10. Textile industry    11. Zurich Region    12. Cottage industries--Switzerland--Zurich Region--History    13. Europe    14. History / Europe / General    15. Social history    16. c 1700 to c 1800    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (4)

Lincoln's Other White House
The author has done a wonderful job showing what a real human being that Lincoln was. A friend of mine borrowed my book and liked it so well that
fresh look at the Lincolns
I especially enjoyed the fresh approach to Lincoln and to his wife Mary Todd, who comes across in this new book as an elegant, urbane, and gracious `Republican Queen.' The account of the Lincolns' marriage and their home life at the White House and the Soldiers' Home, from observers such as the Union Army soldiers who guarded him for three years, is fascinating. The book is based on extensive research and is enriched by fresh anecdotes about Lincoln, by Whitman's and abolitionist Longfellow's poetry, and letters and memoirs of the diverse personalities with whom Lincoln interacted, particularly his generals and cabinet members.

A Splendid Contribution
I have read a number of books on the Civil War in Washington...Fine as those books are, they do not accomplish two things that are splendid contributions of your book on the weekend home that the Lincolns made of their cottage at the Soldiers' Home.
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Subjects:  1. 1809-1865    2. 19th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Civil War, 1861-1865    8. Cottages    9. History    10. Homes and haunts    11. Lincoln, Abraham,    12. Presidents    13. Presidents & Heads of State    14. United States    15. United States - Civil War    16. Washington (D.C.)    17. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    18. USA   

Reviews (3)

great ideas - wonderful book to dream with
Loved all the idea's and variety this book provided. For anyone planning an adventure in log home construction and living, this book is a true inspiration.Thanks for access to so many creative expressions by homeowners and builders, and for another wonderful log home experience.

Disappointing
The interiors are not the quality I had hoped for.And an entire book of log home interiors became too much for my eye in the end. I have bought several second home books recently, and my favorite remains a new book called Second Home, which shows not only log and timberframe homes but airy beach cottages, cabins in the woods, lake homes, and every other style one can imagine.

Inside Log Homes--The art and spirit of home decor
There seem to be two types of log home owners.First, there are the owners with an unlimited budget who hire archetects, interior designers, and lighting specialists who build and furnish the home immediately ready for "Archetectual Digest."Then, there is the rest of us.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Design and construction    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior decoration    9. Log cabins    10. Log cabins and houses    11. Residential Interior Design    12. Wood Construction   

Reviews (2)

Okay, Ive seen better
This work is a well written primer to log home building, covers all major points of building, but does not go far into depth. Tends to strongly discourage owner-builders (although this may not be a bad thing. This is more difficult than a bird house.) This book is far from a step by step construction manual. For the curious may be a good pace to start.

log home from scratch or kit
i think this bok was the one of best books i ever got on log home it show you all differnt ways to build and there are some many really nice picso you cane see what they are doing. i think this book is worththe money ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carpentry    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. Log cabins    10. Log cabins and houses   

Reviews (8)

A Must
I gave this book to 25 family members and friends for Christmas and I have received most wonderful comments from everyone.They praise the photography and the text.One person wrote that she could "see" the grandparents walking down the path to the beach with their grandchildren.If you know someone who has ever summered in the Great Lakes in their own summer home or in a rented cottage this book is a must. It does capture the essence of cottage living in this area.

A specialty title recommended for those who love cottages
The Great Lakes Cottage Book is a specialty title recommended for those who love cottages and Minnesota. The authors present fine photos and recollections of Great Lakes cottages and scenes, focussing on subjects which reveal the cottage experience. The result is a coffee table book celebrating a special place and structure.

Captures Emotions in photgraphs and words
Ed Wargin's photographs capture the emotions of these much loved cottageswith a sesitivity and beauty that few others could accomplish.His use ofnatural light is extraordinary and gives a warmth that reflects thefeelings that abound in these cottages.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cottages    2. General    3. Great Lakes Region    4. Great Lakes Region (North America)    5. Pictorial works    6. Social life and customs    7. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./Midwest    8. Travel    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - Midwest - East North Central (General)   

Reviews (10)

A wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses
It's quite a simple formula: if you're looking to include tropical plants into your home or garden, you can't be without this book. Gorgeous color photos by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni pack a display of equally gorgeous plants accompanied by details on growing needs, propagation, cultivars, and use in home or garden environments. From ferns and succulents to gingers and bananas, a wide variety of plants of all sizes and types are covered to delight any who live in warm environments or have greenhouses to stock.
Showy Book Loses Stars for Imbalance, Lack of Variety
Neither a good specimen guide nor glamorous coffee table showpiece, this nonetheless fills a gap in my growing library of tropical gardening books.It could be a nice introduction to tropical plants, but anyone who wants to actually garden with tropical specimens would be better served by other books, perhaps best of all, Gardening in the Tropics, ISBN: 0881923095 . A good reference
This book is a good reference for everyone who love tropical plant and garden, many beautiful photographs from good garden and healthy plant, I note some mistakes:Read more

Subjects:  1. Flowers - General    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Gardens    6. Horticulture (Specific Aspects)    7. House Plants & Indoor    8. Landscape Horticulture    9. Pictorial works    10. Plants    11. Plants - General    12. Regional - General    13. Tropical plants    14. Tropics    15. Reference works    16. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (4)

Lincoln's Sanctuaryin the Midst of the Storm of War
In each of the years he served as President of the United
The First "Camp David"
This book was a wonderful find.I read it in two days on a business trip and found the writing style enjoyable, the research accurate and detailed while not at all overbearing, and the information very interesting.There are still very little details of the Lincoln's day to day activities at the Soldier's Home.None of the Lincoln's kept diaries and official documentation of purchases, visitors, and happenings were very casual compared to the entourage and details which follow a modern day president on vacation. But the author uncovered letters and diaries of the soldiers and visitors who were around the Lincoln's at this time and from these sources has discovered a wealth of information.The book parallels each of the decisive war time decisions made by Lincoln, and shows how his daily commute to the Soldiers Home from the White House and back, and the relaxing time spent with his family during summer nights and weekends, helped to shape some of his actions and achievements.
Something new about Lincoln
This book provides new information about Lincoln and his family, which is highly unusual for someone as researched as Lincoln.Based on letters and recollections of the people who saw him there, this book gives a picture of Lincoln in robe and slippers away from the chaos of the war time White House.A definate addition to what is known about Lincoln. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1809-1865    2. 19th century    3. Cottages    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Homes and haunts    8. Lincoln, Abraham,    9. Presidents & Heads of State    10. United States - 19th Century    11. United States - Civil War    12. United States Soldiers' Home    13. Washington (D.C.)    14. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    15. Biography: historical    16. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)    17. History, American | Civil War & Reconstruction    18. USA    19. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Most important text on the city since Plato!
Review #1:Wow! This book is the bestest! Albert Pope is swell! And he loves Farley's fruit snacks!! Hero Worship!
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Cities and towns    4. City planning    5. History    6. Interpretive programs    7. Philosophy Of Architecture    8. Space (Architecture)    9. United States    10. Urban Planning    11. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    12. City & town planning - architectural aspects    13. Non-Classifiable    14. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    15. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    16. USA   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful Book...Great Ideas
I am re-doing a bedroom and wanted ideas for doing it in a "cottage style".The book has wonderful pictures that give you ideas for every room in the house. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Cottages    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior decoration    9. HOME REFERENCE - Decorating TRD HC    10. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (5)

Recommended!
Well written with no nonsense and easy to understand terms.Actually exciting to read because the author lends brief, interesting stories from his own experience of building log homes.Sufficient details of the building process and appropriately explains why certain methods work better than others.Nice pictures and diagrams to support the text.Found myself wanting even more information than the book offered, such as techniques/considerations on building an outhouse in very cold climates, construction of the roof around joints/vents/stovepipe, suggestions for optional building materials in areas where items cannot be trucked in.Regardless, the book was thorough and I highly recommended it.

Reasonble price for Building the Alaska Log Home
I called the publisher, Alaska Northwest books (ph# 1-800-452-3032).They will do another reprint of this book toward the end of the summer of 2006 (Aug/Sept).The cost of the book will be $29.99 plus shipping and handling.So why is the seller judioops trying to sell a used copy of this book for $87.99?If you want this book, wait until the publisher releases the reprint or call the publisher directly and place a order for this book.

Highest quality log cabin building book I've seen
Excellent all color on glossy high quality paper.A real pleasure to read with lots of information. Concise chapters dealing with most every aspect of building. A great history section in the back.Not as much technical info as some but the pictures make up for it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design and construction    4. History    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Log cabins    7. Wood Construction   

Reviews (4)

Looking for info on Slipform (slip form) Stone Masonry?
While the author is a knowledgeable on the subject, if you are looking for a book that covers the slipform (slip form) stone masonry in greater detail then check out Tomm Stanley's book "Stone House: A Guide to Self-Building With Slipforms".The material is covered in greater detail and in a well thought out manner.

big problems with technical information
This book has a lot of big ideas, but is very weak on techincal details.The author repeatedly uses phrases like, "We tried this, but it didn't work very well" without offering a follow up of something that DOES work.Maybe some of the suggestions would work better in an arid climate, but around here many of his suggestions are recipes for mold growth, rot and indoor air quality problems.Also, much of what is suggested is in violation of building codes, such as using a single wall heat exchanger in a solar water heating system where the heat exchange takes place between glycol-based antifreeze and potable water.Use the book for ideas, but please get your technical information somewhere else.

Designing an energy-efficient result
Thomas Elpel's Living Homes is an invaluable reference on the concept of integrated design and construction that will appeal to anyone remodeling their home as well as to new home builders, though the latter group will be more interested in the ground-up building approach offered her. From the planning process to designing an energy-efficient result, Living Homes provides construction and how-to tips the home do-it-yourselfer will appreciate. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. House & Home    5. House & Home / Design & Construction    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. House construction    8. Log cabins and houses    9. Straw bale houses   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. General    4. Methods & Materials    5. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    6. Space frame structures    7. Tensile architecture    8. Tents    9. Architectural structure & design    10. Architecture / Methods & Materials   

Subjects:  1. Cottages in art    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    6. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    7. Gardens in art    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Painting   

Subjects:  1. Christmas decorations    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating - General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Ornamental evergreens    7. Seasonal    8. Trees    9. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (2)

Pithy Insights About Homes That Don't Fit Lives
This little book of essays is a fine read -- brightly written, free of the usual jargon, quick with insight. It helps the reader to understand why that expensively furnished living room lies silent while the kitchen bussles with everything but cooking. I enjoyed it immensely.

Charming and provocative reflections on how we live
Bravo! Aki Busch takes us on a charming and provocative stroll both through her home and each of ours.Ever wonder why you still have a front door?Or whatever happened to the front porch?Or why your kitchen andclosets and garage are so essential?READ THIS BOOK and find out!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture - Human Factors    3. Domestic    4. General    5. Human factors    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior decoration    8. Personal space    9. Psychological aspects    10. Residential Interior Design    11. Room layout (Dwellings)    12. Architecture / General    13. Cultural studies    14. Home    15. Non-Classifiable    16. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    17. Sociology, Social Studies    18. Writings   

Reviews (2)

For the inspiration.
This book is good for the inspiration for anyone who want's to build a log home. It is lacking in photographs, no colour in the book. Before you start though, buy as many back issues of "Muir's Original Log Homes magazine" as you can afford, latest issues being the best. And there is a couple of good books on building with logs that you should buy. These will help you prevent some very costly mistakes.

From the first log to the last
This was a great book of one family's learning experience in log home building. Williams shows you how to build your own log home from his experiences for very little. It was great to know it can be done! I likedhis floor plan and am using a similar plan for our home. Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. House construction    10. Log cabins