2 comments about Paris Flea Market (Ypma, Herbert J. M. World Design, 3.).

1. As a collector of decorating books, I found this fresh and exciting! Although I can't afford a giant plaster head, the use of color, objets d'art, antiques and everday found objects lends itself to immediate inspiration. Tres European, tres chic! My favorite section is the apartment left untouched by the 2oth c. It is so rare to catch a glimpse of an actual abode left intact from so long ago. Inspiration can be taken from many different sources such as a unique fabric, even something as mundane as peice of cardboard. This book is a treat creatively and visually. Highly recommended.



2. This softcover is full of gorgeous home furnishings sourced from flea markets presumably from France. It is more of a pictorial study of lovely furniture, room layouts, antique details, drapery and linens rather than a 'how to guide' to furnishing a home in this style - it is provides some inspirational ideas for decorating and thoughts on furnishings and color combinations - although some furnishings and abodes are a little out of reach for most of us (the essential paris apartment with french doors, parqued floors and mammoth marble busts) it is fabulous to look at it and is a nice coffee table addition. Enjoy.

5 comments about A House in the South: Old-Fashioned Graciousness for New-Fashioned Times.

1. Being from the Upper South I was most anxious to read this fine book and have shared it with friends here in Southern Oregon. I found this book to have a little bit of everything in different decorating styles. I prefer a traditional style with a little punch of surprise but overall I think this book is a winner. The photographs are lovely and the stories being told are entertaining as well.



2. Despite the authors' credentials, the writing is awful and the selection of houses a strange mix. Although some of the homes are professionally decorated, they appear more to be the work of a somewhat talented amateur, so do not buy this book looking for decorating ideas. The architecture fares much better, however, and that is the saving point of the book. Projects by seldom-published architects Lewis Graber of Jackson, MS, and John Tackett of Memphis, TN, are featured along with Bobby McAlpine of Nashville, TN, in addition to some very attractive older homes. Only for the most dedicated lovers of Southern houses.



3. Overpriced and boring. Take a great look at that wonderful cover. It's the best thing about the book. How disappointing for the price. Blah.



4. This is the book you want to read if you are interested in all the variety and spice of Southern living, from formality to casual bare-foot elegance. The authors have captured the essence of Southern grace and charm, and revealed some spectacular decorative work in the process.



5. loved the book but I cant say enough abought how amazon takes care of their customers wish everyone was like that

5 comments about The Majesty of the French Quarter (Majesty Architecture).

1. Very misleading...Interior is depicted on the box cover, yet there is not one interior photo in the set of cards. Would not have ordered these if I had known this.



2. I really love New Orleans and really love this book! The pictures in it are beautiful and really capture the French Quarter well. I love having this book so that when I miss NOLA, I can just open it up and feel like I'm there! I also like using this book for decorating ideas. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves New Orleans, or someone looking for decorating ideas. It is a great addition to my New Orleans books collection!



3. Oui, let the good times roll. Top ten reviewer's, Mr. Mitchell's, suberb glimpse through his words sold me on this fascinating book. Anticipating arrival from Amazon was like licking my lips for a taste of cafe au lait and sugary beignets from Cafe De Monde.

   New Orleans or N'Awlnsss as some say, is one grande damme of a city, one of my favorites. History, vibrant colors, music, food, the naughty and the mannerly--I can never get enough. We spent New Years Eve there cruising our favorite haunts and finding new ones. This book by Kerri McCaffety shows mostly the hidden New Orleans. Unique furnishings, paintings, gardens and secretive views from galleries or balconies. One can almost feel Jean Lafitte, the pirate, stare through you as you dare to cross Pirates Row behind the most photograhed church in the country, St. Louis Cathederal in Jackson Square.

   One of my very favorite photos is one of the first, a frosty icicle adorned tropical courtyard--a true testament to contrasting Crescent City. Another is the dreamscaped dome in a three story townhouse. Harrah's in NO, has almost captured that feeling in their Jazz Bar.

   The only thing I wish, is that there were more photos of , well, the rollicking side to this humming city on the Mississippi. There are a few great shots of Mardi Gras, Bourbon street, Cafe De Monde and the French Market. But I want more!

   Again, thank you to Don Mitchell for reviewing so well. I found a true treasure in "The Majesty of the French Quarter".

   Merci for your interest & comment votes--CDS




4. Kerri McCaffety's lovely book provides locals and visitors alike the opportunity to glimpse the mystery and beauty behind the walls of the French Quarter. These beautiful homes reflect not only the talent of a wonderful photographer, but also the artistry, imagination and love of the homes' inhabitants. "The Majesty of the French Quarter" thoroughly captures the diverse styles and influences that make the homes in the French Quarter so exciting and unique. In fact, this diversity mirrors the many cultural influences that make the city of New Orleans a place like no other.

   Ms. McCaffety's photographs display a very keen eye for detail; however, the same cannot be said of the accompanying text. In future editions, it would be wonderful if all owners' names were spelled correctly. Additionally, these beautiful homes deserve to be identified by their correct names. Although the numerous errors do not detract from the visual beauty of the book, "The Majesty of the French Quarter" would certainly be enhanced by the correction of these inaccuracies. The wonderful people who opened their homes to Kerri and to all readers deserve nothing less.




5. Although I have been to the French Quarter in New Orleans many times, I have never seen her look lovelier than in this gorgeous book by photographer Kerri McCaffety. Usually photographs don't quite capture the magic of the moment, but these still images seem to transcend their subjects.

   The French Quarter is a study in contrasts: different architectural styles, various decorating techniques inside, exquisite gardens and fountains behind, and very little space anywhere. In many cases, the front of the building is by far the least interesting part . . . even though that's all that the tourists ever see. McCaffety takes you past the front door into the foyers, dining rooms, bedrooms, and gardens where the spirit of the French Quarter really reigns. No garden of orchids could ever match the color and variety of these many hidden sites. Never has so much happened in such a small area.

   The photographs capture all of this in loving detail. The peeling paint and partially restored interiors often look better for Ms. McCaffety's treatment. Versailles could use her talents.

   Not content with being a photographic genius, she also wrote essays for this magnificant volume that provide a sense of the place, people, and history. Although the facts were mostly all known to me, her enigma-explaining writing style and love of this place provided a poetry to the experience that mirrored the beauty of the photographs.

   If you have to choose between a trip to New Orleans and reading this book, take the book! Wow!

   You can also use this book to learn not to judge a place or a person by your initial impression. As this book shows, you cannot see the natural pearl until you open the oyster. Discard your incorrect views of New Orleans and replace them with these beauties.

   Donald Mitchell

   Coauthor of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise (available in September 2000) and The 2,000 Percent Solution

   (donmitch@fastforward400.com)

1 comments about Havana Style (Icon (Taschen)).

1. I have always been a fan of Cuban culture and this book gives you the Cuban color palate to enjoy!

No comments about To Each His Home: Inspired Interiors as Unique as Their Owners.

4 comments about Williamsburg Christmas: The Story of Decoration in the Colonial Capital.

1. With the loss of Colonial Homes magazine, Christmas ideas with a American colonial theme are becoming rare. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation along with Libby Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald have created not only a historical account of early American celebrations, but a beautifully designed and photographed book. Decorating starts outside with simple wreaths and pine roping to more elaborate fruited creations. Inside the greenery continues along with ideas on table decorations,the Christmas feast and best way to spoil Christmas guests. Chapters cover candles to Christmas trees along with colonial revival and twenty first century interpretations. This book will be a welcome inspiration for anyone looking for Christmas ideas and traditions.



2. Informative (and occasionally surprising!) text accompanied by exquisite photographs of the holiday decorating style known as Colonial Williamsburg.

   The text is coordinated effectively with the photographs to which it refers, making this a helpful guide for those interested in recreating or adapting the patterns for their own decorations. Lists of fruits and greenery that are or are not historically valid as well as diagrams for constructing bases for fan-style and pyramid decorations are both practical and helpful. For those preferring merely to look rather than do, it's still a lovely holiday visit to Williamsburg.




3. With its lively, readable text and beautiful photography, Williamsburg Christmas is a must have book for anyone who enjoys Colonial history and Williamsburg. It makes you want to make that visit to Williamsburg during the Christmas holidays.



4. You don't have to like Williamsburg to like this book. Decorations can be used in contemporary homes, colonial or traditional homes. Good thoughts on how traditions such as the first Christmas tree began. I am giving the book to family and friends. It makes a great Christmas present.

2 comments about Feng Shui With What You Have: Maximum Harmony, Minimum Effort.

1. As a college student, I found Feng Shui with What You have an insightful book on how to make any living space harmonious without breaking the bank. The book contained many great tips on how to create a stylish yet comforting environment using what you already own. After using the remedies found in the book to properly feng shui my apartment, it transformed into a more welcoming space. The book combines ancient feng shui methods with contemporary trends. By making simple changes to the placement of my furniture and by adding touches of specific colors, my apartment and the mood of all those in the apartment changed for the better. I would recommend Feng Shui with What You Have to anyone looking to make an improvement to not only their living space but their life in general.



2. I have browsed other books about feng shui that have made the subject seem impossibly arcane as well as very impractical for a westerner. FENG SHUI WITH WHAT YOU HAVE is accessible and clear; it not only explains what feng shui is and how it works as a philosophy, but also how you can put it to practical work in your home. One of the beauties of the book is that it's full of advice whose implementation requires only your attention and some time--you can make many positive improvements without spending a cent. I keep going back to the book as I tackle one problem spot or another in my home. In the long term relationship between you and your space, this book is a keeper.

No comments about Art Nouveau.

4 comments about Classic America: The Federal Style and Beyond.

1. Another reviewer complains that the newer Universe edition has had its text edited down.
   
   This is true. The Universe just compresses the text into fewer pages, and cuts out a few paragraphs. The book's value is in the photos--all are in this edition..
   
   The quality of the printing job for the Universe not quite as good as that of the earlier Rizzoli. This does reflect itself in slightly less grand photos, but of course, it is also much cheaper.



2. I am extremely upset with my purchase of this book Classic America by Wendell Garrett. I had previosuly checked this book out from my local library and loved it. It was a hardcover book of 297 pages. Since it was out of print in hardcover and currently offered in paperback, I bought it. I was shocked to see it had been reduced to 200 pages!! I want the other 97 pages I expected and paid for. Amazon failed to mention that the book had been edited down by 1/3 the size. What a ripoff and shame on you Amazon!!!



3. This tells a history of the U.S. during the late 1700's and early 1800's with an emphasis on events and people that influenced architecture and interior design.
   The photographs are excellent, however I question the accuracy of the text. A couple paragraphs disagree with known experts without any comment. Some sections repeat themselves word for word. Entire paragraphs are printed twice, which calls into question the writing and editing of the work.
   Finally, before I had even finished reading the book, it had fallen apart in my hands. So regrettably, what could have been a beautiful volume to display is now a bunch of loose leaves.



4. Wendell Garrett has done students of interior design and architecture a very great service with this modestly priced history of America's Federal style. His concise and accurate text is amply matched by Paul Rocheleau's handsome photographs.

   There is so much to learn, even for amateur students of American architectural history. We hear about Palladio, Robert Adam, Christopher Wren and others who influenced the American Federal style, but we also learn what was going on in the American colonies in a religious, economic, and legal sense--all of which helped to affect the shape and style of American architectural and decorative tastes.

   One of the most interesting things is learning how American craftsmen, builders and architects (many of whom were slaves) were influenced by the latest European styles. American styles in everything, from dress to furniture to homes, tended to be more plainspoken and stripped down to the bare essentials than were their European counterparts.

   This is an absolutely fascinating read, and a visual treat for anyone who is even remotely interested in the American Federal style.

1 comments about In the Country Style: Timeless Designs for Today's Home.

1. The larger portion of this book has spectactular pictures of interiors of French, Italian and English source; with traditional historic flare. A good source for historic repoduction interior decorating; colors, Patterns and textures in blues, greens, yellows, reds. Lovely Textiles in solids, prints, English floral chintzes and provence patterns. Many accent details for living areas, dining areas, bedrooms, etc. Fabulous architectural photos; inside and outside. A exceptional source for reproduction historic kitchen and bathroom ideas. I just love this book. I can't put it down.