3 comments about Peaceful Spaces: Transform Your Home into a Haven of Calm and Tranquility.

1. Looking for a book that actually was what it said and this book did not disappoint. Peaceful spaces galore and into a haven of calm and tranquility are what it delivers.
   
   Page 10: 'By questioning the purpose of everything you own, you will quickly realize that it is you, rather than the stuff that surrounds you, that must take center stage in the home.' Page 13: 'Next look at your furniture and fixtures and ask yourself what you could do without. If you are scrupulously honest, you may well discover that many things you thought were indispensable to domestic bliss are, in fact, easily dispensed with.'
   
   Page 18 'continuity of color prevents fragmentation' I have found to be one main asset when it comes to creating calm and tranquility and the author knows their stuff well. As is the authors thoughtfulness in showing a variety of spaces and abodes from city to suburbia, country and mountains. Something for everyone. Well laid out and a book one will probably use as a reference for decades since the ideas are not 'fad' but timeless.
   
   In the back of the book starting on page 138 there are sources galore listed both international and here in the states. Where possible she includes their websites which is so helpful. The book was well worth the price.



2. Photos and advice combine to introduce a clutter-free, peaceful way of life. I was looking for some inspiration as to how I can simplify my life and stop keeping so many knick-knacks out. This book is helping me realize how important it is--and how good you'll feel--when you finally decide to clear up your space. If you already know a little bit about Fung Shui, it'll add to the positive effects of this book.



3. 'Peaceful Spaces' is composed of two parts. The first half is a truly wonderful collection of decorative rooms and principles telling you how to make your own rooms look really nice. The idea is to get rid of clutter and excess furnishings, and then artfully arange carefully chosen furnishings & decorations to build a cohesive, peaceful room. Some of the rooms are a bit too spartan for my tastes, but most are simply wonderful. This book isn't about decorating style (e.g., country or modern) but how to use shape, texture, color, and materials to compose an inspiring display. 'Peaceful Spaces' touches upon Feng Shui, Zen, and Japeneese decorating style.

   The second half of the book applies the principles to different rooms of the house & office.

   If decorating your house were an art class, then most books teach technique (e.g., how to do faux painting, how to decorate in the country style, how to recover a sofa, how to choose colors); whereas this book teaches composition (e.g., how to put the pieces together into a pleasing ensamble). My experience with art classes & decorating books is that actual advice on composition is very, very rare. This book is a gem!

3 comments about Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Placement.

1. After studying dozens of books on Feng Shui, I keep returning to Sarah Rossbach. She is without question the most knowledgeable, serious, and articulate Feng Shui teacher that I have found. She offers practical solutions without dogma, which is one thing I appreciate most about her books. She teaches you how to fish, rather than fishing for you.
   
   My only, ONLY disagreement with her is about her teacher's house in San Francisco. It may be a perfect Feng Shui example, but completely without taste or sensitivity. That was a disappointment, but it did not turn me from Sarah Rossbach's books in the slightest.



2. Feng Shui as actually practiced by experts in China based on ancient traditions. This book does not cater to western prejudices by leaving things out or by making up theories to turn it into a parody of modern science. The author learned about Feng Shui when she lived in Hong Kong and would accompany a master on his rounds, who had started classes in Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese teachings when he was six. She covers tradition and history as well as the practice and teachings she experienced.



3. I guess it depends on why you read this book, but if you want to know what to do in your home, don't waste your money on this one. She does a good job of telling the history of Feng Shui and lots of little anecdotes about the successful uses of it, but no good practical ways to use it for your own benefit. It didn't do a thing for me.

5 comments about Vintage Style: Creating a Complete Look for Your Home.

1. loved this book!very easy reading with beautiful photographs.i found this book very insipirational.i know have some great gift ideas for the future.
   
   kellie



2. Unlike many of the other reviewers, I adore this book... to the point that I have had it out from the library for six months! (Yes, I know that I had better buy it soon, and, no, it's not overdue yet.)
   
   Yes, this book is a bit precious. Yes, every single photo in the book features a 100% perfect room (right down to the eerily cute clothes hangers). But Vintage Style makes for delicious eye candy, and, more than that, it does have some nifty ideas.
   
   For example, I've been using it to get ready to go out antiquing, as it has all sorts of ideas for making over old bits and bobs. Like me, you may see lots of old towels, old blankets, and old trims, but never seem to know what to do with them. Of course, you want to buy them any way. But if you also buy this book, then you'll know just what to do. You'll edge plain white towels with strong old cotton lace. You'll use old linen to make a crazy 50's roller towel.
   
   The other aspect of this book that I enjoy is the fact that this book IS a bit precious. I respect the fact the Kidston wants to make every part of her life beautiful. Imagine that you had a lovely, vintage fabric covered ironing board. Imagine that you had charming slippers. I bet your life would be better! Mine certainly would.



3. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A LOVELY BOOK.I FOUND IT TO BE QUITE PRACTICAL CONSIDERING IT WAS SORT OF SHABBY CHIC MEETS VICTORIAN.THERE ARE MANY BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS WITH PLENTY OF GREAT IDEAS.I DISAGREE STRONGLY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER REVIEWS.PERHAPS YOU NEED TO BE A CREATIVE PERSON TO APPRECIATE THIS BOOK.



4. As a big fan of the "Shabby Chic" books...I thought I'd try this one as well. I came away pretty disappointed. One of the biggest frustations with this book was that the text did not relate to the visuals on the page...Often the photo was several pages ahead or didn't appear at all. And I'd say visual references are pretty important when writing a decorating book. Am I supposed to imagine what this room looks like? The photos that do appear aren't very good...many left me wondering what they even were. If you like this style of decorating, stick to the Shabby Chic books by Rachel Ashwell. They are a much more inspirational and well written series--and the photography is much, much better.



5. I was really looking forward to this book, but was disappointed by its narrow focus. I wish Kidston had shown more examples than just her own home. And while I did like her decorating style, it was most irritating to keep flipping back and forth between text and photos, trying to figure out if the picture next to the text was an example of what she was describing (and often it wasn't) or if the photo 3 pages ahead was really what she was describing. I came away feeling that I really hadn't gathered any usable information for my own home.

4 comments about Interior Transformations.

1. This is my favorite coffee table interior design book. I like to give it a flip-through when I need some ideas, or just want to look at some lovely interiors. It is not really a how-to book (there are no DIY projects included), so I give it three stars because of this. But I love Ann Grafton's ways with pattern and fabrics, and her refined, yet comfortable style.



2. This book was surprisingly disappointing to me, a big fan of "English Country House" decorating, as illustrated in books by other Colefax and Fowler associates (Chester Jones, Roger Banks Pye). I bought the book on the strength of the author's Colefax and Fowler connection, only to find that the author is a designer at one of a number of subsidiaries of the corporate Colefax and Fowler Group, and apparently has never worked for the Colefax and Fowler design firm. As a result, her style is nothing at all like traditional Colefax and Fowler, with its period furniture, lush fabrics and liberal use of trimmings, antique accessories, paintings and engravings. If that is what you are looking for, don't buy this book. Instead, look for "Colefax and Fowler" by Chester Jones or "Interior Inspirations" by Roger Banks Pye.



3. This interior design book has a much lighter palette of colors, than say, Colefax & Fowler's Interior Inspirations (dark woods, old english country style).

   While the images seem deceptively simple, the juxtaposition of colors, neutrals and contrasts of textures packs a punch. There are lots of plaids, stripes, assorted ticking fabrics and some toile presented in this beautiful full color book (my favorite is the photograph of a blue and white eiderdown made from a contemporary print fabric, but bordered in an antique floral remnant, p.94).

   For anyone familiar with Katrin Cargill's books on swedish style and fabric decorating (Cargill's Fabrications book is the *perfect* companion to this volume - the use of fabrics are almost identical; Cargill's book is closer to a sewing sourcebook), Grafton and Cargill share the same design sensibilities; that style is inherently english. The book is also faintly reminiscent of the current Laura Ashley look. Perfect if you're looking to decorate your living quarters for the summer, or even year-round.




4. was drawn in by the lovely living room on the cover. after going through book, found that most rooms and ideas were of the author's new home, which limited the number of ideas offered for those of us with different style homes. also,on closer inspection, curtain details, etc. were not especially orginial or inspirational. in all, the cover photo is the best thing about this book.

5 comments about Spirit of the Home: How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary.

1. This book pulls together a variety of spiritual concepts - feng shui, goddesses, purification/smudging, creating altars, use of stones and crystals, aromatherapy/scents in the home, and colors. It's really a great overview. Activities like spring cleaning and decluttering are covered as are specific rooms like bedrooms, kitchen, etc. There are some terrific photographs throughout the book which really inspire. I like that the author put all of this together into one book. I have other books that talk around all this - one on feng shui, one on crystals, one on potpourri, etc. This book ties them together and I feel like now I can go back to those other books and apply them better.



2. This book was a real "find" for me. I have several books on feng shui and space clearing, and this one was intuitive, yet practical at the same time. It is spiritual but loaded with remedies for clearing one's space on this earth while we are here! I never thought to talk to my house, yet it makes perfect sense! It reads almost like a novel and is just full of information. I wish I could go home from work now and continue with the "read"!



3. When I first looked over this book I did not get into it. But as I began to buy new furniture for a new home and pulled together my tastes and sytles (The Domain Book is great for that!), I found this book to be a wonderfully insightful book that helped me to consider Feng Shui and blessing my home and many other spiritual and tangible aspects of this place called my home. I have ordered a second one today for a friend.



4. This book is a good introduction to lots of new age stuff (and common sensical stuff, too) relating to homes. Alexander gives recommendations of other books if you want to dig deeper into a particular topic.



5. I enjoy reading, but I am a very visual person and was disappointed in this book because while it offers suggestions that make sense, it takes longer to get through the book since it is practically all words and very few pictures for inspiration.

2 comments about Mountain Style.

1. While cabins can be a year-round fascination, I have a fondness for log cabins in the winter. There is a secret place I like to visit when I want to escape for a weekend and watch movies in a very cozy setting. To own a cabin of my own would seem a dream, but for now it is a "rare" weekend reality.
   
   If you love log cabins, Mountain Style shows cabins with panoramic views, high ceilings and sophisticated designs. This is an eclectic mix of Modern, Arts & Crafts, rustic, country, high-tech and provincial styles.
   
   Mary Whitesides has worked with craft groups all over the world and helps to create original interiors for the Sundance resort. Some of the most beautiful pictures in this book are the natural surroundings like the waterfall or fields of flowers, mountain scenes and newly fallen snow. It is all so romantic. There is even an indoor pool and decorating ideas galore.
   
   After you read this book you may become very inspired and plan a weekend at a cabin. I'd love to live in a cabin, but that dream has yet to come true. Of course, somehow we'd have to figure out how to build a tower nearby. I love cabins and towers.
   
   This is the type of book for fireside reading while snuggled up with a down comforter.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. Mary Whitesides draws upon her years of experience and expertise as an interior designer to showcase high-tech, cowboy, rustic country, and regional provincial oriented designs for mountain homes, that are truly spectacular -- and enhanced for the reader with spectacular full-color photography. Of special interest is a remarkable chapter devoted to the creation of truly gorgeous gardens suitable for cool climates and rock soils. There is also a complete resource guide of artisans, manufacturers, and designers which will prove invaluable for anyone seeking to create, modify, or re-design their own mountain home. Mountain Style is simply wonderful browsing.

No comments about Lighting Spaces.

1 comments about Smart Guide: Trim: Step-by-Step Projects (Smart Guide).

1. This was just too basic for me to find it very useful. Almost all of the illustrations are cartoon-like and simple. The projects are simple, and there's nothing in it to give you ideas about trim unless you haven't thought about it at all prior to reading this. If you're just starting to think about doing some trim work around your house, you might find this useful, but otherwise look for something more advanced.

1 comments about The Georgian House in America and Britain.

1. This book talks mostly about British examples, but should be all the more interesting to Americans because of it, since everything here is but a copy of everything there. The first few chapters contain a lot of interesting and detailed history, but the emphasis eventually turns to restoring windows, doors, floors, wallpaper, and so on, to genuine Georgian.

   The author scoffs at the readily available low-cost reproductions, often pointing out their inaccuracies--pure white was never used for windows, for instance--but then again, what do you expect from a book with a Forward by the Queen of England? Abundant photos accompany the text, fully justifying the book's price.

1 comments about Wine by Design (Interior Angles).

1. I bought this as a Christmas gift for one of my many wine loving friends and just had to get one for myself. It tackles a unique subject - winery architecture - and gives you a good but not too in depth description of the wine making region, the wine facilities, and the wines themselves. It is full of great colour photography, site plans, and a broad selection of wineries around the world. The architecture featured is modern and not what you expect of typical wineries...the Gehry sketches alone are worth the price of the book! Want to impress your friends? Leave this book out on your coffee table. Better yet, pull this book out and enjoy while you sip on a Rioja red.