4 comments about Vintage Cottages.

1. I had high expectations for this book. Had I realized it was written by the same author as Camps and Cottages, I may have thought twice before I bought it.
   
   Just like its sister book, Camps and Cottages, Vintage Cottages features California cottages exclusively. That should have been reflected in the title or subtitle.
   
   Secondly, the photography disappointed. Too many little heavily styled micro views of bookcases and table tops. I longed for wider shots to get a better sense of the whole house.
   
   And last, the spaces feel artificial to me. A heavy stylist's hand is evident in many of the photos. There is even an obvious product placement of the author's other book, Camps and Cottages.
   
   If you are interested in real vintage cottages, spaces where people really live, the book to get is The Cottage Book: Living Simple and Easy.



2. I HATE THIS BOOK!! THIS WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT--IT SHOULD BE CALLED VINTAGE CABINS. WHEN I THINK OF " VINTAGE COTTAGES " I THINK OF QUAINT VICTORIAN TYPE DWELLINGS. THE MAJORITY OF PHOTOS IN THIS BOOK DEPICT RUSTIC, BACK WOODS, NORTHERN CABIN TYPE HOMES. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK. THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK IS THE COVER.



3. We love this book. So many excellent ideas. Our family being animal people, absolutely love that this book is dedicated to Buddy who happened to be at the right place at the right time. The cottages are beautiful as well as the landscapes and the celebration of four-legged friends is a beautiful plus!
   
   This is an item we accidentally happened upon due to recommendation from previous purchases. We will certainly integrate some of the ideas in our tiny cottage as well with much enthusiasm. Very nice reading indeed and beautiful photography. It sits with pride on our coffee table for when the need for inspiration hits.



4. She did it again. Worth the wait...terrific new book.
   Job well done Molly and Tom!
   Love that they included the dogs.

5 comments about A History of Interior Design.

1. WOW! beautifully organized and articulated. thoughtful and well-rounded discussion of the variation and evolution of interior design. it was purchased to use as a course resource (on 20th century American consumer culture), but am now tempted to buy my OWN copy.



2. It's a very interesting book, it offers a vew over design from ancient times to ower days. We can follow the developement of design over time. The book is recomended especialy for professional designers.



3. I really do enjoy the book except that on some important topics in the class I am taking with this book there is little information. Nonetheless on the topics it greatly expands upon the book shows impressive and accurate knowledge. The pictures also aid in examples and are for the msot part the best picture examples that any book could offer.



4. If you're bored with historical overviews of a discipline, you're in for a surprise. Pile brings interior design to life with vibrant examples, wonderful background detail, and the kind of information that will help you understand this arena with much more depth.



5. History of Interior Design is great. I study interior design and, without John Pile's books, this wide-ranging subject would have been far more difficult. Studying the subject "history of interior design" would have been such a struggle for me without having this book at my side. I just couldn't find all I needed on the internet. Apart from the high quality paper and excellent images, John Pile has a writing style that gets his point across very clearly. That makes for rapid reading and faster absorption of information.

1 comments about Luxury Hotels Beach Resorts (Luxury).

1. 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!

5 comments about Bungalow Bathrooms (Bungalow Basics).

1. Bungalow Bathrooms (Bungalow Basics)
   For anyone building a NEW bungalow style home or refurbishing an OLD one, this is a great source of accurate info on the materials and styles typically used and resources for obtaining materials. Powell's detailed explanations of original bungalow styles from the late 20's thru the early 50's include suggestions for "obsessive" and for "compromise" solutions and the list of resources is super. Her witty writing style and Svendson's wonderful photographs make this book as enjoyable as it is useful.



2. Unfortunatley (or fortunately depending on the perspective), most of the images and information in the rather expensive book can now all be found on the internet.



3. I've read other Jane Powell books and have always found them both entertaining and informative. In this book, she provides a history of bathrooms and bathroom fixtures and provides information about restoring older baths. She even includes advice about repairing old fixtures, broken tile etc. As in her other books she gives the readers advice about "Obsessive Restoration" and modern "Compromise Solutions" - all in keeping with the historic theme. The photographs in this book are wonderful; I was suprised by the wild colors of some of the bathrooms that were created in the 1920's and 1930's. This is a great book if you have an older house and are looking to create a period-appropriate bath.



4. In the midst of planning for the remodeling of my bathroom in the Arts & Crafts style, I found this book filled with plenty of pictures and examples of bathrooms from that time period. Arts & Crafts magazines rarely show pictures of bathrooms. So it was great to have a book that was filled with such a variety of pictures as well as giving the history of this time period and tips for those who actually want to restore their bathrooms. Better money spent than trying to buy a huge amount of magazines hoping to get one picture here and there.



5. If you want to be historically accurate, this book is for you. The author gives examples of "Obsessive Restoration" and a "Compromise Solution" for each element of restoring a bungalow bathroom. However, even the compromise was too obsessive for me. In addition, the author wasted way too many pages discussing the history of bathrooms, which is irrelevant to me. Her companion book, "Bungalow Kitchens" is much of the same. I just built a new Craftsman home, and my goal was to build a new home with historic influences, so what I was hoping for were suggestions on how to incorporate modern materials and modern conveniences to achieve a bungalow look. Obviously that was not the author's goal -- she's all about keeping the historical accuracy. This book has lots of illustrative photos, but they all look dingy and stodgy to me. I was looking more for something to show me how to bring bungalow style to my home without it looking outdated and old.

1 comments about New Bar and Club Design.

1. This book is a classy edition to library of any nightclub industry professional and to anyone who enjoys fine design.
   
   A sequel to "Bar and Club Design", a book I have not had the opportunity to view, this second book is reminiscent of the popular photograph books published with works of famous photographers. It is physically weighted, an unusual, square shape with high quality glossy pages. The book is divided by chapters that categorize the types of bars. Starting with bars, the book leads into restaurant bars, hotel bars, and clubs.
   
   It visually captures fifty of the worlds most beautifully designed bars and clubs with detailed text descriptions that tell a story of their own. There are several floor plans that show the uniqueness of each of these clubs, beyond the photograph. Ryder, the books author, is a journalist from London specializing in lifestyle topics and interior design. This explains why each image in the book appears a true work of art.
   
   Visit Coconclub in Moscow, Russia which is described as a "giant termite mound" by the author and as a "four level biomorphic formation like a mountain peppered with caves, suddenly put inside a building with a an eclectic façade" by its architects. The images that follow are an amazing feat of architecture and artwork weaved together.
   
   See how Hajime in Tokyo, Japan has maximized the appearance of a small square footage area using some illumination and shadowing to create the illusion of a much larger space. Or the 2 million dollar color changing XL club in New York. The ideas, creativity and beauty seems endless.
   
   This is a pleasant read and even more pleasant just to thumb through and enjoy the photographic art that it contains. If you own a bar or club, let it inspire you to make changes and differentiate your bar from others. If you just enjoy the nightlife, know that there are fascinating places you can spend your time.

3 comments about How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series).

1. I agree with Juan's assessment that using "Interior Design" in the title could mislead potential readers. Since Juan sufficiently addressed this issue in his review, let's now assume that this book is titled more correctly, "How to Start a Home-Based Interior Decorating Business".
   
   After a successful 11-year career in apparel design/production, I found myself jobless due to corporate downsizing. After soul-searching and research, I decided that I wanted to go into business for myself and that becoming an interior decorator would be a perfect fit for my skills and interests. So I purchased this book several months ago and have referred to it on an almost daily basis as I take steps to set up my business.
   
   Ms. Phillips has a clear, concise writing style. There is no "fluff" in this book. Even though I already know some of the details on business/home office set-up, it was helpful to read it in this format and in the context of interior decorating.
   
   There is so much I do NOT know about this industry, and that is where this book shines. The author does a stellar job of explaining the day-to-day nature of interior decorating, how to decide if this business is right for you, and the importance of writing a detailed business plan.
   
   The book also provides business form templates that you can copy and use. Finally, the Product Overview section outlines specific instructions on measuring and costing out your projects.
   
   I strongly recommend this book as a starting point and ongoing reference guide for anyone interested in starting a home decorating business from home.



2. Before I purchased this book I read Juan's review, but being the"Doubting Thomas" kind of person I am, I bought it anyway. I should have listened to Juan. His review is completely accurate.



3. An even better title would have been "What You Need to Start and Maintain a Successful Home-Based Decorative Surface & Window Treatment Retail Business". If it had that title, I would have given it 5 stars! Why do publishers encourage such deception?
   
   The dust jacket information about this book leads you to think it is all about Interior Design, and it is not. For example: Ms. Phillips states one of the key differences between the designation of "Interior Designer" and "Decorator" is becoming a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) which requires Interior Design or Architecture related education and experience in related fields.
   
   I would assume most readers picking up this book have little of either if any. Then she decides to use the term "designer" throughout the book, instead of the more appropriate and realistic term of "decorator". Why? Is there a stigma about being a decorator? (By the way, one can also become a member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) as well and legally be called an Interior Designer.)
   
   As for a home-based surface treatment and/or decorating business, this book is good. The listed topics are important and Ms. Phillips does a good job of covering the details in simple language. She has some good questions on whether running your own business is for you and the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Obviously she has been there, and has sweated it out too! Also featured are smart advertising and marketing ideas.
   
   I felt the information on office set-up and computing was behind the times, but then again I am a gadget guy and tend to be up on these matters.
   
   In conclusion, a person, without any experience, wishing to start and effectively run an interior decorating business that focuses on surface treatment decoration products and services (such as flooring, carpets, textiles, fabrics, wall coverings, wallpaper, and window treatments) would do quite well with this book. I think it is a great business, and there is great potential for a lucrative business.
   
   However for someone wanting to do "Interior Design" (more than just surface treatments), they will be left dissatisfied. I advise you to look elsewhere.

No comments about Jeffrey Bilhuber: Defining Luxury: The Qualities of Life at Home.

4 comments about Creole Houses: Traditional Homes of Old Louisiana.

1. A very nice book on a beautiful architectual style. These houses fit perfectly into the Southern Louisiana landscape, they were built for balmy humid climate of the region. I found the history of the people that built these homes very interesting, the text was imformative and the images nicely produced. If you are interested in this style i highly recomend the book on Hays Town, he was a modern master of the venacular.



2. This book is not what you expected; it is a book on southern houses and their interiors, but not about the stuffy designer places that you usually see. The interiors are even more sophisticated and tastefull than any you have seen in such books. It is the first time you have seen the beautiful Louisiana-made chairs and armoires in their native environment.
   
   It seems like the photographers really searched hard to find just the right houses to elucidate the Creole style. It is a house style that seems like one you would want to recreate and live in today



3. This book brings important attention to the existence of these historic Creole homes in a part of the country that has been shattered by natural events in recent years. Fortunately, these homes are survivors: of their glorious past, of the ravages of weather, economy and time. The photographic vision of Gross and Daley is a brilliant dedication to documenting places as they are and not how we might want them to be. OLD HOUSES, one of their first books, set a precedent for their evocative style of artistry in what they choose to photograph from our architectural and domestic past. They continue to seek the forlorn, the forgotten, the poignant and the unusual. Their latest book, CREOLE HOUSES, is further revelation of their aesthetic message--of how old places and ways can be both beautiful and resonant in our modern, complicated world. CREOLE HOUSES is both record, homage, and a visual and written poem to historic Louisiana architecture.



4. I have over the years acquired a couple dozen books on old New Orleans and Low Country architecture, none has captured the true feeling of that fading glory like Creole Houses. Photos are superb, text is authorative, end sheets are a delight, and the binding first rate. This book is a peek inside antebellum Creole country from plantation houses to servant's quarters.
   
   Lets hope these folks do more such volumes. My suggestion would be the 18th century Georgians of the Mid-Atlantic states.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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1 comments about The Cabin Book.

1. I just received this book in the mail from Amazon. It is wonderful, it is art. It is everything and much, much more. If you want to get design ideas for a crafted cabin of quality, THIS IS THE BOOK!

No comments about Finnish Summer Houses.