No comments about Saarinen's Quest: A Memoir.

2 comments about Victoria Designers in Residence: The Personal Style of Top Women Decorators and Designers.

1. This is another lovely book by Victoria. It's filled with page after page of beautiful photographs in a range of styles including shabby-chic, vintage flea market, traditional, Victorian, country, European and my favorite, decorating with whites & creams. This is not a how-to book, but a wonderful one to enjoy with a cup of tea, curled up on your favorite chair. You will not find contemporary design in this book. Although I am not partial to bright colors, every designer showcased in this book has a lovely home with warmth and inviting comfort. I would have given this book a 5 star rating if all of the designs were in a soft dreamy color palette. For those of you who enjoy the same, there are 5 designers and plenty of pages filled with lovely photographs, including the queen of shabby chic, Rachel Ashwell.



2. 
   When "Victoria Magazine" first came out in the very early 1990's (or late 1980s) , it was the first of it's kind. I just loved it, and subscribed to it until it stopped being marketed. (By the way, this was before magazines such as ROMANTIC HOMES became popular in the late 1990's).
   
   If you are familiar with the typical format of VICTORIA MAGAZINE, then you can envision what this book is like.
   
   The photos are of the highest quality,just like in the magazine.
   
   The format is the same as the magazine, in that there are many WONDERFUL photos, but note that this is NOT a decorating "how-to" book.
   
   I would categorize this book as a lovely coffee table book. A feast for the eyes, especially if you love romantic homes.
   
   However, if you are drawn to the more typical "modern" homes, or the bright colors of the current retro homes, then this book is not for you.
   
   As I said, this book is for those that like "romantic style" homes of the 1990's & early 2000's, (with the more muted colors).

2 comments about Interior Design Management: A Handbook for Owners and Managers.

1. I was hoping for a really good guide to the business side of Interior Design from an expert. This book was reccomended to me by another professional in the business as the "bible" of the business. I was hoping for insights for a well-run, prosperous, effecient and positive business. I was sorely disappointed. This book is negative, preachy, outdated, and angry. Written in a most uninspired manner and goes so far as to say things like, if you want your own business you better be prepared to give up bridge, tennis, dinner with your family... blah, blah, blah, or quite frankly your contract is to protect you, NOT your client. Hmmm, really, last I checked it is supposed to do both. Maybe it just does not represent the spirit in which I choose to do business. I was hoping for advise from someone who is better at this than I am, someone who may have streamlined the process and knows good time management. All the drama and negativity pulls your energy from whatever good information is present. I can see the wagging index finger of the writer as I read, no thank you.
   Stella



2. Just by thumbing through this book at the store the other day I could tell it was the book for me! I highly recommend this publication to anyone who needs to learn the in's-n-out's of this business. I learned so much already...I can't wait to finish it

No comments about Lampshades & Lighting: The Project and Decorative Sourcebook.

1 comments about Cool Restaurants Shanghai (Cool Restaurants).

1. This is a great and comprehensive guide to some of the eateries in Shangahi.
   
   Plus, it's nicely designed!

5 comments about Putting the Heart in Your Home: Decorating That Nurtures Your Soul.

1. What a lovely book! It is inspiring! It offers insights and guidance for creating a home and rooms we love to be in. Highly recommended!



2. Great book - full of ideas, suggestions, pictures and advice. Gives inspiration as well as information.



3. A very disappointing book filled with many outdated pictures from magazines years ago. Lacking anything new and inspirational.



4. This is a beautiful and helpful book, full of great ideas and wonderful photos, treat yourself and buy a copy of this book. Anyone who has followed Jean is not surprised, as she has "been there and done that" and always with class. This is a wonderful book - Thanks Jean!



5. The homes and rooms in this book are charming and beautiful but the book is very helpful also. This is how most people wish their homes looked. The book pictures one room after another, many with timeless cottage character, and all conveying heartfelt charm. This definitely isn't a schmaltzy book but just a book filled with great style and practical, charming decorating ideas and tips.

No comments about THE NEW HOSPITAL.

5 comments about Change Your Home, Change Your Life.

1. This book is a feast for my eyes. The photos and the colors are the true inspiration.



2. I found this book to be helpful because the workbook-type layout helps you discover your personal style and preferences. It's not the ideas and pics (though good) that I liked so much, it was the questions. For someone who's not comfortable expressing their personal style (or has yet to discover it) this is a great book to bring those things out in the open.
   I liked the motivational style and the fresh, personal writing. The layout is beautiful. The book did sort of naggingly remind me of Bill Phillip's book...even the slogan "Change your (home/body) Change your life," the journal questions, the motivational style...but if it works, why not use it. Kudos to Moll for helping us discover our motivation for creating beautiful surroundings and our unique style.



3. Pretty pictures of pretty houses and the author is certainly more photogenic than Martha Stewart but from an informational standpoint, there's nothing here you haven't seen or heard dozens of times before in women's magazines or on daytime TV talk shows.
   
   If a compilation of timeworn tips on how you might rearrange your furniture, jazz up a delivered pizza with a smattering of your own spices or select a new color scheme for your breakfast nook really constitutes a life-changing moment in your life, well, color you shallow.



4. This book is pretty inspirational. What hit home most for me is to not wait until I own a dream home before I start to put effort into my apartment. You forget that seeing eyesores and being disorganized affects your mood, as does having flowers on the dining table and a made up bed for the opposite mood! The cons of the book is that it is pretty repetitive and probably would've been better off with less text and more picture ideas. It seemed the author just kept saying the same things in every chapter. But overall a really good book and it inspired me to fix up my place more and to always have flowers around!



5. Before reading this book, I was so hesitant about what do buy, or how to decorate. After reading the book, I had a different outlook on my home as well as my life. Through decorating I learned who I was, and what made me happy. Now my decor selections bring me much more happiness and comfort. I look forward to coming home every evening!

No comments about Building & Renovating Schools: Design, Construction Management, Cost Control.

No comments about Best of Friends: Isamu Noguchi and Buckminster Fuller.