3 comments about The Fireplace Design Sourcebook.

1. If money is no object, then this book is for you. It contains many photos of exquisite fireplaces in settings that were obviously graced by an interior decorator's skillfull touch. However, as a person of limited financial and artistic means, I found the book disappointing and returned it.



2. I like this book by far the best out of the 4 "idea" books I got on fireplaces. I was looking for different types of stone fireplaces and accompanying mantles, etc and this book had a slew of them.



3. We are building a new home, and were looking for photographs of fireplaces to develop design ideas of our own. The absolute best book I've found for our application is this Schiffer Book by Melissa Cardona entitled "The Fireplace Design Sourcebook" It has more photographs than any book I've found, and an enormous variety of fireplace designs to peruse. Another excellent book is The Better Homes & Gardens book "Fireplace Decorating & Planning Ideas", which also contains construction "how to" information.

1 comments about Living Rooms: California Design Series (California Design Library/Diane Dorrans Saeks).

1. This book is the step-by-step authority on creating great living spaces. I took it on a shopping trip today and found it an incredible inspiration and resource.

No comments about Design Is in the Details: Bedrooms (Design is in the Details).

1 comments about Roomscapes: The Decorative Architecture of Renzo Mongiardino.

1. The interior architecture and furnishings by this 20th century master are beyond compare by standards of lavish classical design. Mongiardino's background in architecture and stage design are evident in the projects for the rich in Europe and northeastern US. Clients are not named, but all are rich and most are titled, captains of business, acclaimed fashionistas, or leaders of international society. Although the text is in a somewhat stilted English, perhaps a translation from Italian, the drawings and photos tell the story with no detail going unstudied. Mongiardino's influence can be seen today in the work of former assistant Stephen Sills, U.S. collaborator Peter Marino, and devotee architect John Tackett. Highly recommended for those who like classical interiors with an added layer of luxurious decoration.

3 comments about At Home with the Past: How the Love of Old Things Creates Beautiful Interiors.

1. My husband and I are buying our first apartment so I'm always looking for inspiration. After paging through countless decorating books I knew this was the one I wanted to own. Each of the 20 homes showcased exemplifies personality over cookie-cutter design concepts, each shows old objects used in unexpected ways, and finally, and maybe most importantly, the houses and apartments are intensely personal. You know people actually live there. From a railroad apartment to a renovated church, At Home With the Past consistently inspires me to follow my instincts and not the dictates of the style du jour. The clincher for me, however, is that anyone with an eye for the unexpected beauty in flea market finds or even curbside freebies can achieve a great look with a small budget. Another point to remember is that the furnishings and decorative items were acquired over time, which provides an added depth. As the personality of the owner changes and grows, so does her taste. It takes time to make a house (or an apartment) a home.



2. I received this book as a gift as I am a great bargin hunter and garage sale person. I'm afraid this book was a disappointment as it showed arty photos of shabby old houses with shabby old furniture. Most people buy old things to preserve them and blend them in with their everyday life, not to accumulate a houseful of tatty old "stuff" and hope it is interpreted as the popular "shabby chic". The photography in the book is very good however.



3. I bought this because I am a fan of their first book, OLD HOUSES, and this was such a refreshing surprise to see a repeat with a twist. What a treat to see these imaginative interiors with great use of color, objects and psychedelics.

   Maybe someday the magazines will catch up to their way hip aesthetic. Can't wait to see what this rad photographer duo is going to surprise us with next.

No comments about VOA Associates Incorporated (Master Architect Series).

No comments about Terraces (Small Books).

3 comments about Creating Cottage Style: Stylish Ideas And Step-by-step Projects.

1. I love this book! I flipped through a few 'cottage' style books and this one I had to take home. Filled with great photos, ideas and inspiration. I like the relaxed way the book is written and refer to this book time and time again! There are a few do it yourself projects included, ie: make your own pillow cover, plate rack, tablecloth, etc.. that personally I don't really need (but these take up only a few pages). Showcases homes that are simple, down to earth, easygoing, yet always unforced elegance= cottage style!



2. The subtitle of this book is a bit of a misnomer. There are step-by-step projects detailed in the book. However, few of these items appear in the rooms featured and there are very few sewing projects. Those looking for instructions should be aware this book is not helpful in that regard. However, for those with some sewing knowledge there are literally hundreds of potential projects - from curtains to pillows and slipcovers. Fans of the "cottage" look will also appreciate the dozens and dozens of stunning rooms including fabrics, furniture and accessory layouts and color combinations. One can walk away with countless ideas from this book; my copy has nearly half of its pages tagged with projects I plan to attempt. I would highly recommend it for such purposes.
   
   Christine Creager Kepko
   Proprietor, Domestic Bliss Home & Garden Keeping
   [...].



3. This book was not what I expected. I thought there would be instructions for making kitchen chair cushions like those pictured in the book. I found when I received the book it only had instructions for a few of the pictured ones in the book. None of which I was interested in.

5 comments about The Japanese Home Stylebook: Architectural Details and Motifs.

1. Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (4/07)
   
   If your tastes run to something simple, but not austere, or if you simply love great design, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Saburo Yamagata's "The Japanese Home Stylebook." This is a visually stunning book, which will certainly be able to provide numerous ideas to anybody who is involved in design, home remodeling or interior decoration. Even architects and builders should be able to pick up many ideas from it.
   
   The book consists mainly of pictorial material although Editor Peter Goodman provided some text explaining the basics behind the Japanese residential style and its elements. Starting with a basic Introduction, the book is further divided into chapters, each dealing with one of the elements. Each chapter starts with explanation of that element, followed by numerous drawings. The elements included are: Tokonoma and Shelves, Tatami Mats and Ceilings, Transoms, Fusuma, Shoji Screens, Windows, Doors, Railings and Verandas, Garden Fences and Paths and Decorative Patterns. If the 1800+ drawings found in this book are not enough to inspire you, the last chapter lists "Other Design Sources."
   
   I found this book to be elegant and truly inspiring. My only regret is that there are no pictures of complete, finished rooms or houses, depicting the finished product. Maybe this opens the doors even wider for reader's own creativity and imagination...
   
   I would recommend "The Japanese Home Stylebook" for anybody who deals with design, home building, or renovations.



2. Saburo Yamagata (1911-1986) was a graduate of Kobe University, Japan, and a practicing architect. He drew from more than 1,800 designed from traditional Japanese homes to create The Japanese Home Style Book, a seminal reference for architects, designers, builders and home remodelers. Covering every element of traditional Japanese architectural design, the entries are systematically arranged for quick reference and easy of use. Included are paper-and-wood shoji screens; fusma sliding panels; door and window designs; tatami mat arrangements; decorated ceilings; latticed and carved transoms; tokonoma scroll alcoves; "staggered shelf" layouts; outdoor verandas and railings; garden fences and screens; as well as stepping-stone paths; decorative patterns and motifs for every purpose. The Japanese Home Style Book is a seminal contribution to professional and academic Architectural Studies and reference resource collections.



3. This book will be used by my builder for my new home. The photos are magnificent.
   
   The display is exactly what I wanted him to learn.



4. I have turned to this book for inspiration when designing interiors, cabinetry, furniture, fabric and landscape design, even graphic design. It is so flexible and easy to use. A good tool.



5. Collection of clear drawings illustrating design elements, spatial composition (empty space as important as solid materials) instructive for artisans searching to solve design problems, or merely for inspiration in initiating a project.

   Not a DIY text, rather a compact orderly selection of drawn images to stimulate creativity within the realm of your own talents and expertise. How you apply the ideas rests solely on what develops in your own mind as a result of viewing simple beauty before you.

No comments about The Charged Void: Architecture.