1 comments about John Pawson: Themes and Projects.

1. after reading that bruce chatwin had his london apartment designed by john pawson, i went looking for books on pawson's work, and found four. after studying them for a while, i chose this book. it is not the biggest, doesn't have the most pictures, and isn't the cheapest, but it does have beautiful balance. i tried unsuccessfully to wait until after work to look through it, but after a few hours i broke down and skimmed it. i am currently reading through it in detail, and i just love it.

   it has a nice selection of buildings and projects, and with all the various opinions from a variety of different types of people, gives an unusual, but fascinating introduction which leaves me wanting to find out still more. the one regret i have about this book is that there are no pictures of chatwin's apartment, but then none of the others i looked at had them either. there are also a number of useful references to other architects strewn throughout the text, as well as an index to john pawson's body of work. highly recommended.

No comments about Feng Shui Style: The Asian Art of Gracious Living.

No comments about A Place in the Country: Country Home Collection.

2 comments about English Country Cottage: Interiors, Details & Gardens.

1. u can feel the charisma with each breathtaking picture of charming cottages and gardens.it makes u want to jump in and get warm and cozy.even from across the room this book relaxes u.a 100% certifiable coffee table legend.



2. This truly delightful book shows cottage interiors that reflect the pasttimes, habits, and way of living that one likes to believe are essentially "English". These homes look as if they are actually lived in and all exhibit that special British propensity for comfort blended with eccentricity. The ubiquitous Aga is featured in a number of the kitchens, but there are also enough 'jolts' in the form of colour use and collections to make this book memorable and somehow fresh. A book I refer to again and again and well worth adding to your collection - almost a reference on English cottage style. Very good value.

No comments about Stores and Retail Spaces 8.

3 comments about Spectacular Homes of the Pacific Northwe.

1. I was extremely disappointed by this book, and I'd like to warn potential buyers.
   1. This book is only about interior design.
   Do not expect a single exterior image. When I read the title, I thought I was going to see a good selection of images portraying 'spectacular' homes inside and out. But you only get very few shots of some of the main rooms.
   2. These homes are not spectacular.
   At best, they're average. Unless, of course, you're a big fan of froufrou design, overdone decoration, fake antiques, ribbons, lace and bows, factory made nostalgic gesso decorations and so forth. The designers represented in this book are not aware that we live in the Twenty First Century.
   3. The book is a promotional brochure for interior designers.
   Every project comes with a complete presentation of the author of the interior design, including details about how they most like to spend their money (?!?). It makes me think that probably these designers paid the publishing house to each have one project published (what a coincidence, exactly one each).
   Overall, the quality of the designs is disappointing. This book is not at all what it pretends to be. Not even the inside flaps reveal what this book really is, or that it is only about interior design.
   Anyone interested in good quality architecture and design, beware!



2. I guess there are people who find these homes spectacular, but I'm not one of them. Except for Melody Emerick's work in Oregon, these homes scream, "Designer's been here". These homes look so over-designed. Do people really want to live like this? Obviously, I don't get it.
   
   Of all the zillions of interior design books and magazines I've looked at, this book is one of the most uninteresting and uninspiring. And I live in the Oregon. One would think I would appreciate and value this book. Maybe this book is for traditional, conservative people and I live in a progressive realm...



3. Each designer is showcased beautifully. It's a great coffee table book.
   And don't we wish we all could have homes like those shown? But, we can get ideas!

2 comments about Affordable Home Design: Innovations and Renovations.

1. This book says almost nothing about affordable home design. In fact, it says almost nothing at all. Most of the book is dedicated to large photos, some of which are grainy in quality. The written descriptions of the houses include, at most, a sentence or two about some "affordable" feature, while most of the noteworthy features of the houses look quite expensive. It's as if the publisher decided to make another book about mostly modern houses, then put the word "affordable" in the title just to sell more books. If you want a book on this subject, buy another one instead.



2. Affordable Home Design; Innovations And Renovations is packed with solutions to appeal to designers on a budget who want to keep quality without high expense. Here are projects which focus on budget-saving ideas and sustainable designs, covering both new construction and renovation projects from single family homes to apartments. Energy saving ideas are a big part of Affordable Home Design, with discussions revolving around originally commissioned idea versus finished project considerations. Martha Torres received a degree in architecture in Venezuela and has coordinated a number of design projects: her expertise lends to a fine set of ideas.

No comments about Working: 20 Projects in Process.

1 comments about Stores of the Year No. 16.

1. I think it was a great buy since it's complete my collection on visual merchandising books.

1 comments about Ultimate Guide to Kitchens: Plan, Remodel, Build.

1. I had already seen this book in person at the book store and had looked through it to find a book that contained a little bit about everything when it came to remodeling a kitchen. If you're looking for a book that hits on everything but doesn't go into too much detail about each project, you'll like this book. It has lots of colorful pictures and ideas on how to do things along with 'how-tos' on cermaic tile to hardwood flooring to picking out lights.