5 comments about Santa Barbara Style.

1. Perfect represention of the Santa Barbara Style. Loved all the pictures, landscapes, ideas, and overall presentation of the book.



2. you just can't go wrong with these series of books, I have them all and they are outstanding



3. As an interior designer, several of my colleagues mentioned that this was the most requested style from their newer clients. I thought there would be more current interiors, referring to a new style. It was more of a historical chronicle of design in Santa Barbara, for exteriors and interiors. It is a nice book, but not exactly what I expected.



4. Im building a santa barbara style house and I was disappointed. Not a lot of details. Sure some pics of some SB mansions but not enough photos or details to actually do anything with this book. I guess if you are into SB history it might be OK, otherwise save yourself the $. You will be done browsing it in about 10 minutes and never use it again.



5. This is an amazing photo essay about the Spanish Architecture of Santa Barbara. I own several books like this and this is my favorite.Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente

5 comments about The Hawaiian House Now.

1. This book is beautifully produced, with a nice variety of types of homes presented.



2. I got this book so I could get some decorating ideas for my own house here in California. I found the book to be helpful in what I needed it for. It shows good interior design ideas for houses in Hawaii that could easily by used in other parts of the world. I love the Hawaiian styles and I am working on recreating them in my home.



3. This book transported me back to those years when I grew up in Hawaii and was exposed through friends and parties to so many of these kind of houses. I see Hawaii house decor being such an accumulation of all that is good about Hawaii - reflection of its spirit and early settlers and Hawaiian aspect. I live in New Zealand and decorate ALL my houses with a strong Hawaii/South Pacific/New Zealand flavor - this book has given me such inspiration for my next house. If you grew up in Hawaii or love the spirit of Hawaii this book is a must. I was thrilled when I received the book and as I am about to start a new adventure with a house I am going to incorporate so much of what I see and read in "The Hawaiian House Now" - It is not just a book with nice photos it is a book with some great information on all that is Hawaii.



4. I enjoyed this book very much. It was well written, well researched and contained a wealth of beautiful photographs. The author captured the beauty of simplicity. The Hawaiian House is a wonderful coffee table book.



5. Whether your style is contemporary, traditional, or eclectic this book has something for everyone. I've gone through it again and again, and each time I've seen something new or gotten an idea for something I can do in my own home.

No comments about Wadia Associates New Classicists: Distinguished Residential & Interior Design.

5 comments about Good Green Homes.

1. This book gives a good understanding of what it means to be "green". Great examples of homes and "greenability" for all levels.
   
   If you are interested in learning about the different meanings of being green at the residential level, this is a great starting point.
   
   There are books that will go into a lot more detail around specific areas, so it depends on if you are looking for a go over or deep details.



2. This is an excellent book for those seeking an introduction to environmentally sound home building. There are many good general points and examples of green homes. It is short on details for actual designers but good for home builders who need to read this information desperately and stop building mega-mansions with 5 bedrooms for families with one kid.



3. Doesn't give a detailed analysis of anything, but is a great tool for people wanting a basic understanding of green building, energy efficient techniques, etc.



4. This book no doubt makes a lovely addition to my coffee table. I feel so inspired and now.. how do I do it?? I was looking for more practical advice that addressed all my reasons for wanting to remodel green - protecting my family's health and our planet's natural resources and my financial savings. If the intention was to create a stunning, inspiring book - great job. If it was to really explain what green is and exactly how to do it, I think I'd look to books like "Green Remodeling" by Johnston and Master or read Environmental Building News....



5. "A recent poll revealed that an astounding 96% of consumers are willing to pay more for green features in a home, and 91% feel that energy-efficient features in a new home were extremely or very important."
   
   If you are planning to redecorate or remodel, Good Green Homes offers ideas, real-world advice and lots of inspiration. Jennifer Roberts is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainable building, energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility. She helps people make choices that encourage positive change in their living environments. She answers the following questions:
   
   How does having a "green" home actually save money?
   How can someone who rents their home make significant changes?
   What are some ways to protect and improve the quality of air inside our homes?
   What are "rapidly renewable sources?"
   How can you afford a green home on a limited budget?
   
   Jennifer is also a merchandising manager for the Marina Green stores and joys introducing consumers to the joys of stylish clothes made from organically grown cotton, healthy paints, energy-efficient light bulbs, tableware made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday household products.
   
   Featured Homes Include:
   
   A Delightful Cottage
   An Ecofriendly addition to a historic home
   A Trio of Healthy and Green City Homes
   An Artist's studio on a Wooded Island
   A Vacation Retreat in the Wine Country
   A Neighborhood of Homes
   A Remodeled Victorian Flat
   
   It is rather shocking to learn that the air inside our homes can be five times more polluted than the air outside. One look at your energy bill might convince you to read this book.
   
   These homes don't really look all that different, but there are features like skylights to save electricity or there is a home that is naturally cooled, heated and lit. Some homes have solar water-heating systems for the summer and a unique solar power system blended right in with a backyard trellis to generate electricity from the sun.
   
   The section on air quality was of interest to me because I am always moving my Austin air filter about the house.
   
   The "Wine Country Retreat" looked like a house I could live in because it even has a tower. Well, the pools also looked rather inviting.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Small Adobe House, The.

1. Nice little book, fair price, but the same photos as in similar books I've purchased...



2. This is a great additional to our book collection and is a must have for anyone who is designing their house with the "Santa Fe" look. The pictures are just wonderful!



3. This is a beautiful book. It is an excellent addition to my library of Adobe house books. I will be building an adobe house in the next couple of years and this book is a great reference.



4. Great book showing some fantastic homes. Lots of great ideas for when I move west and get an adobe. If you have an interest in this type and style home this is a good book to have in your library.



5. In comparison to other books available about adobe houses, the content of this book offers little range and depth. Other choices were less superficial.

2 comments about Tuscany Style: Landscapes, Terraces & Houses, Interiors, Details (Icons).

1. I just purchased this book thinking that it was something that it turned out not to be.
   
   I was looking for a book that had the pictures of "Tuscany Style" (It does), but also a book that would come with some sort of instructional descriptions to possibly achieve something similar.
   
   This book is STRICTLY Pictures!
   
   The only places where words are used, are at the begining of the book (Introduction) and near the end of the "Chapters" where the photos are given "Titles" like artwork.
   
   I am not going to give the book 5 stars, as I wish the book description included this information.
   
   I am not going to rank it lower than 4 stars, because it basically covers what the title says "Tuscany Style." To achieve the extra star, required that something extra... Helpful Wording.



2. This is basically a pictorial of the ins and outs of italian lifestyle. I find the rich colors and sense of simplicity coming through the photos to be what I needed for the project I am working on. Lots of small details in these photos make the overall very well worth the search for this book.

No comments about Finnish Summer Houses.

3 comments about Lyn Peterson's Real Life Kitchens.

1. Excellent book which covers all the things you need to know. Not just photos although there are many & they are excellent, but also good solid information which you might not think about on your own.



2. This book is like a secret interior designers handbook for all to understand. It answers all questions and gives opinions of the author's own personal style as well as her clients. She projects actual dimensions (such as how much countertop overhang is needed at the kitchen island for a stool) so you know what you are talking about when you meet with the designers that you are going to purchase goods from. I have found this book much more helpful than all the other kitchen books I have combined. Well worth the money.



3. What great timing for me to find this book! I had just begun plans to renovate my kitchen and everything I need to know is in this book! Questions about little details that I knew would trip me up later -- they are all covered. There are so many decisions to be made when renovating a kitchen, it's pretty overwhelming. This book covers all the bases. Nice photos and layout too.

5 comments about Handmade Modern: Mid-Century Inspired Projects for Your Home.

1. Designer Todd Oldham, founder of Todd Oldham Studio in New York and host of the Bravo television series "Top Design," provides more nifty project ideas and DIY help in his 2005 book titled Handmade Modern: Mid-Century Inspired Projects for Your Home. Oldham's book contains more than 72 step-by-step projects inspired by mid-century modern aesthetics. Interspersed along with an array of design plans; Oldham's book contains a number of succinct bios on such prominent designers as Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Girard and Charles and Ray Eames.
   
   Oldham is well known for his contributions to the world of accessible design and has often struck me as a gifted mentor and educator. On first review,Oldham's book fulfills expectations with it's vivid "mod-podge" design and brilliantly conceived projects. Upon closer inspection however, Handmade Modern falls short of its expected accessibility with vague instructions and the absence of a much needed list of tools and materials for each project.
   
   From a design prospective Todd Oldham's book is a bit of a let down. Ultimately, the book exists to inform the reader, so how the book does this should be considered most critically. Aesthetically, the book is pleasing and the form is consistent, but unfortunately it falls short in its function.
   
   Copyright © 2007 Of My Own Design, Josh Crain. All Rights Reserved.



2. I'm a huge Todd Oldham fan but, over all, but this book is very disappointing. A lot of the projects seem complicated and/or expensive (also, I think the prices he lists for some of the supplies are too low, making some projects even more expensive than they seem). Given the cost of materials and tools, some things just don't seem worth making. I wish there were more simple, clever ideas for adding Modern design to your home, that don't require a lot of money, skill, tools, or a work space. The instructions and photos are sometimes confusing or incomplete, making them hard to follow. The one thing I like about this book is that Oldham talks about important Modern designers like Isamu Noguchi and Eva Zeisel, but I'm already familiar with their work, so this didn't teach me anything. I love Oldham's design aesthetic, but this is a very weak how-to book. Sorry, Todd!



3. If you're a creative person who likes to get into hands on projects, this is a book for you. Each section begins with a photograph of an entire room, and the following pages used cropped images of each item with instructions on how to make them. Most of the projects do require some knowledge about construction & materials, however. Tools needed include a jigsaw, sewing machine, or a large space in which to do some of the projects. There are smaller projects though that do not require these things, and the book definitely promotes you to come up with your own creative ideas. One downside though, if you are interested in easy crafts - this isn't the book for you. Readers definitely need to understand the basics in order to find this book useful.



4. This book was inspirational, and I love Todd Oldham but some of the projects are a little complicated for someone w/o any carpentry skills or lack of work space. I would recommend "Readymade" instead.



5. The goods: The projects are cool and fun to make but not for the ordinary person who does not know how to use a lot of power tools or knows how to sew. The designs of the projects are nice and are pretty up to date with the retro style.
   The Bads: This has GOT to be the worst edited book i've ever seen!
   In each introduction of the project, the finished item is shown. Then the step-by-step comes but the photos of each step are horribly cropped and doesn't show much. Then the last step is shown and it seems as if there is a page missing. It doesn't feel like there is a "finish" to each and every project. It doesn't show you what the item looks like when it's completed....even if it means repeating the finished photo of the project. I much rather have the "finished" item be shown at the end than at the beginning. I keep turning the pages thinking there is another step to the project....but NO! It feels as if the instructions just abruptly ends. What a waste of my time and money! Don't bother buying this book! It certainly is one of the worst edited book i've seen so far.

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.