1 comments about Modern Retro: Living With Mid-Century Modern Style (Compact Paperbacks).

1. This book is not helpful for people serious about getting into the Fifties' look. Maybe OK for those who view it as a fad and have lots of money to spend on repros and authentic pieces at high end antique shops. It gives very little sense of real Fifties decorating and "look"; replaces stylistic information with a lot of weird photography angles; and is depressingly short of useful ideas. If you want to intersperse one or two 50s pieces in an otherwise contempory decor, this book might be helpful. I found it pitifully inadequate.
   
   For serious Fifties afficinados or those who want genuine inspiration, I suggest instead 'Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes', by Michelle Gringeri-Brown, Gibbs Smith, Publisher, Layton, Utah, 2006.
   Or 'Eichler: Modernism Rebuids the American Dream'.

3 comments about Japan Modern: New Ideas for Contemporary Living.

1. I've long been interested in the Japanese approach to design of all sorts, but especially architecture. Coming from a much different tradition, the solutions to problems and needs for shelter are often very different than those arrived at by architects with Euro-American tastes and training. Some of the examples depicted so beautifully and discussed so shrewdly in this volume are rooted strongly in Japan's history, such as an old farmhouse relocated to Tokyo and fitted into an urban neighborhood. Others are playful, like the house with a lawn on the peaked roof, watered by a sprinkler system on the ridgepole, and with the courtyard floored in clay roof tiles. There's a two-story "miniature" house with a footprint not much larger than two parking spaces, but which still manages to be a very comfortable environment for actually living in. And, naturally, there are structures *so* experimental, you might not realize they were houses if you weren't told. There are homes in this collection I would love to live in, and others that would probably give me nightmares, but all of them are fascinating.



2. This book provides total eye candy for design enthusiasts. Not your typical formulaic shoji screen stuff. Very original solutions to design problems from a Japanese perspective. I find it very inspiring and look at it all the time.



3. This book is filled with page after page of stunning rooms and living spaces in Japan. A must for anyone who believes all Japanese live in cramped, dark, unattractive homes. An excellent conversation starter and coffee table book.

2 comments about Lofts DesignSource.

1. Definitively not 5 star material just because size of the book, it's very heavy and sametime small. Hard to flip thru cause its bulky feel. Overall photography is good but some extra photographs are small and you really have to concentrate to see "what's inside the small pics". Selection of lofts are in my opinion also good, interesting places but i think i've seen some of them allready in other loft books (must contain classic lofts almost every book does nowadays).
   
   It's nice addition to my shelf and will look good on there. Cover is beautiful!



2. This book is a visual feast for the eyes, with countess examples of creative material usage. Containing only breif decriptive captions, this is not the book for you if you are interested in the literary asspect of design research! However, if you are a visual learner, as I am, what this book lacks in words, it more than makes up for in pictures. I had a hard time laying the book down!

5 comments about The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing A Home For Your Baby With Feng Shui.

1. As a new mom, I was overwhelmed by all the "must haves" parents are bombarded with. This book helped me cut through all that and focus on the key elements of designing my hursery. It has great tips about how to avoid chaos (at least in the nursery design!) and streamline, without ever being preachy or intimidating. A Peaceful Nursery is a wonderful guide for anyone getting ready to welcome home a baby and has become one of my favorite shower gifts.



2. I bought this item for my granddaughter who is expecting her first child in about three months. She is way into Feng Shui. Her entire home follows the foundation of Feng Shui.
   While I did not read the book myself, my granddaughter was very excited and pleased about receiving it. She had looked in the city where she lives and was unable to find such a book.
   Based on her enthusiasm, I rate this book highly.



3. I wish I had this book when I set up my childs nursery! It is so easy to read and understand. I have given this book as a gift to many of my pregnant friends and they are really enjoying it. It is a great introduction to Feng Shui as well as a great introduction to parenthood. Getting ready for your baby is often overwhelming and this book is a wonderful resource for how to set up the room, what you will need, and how to keep it clean and healthy. This book is truly a find!



4. An excellent guidebook to creating the most important room in your house! Very comprehensive but easy to read and understand. I love the checklists which made shopping for the baby so much easier. This book was very helpful for our first baby....a must have for every new parent!



5. "The nursery is the most important room in any expectant parents' home, and every parent wants to ensure that it will be as warm, inviting and healthy as possible for their new baby. Designing this special space is also an opportunity for expectant parents to prepare mentally and physically, for the changes to come. Through stylish photographs and practical, easy-to-understand design tips, home and lifestyle experts Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes show expectant parents how - by applying principles gleaned from interior design, Feng Shui, healthy living and their own parenting experience - they can:
   *Create a balanced and peaceful nursery
   *Make health conscious choices when selecting paint, fabric, toys and furniture
   *Enjoy the practical and emotional benefits of a streamlined and clutter-free home
   *Set up a nursery that encourages good sleep for their baby
   *Prepare and organize nursing, changing, bathing, sleeping and play areas
   *And many more helpful step-by-step guidelines for creating a nursery that will nurture their baby's mind, body and spirit - as well as their own - during their transition into parenthood." (from the author's website)
   I think some people resist feng shui, thinking it too "new-age" or something. Actually so much of it seems based on common-sense, once you try it. I like that this book addresses clutter problems too, since many American homes have issues with that. V. Allain

3 comments about Contemporary World Interiors (Phaidon).

1. This is a pretty good book. Written with a general audience in mind and published in a large format with big pictures. I did not expect anything much more than a great set of pictures. But surprise surprise, the text could easily hold up on its own. I have not had time to read the entire text yet but it is obvious from my browsing that the author knows her stuff and communicates it in an illuminating and disarming way. If you know nothing about contemporary interior design and want to, this would be great introduction. If, like me, you have taught design students for many years the book is still engaging, up to date, and very enjoyable.



2. This is the Mother of all coffee table books. This is a wonderful comprehensive compilation of design interiors of residences and all kinds of buildings, including art museums. Each page is chock full of amazing photos. This is a great book to look at and get ideas for interior design and to plan your next travel destination. I wondered how one woman could write such a comprehensive book. It is truly amazing and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.



3. This book has many different photos with designs from around the world. First of its kind that has such a variety in designs.It is put together in an organized way and easy to read.
   I really enjoyed reading it and looking thru thousands of very tastefully chosen photos.
   I will recommend this book to anyone , not only designers.

3 comments about Cowboy Style.

1. "In the typical cowboy-chic living room, overstuffed couches and deep Molesworth-inspired club chairs invite lounging while oversized upholstered ottomans offer a variation on the traditional coffee table, providing softer edges, a more casual feeling, and extra seating." ~ pg. 54
   
   Cowboy Style is filled with warm comforting styles to reflect a casual sophistication. Intricately designed armoires and Tiffany lamps are as welcome as the more organic designs made from ponderosa pine.
   
   Wood furniture shimmers in the glow of fireplaces and creative chandeliers in rooms layered in comfort. Intricately designed carpets and designer bookcases make the spaces inviting.
   
   A magical artist's studio built in Wyoming showcases a cut-metal lamp by a California craftsman, Tony Alvis. His fireplace screens are of especially high interest in this book because they are scenes of cowboys overlooking deserts and the interplay of the light behind the silhouettes makes for a fascinating magical experience.
   
   Other interesting features include the details about sheep wagons used by sheepherders in remote mountains, cozy cabins and stories about the artists featured throughout this book.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. I needed pictures to help me figure out how to design a Country Western style art gallery. This book had beautiful pictures, gives an overview of the history of the western culture, and provides names of companies and/or creators of furniture pieces. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Rustic/Country Western style home; this book was absolutely wonderful!



3. I enjoyed the book, but I was a bit disappointed, since there wasn't enough technical decorating information on color schemes, regional variations in styles, etc.

   Great pictures, though.

3 comments about Living in Morocco.

1. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in interior design or Morocco.
   Full of beautifull photos of guest houses and private homes in Morocco. The book is presented beautifully and would make a great present for someone special or even as a gift to yourself.



2. This is certainly what I did when I purchased this book. I expected a volume full of palaces, mosques, markets and average folk's homes (or at least native Moroccans!). What I found was a book of lavish hotels and rich foreigners' mansions. They are by and large interesting rich foreigners, but I was still disappointed in that what is portrayed in this book is not "living" in Morocco. It's "being wealthy" in Morocco. There is nothing penetrating about this book, but it is nice eye-candy.



3. Another one those wonderful coffee table book by Taschen publication. This book has a broader variety of homes like from the exclusive Aman hotel (Amanjena) to a humble farmer's house. It's not a book about how to live in Morocco nor about going remodeling or building a home in Morocco. It shows you what some foreigners and locals have done to their home.

   Book is cheaper than the previous Taschen book "Moroccan style".

5 comments about The New City Home: Smart Design for Metro Living.

1. Need some ideas for your loft apartment? This book is full of great decorating plans you can put into action.



2. After moving into our new loft in the Pearl District I realized it needed a new "do". It didn't feel right until I did alot of research and made major changes. The New City Home, coupled with a few others fueled the idea bank we now have the place we feel is really US. Nice presentation and beat the expense of an interior designer. After living in the burbs for so long, we feel like we're on vacation everyday.



3. My dream is to own a loft one day and I have been to open house tours and read many books about this subject. I have a very defined taste, concerning how I want a loft to look and how I want to decorate my loft. I have a very contemporary taste in furnishings and I like an open and airy loft. When I first received this book in the mail, I almost quit breathing. It was if the authors had looked into my dreams and thoughts to create this book. This book truly represents the contemporary feel and look that I like so well. I can guarantee you that if you are interested in a contemporary look to your loft, this is your book. I know that I will probably wear this book out, because it is truly an inspirational vision of a modern loft. The photos are beautifully done, the writing is sharp and concise, and the overall quality is outstanding!!



4. Young people today aren't keeping to the small-town or suburban lifestyles of their parents. They're going to the cities to rent studio apartments. Once there, they're likely to end up moving into family-size spaces.

   City planners and administrators are taking this back-to-the-cities trend into consideration. They're trying to make city living appeal to young future owners. One way is by business building up a neighborhood around it, in brownstones; floor-through flats; high-rise apartments; lofts; offbeat converted places such as autoshops and stables; rowhouses; and townhouses.

   Likewise, architects are thinking about the loss of peace, privacy and quiet that usually comes with city living. They're coming up with designs that meet young needs for shelter and express young personalities. The result really is personal space inside, even with such impersonal space outside as "shadowy" concrete buildings.

   This is done by clearly-defined lines, hand-worked materials, soothing planes, and unusual details indoors. It's also by putting in balconies and terraces and opening up roofs and windows to light and views onto deliberately planted small, green spaces. Similarly, not much space inside looks bigger, for example, by using the same materials in and out, such as cedar flooring, fencing and decking.

   THE NEW CITY HOME even brings working spaces inside, while keeping them attractively and cleverly separate from living spaces. In one case, for example, the outside has cottage-style clapboard cladding for the first floor. Indoors, the kitchen and living spaces have a cozy look, what with simple cabinetry, low ceilings and boldly painted colors. The second floor has plywood panels on the outside. Inside, spotlights, skylights, and high ceilings show the upper level to be for work.

   What if the two can't always be separated, as in bathrooms or kitchens? Space isn't clearly personal or work, if it brings in universal design. This means, for example, lever handles to doors and faucets, rocker-panel light switches, and textured non-slip flooring.

   Leslie Plummer Clagett's book is organized and written in an understandable, user-friendly way. Her choice of illustrations works perfectly with what she says. This practical help to city living is rounded out with Elizabeth Franklin's THE FRANKLIN REPORT, NEW YORK CITY 2003: THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO HOME SERVICES.




5. I've browsed about twenty different contemporary interior books, and I've found this to be most interesting and slightly more inspiring.

   One piece of advice: I don't think any of the contemporary interior books have as much variety as one might expect. Make sure to browse the physical books before making a final decision - don't base you decision on these reviews alone. I've done this with many book on interior design and I've been disappointed.

3 comments about Along Bungalow Lines.

1. Whether building a craftsman home or remodeling your bungalow, this book is full of ideas for you. Colorful pictures too!



2. This is a great book if your looking for idea's for inside and outside of your craftman home. Or if your looking to build one. I loved how it told all about how craftman homes came about and the pictures are wonderful.



3. The collaborative work of Paul Duchscherer (a design historian and interior designer specializing in history preservation work) and Linda Svendsen (a graduate of New York' Parsons School of Design and an expert photographer), Along Bungalow Lines: Creating An Arts & Crafts Home is a guide especially for homeowners interested in renovating and upgrading their vintage homes without sacrificing their unique Arts & Crafts styles. Chapters discuss American Historicism, Prairie Evolution and progressive period-style influence, the inspiration of "Greene Style", and much more, all embracing a closeness to nature and a high regard for elegance and creativity. Full-color photographs on every page allow for a breathtaking tour of beautiful homes, and the brief text debates conundrums affecting projects ranging from enlarging a period home to constructing a new building designed to echo a historic one. A visually stunning collection, filled with equal measures of practical and aesthetic advice.

2 comments about Sears House Designs of the Thirties (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. I felt this book had too many interior drawings & that the plans were all too similar. While I know this book is a reproduction catalogue, other books from this genre have more varied styles illustrated in their floor plans.



2. Dover Publishing (God bless 'em) reprinted the 1926 Sears Modern Homes catalog many years ago and that reprint (apparently) enjoyed quite a bit of success. And that book - the 1926 reprint - was one of the books that turned me on to Sears Homes.
   
   This is another reprint of a Sears Modern Homes catalog, specifically the 1932 catalog. In their description, Dover calls it a "rare" catalog and it's not as common as the others but I don't know that I'd call it RARE.
   
   The only downside is the lack of color. The 1932 catalog was a beauty with lots of bright colors but that's a minor point here.
   
   I'm delighted to see this catalog reprinted. It shows the Sears Modern Homes program from a slightly different angle, with their "special order" homes featured. These fine and fancy homes were far cries from the kit bungalows that made Sears famous.
   
   It also has several testimonials and lots of cool trivia. For the Sears Home Aficionado, this one is worth the money.
   
   Rose
   author, "The Houses That Sears Built"
   and co-author, "California's Kit Homes"