5 comments about Moroccan Interiors.

1. This book features some very interesting residences. Many of the homes featured in this book were actually purchased and fixed up by foreigners to be used as secondary residences, although some live there primarily. There are also some very unusual residences featured in this book.



2. Absolutely georgeous photography and Lovatt-Smith has obviously hiked all across Morocco searching for homes. I was most impressed with the variety of homes, especially the cave homes.
   
   I'm sure there is a great deal of useful information in this book, but I gave it three stars because the print was tiny and itallicized. In places where it was superimpossed over sand, water or some other scenery, it was unreadable. Why didn't an editor catch that?



3. Preservation or desecration of certain architectural styles and decorative heritage goes in and out of fashion the world over. It's not only Morocco that wanted to demolish the old and over-value the new. How much of the beauty and culture of the East has been lost in the name of "progress"? The situation is not simple, however. In the latter part of the 20th century there was an urgent need throughout the Mediterranean for affordable, modern housing for quickly expanding populations and growing economies strapped for cash, skills and resources. Unfortunately aesthetics and the traditions of artisans often got trampled in the rush. Lisa Lovett-Smith's sumptuous Moroccan Interiors reminds us that embracing preservation has so much to offer the present and the future. While she focuses on the homes of the rich, ex-patriate and famous and could therefore be accused of being elitist, she also illuminates the beauty of the simplest of objects that could be found in any home, rich or poor. Lovett-Smith has divided Morocco into regions and cities and celebrated the best of each, appreciating the exquisite, ornate beauty of Islamic art and the colour schemes reflecting the dramatic terrain of the Mediterranean: desert ochre and blistering reds, turquoise, azure, sapphire, gold, saffron and cinnamon to name a few. Lovett-Smith is aware that a picture tells a thousand words and her accompanying text in several languages is brief. The photography is faultless and the lighting of the interiors unobtrusive. This is not just an ornate coffee table book. It is a valuable archive, a celebration of great style and a treasure trove of inspiration for interior architects, artists and designers.



4. I would like to add to my previous reveiw some more practical notes on the contents of the book. The book is seperated into different regions and cities of Morocco and almost all the homes featured are renovations of delightful, but previously run down, Moroccan palaces and estates. In all but one home the owners are Europeans who have settled, or reside much of the year, in Morocco. This is important because, until recently, the Moroccans themselves weren't much interested in preserving thier architectural history, preferring to knock down old buildings and replace them with new ones. Neither were they much interested in preserving thier own style. The Europeans however were devoted to preserving both and created a movement, over time, within the country for Moroccans to begin to do the same. Each home featured reveals the owners deep love for Morocco and for its history. The photographs are lush and beautiful, and the wealth of ideas for interior design and architecture are matched by few books available today.



5. The first time I saw this book I couldn't stop looking at it. I was entirely engrossed with the beauty of the interiors, the use of color, texture and interior architecture in these homes. In a word...MESMERIZED! I should say that the interior design in this book is not my 'style'. It doesn't matter in the least. I have integrated, and plan to integrate, many of the ideas into my own home (Colonial - which couldn't be more different) and have, and will, simply do it in my own way. To add to my point I have shown this book to my mother-in-law who is extremely traditional and conservative in her tastes and she was delighted and inspired. I showed it to my sister, who's taste run to the super modern Italian leather look, and she loved it and plans to use some of the ideas for color in her own home. I showed this to another friend who's tastes are essentially 'the cottage look' (she is very good at it) and she was thrilled with the wealth of ideas she obtained. This book can be used as the ultimate coffee table book or the launching pad for new ideas for decorating your own home. Opening this book is like entering a dream world, where magic and graceful living really do exist.

5 comments about Interior Design Reference Manual: A Guide to the NCIDQ Exam.

1. I'm studying to take the NCIDQ and this book is a great tool. Each chapter gives a thorough review of each section in the NCIDQ and then asks you sample questions so you can quiz yourself. The best part is the answers to the sample questions because it gives the explanation of why the answer is correct and why the other options were not. Very helpful because several questions make it hard to choose the best answer between 2 choices. It will also be a great tool for everyday use afer the exam for quick reference on projects.



2. I wanted this book so I ordered it and got it in a matter of days. It was new and in great condition. Thanks.



3. This reference manual should be a must read for all design students and new designers. I have been in the business about 12 years and I have learned some new items from this book. It does scare you about the industry and the liability a designer has.



4. THIS IS A GREAT RESOURCE! ALMOST REFERENCES ALL THE OTHER BOOKS ON THE NCIDQ STUDY LIST. THIS COULD BE THE ONLY BOOK YOU NEED TO READ TO STUDY.



5. Exam Sections I, II, & III correspond to the three exams that are administered to Interior Design license candidates, a requirement in the State of Illinois.

1 comments about Color Idea Book (Idea Books).

1. This book is great if you can't decide what color to paint a room! Love it!

3 comments about The Houseboat Book.

1. This book is beautifully done. Marvelous pictures and descriptions of a variety of houseboats. It gives real insight into a lifestyle that few of us will ever experience. Someday I hope to become a part of this very small but extremely interesting lifestyle...



2. Awesome -- That's all I can say. If you're interested in houseboats for any reason, this is your book.
   History, information, great writing, and awesome photography! This one interests everyone.
   Great coffee table book.
   Kathy -- neighbor to "The Lindner House" featured in the book.
   p.s. If you live in the Portland, Sausalito, or Seattle Houseboat communities, you will especially enjoy this book.



3. I gave this book to a few close friends for the holidays. I have never had such great feedback about a giftbook. The book is not only beautiful to look at, but it contains such great details, history, and stories about houseboats and their owners. I definitely give this 5 stars!! I look forward to Flanagan's next book!

5 comments about Sensual Home.

1. I have owned this book for about 3 years now and it by far the most helpful home book I have ever owned. I think this is a book for people that are very aware of their five senses and want a home that is intimate, simple, nurturing and pleasurable. Crawford cover the five senses, examining how to enhance your home experience with fabrics, textures, smells, sights, sounds, tastes and sights. She focuses on using natural materials rather than chemical ones. Cotton, silk, cashmere, natural stone, aromatherapy, flowers, etc. are all discussed. There is a great directory towards the end on what businesses she recommends finding the best, natural materals discussed in the book. I also love that the cover of the book itself is textured. I always ome back to this book for guidance on what I really need in my home to make it a warm, intimate, senual, pared down and happy place.



2. i have many, many home decor books and this one by far and away is my most favorite and has the best philosophy. and the cover is fuzzy and pleasant to handle AND nice to look at.



3. And the text makes you think about things that you are probably never going to think about in today's madcap and rushed society, simple things like natural lighting, linen textures, plants for detoxifying your environment, etc. There is just one thing that frustrated me about this book. On pages 54 and 55 there is the most amazing sofa I have ever seen, but there is no mention of where it came from or how to get one like it. Some of the references are clearly European and cannot be found in the States. But the overall philosophy is simple- we are animals and we need to slow down and rediscover our sensual being. And once you have found this simple mindset, you will see ways to make it happen all around you.



4. I love this book. I found it on a small interior design store in Italy,and It was love at first sight.I judged it by it's cover(and thought the idea of the velvet cover was great) but when I read it I was transported by its contents.Its absolutly great! Everyone should have it!



5. This book teaches us how to feel calm and organized, how to embelish and refine our senses with the best home arrangements. I loved it!

4 comments about Lofts.

1. As an artist with a small loft-type appartment and limited budget I have been looking for inspiration for loft decor. I find Living in Space Lofts an excellent source because of the stunning photos and details, and the informative yet friendly language used to describe several aspects of loft living, from its history, its situation in space, its decoration to what loft living implies and whether it is for you. The range of loft decorations described and shown with stunning photos and details is refreshingly varied, so you can draw inspiration whether your decor preferences verge on the minimalist simple, colorful-furniture abundant or indutrial-ascetic just to think of a few. A welcome change from books I read that show one after another beautiful cookie cutter loft decorations so perfect they made me wonder whether someone really lived there. (How many Van Der Rohe Barcelona chairs can one have?)



2. The book is terrific, no doubt about that. However, I am so disappointed about the 2 reviews, which missed the whole point: What makes this book terrific? The answer? Not the pictures! Definitely not. It is the text.
   
   First, it is a good textbook. It tells you exactly what lofts are. Lots of books about lofts only show you tons and tons of "amazing" pictures without a clear definition. Pictures are great. But it is also easy to miss the soul of lofts behind those pictures. Some people after viewing all the pictures still do not get the idea of what makes certain space a loft. Besides this, this book also tells you the history and the future of lofts.
   
   Technically, this book is a manual for someone who wants to build a loft from a shell. It covers all the practical information you need to know ranging from location, structural issues, money, time, to soft decorative ideas and even feng-shui. It provides not only the good and exicting stuff about lofts but also the drawbacks, pitfalls, things to noice. It gives you a realistic and balanced view. The authors really knows lofts and are very very hands-on. Due to its pragmatic nature, the book focuses more on the hard side (i.e., building process) than the soft design process.
   
   Ironically, one thing I am not quite satisfied is the pictures. Though they are nice, they are fragmented and are selected to make the pages look nice. I prefer showing some cool lofts (from those pictures), their total layout, design, and floorplan to get a complete view.



3. I live in a loft in NYC and this compilation of loft photography is one of the very best I have purchased and viewed over and over.



4. Excellent book showing great photos of spaces that its what I was looking for, it shows you how to save space and great floor, windows, bathrooms designs for all your needs in a loft.

5 comments about A Room of Her Own: Women's Personal Spaces.

1. This book is an exceptionally good book that I have given as a gift to many of my women friends. It is a book of spiritual and peaceful necessity when claiming a space of one's own. Chris Madden conveys the perfect settings of many women that enable them to communicate, to create, to reflect and to come into one's own being. It is absolutely a delightful and beautiful book.



2. Absolutely fabulous!! A great gift for women



3. How many woman have a room within themself? How wonderful to actually be able to materialize that very room. This book shows the love, peace, energy and spirit of a room by the owner. It
   encouraged me to explore and create my personal space.
   Thank you for a book that sits next to my bed.



4. Wonderful book! A friend of mine loaned me her copy, but I had to go out and buy one for myself. Beautiful photography and inside stories about women who were brave enough to carve out their own space and call it that, "Mine!'. Many women I know would love to find the courage to do this, but don't. We all need a little corner to call our very own. I have one now thanks to Ms. Casson Madden. I'm surrounded by items which inspire and motivate me to do, think, and be my best.



5. This book is lovely and speaks to women everywhere. When the pressures of life build up and we need to feel safe and warm, there is nothing like a space of our own with all our favorite things and colors in it. This book shares ideas and inspiration, from decorating small spaces and outdoor tents (really),to the positive changes that have come about when women honor themselves with their own haven. Buy this book if you are looking for a "deeper" decorating experience. Oh, just buy this book because it's wonderful!

5 comments about Style by Saladino.

1. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. Saladino's design book has beautiful illustrations and he describes how to see in a way that is so soothing and gorgeous. his writing style allows you to understand how he visually conceptualizes a room. Consequently how you view the world is changed; for the better, because you are able to see and create more beauty.



2. John Saladino's book is packed with design concepts and inspiring ideas. The book is full of beautiful pictures of his interiors, so majestic and practical at the same time...by far the most inspiring book I've read about interior design.



3. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in good design both interior and exterior. As an Interior Designer I have always liked the style of John Saladino and this book presents his work beautifully. A wonderful source.



4. As a budding designer, I purchased this book in order to gain a more intimate look at one very gifted man's inspirations and approach to design. This book delivers the goods on two levels. Saladino's insights are personal, insightful and educational, and the accompanying photos are spectacular. There aren't any "tricks of the trade" here, but what you will find are the foundational principals behind Saladino's definition of good design. Be forewarned - Like any great artist, Saladino has some strong opinions. But that is exactly why I bought the book. I was looking for his thoughts and his opinions - I was not looking for a "Design 1-2-3" book. His book has helped me further advance my own personal design approach (which is not a clone of Saladino's), and take my art to a new level. I would recommend the book to those who either love Saladino's look, or those who want to explore some deeper issues about style, design and inspiration.



5. John Saladino is often referred to as the "designer's designer" and I have followed with pleasure his designs from the 1980s through until today. I have also had the pleasure of visiting more than one Saladino interior and showhouse room on multiple occasions, as well as his showroom in New York, and can say with certainty that the images in the book don't begin to capture what they are in reality and how important the quality of light is on the materials selected. While I was a little disappointed with the way the images appear in this book (the paper stock doesn't seem conducive to showing the interiors at their best compared to glossy magazines), I have seen many of the same rooms in truly glossy publications many a time and they are stunning and always refreshing for their bold and assured mixing of antique and ornate with simple and modern (and if the negative reviewer below read the text he would know that Mr. Saladino appreciates objects for their beauty no matter their pedigree -- even simple things that aren't expensive mixed with long time precious treasures [one of his design signatures found again and again, for instance, is to use scientific volumetric flasks used as long-necked vases with a single delphinium -- total price, about $13-$26, including the flower]). Thumb through and enjoy the pictures, but also read the text and you will get an education in design like nowhere else, and be able to apply it to your own space and life and even the way you see. I was somewhat underwhelmed with the images (again due to the dullish paper stock) but the text was wonderfully informed (and didn't come off as snobbish at all to this reader). If you can find old issues of Architectural Digest (in which Saladino NEVER appears anymore for years and years, probably because he didn't kiss up to Paige Rense and often shows his interiors in competitors House Beautiful, House & Garden, etc.) you are in for a treat, but better still, in this book you're in for an education.

3 comments about Design Details for Health: Making the Most of Interior Design's Healing Potential (Wiley Series in Healthcare and Senior Living Design).

1. Is it just me - or do other people pay for things and never get them?



2. How long does a book remain useful after it is published? Most books, especially reference books don't last. "Design Details for Health" seems fresh even thought it has been a decade since it first came out. As Wayne Ruga said: ". . . this book is a reference standard with timeless value."
   
   Granted, nowhere in the book will you see the term "Evidence-based Design" used, because that phrase was not in widespread use a decade ago. But the book is packed with useful ideas that would be of real value to Interior Designers working on HealthCare projects.
   
   In 300 pages Ms. Leibrock covers the entire field of Healthcare in depth. Long-term care, Subacture Care, Ambulatory Care and Inpatient Hospitals each gets a section with several chapters. The writing is clear and very practical. Frequent references to "real world" projects are given with pictures and floor plans.
   
   Summary:
   
   * Great Comprehensive Reference Book for Interior Designers working in HealthCare
   
   Pros:
   
   * Practical advice that is easy to access.
   
   * A well constructed book with high quality paper.
   
   Cons
   
   * Very little about the use of Art in Healthcare
   
   * Lots of floor plans and useful photographs, but only a few are in color.
   
   Ms. Leibrock is the principal/founder of EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH (www.AgingBeautifully.org) in Ft. Collins, Colorado, a firm that offers consulting services in patient centered design, planning for independent living. She was selected as a Changemaker in 2002 by the Center for Health Design.



3. I am a professional Health Care interior designer who is always looking for resources to enhance my knowledge base for creating healing enviornments in the health care market. A few years ago I attended, along with about 300 other designers, a presentation by a nationally known health care designer. At the end of the 1.5 hr. lecture, there were six of us left. The focus of the talk was entirely philosophical: there were no gems of knowledge or tools we could take back to our design practices to make our projects better. Ms. Leibrock certainly doesn't have to worry about anyone leaving her presentation. The book has been delegated to my reference shelf and I am sure will become dog-earred.

   The specific types of healing environments included in the book range from birthing centers to long-term care facilities and all that is in-between. The philosophical issues are presented and then followed by research findings and case studies which support those concepts. Then the GEMS! Lists and lists and lists of hands-on guidelines which are distilled from the vast experience and research of the author.

5 comments about The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes.

1. If you're looking for a "construction" type book, this is a little lacking in that department. I was much more impressed with other books that the Steens have done.



2. If you want to convert your friends to strawbale... if you are sick of the Three Little Pigs comments... get this book. I did and one of my friends stole it so now I've had to buy it again - that's how good it is! Nearly everyone I show this book to is entranced by one or more of the houses... and many people love LOTS of the buildings. I love this book. It's portable, which is an asset, but mainly it's inspiring... thanks Athena!



3. This book is almost a coffee table book. The photos are beautiful and include everything from small,simplistic homes in Mexico to high-end beauties in California. You won't find much info here but you can get some good ideas for your own home. If you want specific info on building (especially in colder, wetter climates) get "Serious Straw Bale-A Home Construction Guide for All Climates" by Paul Lacinski and Michel Bergeron.



4. To be frank, the chance that I'll actually build and live in a straw-bale house is very slim. For those of us who like to look -- and figure we can pick up a few enviro-friendly ideas along the way -- this is the perfect book on straw-bale. The color photos are very high quality, detailed, and appealing. "Recipes" for green-friendly plaster and paint are a fun feature. And practical information about straw-bale is useful as I consider "Well maybe one day ... ?"



5. A wonderful little book that will go right beside it's big sister, "The Straw Bale House"... my bible while I was building my own straw bale home, which is just about at the stage of finishing. So, the timing couldn't have been better for me! But, MORE...I wanted to see MORE! Straw bale is a wonderful (if not labor-intensive) building method with infinite possibilities for being beautiful...this little book shows some of that to you!