5 comments about The Abrams Guide to Period Styles for Interiors.

1. This is a great book to use as a reference for INTERIOR STYLE. It's small enough to carry, and there is no sifting through needless information (text is straight to the point). It has wonderful pictures of interiors and furniture. I highly recommend this book as use for reference, great for interior design students too.



2. First, understand that this is primarily a furniture book, not an architecture book. No real examples of window or door trim, crown molding, etc. As such, it's not really a companion to The Abrams Guide to American House Styles. I thought it would show the interior architecture that accompanied the exterior architecture characteristic of different periods, but no such luck.
   
   Second, while the book may be fun (for some) to browse, it shows itself to be surprisingly incomplete once you start to look for specific periods. What I was looking for was Greek Revival. A fairly prominent American style, and yet not even mentioned in the book.
   
   Overall a disappointment for someone who wanted to see what architects did on the inside to complement the outside of major American architectural styles.



3. I ordered this book having never seen it - based soley upon the reviews and description (which was risky). I must say, however, that when I received the book I was pleasantly surprised! It is a nice size (to carry to project sites - it is not too large), yet it has a ton of information packed into it's 424 pages. Beautifully assembled and high quality of printing. Many color photos. Separates each period, gives examples of colors for the period, home furnishing examples and architectural details.



4. The perfect reference book. Judith knows her stuff and doesn't mince words when trying to relate distinctive styles. Expert comparisons and differences between periods and countries. I've had the pleasure of having Judith as an instructor at NYSID. Superb photography.



5. Beautifully conceived and designed, with great images and concise cogent texts. An engaging introduction to elite furniture and interior styles.

No comments about Wonderwall: Masamichi Katayama Projects N'2 (No. 2).

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"

5 comments about New York Apartments.

1. Loved seeing the beautiful homes! So much fun to see into the homes of these people. Loved the tradional decor. A great coffe table book.



2. Beautiful book showcasing the elegant style of Greenwich. Unlike many similiar books, this one is more than a pretty cover. Beautiful interior shots, and the kind of book you want to go back and look at over and over. A good purchase, and I have given it a few times as a gift as well!



3. I'm not sure I would have bought it, but I was very glad to get this book as a Christmas present. It's gorgeously photographed, and provides a sneak peek at some stunning New York dwellings. If you're interested in interior decorating, you'll love the photos of works by Mario Buatta, David Easton, and other boldface names. But even if decorating is not your thing, you'll enjoy taking a look some amazing apartments. Warning: This is almost guaranteed to cause envy.



4. Stunning, just stunning, an exquisite inside look at the quintessential New York City apartments. From Central Park West to the Village to Chelsea and Tribeca and Brooklyn Heights ... a glimpse into the urban chick homestyles that is Manhattan and the Big Apple.



5. This is simply an haute couture guide for homes. Stunning photography showcase these magnificent homes and provide a peek into a world few of us will ever actually inhabit. More than just a glamorous photo book, this is a must have for anyone interested in traditional, luxury interior design or looking for elegant styles to emulate.
   
   The 25 apartments featured in the book are beautifully photographed and provide some basic information as to how the rooms were put together to get the over all "feel". This is not a "how to" book but rather a virtual portfolio of some of the best designers in the City.
   
   This is a wonderful coffee table book and would make a traffic gift to anyone interested in design, lifestyles or New York City.

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.

3 comments about Mexican Details.

1. I brought this book because of the reviews but once I got it, I realized besides the pretty pictures, there is no content to speak of. The book tells you nothing substantial about Mexican material culture or interior design. It is a fluff publication - nothing more.



2. I have just bought a house in Mexico, and find this book most inspirational for my remodelling work and for any future building! Super authentic ideas.



3. I have checked out as many interior design books on Mexican style as I could find and being a researcher by profession that was a lot. This is my favorite--the colors of the rooms are warm and vibrant and exactly what I had envisaged in my mind's eye. I loved each page and would recommend buying this if you had to pick just one on this subject.

5 comments about Revisiting the Painted House: More Than 100 New Designs for Mural and Trompe L'Oeil Decoration.

1. I bought this book anticipating great ideas and inspirations for murals and was fairly disappointed. Mostly sketches and layouts, it shows little finished murals at all.



2. A good reference book that is nicely illustrated throughout. The subject matter of this book deals most specifically with one type of formal Trompe L'oeil & mural painting than the subject in general. As such, I found it to be less effective than anticipated where general ideas for mural work are concerned. I would have preferred a broader approach to the subject, than the specific murals of a very formal & palatial residence, which while beautiful to look at, is not the average palette for murals at large.



3. This book is a terrific idea generator and inspiring for the mural painter or for those who wish to commission a mural. Examples are plentiful and executed at a very high level using simple elements.



4. I was so wowed by Graham Rust's first two books, that I expected more from this one. Not so many projects in this book. However, I do love his sketches, and I appreciate the number of maquettes he included of designs he was *going* to paint, but didn't get to. In fact, I'd love to see a book of just his watercolor studies.



5. This is an invaluable resource for muralists and trompe l'oeil artists, as well as a beautiful coffee table book for people who appreciate the arts. It consists of 7 chapters featuring the murals of several different rooms of the house including staircases. All of the projects are new and not recycled from his previous releases. Unlike the other books by this artist this book features room shots of the drawing stage (before paint is applied), as well as a section which walks the reader through the steps of a mural panel from start to finish. There are also a few pages dedicated to working method and color choices. However, this book is primarily an idea book and not an instructional manual. The only thing I would like to see more of are photos of the finished murals rather than just the renderings in watercolor.
   This book is definately worth having as a part of your personal or professional library. Bravo!

No comments about Pamphlet Architecture 29: Untold Stories.

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.

1 comments about The Design Process.

1. The term design is too broad, and this book does not get into specific details of different fields of design. It did not have anything specific to my field of design, which is Interior Design. It may be a good book, if you are looking for general design information (whatever that may mean)...