5 comments about Cube Chic: Take Your Office Space from Drab to Fab!.

1. I was hoping for a little bit more from this book but as it turned out it was just a book of pictures of really nifty cubes. I was hoping that there would be a bit more in the way of ideas and suggestions but for the most part if you are looking to dress up a drab workspace this is for you.



2. The idea is cute but no practical. Most companies do not let you go that extavagent because of company policy and fire codes. Also, they seem to be expensive to do. There were a few good ideas for cube decorating in general but not worth the purchase of the book unless you woud like to see the pictures. I am not sorry that I bought it, just a little disappointed that my first ever cubicle cannot have a fun theme.



3. The book was entertaining to look at but the designs were too tacky and themed. I was hoping for less over the top ideas and something more practical and classy. Most of the design ideas would get the bosses upset or be the laugh of my neighbor cubies.



4. I really loved looking at the cool pictures of cubes. I don't know how they come up with so many ideas! Definetely a book worth buying for great decorating ideas for a home office or at work.



5. A friend of mine purchased this book and I had to have it. You might not be able to decorate like in the book, but it gets you thinking about things you can do. It also gives you ideas that you could use in your home office.

5 comments about Casa Yucatan (Country Workshop).

1. This was the best...so far... a coffee table book full of information and gorgeous pictures showing the uniqueness and beauty of Yucatan.



2. "The distinctive landscape of the Yucatan Peninsula possesses a unique natural beauty where limestone plateau, tropical jungles and subterranean rivers and caves are the setting of two magnificent cultures."
   
   If you are looking for a book to inspire you in the middle of winter, then this book will provide a summery escape to sun drenched lands where blue cushions line an outdoor seating area overlooking the ocean and burnt sienna paint splashes across inner walls. The gardens in this book are inspiring, with stone fountains, hammocks and dense foliage.
   
   The tubs made from hand-carved stone are spectacular, like bathing rooms from a dream. Fascinating stone fountains mist a room and are situated in a large tile in the middle of the floor surrounded by modern statues.
   
   Opening this book is like entering a magical land where you can visit art-filled escapes, old haciendas and colonial home gardens. The chapters include:
   
   Design Textures
   Architectural Elements
   Water Spaces
   Open-Air Living
   Casas Yucatan
   Haciendas
   Costal Homes
   The New Maya House
   
   "Water Spaces" is a favorite chapter with gorgeous pools and ponds that extend for the entire length of many buildings. The Porches shimmer with glossy tile and are highlighted with sapphire blue accents in paint on rows of pillars facing gorgeous crimson edged windows with lemony painted walls. In the bedrooms, beds hang from the ceiling or are covered in netting.
   
   One of the most exotic outdoor rooms is a Moorish design with arches, seating and a burnt sienna tiled floor. These are places you could live and be quite happy never to leave. I want to jump into the pictures of this book and run around barefoot in a summer dress.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. I love architecture and interior design and am currently in the process of designing a home thirty miles south of Cancun. In working with an architect from France and the relevant language issues (French, Spanish and English) I needed a starting point to state my ideas of what I wanted to design. I have many other books such as Casa California but needed something with specific architecture in the Yucatan Peninsula.
   
   After our original drawings I bought this book. My architect laughed at our next visit as he had the same book with much more wear on it. His other clients had been using it to describe thoughts and just referring to page numbers. In my case our ideas were established prior to discovering this book. But the book allowed me to visualize many of the ideas incorporated by our architect. The pictures are beautiful and the author does a great job providing a historical perspective on the styles. My architect said it is worth planning a trip to view many of the homes in the book and I hope to do so in the future. My compliments to the author for successfully capturing the culture of this unique area of Mexico.
   
   In the next year I hope to buy authentic Mexican furniture. I have heard in Guadalajara there are places to buy this furniture prior to massive mark-ups through distribution. Please email me if you know of any ideas on where I should consider shopping and also if there are internet sites to view, [...].



4. We wish we had known about and read Casa Yucatán, before we had our wonderful three-week vacation in the Yucatán, in August/September, 2002. If you're planning to go to the Yucatán, be sure to take Casa Yucatán with you. We discovered (and stayed at)three of the marvellous hacienda hotels: the Temozón, Santa Rosa and San José. Each one has unique architecture, adapted from its original use with panache and refined good taste. When we saw them in the book, it was like re-visiting them. Our appetite was whetted to try to see more of the beautifully-photographed and knowledgeably-described homes on our next visit. At the back of the book, there's a 4-page Travel Guide, filled with useful information. Mexican design is beautiful and probably no non-Mexicans know more about it than Karen and Joe, having dedicated decades to studying it seriously and having visited and photographed many outstanding examples for inclusion in their books. One place we'll be sure not to miss is Hacienda Petac, the restoration of which was just completed in December 2002. Karen and Joe are partners in that enterprise, the design center of which offers a showcase for Mexican antiques, architectural elements and decorative accents. Hacienda Petac also offers accomodations to guests. We would hope that some of the architects whose projects are featured in Casa Yucatán and whose names addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses are shown, might be willing to arrange with the owners for interested readers to visit their beautiful homes.



5. This is another marvelous book on Mexican & Spanish Architecture, furnishings, & landscaping. The colors & textures used are exceptional. The lush landscaping is something we are trying to recreate in our our home.

   This book & their others have inspired us to do some very creative things with our desert property.

2 comments about Specifications for Commercial Interiors.

1. How wonderful to find a textbook that is not only factually detailed but so clearly written that ---believe it or not---I could hardly put it down. I do wish there were new supplements---it's a treasure. I teach at Pratt Institute's Interior Design Dept., and have assigned it as optional reading and am considering it as assigned reading. The line drawings and illustrations are useful and the sample documents and forms exhaustive.



2. This is a fabulous book and a must for any professional interior designer to have on their book shelf. The information it contains provides the designer with the basic information needed to evaluate the different types of building and furniture finishes. It covers all of the available types of finishes including floors, walls, and ceilings. The only concern that I have regarding this book is that it is from 1989 and a lot of changes have happened to the industry since that time. Hopefully, the author is in the process of revising it.

5 comments about Gothic: Architecture - Sculpture - Painting.

1. "Gothic" is the second book in a series that covers Western European art and architecture from the 11th to the 19th century. "Gothic" actually deals with two periods: the Gothic period proper, and the Early Renaissance, mostly it's Northern (Dutch) version. The editor believes that the distinction between Late Gothic and the Renaissance is problematic and somewhat artificial. Thus, the book takes us from the 12th century well into the 15th century.
   
   A large part of the book deals with Gothic architecture: cathedrals, churches, city halls and (to a much lesser extent) castles. There are also chapters on Gothic sculpture, painting and goldwork. The chapter on painting also includes Giotto, Fra Angelico and the Northern Renaissance (especially the latter). The text is very comprehensive, and probably mostly appeals to serious students of European art and architecture. What makes the book of interest to the non-specialist are the lavish illustrations. There are photos on almost every page, most of them in color, and all of it for a bargain price!
   
   Personally, I must admit that the "pure" Gothic cathedrals don't really appeal to me. I find them boring. And yes, almost half the book shows Gothic cathedral interiors or facades, most of them strikingly similar to each other... The second half of the book is more aesthetically pleasing, showing how the original Gothic style changed as it spread to Germany, the Netherlands and Bohemia, and how painting developed during the Early Renaissance. The section on goldworks shows many interesting objects.
   
   I like the "Baroque" volume of this series more, but if you have an interest in the Middle Ages, or "Old" Europe art and architecture in general, this book is nevertheless recommended.



2. Honestly, I'm thinking of buying another two copies of this book (I have one now) so that I can cut out and frame some of the pictures - (I want two copies because some of the images are back to back). The images are stunning, and there are clear examples that show the influence of Islamic and Moorish art on Christian cathedrals, especially in Spain. Truly a beautiful and scholarly introduction to this lovely part of the heritage of the whole human race.



3. This is the most spectacular book for you if you like lots of HUGE clear photos of TONS of gothic cathedrals. There are MANY pages of history and other information about the making and restoring of the cathedrals. A MUST HAVE for any gothic-history lover.



4. I first discovered this book in the library and I checked it out several times because I just loved looking at it so much. The pictures are so breathtaking, it increased my resolved to go to Europe and visit all these incredible places first hand. It's a great thourough book for anyone who is new to Gothic art forms as well as a visual reference for people who are already familiar with the style.

   Hard to carry around, but very easy to read!




5. Having borrowed this book over and over from the library, I really had a hard time parting with it when I last returned it. The photographs are splendid, a joy to look at. Since it also qualifies as a reference book, I looked it up ..... to but [buy] a copy but was certain price would be ... more than in was. Now I'm about to by my third copy --it is an amazing bargain.

4 comments about French Connection, The.

1. Wonderful. The bland cover really doesn't do the book justice. Excellent resource book for French-style interiors.



2. Absolutely beautiful!!! I love all her book's.I think that the BettyLou Phillips book's are the very best of French design out there.I love the history she writes on the French royalty and all the scrumptious pages of beauty, page after page.I always look forward to the next book release.



3. Her first couple of books were very good. Her last 2 to 3 books (including this one),she talks alot about the french people. She goes into the history of Madame de Pompadour, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI and very little about decorating. She compares Americans and French people. Quite boring actually.



4. Author Betty Lou Phillips is fascinated with all things French - and her French Connection hones her interests and focuses on the changing styles of French furnishings over the decades. Any involved in French style and interior design must have French Connection: it surveys distinctive interiors which blend French with other international elements, providing a survey of French designers and patrons of the arts and dual pursuits of glamour and ease in home tastes. Her history of Parisian and French flair and how it translated to home interiors makes for an outstanding introduction.

5 comments about Stone: Designing Kitchens, Baths and Interiors with Natural Stone.

1. This is a great book. it will give you detailed information about the stone types that you can use in your house and great photos. i'm in the stone flooring business and this book helps my customers to visualize the final look of the stone they choose from my showroom floor. it also has a section with patterns so you dont have to figure out how to lay stones in different sizes to make a pattern.



2. We are considering having our kitchen remodeled and definitely want to replace the current Corian with some type of stone. This book covers stone used in kitchens and baths. Besides the gorgeous photographs, the book includes lots of helpful tips in helping you chose the right stone for your project. Each photo is described with caption of what the stone is, including the pattern or color. The chapters include the stone kitchen, bath, floor and architectural stone. What is really nice is that it addresses various possible focal points, such as the stone vent hood in the kitchen or a beautiful stone fireplace.
   
   The book encompasses multiple styles, designs and patterns for counters, floors, backsplashes and walls. For the photography and ideas alone, this book is worth the price but it has so much more. It includes tips and pointers for using stone in various places. For example, on page 66, there is a side bar that has Ideas for the Shower. It includes tips like "When chosing a polished granite for the shower walls, keep in mind that water spots are magnified on a polished surface."
   
   This books covers all kinds of natural stone: limestone, granite, travertine, marble, slate. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.



3. This book describes the nature of various types of stones and the recommended usage inside and outside the home. I've used this book as a guide to show my local stone dealer what type of stones I'm looking for. And also used it to illustrate the concept of my dream home to my Interior Designer, she understood immediately without us having to go through many rounds of interview to get it right. As a result, my dream home is now almost complete with stones from all over the world, marbles from Spain, Italy, Iran.... granite from Norway and Indonesia... coral stones, tumblestones, slates, and many more.... Wonderful pictures and illustrations, I'd recommend this book to anyone! Suitable for modern Asian homes too!



4. I work for a natural stone retailer in Texas, and this book gives me ideas for customers. Many of my store's clients want to take this book home or buy it. I don't let them take it home of course; I suggest that they buy one on Amazon.com.
   In my opinion, I think it makes a good coffee table book as well, since when people are waiting in my showroom, I see them browsing through this book. I wish there were more books like this one.



5. This book is not only a great resource guide for those new to designing with stones, but also fun to look at and inspirational. I found ideas for the bathroom, kitchen, and even for a staircase.

4 comments about Adirondack Home.

1. This is a must read for any who are interested in the Adirondack style, or in Camp Topridge, the great camp which once belonged to Marjorie Meriweather Post.
   Outstanding!



2. Ralph Kylloe did a excellent job of describing the Adirondack region and its homes. The photos are an inspiration, especially to someone owning an Adirondack home.



3. "In time the Adirondacks became synonymous with rugged living, fishing and hunting, other outdoor activities and all sorts of rest and relaxation. It was because of the great camps and rustic furniture that Adirondack became a style until its own." ~Ralph Kylloe
   
   After a brief history with pictures, Ralph Kylloe delves into the beauty of Adirondack design. There are magical items in this book you may never see anywhere else like the rustic and romantic bridge design, complete with trolls.
   
   The magical computer desk and chair look like something out of a fairy tale. Contemporary boats rest in luxurious boathouses and small guest houses are nestled beneath the trees. Many lodges and camps are featured and show the ingenuity of design. Chairs made with boat paddles and artistic waterways flowing through wood decks make this a very intriguing read. What is most interesting is how the exterior is brought inside and how artist envision one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture.
   
   This book would be an inspiration to artists, architects and designers interested in this classic style.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



4. imagining yourself in the homes pictured in this magnificent book. Again, Kylloe has outdone himself capuring the pure essence of what a true home in the Adirondacks is all about. No author has a better technique on showing the reader all the rustic beauty thats out there far beyond our imaginations, by taking us on his personal home tours into some of the most gorgous beautiful Adirondack homes, most on lakes. He includes Adirondack history and again shows us in many of the homes the rustic furniture and decorating styles that depicks the true meaning of what life must be like for some to own these truely magnificent homes.

5 comments about ManSpace: A Primal Guide to Marking Your Territory.

1. This book is very enjoyable. I purchased it for my husband. He likes it a lot. It has tons of photos and interesting stories about each man's space. The only complaint is that many of the man spaces belong to men with money to spend. Still, it is a very good book.



2. ManSpace is a call to action for men: a call to build a 'personal space' outside of the usual woman-controlled home, where you can keep your stuff without fear of its being converted to a 'more useful' nursery or sewing room. MANSPACE: A PRIMAL GUIDE TO MARKING YOUR TERRITORY can be a recording studio, a workshop, or more. Men are invited to view sample houses and homes which reflect 'manspaces', from music rooms to campy man-oriented gadget-filled abodes. Samples from all types of 'manspaces' appear in full color and offer inspiration, insights and a range of options, making MANSPACE perfect for any general-interest lending collection.



3. An excellent book, long overdue. I highly recommend; you will enjoy.



4. This book makes a great gift for the man who has everything. Great ideas for men to carve out their own space in a home usually decorated by women.



5. A cool book to get ideas from. Fun to read. A lot of cats in the book obviously have much more disposable income than the average joe looking for a place to call their own but it has some cool ideas. Worth checking out!

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 Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style.

1. This book not only has beautiful photography, but the text is wonderful. It takes one back to another era, aesthetically it is superb. Not only is it a treatise on The English Country House, but it is historically interesting, the kind of a book one will return to again and again. The details described in the restoration and decoration of the homes and gardens Nancy Lancaster was a part of over the years are amazing, this book is a tribute to people who loved beautiful surroundings and the history these properties and homes revealed. So much would have been lost of this era, had it not been for Nancy's reverance and deep interest in what should be preserved and enjoyed and admired.



2. I first discovered Nancy Lancaster when I was married to a oil man from Virginia & heard all about this woman. Well, I finally saw article after article on her in the decorating magazines & my file on her continued to grow. By this time she was 90 years old!!! When I toured England on my first trip I toured her homes & her stamp is still in place all these years later.
   
   This book (there are several more) is now in lavish photos shares this lifestyle. I adore it and her. I hope one day I am remembered so kindly. Thanks to the publisher.



3. Subject matter and book cover engaging... historically very interesting however pictorially, thoroughly disappointing...in fact a serious let down.....



4. I truly enjoyed this book. The pictures were excellent quality and representative of the text. For the professional decorator or a person interested in house decoration it is funny and informative. I highly recommend this book.



5. Book was not what I expected. Book was recommended by a decorator who said Nancy Lancaster was her inspiration so I was expecting more decorating and less biography-like book. It does make an excellent coffee table presentation!!