5 comments about Junk Style.

1. I bought this used and I'm glad I didn't pay full price. I found nothing new.



2. I am an antiquer and flea market junkie. This book is OK, but it isn't the best. (I also don't like the word "junk.") The points this book makes about mixing things and repurposing things is better made in Flea Market Decorating, a book which also shows a broader variety of locations types as well as flea markets from around the country. I also like the original American Junk book, but it only shows objects versus nice big photos of real rooms.



3. I love this book! As an avid junk collector (much to the humour of my family!) I found this book to become one of my favourites.
   I have read this book so many times- there are just so many inspiring pictures in this book. The book contains many different interiors and all different types of junk style. A great book.



4. There are a couple of things that could have made Junk Style better and appeal to a broader audience. Most of the pictures are set on a stone or hardwood floors, and I can only think of one that was set on carpet. I'm not a big fan of carpet, but that is what I have to work with in my house and would have liked to have seen what other have done with junk finds in carpeted rooms. I would also like to have seen more pictures with colored walls. The author seems to have a strong bias towards white walls, at times making the rooms seen somewhat lifeless and sterile.

   With the criticism out of the way, I'd also like to say that Junk Style was very inspriational to me. I read through it twice in the first day that I received it. The photos are gorgeous and some of the finds inside are quite worthy of jealousy. I would recommed this to anyone who enjoys spending time at yard sales, flea markets, and other second hand stores.




5. Brilliant & beautiful, lots of nice photographs, plenty of inspiration, etc, etc. Just get it! :)

5 comments about Interior Design (3rd Edition).

1. I was asked to buy this book for class and did not want to spend the money at first. Now that I bought it I am very happy. It has alot of important and useful info.



2. very nice book, a bit big and awkward for a textbook, but overall nice, quick delivery too. Great experience, recommend amazon for all my purchases! :)



3. This book is one of the prerequesite books required to the students for my Intro To Design class. Pile is very informative, but sometimes over my head in his descriptions. We use this book along with Ching and I find Ching to be in much simpler wording. The pictures are beautiful in Pile....inspiring. A big investment ($80.00) for the serious design student....and worth it, in my opinion.



4. This is one of several of Mr. Pile's books that are on my bookshelf. He is my interior design Guru. He has guided me through many an interior student minefield and brought me out unscathed and with a good grade. Again, good quality binding, paper, presentation, crystal clear text, great colour photography, and tons of information. Whatever I needed to find, it was right there. What more can I say?



5. It is really a marvelous creation. Pile has put together the most basics of interior design and put it into a exciting format for an introduction to interior design survey course. All the in the pictures in the book are beautifully put together and the book contains continuous harmony with each page you turn.

5 comments about Flying Star Feng Shui.

1. It is indeed a very comprehensive reference for beginners as well as advance learners of Flying Star Feng Shui. Good for beginners as the author lays Feng Shui foundation with the basic theory, knowledge, logic & approach. Though I have discovered what I am looking for in this book, I am going through chapters quite slowly and trying hard to absorbe as much knowledge as possible at this juncture. So far, so good and happy with my new found love.



2. If you're already familiar with classical Feng Shui or are a classical Feng Shui practitioner and want to learn about Flying Stars, this is the book to buy. Stephen Skinner puts a lot of descriptive detail and charts in this book making it very easy to follow. I was able to begin using what I learned right away.
   
   If you practice Black Sect or Western Feng shui, this book may be more of a challenge since you need to understand the cycle of elements and directions associated with them.



3. Boy! It is really hard to follow and understand those Chinese translation. One thing I notice in this book is the method to use Lo P'an that you should stand at the center of the house, not the front door to measure the directions. It is easy to see the different result when you apply it. It would be more practical and useful if authour told us the sequence and priority to apply each Feng Shui school when practice. Otherwise, it just one school violate the other.



4. This isn't the easiest book to either read or understand, but there's an incredibly amount of information packed into a relatively small book.
   
   I don't think this is a very good first book for Feng Shui, but it's a great great library addition! I too would recommend The Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui for a first introduction. THEN buy this book, as it adds to it by quite a bit.
   
   I wish there were a stronger focus on remedies, I have yet to find a feng shui book that covers all the potential remedies for all the different circumstance. Every Feng Shui book spends a huge part in the beginning explaining Feng Shui... if you are a total beginner, a book of this type won't make sense anyway, fast intro notwithstanding. If you are not, it's just wasted pages, because every book covers the intro over and over again.
   
   I'm still looking for that perfect book that dispenses with the Feng Shui intros and leads right into remedies... ie., the Host/Guest relationship in this book uses as it's only example a positive positive. What happens when you have a 6M 5T 4W combo in a critically active office? What do you do? I have yet to see a single book that answers this (if any readers can answer this, please email me!). I give it a 5, because it's the most comprehensive book of 5 I own on the subject next to the Idiot's Guide.



5. It is a great book to get the formulas down. With practice, you can definately fly the stars. Suggested remedies are sometimes not appropriate because other unforseen variables are not discussed. Deeper explanations of number combinations would make it that much better. In general though, It is good to get started with and opens the door to a very powerful system.

5 comments about Class Act: William Haines Legendary Hollywood Decorator.

1. If somebody wrote the true story of William Haines as fiction it would be universally panned as stereotyping - a gay man comes to Hollywood in the silent era, becomes the heart-throb of millions and a top box office draw, faces being outed and is ordered by his studio (MGM) to either enter into a fake marriage or lose his contract, picks love over career, and then goes on to have a sucessful 40 year career in interior decorating. However, sometimes fact is stranger than fiction and this is one of those times.
   
   This is a beautiful book full of the decorating work of William Haines. I haven't found another book like it anywhere, and I highly recommend it if you've only heard of his reputation and are curious about what the man's design work actually looked like. It's a shame that his movie work isn't as well remembered as his design work. Haines made a successful transition to talkies, and probably would have continued to do well in the movies if L.B. Mayer hadn't forced him to choose between the love of his life - Jimmy Shields - and his MGM contract. Haines chose Shields, and that was the end of his film career. However, he and Shields worked together successfully for the next forty years decorating the homes of Hollywood's elite, with a little help and some recommendations from friends such as Joan Crawford, a lifetime friend of Haines and costar in several of his films. Besides photographs of Haines' work, this book includes quotes by Haines on his design philosophy, quotes by members of his firm's design team, and a pretty good biography of Haines including his Hollywood years.
   
   Haines and Shields stayed together from 1926 until 1973, their relationship severed only by Haines' death. Their joint legacy lives on in their design work of which this book is an excellent record.



2. This is a very visual account of the life of one of the greatest decorators of our time. Billy Haines started out as a silent movie actor and when he refused to keep his sexuality in the closet he was fired, forcing him to change careers - and thank goodness. Schifando & Mathison take us on a journey, via photos, sketches, and other images, through the life of Haines and the evolution of his personal style. His classic interiors, which often included a touch of chinoiserie, a unique custom lamp, low chairs, quilted fabric upholstery, and other unique pieces will never go out of style.



3. Having purchased most of the major design books in the past 4yrs...this one is right up there with the best...5lbs of old hollywood chic mixed with todays blue-blood..must have for any coffee table



4. I am so thrilled to have found this book. I have tried for years to find pictures of William Haines work. This is such a magnificent book. I just wished there were more of what there was. This book is an amazine find and a delightful addition to my collection.



5. Being an admirer of nearly all things vintage Hollywood, I was most eager to read a book on this almost forgotten silent screen legend. I was most impressed by the great detail on the man, his loves and hates and his metamorphosis into a highly successful interior designer in later years. The thoroughly entertaining anecdotes throughout also kept me interested until the very end. It gives the reader an insight into a period in Hollywood that has long since been buried by time and our bizarre fascinations with the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton et all.
   
   A must read for any reader of the good old days of Hollywood.

5 comments about Christopher Lowell's Seven Layers of Design: Fearless, Fabulous Decorating.

1. When I moved into my first apartment, I bought this book, and even though I couldn't paint or change the floors, it still helped me make my apartment look like my home.
   
   I gave the book to my sister a few years ago, but I've got the layers memorized, and every time I've wanted to redecorate, the first thing I've done is write down the 7 layers on paper (I did add an extra one for appliances and electronics, so I've got 8 layers) and get busy brainstorming.
   
   My husband and I recently bought our first home, and again, the very first thing I did after we closed was make a page for every room in the house, and write down my ideas for each layer. When you write it out like that, it's easy to imagine what the finished room will look like.
   
   My favorite thing about this book is that it doesn't just show you pictures of pretty rooms and go "This would be a good idea". It tells you how you can organize your own ideas to make a space for you. Other books tell you what you need to do to get a certain "look", but this book lets you design your own look. Every room I've ever decorated using the "layers" has not only looked spectacular, but looked like "my home".
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone who has ideas about how they want their home to look, but doesn't know where to start.



2. Anything by Christopher Lowell is going to be worth the money and time to read it. Highly recommend.



3. Love this book. It breaks down the elements of decorating in a way that is easy to follow yet effective. More importantly to me..this book gave me enough guidance and encouragement to break free of my very, very tall white walls! I followed his advice on color selection and coordination and the results were great!



4. Very helpful. Well written. Easy to read. Great ideas!



5. I have never been a fan of Christopher Lowell, but I borrowed the book from the library on the off chance of getting ideas on using colors. It turned out to be extremely helpful and is filled with great ideas on the use of color and making the most of a room. I have now purchased it for myself and my daughter-in-law to have available for future decorating projects. A word of caution, to really get the most out of the book read it, don't just thumb through the pages looking for ideas. You need to read and understand his Seven Layers for optimum use.

No comments about Victorian House Style Sourcebook.

No comments about Universal Design Ideas for Style, Comfort & Safety.

1 comments about Paris Style (Icon (Taschen)).

1. The photos were nice but anyone expecting this to provide any kind of how-to experience will be disappointed. Anyone looking for the French photography experience will also be disappointed as the size of the photos (paperback size) are too small to fully enjoy.

5 comments about Home Organizing Workbook: Clearing Your Clutter, Step by Step.

1. I got this awhile back and have been using it ever since. It is well written. There's no fluff, just good step by step advice. If you are serious about organizing your home this is the book to get!



2. I admit that I was attracted to this book because of the beautiful presentation. However, as I glanced through it, I began to see how well-organized the book itself is, and I immediately bought it. This book is presented simply, without a lot of psychobabble about underlying issues that cause people to be disorganized. The book has great ideas and I recommend it to those who want to jump right in and begin working on home organization projects. I am an organized person, but the wonderful man to whom I am married appears to be able to live happily amidst piles of plastic crates. I am hoping to get him to read this book!



3. Finally an organizing book that focuses on the real 'how to' of getting your home organized. I have other books on this subject but, this is my favorite. It makes it do-able room by room.



4. I bought this book at the recommendation of my favorite magazine...Good thing I used a gift certificate and didn't waste my own money. I gave it 2 stars, but maybe it's worth 2.5 stars-just for the effort. It does have some good ideas, but for the people like me, who love to organize but just don't have the space, it's not that useful. I was expecting more ideas about how to use the space I have. Unfortunately, I usually have better and more creative ideas than the author. Another major "-" is that the book talks a lot about throwing stuff away; well, what I have to say to that is that I periodically do that anyway, and I still am space challenged. That's not the solution to every problem!



5. The book is easy to read and make use of in everyday life for relieving clutter and learning how to remove it from your life. It is divided into sections that coordinate with the home. I found the book very enlightening and gave me some great "new" ideas for cleaning up the clutter in my life. Overall: A very good book for both unorganized and the organized alike.

2 comments about Tricia Guild Flower Sense: The Art of Decorating with Flowers.

1. When I ordered this book I thought that it would be a wonderul reference on creative flower design. As an avid gardener flowers are a very important part of our decorating. This book was such a disappointment. While it is a beautiful book my estimate of the blurred ( for artistic license ) photos is a least 25%. It almost makes you dizzy to read the book and is such a distraction as you try to see what the designs look like. It reminds me of reading a book underwater. Not something I would pay to do.



2. .... well... ANOTHER AMAZING BOOK FROM TRICIA GUILD!!! Priceless under my eyes! LOVE LOOOVE IT! The use of paper, layout and photography are stunning!!!! Thnx Tricia!!!!!!!