5 comments about Secrets of French Design.

1. I'm looking to inform myself with French culture and design techniques. Betty's books are a glimpse into French life and its various regions. This book deals primarily with design tastes throughout Provence, Paris, etc. An easy read.



2. This book is strictly a representation of a Texan's uneducated and "nouveau riche" view of the basic elements of French design rather than a true representation of French design and the many centuries of refinement that are reflected in myriad French design elements. This book -- and, for that matter, the whole series of Ms. Phillip's "design" books -- relies on the gullibility of the nouveau rich masses to whom they apparently represent the quintessence of "good taste." Better to look to some of Linda Dannenberg and Guy Bouchet's handsome photographic imagery of the "real thing" if you're searching for some true insights into what elements are integral to the often understated but always correct esthetics of French design.



3. Photos of over decorated sterile rooms. Source list is only decorators. Not helpful to the average person who does his/her own designing. Much better books available with the "real secrets".



4. Great coffee table book; A quick read for decorators who are new to French design.



5. I didn't care for the book. Not enough pictures. More for the advanced decorator who wants the fine details in writing rather than pictures. I'm more of a 'visual' person rather than literal so I need pictures. You may find it 'just what you need". Not for me.

1 comments about Cabins: The New Style.

1. This is a coffee table book of fifteen up-scale second or third homes built for people who can afford special settings, experienced architects, fine builders and expensive materials often trucked in from far away. It seems to me that the use of the word "cabins" is a stretch. You decide: stated sizes range from 800 to 3,000 square feet.
   
   Each house is introduced with a few paragraphs on the first page and followed with several-to-many pages of magnificent full-color photos, many full- or double-page. Plans and elevations shown are small-scale; a magnifier would be useful.
   
   The value is inspiration. Whether you aspire to build or own a humble cabin or a magnificent retreat, you will find many ideas here.

2 comments about Living Modern: Bringing Modernism Home.

1. This book was a gift to a discerning Architect and am pleased to say it was well received by the recipient.



2. This book has amazing pictures and information on important figures of the modern period, including Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. It goes into detail about the materials and specific styles each designer used, and includes a history on the beginnings of modern design in the Bauhaus.

1 comments about Concrete Architecture.

1. An ideal book that lent us all kinds of possibilities for the design of our new home. The full page photos and simple floor plan drawings made this book very valuable to our architect and interior designer. It was a terrific way of conveying what we liked and envisioned. Concrete, who would have ever thought of a resurgence? We're glad it's surfaced again

5 comments about Decorating Details: Projects and Ideas for a More Comfortable, More Beautiful Home.

1. Really nice book, to read and to have as a coffee table book



2. I spent a few weeks following her suggestions and thousands on the materials. We had a dinner party to show off the ideas I used and some people were polite with compliments. My husband found a few of our "friends" laughing at Martha's ideas.

   A friend later confided that some of the people thought the Martha ideas I implemented were pathetic. I changed most of the things back and my husband was furious. I cried for a week. Maybe she deserves jail time after my experience.




3. This book is the follow-on to "How to Decorate," Martha's first book. This book concentrates on the small details: how to display pictures, how to arrange your collections, and so on. The introductory chapter on how to display pictures and photographs is particularly good, giving ideas (complete with beautiful photographs) on how to display pictures and explaining principles such as where to place pictures, how to arrange them, and why certain arrangements of pictures work in certain places and not others.

   The book emphasizes Martha's trademark, which is finding inexpensive but beautiful pieces at garage sales, refinishing them, and adapting them to new uses. Many of the ideas she presents, such as refinishing an old footstool and turning it into a stereo stand, are practical and attractive.




4. In the long line of excellently crafted books, Decorating Details qualifies as very useful, quality speaks highly for Martha. Detailed photos on top quality paper, have become a mainstay with her books. The book covers pictures, tables & stools, lamps & shades, shelves, screens & mirrors, and pillows & throws. Each section has detailed instructions, for making in making lamp shades there are detailed photos, as well as, written instructions for drafting, decorating, and making a lamp shade. Decorating Details give simple and easy ideas for decorating any space.



5. I'm in the process of simplifying and optimizing my home's living quarters. I have to admit that I get depressed after looking at other decorating books - for instance, where rooms have dreamy coordinating wallpaper, border, paint & fabrics. This is a decorating book that doesn't stress me out wishing I had a particular piece of furniture or a million dollars. It's the projects themselves that remind you don't need to have to go and buy expensive things around the world. With a little creativity and some elbow grease, you can pick up items from the local home or fabric warehouse and keep it simple. I'd like to make the folding screen (p. 98) from lightweight boards, hinges and casters. I may cover them with fabric instead of paint. But I'll probably start with the linen pillowcases (p. 130) simply because I've got the materials for it. Notice that all the rooms are quite simple. The living room has a couch, a couple of chairs, some nesting tables. period. The projects are "light bulbs" that go on and make us remark: "why didn't I think of that?" OR: "that's what I am aiming for."

1 comments about Exhibit Design: High Impact Solutions.

1. Exhibit designers have several interesting problems. In many cases the exhibit must be mobil. It travels from trade show to trade show around the country, even around the world. Then it needs to be set up, quite possibly by people who have never seen it before, and at the end of the show the exhibit has to be torn down, usually by people who have been working at the show all day, are tired, don't care where things get put, and are ready to head to a bar.
   
   Here is a book on exhibits by outstanding design companies from around the world. These are not the little ten foot square booths you see around the edges, but the kinds of booths you would expect from Mercedes-Benz.
   
   Actually only about half the book is on business/trade show exhibits. The rest of the book is on more permanent structures such as information booths or museums. All in all, this is an idea book on how to do exhibits that attract attention, show off the company and the products, and create a memorable experience for the visitor.

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.

No comments about Strike a Pose!: Eccentric Architecture and Spectacular Spaces.

No comments about The Dynamics of Architectural Form.

5 comments about History of Interior Design and Furniture: From Ancient Egypt to Nineteenth-Century Europe.

1. I purchased this book as a requirement for an Interior Design History class at Parsons School of Design. The Historian teaching the course highly recommends.
   
   So far I've only had a chance to browse through, but I like that it goes through each era highlighting the significant differences and similarities. It would be helpful if they included more pictures as illustration to match their information so you can get a better idea.
   
   There's more pictures of single furniture pieces than of a whole space- which I don't like.



2. Excellent volume. Arrived in only three days. Dust jacket slightly torn on one corner but otherwise in perfect shape. Very informational volume for anyone interested in the evolution of this art.



3. This book is very helpful for students and professionals seeking to further knowledge on the history of architecture and interior design. Very detailed information.



4. Well, I youre thinking between this and Piles' History of ID then this is a much better book. Each style is explained with great details, and black and white photos and sketches are really helpful, and in the middle of the book is about a dozen of color photos of interiors.
   I used this book a lot for my studies of the history of id.
   If you're looking for a book full of photos of interiors and fancy words then just don't bother buying it since you wont find them in this book



5. This is an outstanding book, with plenty of pictures - great insider material on furniture and architecture. And I already have a design MA with my own firm.