No comments about Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories.

1 comments about Ranch Style: The Artistic Culture and Design of the Real West.

1. I thought the book was beautiful. But I was looking for a book on decorating my home the ranch style look. So although the pictures were great if I was looking for that kind of thing. It was not exactly the book I needed. Wonderful pictures!!

3 comments about Geography of Home.

1. I found the core notion that our home designs don't fit our lives to be very interesting. But be warned that the book is a series of very personal, sometimes bordering on superficial, essays. Beyond the core notion, I didn't find much to relate to in Busch's observations about her own
   (upper class, domesticated) life. She often makes blanket statements about how "we" live that more than once made me feel like she was writing for a whole other group of people I've never met. That said, if you do feel included in her blanket statements, you might love the book.



2. This little book of essays is a fine read -- brightly written, free of the usual jargon, quick with insight. It helps the reader to understand why that expensively furnished living room lies silent while the kitchen bussles with everything but cooking. I enjoyed it immensely.



3. Bravo! Aki Busch takes us on a charming and provocative stroll both through her home and each of ours. Ever wonder why you still have a front door? Or whatever happened to the front porch? Or why your kitchen and closets and garage are so essential? READ THIS BOOK and find out!!

No comments about Residential Planning and Design (Enactments S.).

No comments about Home Studio Home: Providence, RI (Place Space).

1 comments about The New Boutique: Fashion And Design (Design New Titles).

1. impressive design projects from all over the world, well photographed. i've showed this book to a few industry ppl and they were really excited about it. i highly recommend it to anyone who works or interested in retail design and fashion. there's a lot to see and learn from it- for architerctures, interior designers, and stylists.

2 comments about Country Living Merry & Bright: 301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas (Country Living).

1. Country Living's newest installment certainly doesn't disappoint. The images and ideas are fabulous and very refreshing. I already tried one of the craft ideas and the results were wonderful... A great buy and a good gift for friends!



2. Thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas edition of the best of Country Living. Photos are beautiful, excellent layout. More about inspiring ideas rather than how-tos which is exactly what I look for so this was a perfect choice for me but perhaps not for the crafter. If you like the magazine, you'll love the book.

No comments about China Style: Exteriors Interiors Details (Icons).

2 comments about Japan Houses.

1. I have read this book word by word and there is no doubt that the featured projects are a study in serenity. In fact the most intriguing part of the book is the introduction which informs the reader about the Japanese society and the inspiration behind such awe inspiring designs.
   
   Quality of paper and photography is top-notch. However, the write-up for the projects was a little disappointing. Besides being repetitive, on more than one occassion, I found words that were typed twice. And the biggest blunder that one would least expect from a book of this quality and standard - spelling mistake.
   
   On the other hand, if you are in for enjoying the architecture, look no further.



2. The projects featured in this book are very well compiled and really show how unique and different the Japanese culture is despite all the houses being designed in the same modernist principle. Poetry is evident in nearly all the houses featured and the architects (as well as the clients) have really take the term "less is more" to another level. This book's compilation, however, features houses that are larger than the average houses in Japan and may appeal to certain readers who comment that most modern Japanese houses border on experimental and are not actually habitable, at least by their standards. Houses featured include the H House by Akihito Fumita and the Misonou House by Makoto Tanijiri among many others.
   
   www.hjlbookreview.com

3 comments about Cottages.

1. "Cottages" is the latest collaboration between writer/sylist Brian Coleman and photographer Douglas Keister. They profile fifteen homes including beach cottages, urban bungalows, historic houses and a cutting edge structure in Canada. Coleman's copy is rich and the photographs are gorgeous, but there could have been more diversity since eight houses are on Georgia's Tybee Island. Still, "Cottages" offers an abundance of fresh and invigorating decorating ideas, especially with use of color. It's the perfect book for for lovers of small homes and/or empty nesters looking to downsize with style.



2. It was easy to sit down and read a "cottage a day". Of course, I was not impressed with all, especially the non-traditional cottages. I was able to fine tune my likes and dislikes more with the book as there were beautiful pictures of insides and outsides and a nice write-up of history and descriptions.
   Most spoke "money" or were vacation/second homes. Many of the cottages featured were preserved and restored which I admire. I loved the simple furnishings in some and occasionally would catch a new idea for myself. I just wish that I could afford them. The book made a nice advertisement for Tybee Cottage Rentals. It is a great book for people who like to drool over those who "have".



3. I am all over any type of cottage themed book, so this was definitly going to be on my bookshelf. the pictues are really nice but the only thing that stood out when I first sat down with this book is how the author pretty much limited himself to one particular island on the east coast. There are about 5 or 6 cottages all from this one island, and all were fixed up by the same lady who rescues run down houses and breathes new life in them. Very cute and quaint for sure, but I almost felt like the book should have been titled "Cottages of " " Island". Because I ordered this book without being able to look at it first, I was a little disappointed, but all in all the cottages profiled are dear and sweet, so regardless of how many are within a few miles of each other, I will hold onto the book for decorating and color ideas.