5 comments about The Painted House: Over 100 Original Designs for Mural and Trompe L'Oeil Decoration.

1. Rust's imaginatively detailed murals, are full of creative inspiration. Both beginning and advanced muralists like myself, will love the treasure trove of renderings and design elements scattered throughout every page. There is such a wide spectrum of subject matter covered here, that bits and pieces are sure to find their way into your work. I personally have never been more appreciative and impressed of another living muralist's portfolio. For myself, "The Painted House" has become a continual and favored source for creative borrowing.
   I own every book on the subject, and by far Rust's books are most beneficial.



2. This is a great book to see what someone else has done using trompe l'oeil, however it is not instructional.



3. The murals in this book are beautiful, fantastical, grand and WAY above my abilities. :-) I enjoyed this book because of the possibilities and the ideas it fostered versus my ability (or inability) to mimic the designs. I've been looking for a book that addresses how to incorporate doors into murals and this is the first one that I've come across that showed some ideas.
   
   Obviously, this author and muralist is a VERY experienced painter (note his mural interpretation of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe nursery rhyme - pg 82). Many of the murals depicted would be something expected in a museum, hotel or grandiose mansion. In fact, if you look in the back of the book you will notice that many of them are from private collections and the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford.
   
   The Painted House does not contain much info on techniques or step-by-step instructions. It is more of an idea book to open your mind to possibilities. I do think some of the less complex designs could be adapted to smaller spaces with some creative thinking.
   
   If you want inspiring mural designs to paint, this book is probably only for the very experienced or talented artist. If you are a creative beginner, it's a good resource for ideas to stimulate projects on your own artistic level.



4. Although the work depicted in the photos is incredible, none of it is very useful. Nice to look at - not at all practical for everyday painters.



5. I am a decorative artist, and I found this book to be really helpful when looking for inspiration,or looking up some new themes, fresh ideas.If You are a beginner looking for a step by step guide, don't bother,it won't help.However, it WILL make You want to paint, because it is just so beautiful, it makes You want to grab Your brush and paint all over the place. I also found this useful to show it to clients who want a mural, but are not sure about a theme.

No comments about Ideas: Interiors (Ideas).

No comments about Perfect Color Choices for the Home Decorator.

3 comments about Retro Style : The '50s Look for Today's Home.

1. The historical information and pictures of classic furniture are useful and can serve as some inspiration when putting together your own 50s look. The projects in the book, however, seem like a lot of work for not a lot result, time consuming, perhaps more expensive than an equivalent purchase, and in one instance (a wall hanging from a CD sleeve) downright tacky. There are way better books on this subject (see, Pad).



2. Giving a house today a 1950's look is a dated idea. The cool thing now is creating your own look. What isn't cool or very creative is just sort of buying a lot of 1950's things and attempting to create that look instead of mixing things up. What we and our friends are doing is mixing all styles. I mean, like, we're not the Jetsons. This is 2002. Almost 2003.



3. This book has many helpful ideas about turning modern items into retro-looking pieces. A definite help if you're in the market for something and just can't find it you can do it yourself.

1 comments about Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture.

1. I bought it to be stimulated with erotic patterns like the ones you see on the cover and a few pictures shown here, and I got more than what I asked for. I get dizzy going through this book. I think it would ease my confusion if the book were organized in the order other than the names of artists/designers/architects. As for the ornaments in architecture, it seems to be short of rigor to read it as a continuation on the line of discussion. However, being introduced to artists/designers I did not know about was something I needed, and the captions in the back of the book are quite good. I would recommend it if you were interested in it as a reference catalogue for these reasons.

5 comments about Contemporary.

1. I feel this book should be titled more as to the content. The design work in the book is primarily l950's and l960's.
   This was not what I expected when I purchased a "Contemporary" book. I felt it should reflect at the most the early 2000's to date. I feel it is worth while for my purpose now which will be a donation to the local library.



2. Woah! This is one of the coolest books ever! I very seldom have given 5 stars to anything, but this one deserves it! Jackson really went out of her way in obtaining these pictures-the real deal, too. If you've ever seen a retro Armstrong flooring ad, a home modernizing magazine from the 50s-60s, Matt Maranian's book "Pad", or anything on retro ranch homes and furniture, this one takes the cake! It's also gives a pseudo-history of midcentury architecture, through pictures-and it's amazing how many pictures are here. I haven't purchased the books "Modernism Revisited", "Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong", or "The Eames Primer", although I plan to get these, but if you or someone you know are into this period, this is definitely a book to obtain. I have a friend that just went ape over it when he saw it. Now he wants to go retro, too. Another book that I've had my eyes on is "Modern Retro Living with Midcentury Modern". Once I get these, I'll leave reviews, as well. Don't hesitate to get this one if you're into this period, also!



3. If you like the direct innovative designs of the 50's & 60's this book will provide a great overview with lots of photos.
   It would have been nice to see more coverage of the furnishing specifics, especially DUNBAR and Edward Wormley - my personal favorites.

   Put on some lounge music, pour a martini and enjoy!




4. This is a pretty cool book. The photos are honest, as they're from the era instead of reconstructed rooms today. Very in depth also; it covers furniture, architecture, glassware, kitchens, textiles and other home furnishings.



5. This book is a great general guide to what was 'contemporary' - including architecture of the home, public building and office. In addition, it delves into interior design - including glass, wall treatments, flooring and furniture. The prospective reader should be made aware right off that this book is written from the British perspective - one will see British English spellings of words, and names of British companies. However, the vast majority of the book deals with American developments, which is more pertinant to the US reader. I call this book a great 'general' introduction because it digs about 75% of the way into each subject. But how many other books can cover so many subjects as well? None that I've been able to find so far. The book is richly illustrated, including some photos which span the entire page. The text is interesting and easy to understand. After reading each chapter of the book, you are left with a good basic undertanding of what you've just read. The pictures themselves are generally period photos, which really help the reader see what 'contemporary' was to the eyes of the folks living at that time. If you are contemplating purchasing a 'contemporary house', or perhaps decorating in the 'contemporary' style, this book will give you some good ideas. Overall, a very enjoyable book - it would make a good present, and look great sitting on your coffee table!

1 comments about Specifying Interiors: A Guide to Construction and FF&E for Commercial Interiors Projects.

1. This is an excellent reference for Interior Designers, with detailed technical information. I am currently studying interior design and even though I have read only a couple pages, it has helped me tremendously with my tests. I can imagine it will be a good reference for people who have finished and need to refer back to detailed technical information for interiors.

3 comments about Feng Shui: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers.

1. There are many Feng Shui books on the market. I own quite a few myself. That is for sure. This one belongs to the better ones. I like it a lot. It helped me to become aware of different spaces I visit and it expanded my understanding of this complex subject. It is useful even if you work only with your home.
   I'd recommend it warmly.
   
   Only one thing irritates me: the way they print the W in the figures. Wall looks something like KJal. But hey, it's a minor issue. I can definitely live with it.



2. Without trying to make the reader an expert at Feng Shui this book clearly explains important principles of good design from placement of doors to colors and placement of art. A fascinating read at a basic level, it does not delving into the complexities of Feng Shui but make the basic ideas easy to understand and apply. The book includes an interesting section on how furniture placement creates effective doorways and passageways in the room and makes the house more inviting or hinders access. The authors examine various applications including residential and office environments. Feng Shui: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers is easily one of the most approachable and immediately usable books on Feng Shui that I have read and one of the few that I can actually call an enjoyable read.



3. Feng Shui expert Vincent M. Smith works with architect Barbara Lyons Stewart to produce the first book written for design pros interested in practical applications of Feng Shui. Here are basic principles tailored not for the new age consumer but for the practicing architect who wants to build them and hard-wire them into structures. From learning which designs reduce stress and increase productivity to using feng shui concepts for selecting initial building sites for homes or businesses, FENG SHUI: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS is not to be missed.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

4 comments about The Window: Inspired Ideas for Framing Your View (Leisure Arts #3422).

1. Umm...yikes. Wish I would have flipped through this one before I threw my money down. It's hard to fault Ms. Charton for her enthusiasm and inventiveness, but this book isn't for everyone. I found many of the designs to be gimmicky and over the top. All in all there's nothing in it for me. Maybe for the do-it-yourselfer? Design professionals looking for elegant treatments, look elsewhere.



2. I recently moved to Little Rock and found myself searching for draperies for my home. Unable to purchase quality window coverings I began searching for the newest and most creative ideas. The book " The Window " offers the most wonderful treatments. It has given me great ideas in fabrics, hardware and even fun ways to decorate my home. This book will definitely
   give a kick start to your decorating dreams.



3. If you are looking for beautiful and innovative ways to dress your windows, this is the book you have to buy. So many other drapery books are so blah. This one is gorgeous, after you glean all of the ideas you can from it, you can place it on your coffee table and share it's beauty with your guests. Not only did I find great ideas in this book, I so enjoyed reading the stories that the author/designer wrote about each of the clients whose homes were featured in the book.



4. I found this book to be the most inspirational decorating book I've ever bought. It is so full of great ideas and wonderful pictures. I love how directions are put step by step in the book. This is well worth your money.

No comments about Living in the Countryside: Vivre a la Campagne.