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.

2 comments about Victoria: Romantic Country Style: Creating the English Country Look in Your Home.

1. Book broken into sections: Hearth, Sheds, Outdoor, Living, etc. Limited usefulness



2. I love this book. I have followed every Victoria magazine and book since day one. I immediately made it my goal to be featured on the pages of Victoria Magazine. My dream came true June 92, and was the cover story. This book if full of wonderful decorating ideas, fabulous photographs and always gentle writing to put you in the mood, to sit quietly, sip a cup-o-tea and imagine yourself on the pages that are appealing to your sensual pleasure. I have always love decorating, and my own book on victorian chic style will be coming out this Fall. Again, thankyou Victoria Magazine for yet another inspirational and exquisite publication. Keep them coming.

4 comments about Federal Style Patterns 1780-1820 with CD-Rom.

1. Highly recommend this book great to use if one is renovating a period house or likes period decorations.



2. The book is well illustrated and true to the topic. I thought a little too much time was spent on the dimensions of the illustrated work in how the book need to be adjusted for the size of the book and not any time spent explaining how the woodworkers of the time accomplished the work, Example how was a flute cut with the top end round and the bottom end flat. How are tongues added to a fluted column? There are no explanations of the wonderfully illustrated woodworking just where the work is located and how to measure the work.



3. "Federal Style Patterns 1780-1820" is the culmination of an astounding research project. The detailed drawings are based on design elements from homes built during the Federal Era in the New England region, and include detailed images of cornices, door and window casings, chair rails, baseboards and more.
   
   All drawings are captured in a variety of formats on a CD-ROM that comes with the book, which is a helpful tool for modern day designers hoping to faithfully reproduce the elegance of Federal Style architecture.
   
   For some time now, I have been fascinated with the Federal Style, so much so that I decided to decorate and furnish my new office as if it were a page from history, circa 1815. I was a bit confused how to adapt a door arch to my particular circumstance, so I e-mailed the authors of this book, MaryBeth Mudrick and Lawrence D. Smith, for advice. I was most pleased with the prompt and professional reply I received from them. Throughout the duration of my project, which stretched out for many months, MaryBeth and Lawrence provided invaluable guidance at many critical junctures, always with patience and a friendly touch. With my copy of their text close by at all times, these pros led me toward a Federal Style look that far exceeded my original expectations. Thomas Jefferson would have felt right at home!



4. Oh, this is an elegant book, with highly detailed drawings of every molding, mantels, doors, room designs, etc. that you can imagine, all in the beautiful American Federal Style. In this book, you can 'invade' historic homes and 'walk out' with measured detailed drawings of all of the best features -- without anyone catching you in the act.

5 comments about Dwellings: Living with Great Style.

1. Although throughout my design years I have perused a mountain of interior design books, magazines and websites for reference and resources I have only collected a handful of useful books that I would consider reaching for in the wee hours of yet another design dilemma and Dwellings is now amongst them.
   
   Instead of teaching the reader how to design it leads them down a creative path with useful, thoughtful tips and information along the way.
   
   If your looking for a designers "how to" book pick up; Color, Space, Style by Chris Grimley & Mimi Love. It has "all the details interior designers need to know but can never find."
   
   possible resources -
   a)Color,Space,Style;Chris Grimley & Mimi Love (Absolute best guide)
   b)Interior Design Visual Presentation A guide to Graphics, Models and Presentations Techniques
   c)Wabi-Sabi for Artists,Designers,Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren
   d)Mary Gillait's Interior Design Course - BE PREPARED TO LEARN.
   e) DWELL MAGAZINE Resource lists.



2. This book is actually a great read for a design book. It's also a pretty hardback. Lots of good, solid information on everything from the nuances of natural light (as it changes throughout the day, direction windows face and continental locale) to how to arrange personal objects. Lots of examples from their own homes, as well as clients (Rockefeller, Vera Wang, Tina Turner, Jane Pratt... look closely at the views out of the windows and many are of Central Park). If you're into primary colors and really slick minimalism, this book isn't for you, not that these guys aren't adept at modern touches. They're just a bit lux for the pure minimalist and their color choices are more complex. There is a significant amount of real investment type art and artifacts in their work, both modern and traditional, primitive and ornamental. I don't give this 5 stars merely b/c it is a small book (approx. 7"x9," so many photos are quite small) and it does only represent their tastes, fabulous as they are. Looking forward to another book from these partners. I would recommend this for the designer's library, pro or amateur.



3. These designers have a great gimmick going. Basically, they travel around the world, hoarding antiques, ship them back to NYC and have cheap Mexican labour refinish them. They then charge foolish, rich clients (the ONLY people they'll work for) exorbitant prices for shoddily refinished junk. The reason the book seems "shallow & vacant" is because it's a direct reflection of the designer's personalities. Their designs are more stage settings than ones for living in. They manage to pull the wool over most clients eyes, but, they have been sued when their scheme was discovered and had to drastically lower their prices as compensation. So, if empty, weirdly coloured interiors don't make you vomit, then buy this book!



4. This is a divine book.
   Sills and Huniford show in the pages of this book that they are America's premier decorators. Thier talent is so great and the understanding of how interiors can be elegant, refined, well edited and still very livable are beautifully portrayed in this pages. To have this as a reference and a cronicle of thier work is a treasure. I HIGHLY recommend this book.



5. This book is great!! From the text you actually learn something rather than just a bunch of boring pictures. The pictures are annotated with the designers comments- you can actually LEARN things from this book. It's not a pretty coffee table book ( thank god, do we really need another one of those?! ) but one which you can actually learns secrets to great design. One step above the beginers level. I would highly recommend this book!

5 comments about East Meets West: Global Design for Contemporary Interiors.

1. Ms Hoppen does an excellent job both explaining and demonstrating her design philosophy in this very readable, very well illustrated book. She discusses origins of various influences and then provides examples of the results of the influences. She will use colors, shapes or textures of Eastern origin and then demonstrate her use of them in contemporary settings. This reader found this very heplful because it showed Ms Hoppen's entire process. If one is interested in absorbing some of Ms Hoppen's design philosophy, this is an excellent book with which to start.



2. Honestly, when does one come across a designer who has that kind of depth and genious to "see" in nature so vividly, imagine how that could be recreated in interiors and indeed implement it in such warm, balanced and welcoming environments, with such evident knowledge and experience in form, color and structure? You'll keep coming back to this book.



3. I have always felt a strong pull toward eastern/Asian style of decorating and have found Ms. Hoppen's book inspiring.

   I discovered Ms. Hoppen's work when I came across a show about her decorating/design methods on the Style Channel. During the hour long show, she took the viewers on a tour of her London home, which she renovated using her style elements (East Meets West). I fell in love with her simple and subtle use of color, texture and lighting. I went out and purchased her book immediately.

   Her photos are wonderful, they follow the text fabulously. Her style is simple and uncluttered, which creates a very comfortable and serene atmosphere that I had been trying to achieve in my own home.

   I highly recommend this book.




4. This book is quite interesting. It shows how the designs of the East can blend harmoniously with the designs of the west. It does not only show the famous Zen design of the Japanese but shows much of the deep colors of Indian and Chinese design. For someone who has no formal background in designing, this book suggests the balance of colors that is simply shown in nature--which the author herself has been inspired with. The designers English design influence though has been displayed much in her style- a little bit too elitist. But indeed, a great book to keep for reference!



5. Everything about this book is inspiring. The text is excellent and the photographs explain and illustrate Ms. Hoppen's methods beautifully. Her use of color is new to me and incredibly helpful. The pictures, which show her use of Eastern influences in Western rooms, are stimulating, yet whether simple or complex they illustrate a system of decoration that creates the background for a blissful, peaceful way of life. This book has altogether changed my philosophy about household design.

5 comments about California Cottages: Interior Design, Architecture, and Style.

1. I read every book relating to Interior Design, 2nd homes, country homes and cottages. The photos in this book were way too dark and the type was way too small.



2. You need to have this book if you need to take mini-vacations away from your stressful routine. This is a wonderful book. Beautiful design, beautiful photos, excellent narrative. Of my 100+ design/decorating books, this is in my top 5 favorites, a position it has held for over 2 years. Like another reviewer, I also appreciate knowing the homeowners' names. Sometimes I see their homes showcased in other books published after this one, with different photo angles, or perhaps updated accessories, and I feel like I'm keeping in touch with old friends.



3. This is perhaps my favorite interior design book. Each space featured has a warm, unique and personal style that is not usually seen in the typical glossy interior coffee table books. Many of the homes are vacation or weekend cottages but they all share a feeling of great comfort and individual charm. I not only enjoy the beautiful photographs but the text reveals the personality of the owners and how the spaces reflect their lives. "California Cottages" brings a refreshing view of eclectic, somewhat bohemian living spaces that feel intimate and real. It's also nice to have a West coast perspective among the many interior design/style books that tend to favor East coast locales.



4. I highly recommend this book if you like the relaxed, and simply elegant cottage look.



5. I bought this book on a whim about two years ago and thought it would be like most of the decorating books I own. I would skim through it, read it, then put it away to take up space on my bookshelf. Not so! The book sits on my coffee table in my small, adorable NYC apartment, which I rented after being inspired by the homes in this book. I have read every word in this book at least three times and feel like I know the owners of each of the homes pictured. My favorites surprisingly change from time to time as I spot things I never noticed before. I recommend this book for anyone to whom his home is his cottage. It's wonderful.

2 comments about Feng Shui With What You Have: Maximum Harmony, Minimum Effort.

1. As a college student, I found Feng Shui with What You have an insightful book on how to make any living space harmonious without breaking the bank. The book contained many great tips on how to create a stylish yet comforting environment using what you already own. After using the remedies found in the book to properly feng shui my apartment, it transformed into a more welcoming space. The book combines ancient feng shui methods with contemporary trends. By making simple changes to the placement of my furniture and by adding touches of specific colors, my apartment and the mood of all those in the apartment changed for the better. I would recommend Feng Shui with What You Have to anyone looking to make an improvement to not only their living space but their life in general.



2. I have browsed other books about feng shui that have made the subject seem impossibly arcane as well as very impractical for a westerner. FENG SHUI WITH WHAT YOU HAVE is accessible and clear; it not only explains what feng shui is and how it works as a philosophy, but also how you can put it to practical work in your home. One of the beauties of the book is that it's full of advice whose implementation requires only your attention and some time--you can make many positive improvements without spending a cent. I keep going back to the book as I tackle one problem spot or another in my home. In the long term relationship between you and your space, this book is a keeper.

5 comments about The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families.

1. What a great addition to my collection of WHITE HOUSE books and memorabilia. This well-written, well-researched and beautifully photographed book gives the detail that is sometimes missing in the more general WHITE HOUSE history or antecdotal writings. It is a good "stand alone" and would be a great "living room" collection book in any case, but for those who enjoy the rich history of D.C. this is a jewel. I recommend it.



2. The White House is just an amazing facility, it's a museum, the President's Residence, and the embodiment of the Executive Branch. This book is exhaustively researched, and the photographs are well done. Though it is really not a history of the first families, the book really consentrates on furnishings, and the changes made to the structure over the centuries. The White House serves so many duties and thanks to Jackie O, the historic furnishing have returned and subsequent first ladies and curators have continued her pursuit of historic period furnishings. This book does a wonderful job of highlighting the best of the White House Collection. If you like books of this sort then you will enjoy this book dedicated to one of the iconic symbols of democracy.



3. This is a beautiful book with exquisite layout and photographs. However, the title gives the impression that we will find information on the First Families, which certainly is not so. It is a very good coffee table book on interior design, design, furnishings, architecture, etc. but since I expected photos and information on people, I was somewhat dissappointed with its contents. But it is a work of art.



4. Betty Monkman, the White House Curator and photographer Bruce White (from the Metropolitan Museum of Art) have collaborated to create an invaluable text on the history of the furnishings of The White House. Wonderful stories lie within...most famously, the story behind the Resolute Desk, the desk used by Presidents Kennedy, Carter, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and now President George W. Bush in their respective Oval Offices.

   On June 1st at 6PM, Ms. Monkman will deliver a lecture on The White House as part of exhibition presented by the John F. Kennedy Library and The Metropolitan Museum "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years-Selections from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum". The exhibit will begin May 1, 2001 until July 29, 2001. This will be a great opportunity for one to hear Ms. Monkman's expertise in person. Go to the lecture and buy the book!




5. Once again Betty Monkman has given us WHITE HOUSE FANS a magnificant chronicle! What a glorious, beautiful absolutely stunning work of art! Betty has included everything in this piece! Bruce White's photography cannot be topped! Looking at the old photos of days gone by and then seeing the "latest versions" of those historic rooms is truly a treat! The details on the historic furntiure, art pieces, glassware, china and more within those walls is fascinating! During this - the 200th Anniversary year of the White House getting it's first occupants, this book is really a treasure and a great addition to anyone's library to help mark this historic anniversary! I thought I knew a lot about the White House - once again Betty Monkman has taught me more! Thanks Betty! :-)

No comments about Beach Houses: From Malibu to Laguna.