3 comments about Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Placement.

1. After studying dozens of books on Feng Shui, I keep returning to Sarah Rossbach. She is without question the most knowledgeable, serious, and articulate Feng Shui teacher that I have found. She offers practical solutions without dogma, which is one thing I appreciate most about her books. She teaches you how to fish, rather than fishing for you.
   
   My only, ONLY disagreement with her is about her teacher's house in San Francisco. It may be a perfect Feng Shui example, but completely without taste or sensitivity. That was a disappointment, but it did not turn me from Sarah Rossbach's books in the slightest.



2. Feng Shui as actually practiced by experts in China based on ancient traditions. This book does not cater to western prejudices by leaving things out or by making up theories to turn it into a parody of modern science. The author learned about Feng Shui when she lived in Hong Kong and would accompany a master on his rounds, who had started classes in Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese teachings when he was six. She covers tradition and history as well as the practice and teachings she experienced.



3. I guess it depends on why you read this book, but if you want to know what to do in your home, don't waste your money on this one. She does a good job of telling the history of Feng Shui and lots of little anecdotes about the successful uses of it, but no good practical ways to use it for your own benefit. It didn't do a thing for me.

4 comments about Creative Finishes: Step-by-Step Techniques for Leafing, Sponging, Antiquing & More.

1. This book is excellent. The pictures have before, after and some close-ups. The instructions are simple and percise. These finishes are truly inspirational. We just purchased our first house and I can't wait to give my rooms that special pop with the techniques shown in this book. If you can't afford to purchase new cabinets this book shows you have to achieve that brand new look for a fraction of the cost. Additionaly, she has instructions to give your stairs and ballast that special touch. I have to say this is one of the best books I've ever purchased. Truly a keeper!!!



2. I love this book and look through it over and over again for inspiration. My husband and I refinished our cherry dining room set using the techniques described in this book. We have gotten tons of compliments on the finished set and best of all, we spent about $300.00 on supplies, a fraction of the cost of buying a set like the one we created. Step-by-step instructions using many photographs as well as what color paints to buy to achieve the results pictured in the book. The reason I am looking again on Amazon was to find any other books published by this author as we have some projects in the works. No other books, but reviewing this book for anyone intersted was worth my time.



3. I have always wanted to learn how to create beautiful furniture using different finishing techniques and this book provides exactly that! There are step by step instructions, before and after photos, and numerous ideas throughout. If you want to give your furniture new life or an elegant look and be able to say that you did it on your own, then this book will provide you with all the tools you'll need.



4. I love this book for inspiration and how to techniques. All in my van pppol lked this book too. Well worth the money and I own many many craft and paint books and this is one of my favorites. I am an artist and crafter and make furniture.

3 comments about Japan Country Living.

1. Spectacular photographs serve to illustrate a view of Japan that is far different from the bustling cities. This represents three things to me:
   
   First is the fact that until recently Japan was a rural rountry. People lived a farming, fishing existance.
   
   Second, the sense of using natural surfaces: wood, fabric, thatch and some rudamentory manufactured items: paper, pottery, cast iron makes for a room appearance that we could all strive to find.
   
   Third, as with any architecture book, the ideas of style, decoration, and utility in a small space give one ideas that may well be applicable in housing designs that we may be considering.
   
   These houses have a utility and a simplicity that is all their own. It is great to see what they have done with simple items and a rather small amount of money. These are not the million dollar homes often seen in architecture books, these are lived in.
   
   Beautiful book.



2. Sigh, disappointed: poorly composed, lousy photos inside the covers make this book visually un-stunning. Houses and vignettes looked dull, close, shabby, untidy, underexposed, overshadowed, and only very rarely triggered a moment of interest. I felt that I've seen better Japanese country design books and magazine layouts, and I was truly disappointed. Feh.



3. This is an amazing book, as are all by Amy Katoh. I was lucky enough to live in Tokyo two doors away from her store, and visited it at LEAST weekly.

   She specializes in simple but beautiful "country craftsmanship," as opposed to the opulent, such as dress kimino, and such.

   Her knowledge of Japanese culture and her sensitivity has even awakened the appeciation of Japanese citizens who had previously taken their material culture for granted.

5 comments about Terence Conran Small Spaces: Inspiring Ideas and Creative Solutions.

1. Grew up in a small home and have lived in small homes most of my life. What I liked about this book is there are enough examples of clean simple living spaces and not the typical older small home in the states where rooms are small and almost claustrophobic. Like the light colours of some of the rooms and the airiness. And yes many homes shown are ultra modern or what some may see as 'less is more' and this is what appealed to me.
   
   I needed ideas for a new place that would be between 400-700 square feet in size with no wasted space, where building up would create a sense of roominess and where bedrooms, kitchen and living room/dining room combinations would have tons of hidden storage space so that 'stuff' wasn't all over the place. And this book delivered.
   
   And yes, homes in Europe and Asia are shown, and I am glad, because they have been doing small open living spaces so well for so long. And energy efficient in style as well.



2. I browsed this book first at my local bookstore and wasn't interested at first but then just decided to buy it and i've been very satisfied. It's not your "usual" interior design book with just lots of beautiful photos - this one offers case studies with actual floor plans as well plus good information about the projects.
   
   Not a big fan of Terence Conran's work but this is a book has been good to me!



3. I place this 3rd among the 7 "decorating small spaces" books I bought. This is the only exception to my objections about those focusing on European dwellings. Conran features London & Paris apts (plus Hong Kong & an Italian stable!), but unlike others, some ideas are adaptable in America. Most units are 300-400 sq. ft.; the largest is 1000. Photos are helpful, except for a few so arty they require a double take to figure out what you're actually supposed to be seeing. Charming Intro portrays creative "expansion" of tiny areas-everything from a 1940s mobile van to a treehouse.



4. Banal works. This book is not what I was expecting. Poor creativity to deal with small spaces. Don't spend money with this book.



5. Because I love Conran's books (and design sense in general), i was very, very disappointed when I got this book. It is very short on fresh ideas, and, perhaps even more disappointing, the photos aren't as varied and interesting as one usually finds in a Conran book. I flipped through when I first got this and saw lots of hallways and beds. I thought, 'well, there's probably more here so don't judge it right away.' I paged through and still found lots of hallways and beds. Very little in this book. Very disappointing.

5 comments about Compact Living.

1. Many cool examples of small homes with sound advice on how to maximize your space--if you can make structural adjustments to your home. Almost all the rooms feature new contemporary furnishings and therefore might be better suited for people with a chunk of change to spend. Although I like this book to some extent it doesn't fit my needs as a renter.



2. Whether they found the book helpful or not, what the other reviewers have to say is true. Graining's remedies for compact living are expensive, professionally designed, and professionally installed . The materials are cutting-edge and the taste is ultra-modern.
   But there are some truly innovative solutions for living in a small space (which may inspire you to get creative about your own space). And some basic and practical ideas are sprinkled throughout.
   
   What makes this a 5 star book for me, however, is that it includes something the others don't: FLOORPLANS. There are illustrations of the entire layout, including furniture placement and photos of every room in the house. While these apartments may not resemble anything like your own home, getting to see the individual rooms and how they fit together in the whole space to form a cohesive design IS useful. I've seen some of the photos in this book in other design books (as an isolated room, photographed from one angle). Being able to see how they work with the rest of the space and flow with adjoining rooms is immeasurably helpful.



3. Title should be "Compact living... on a limitless renovation budget."
   
   Everything is designer showroom-perfect on these pages, like an Ikea or Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel catalog.
   
   However the spaces lack human reality, such as quirky collections or individualized space needs or child friendly design. You don't even meet the inhabitants.
   
   Yes, invest in built in cabinets and fold away stair cases if you own and have the money. Again, these options are unattainable for many struggling to pay the mortgage or are renting.
   
   A much better book is Bartolucci's "1000 sqft or less." That features real people with real budgets.
   
   I wanted real advice, not catalog advertisements for perfect unattainable ideal design. I was disappointed. But perhaps idealism and extravagance, not realism and cash poor budgets are what most readers want... Hence the popularity of ARchitectural Digest, and why I am so turned off by such mags.



4. As someone who is designing a new place that I want to make small but open, as well as environmentally friendly and energy efficient I found this book a good reference book for those of us wanting to build on a small lot in the most cost effective as well as land efficient way.
   
   Loved how on page 79 she shows how structural pillars in a bedroom area act as both a full height headboard with a full height mirror panel which makes a small room seem vastly bigger and brighter. Its the use of these overlooked areas like pillars that often are sheet rocked enclosed, but instead are used to make the bed work better as well.
   
   Or all the examples of spaces between studs in all rooms that can be designed to hold CD's. books, cooking items, files etc. All discretely as well. O of my favorite bathrooms is featured beginning on page 90 where clean space lives up to its name. Loved this example so much I am making it my own.



5. Compact living reads like a college text . . . you'd rather be doing something else but know you've got to read it to pass the class. That's how I see this book. It wasn't one that grabbed my attention from the beginning (a main criteria for me with books) but sticking with it unto the 32nd page (The Living section) made it worth the purchase. It gives great information such as the use of pattern in painting - it eats up visual space quite greedily. Also, on creating space - think in threes (redecoration, reorganization, and lightning). But I would have loved to see more real-life examples, less wording and more practicality. If you're a new apartment owner, I'll recommend "First Home with Style," it's perhaps the best home design book I've bought so far.

5 comments about Feng Shui For Beginners: Successful Living by Design (For Beginners (Llewellyn's)).

1. Your book is intersting but contradictory to the bagua locations that Karen Carter and Lillian Too wrote. In fact the direction patterns are confusing the bagua locations are not clear. Is the placing of the bagua orientted to the entry from the front door like what Carter is saying or is it based on the compass directions of how your apartment is located. Your book mostly apply for a residential place and not to an apartment setting like the one that I have.



2. After reading Webster's book on feng shui tips for the home and seeing how well things worked, I bought this book. It really explains things thoroughly. After reading it, I had a very good understanding of feng shui and we really use it to bring us most positive results. The two books really compliment each other. Webster really knows the art and as important, knows how to convey this knowledge. Its a good buy!



3. An absolutely wonderful book full of useful information. The author has put together an easily read text with practical advice. Not confusing like most feng shui books. It is THE best beginner's book on this subject that I have found. Once you have assimilated the basics, then you can go on to the more detailed tomes.



4. This book was ok as an introduction to Feng Shui, but it really leaves couples that don't share compatible birth stars hanging. I highly recommend Feng Shui Step by Step by T. Raphael Simons for a much more in depth book that is also more helpful for couples and families.



5. This was the first Feng Shui book that I read, and it was an excellent place to start. The author explains the subject concisely but thoroughly and gives one enough knowledge to begin clearing one's home or office. Just a few changes of placment in my home, and my life improved dramatically. Coincidence? Could be...but I don't care! :) I recommend this book.

5 comments about Napa Valley Style.

1. This was a great book for my business, and study of Wine Country Style. I had a client contact my company Jeff Andrews Custom Home Design Inc. [...] about designing a Napa Valley style home. I looked on Amazon, and found this book, and it was great to read and see all of the elements they used. You can see a picture of the home on my website listed above. under photos page "Merrill Residence" We mixed the style of Napa, then into earth tone, southwest colors, and the home was built in St.George Utah.



2. This is NOT a very good idea to buy if you are looking for decorating ideas. It was not at all what I was hoping it was going to be, if you are building or decorating this "style" of house.



3. OK, its not a home run, but its pretty good. If you are building a home in the tuscan or californian tradition, you will find some inspiration here. There are some great outdoor rooms as well. What it really makes you want to do is move to Napa!!! Great ideas for exterior details on tuscan homes and casual yet elegant structural details. Worth the money, get it.



4. This is a very nice book with stunning, crisp and clear photos of Napa Homes. There is a description for each home, many of which are estates on family run wineries. There is some text and a few photos of beautiful Napa itself that made me want to book my trip right away. Many of the photos in the book really focus on the homes exteriors - their architecture, gardens and beautiful views. That is followed by only a couple of photos of the interiors. I wanted to see so much more of the interior spaces to get a better sense of design inspiration. So while this is really a nice book it just left me wanting more for the price. If it had more Napa descriptions and listed some hot spots and had more interior design inspiration I would have raised my rating...oh well.



5. The photo on the cover and the home in the book is the only part of the book I enjoyed. The rest of the pictures were lacking. It has not been a book that draws me back to look some more.

1 comments about African Interior Design (Designpocket).

1. This book is excellent - it arrived promptly and I am delighted with the contents - it will be a useful resource when I eventually get back to live in AFrica - this time in Kenya. Love the pictures, size and style of the book - easy to hold and just enjoy.

5 comments about Creating a Beautiful Home.

1. Though this book was published many years ago I've discovered we've unknowingly decorated our house with many of her suggestions such as the white trim, painting the walls light colors and filling the house with colors and things we love, natural wood floors, minimal window treatments (well, that one happened because they were the cheapest and I hate those poufy things that they sell for windows), etc. Either I'm out of style (entirely possible) or our color choices just happened to be timeless choices. She does a lot of repeating from chapter to chapter and I don't agree with some of her ideas such as tables filled with writing paper, pens, candles, lamps, bowls filled with potpourri, quilts on the wall, etc. My style is evolving into a minimalist type and that all seems like too much furniture and needless clutter for me and way too much dusting! But overall she has some great ideas about turning your house into a retreat for the senses. I love that.



2. This book does contain some useful advice, on counter/desk/shelving heights, lighting placement and the like. However, there is no index, so none of it is easy to refer back to.
   
   Stoddard doesn't give many options to the reader. For example, she suggests painting your home exterior white with green shutters, like she did. As long as you want to create a replica of her home, you will like this book.



3. The problem with Alexandra's books is that once you've read one, you've read them all. I purchased Living a Beautiful Life and it has the same Grace Notes inside that others reference in her other books, like...Decant your mouthwash, Splurge on Flowers, etc. Did she actually forget she already gave us those hints years ago or what?



4. My husband and I have recently purchased our first home. After looking at many interior decorating books and many many pictures, I've found that this book has inspired me more than any other and there are no pictures! (Except a few drawings.) This book really gets you to appreciate what you have and not what you don't have. I think most design books show photos of houses that obviously cost a fortune and were decorated/designed by a proffesional. Not much help really when you live in the typical suburban split level. We think our house is great and this book has helped me to focus on what's great about it and enhance those features. If you need inspiration and some solid ideas (the grace notes are terrific) I'd highly recommend this book. I initially got mine from the library, but I will definitely be buying a copy of my own.



5. I purchased this book, several years ago, when it was first published. I have re-read it at least 30 times. The reader will find inspiration for decorating ideas, from the smallest thing such as placing your mouthwash in a lovely glass decanter, to inspirational ideas such as treating yourself to weekly flowers, just having a fresh arrangement to look at each week. It is an excellent gift idea, and I would highly recommend anyone to take a look at her other books as well, for your own library or a lovely gift for a special someone who has everything! You won't be sorry!

No comments about Mini Loft Bible.