5 comments about French by Design.

1. I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THIS BOOK BY MISTAKE AS I THOUGHT I HAD ORDERED "UNMISTAKENLY FRENCH" BY THE SAME AUTHOR.



2. I just did. The homes & rooms featured in this book indicate that money is no object and these homeowners want you to know it. Subtlety is non-existant. Rooms are very "we had a decorator & we spent a LOT". Most items looks too new, too ruffled, smocked, tucked and otherwise adorned. HOWEVER, if you can get past the pictures & READ THE TEXT- Phillips has a lot to say that is excellent. She lists sources & frequently shares fascinating comments on everyday details of French style (who knew about brass hardware vs brushed nickel?). If you read; buy it. If you look only at photos, don't! Charles Faudree is much better in the genre in my opinion.



3. Another of Philips' beautiful French decorating books. Homes presented in this book, as with her other books are high end showing us the sumptuous fabrics, and lovely French furniture she specializes in. Homes shown are mostly mansions, not the average house. Good coffee table book.



4. Not unlike all of Phillips' books, this book is a masterpiece of European syle and design. No detail is left unnoticed. The furniture, fabrics, antiques, architecture, artwork, and carved stone are each carefully considered and beautifully photographed. Every page is a visual delight. I cannot recommend it highly enough!



5. Beautiful photos and interesting commentary on French social customs. However, the featured residences are not French, but American homes decorated "in the French style," which is somewhat disappointing.

3 comments about The Family at Home: Love. Life. Style..

1. I keep this book next to my desk at all times. Instant soothing, instant inspiration. Amazing pictures, useful, meaningful text. I love it.



2. This is certain to become a coffee table favorite. This is not only a family inspired book but one full of design inspiration and just plain beauty in a home. The author incorporates all these areas and creates a book for all to enjoy.



3. I don't even have children and I adored this book. First of all the imagery is beautiful - lovely lived in homes with extremely style-conscious parents and kids that do what kids do best - create mini piles everywhere. It was refreshing to see a book that revealed homes that are less than perfect. It was equally refreshing to read the book and see that it's not just another snobby design book written for the hipster families that aren't home long enough to spend time with their kids. These families know each other, spend time living together, and the parents maintain their roles are parents and the kids as children - in their proper place while still allowed to live and be children. So many families put their children as the center of their universe, something I always saw as extremely unbalanced and a great way to spoil them - this book embraces the idea of living as a functional family unit where the focus isn't trying to adjust to the kids but that the kids need to adjust and apply to the rules set by the parents. I can tell the author grew up with many siblings and that her parents were good ones because balance is a huge part of this book. I enjoy her philosophy on eating and cooking together - how enjoyable it is for children to participate in the preparation process. Not opening a can and heating it in the microwave, but feeling the texture of veggies, cutting fresh fruit, having fun - enjoy the sensory experience, the textures, the things that make food so enjoyable. Teaching them how to eat good food that is good for them.
   
   I could write paragraphs on the beauty of this book, it's so impressive, honest, down to earth without being granola, and extremely easy to follow. Again, the photographs (hundreds!) are gorgeous, and the paper quality is the best, it's not high gloss and special, it feels good on the hands.
   
   Best of all, this book is good on the heart. It's really sweet. It would make for a perfect present to friends with kids or friends planning on having them.

1 comments about Old & New: Combining Past and Present In Contemporary Homes.

1. This was an awesome buy. It gave me lots of ideas for decorating my aspiring eclectic home.

No comments about The House of Leleu: Classic French Style for a Modern World, 1920-1973.

5 comments about Informal.

1. This is one of the most important book about informal architecture.
   It is about how idea becomes possible reality. Instead of accept the way it is, it playfully explores the other way of merging engineering & architecture.



2. i bought it as a gift, based on information in the New York Times. don't know how it was received.



3. Informal is an extraordinary work. I guess the reason why it's so shocking is that the content of the book is not like those static structural forms or solutions that we see in structural class. The case studies that Balmond brings to the table are very recent and genuine by star architects. I guess I was shocked by the fact that all these architects are not structurally oriented architects such as Foster/ Piano/ Calatrava/ Hopkins. Rather, they are theoretically approaching architects such as Koolhaas/ Liebskind; or, tectonically approaching architects such as Siza. I never thought projects by them had anything to do with structural or mathmatical innovation. Reading Informal, one can easily detect where the originality lie in each project. Sometimes it's in the irregularity of geometry or sometimes it's in mathmatical mystery. Balmond contends that they are all in mother nature. Unlike a formal structural engineering (e.g. Peter Rice) Balmond's originality comes from the informal networks. In High-tech, the ingenuity of structural entity was condensed into joinery. Informal networks is much more diverse and complex than that. It is against the conventional formal structural idea of hierarchy/center/symmetry. Balmond argues, formal approach is defining a problem in a "fixed" or "contained" manner; hence, leading to a same old idea of solution/ detailing. In Informal, Balmond redefines it in a more active/dynamic geometry, to bring about unexpected realities. Sometimes through structural innovation and sometimes through special surface treatment, Balmond promoted and realized the ideas of star architects. Overall, he has freed architecture from the "Cartesian Cage".



4. It was quite interesting to get a look at the somewhat unusual engineering process of Cecil Balmond.

   And to discover his inputs behind some famous building, from Koolhas, Libeskind to Siza.

   The book is quite easy to read and don`t think you are going to get a structural crash course from Balmond (I must admit, I was bit disapointed of not finding that) but you do get the kind of passionate and heartily discussions you would get if you had the chance of drinking down a few drinks with Balmond and ending up with his famous sketches he drew on the bar's napkins.

   Expect a book with graphics and layout of Koolhas' SMLXL / Big fonts, dual-tone pictures.

   GOod read, good essay, not for someone looking for glossy pictures




5. Cecil Balmond is passionate and inspirational. When working with him, you know there is something amazing happening. I had the pleasure of having him as a studio instructor at Yale University, School of Architecture. Cecil believes in the possibilities of architecture and engineering working together in ways that enhance and grace both fields. This book brings his insight and passions together. I highly recommend it to engineers and architects alike.

No comments about New Restaurant Design.

5 comments about Interior Design Visual Presentation: A Guide to Graphics, Models & Presentation Techniques, Second Edition.

1. Wonderful illustrations for you to use as a guide when creating your own drawings, and presentation models. I've been able to refer to examples from this book when I've hit a rock trying to create my drawings and model spaces.



2. I gave this book as a gift, but the recipient (a new interior design student) was very pleased with it. Also had the book shipped directly to the recipient (to make it in time for Christmas). It was received in good shape in a timely fashion. So while I've yet to see the book myself -- the gift review in conjunction with other buyers' reviews makes me think it's a great purchase!



3. This book helped me tremendously with getting my senior project portfolio ready. It goes into detail about presentation methods, mounting, layouts, ideas for portfolio covers etc.
   
   I would like to see another version of this book being published..in color though! Some of the ideas spoken about are definitely outdated and inapplicable in this day of age.



4. I am a student studying Interior Design and I have found that this book is a great one that every student should have on their shelf. Its an amazing resource



5. This book has taught me more than I learned in an entire semester at a FIDER accredited Interior Design program at a local college. Well worth every penny.

No comments about Barry Dixon Interiors.

5 comments about Tiki Modern.

1. A MUST HAVE for anyone interested in the atomic/tiki/moderism era. Lots of information and historical photos all in one book. I also recommend another book by this same author (Sven Kirsten)entitled, The Book of Tiki. You will not be disappointed!



2. We have several tiki books and this one is fantastic. Very good quality. Lots of information and wonderful pictures. We have some of the author's other books and they are equally good.



3. This book is absolutely AMAZING! The pictures are wonderful...colorful, big and vivid. There's pictures on EVERY PAGE...serious material here! Descriptions and the wonderful little tid-bits are executed nicely. Nothing was done as an 'afterthought'. There are even a few vintage items I was going to bid on at one time mentioned in this book...now I seriously regret it because of their rarity!!
   
   If you're a tiki fan, new to tiki or just love art and Polynesian influenced pieces, this is a book you must buy. Pick it up..because once you do, you won't want to put it back down.



4. More beautiful images of a (sadly) bygone era, accompanied by well researched captions in multiple languages.
   
   With that said...the main purpose of this book was to highlight a particular type of trashy looking furniture made by the Witco Company.
   
   The Witco style can be extremely tacky looking to the point where I laughed out loud many times at how trailer trashy it was. Think: matching orange shag rug. This went far beyond the kitschy coolness of the tiki era. It's nauseating.
   
   Witco's look was so repetitive it would be a bore except it was like a car wreck, you kept turning the page to see what other ridiculous item one could make out a dark stained log of wood and a chainsaw. It's like the guy who discovered he could make things with popsicle sticks and never stopped. Eventually he had a popsicle car.
   
   The cover of the book, is a piece of art. The linen fabric of the hardback is tasteful and is enjoyable to hold. There is still enough non-Witco stuff here to keep the reader satisfied with the book.
   
   All in all it was clearly a labor of love, and for that and most of the book, I give it an encouraging 5 star recommendation. Thank you Sven - waiting for your next project.



5. I haven't seen a more engaging and easy to read book on Tiki than 'Tiki Modern'. It is full of vintage photographs that help readers integate the worlds of modern and primitive art. This book leaves you wanting more on the subject of Tiki while wondering "Where can I get a piece of Tiki to add to my home or personal art collection?"

5 comments about Interior Design Illustrated 2nd Edition.

1. This book is a great book. no color pictures but only scetches. This book is about scale, orientation, symmetry, proportion, shape of objects and interiors etc etc. You get the idea. I recommend you buy this book.



2. No regrets for having bought the book. Excellent illustrations, something you can refer to over and over again!



3. I got this book earlier than i expected and it is everything i expected.



4. I am currently getting my degree in ID, and I think that this resource is invaluable. The drawings are great and they really help with perspectives and rendering.



5. The auther is fantastic, the book is well written otherwise he wouldn't have got the 4 stars, the book covers the subject from A to Z literally speaking, a must have, BUT it is too much outdated.