5 comments about The Cottage Book: Living Simple and Easy.

1. This book was very disappointing. I am donating it to the library. It is very rustic, not romantic cottage. Good for people in Maine. I guess this type cottage design is one I am not familiar with nor do I like it.



2. I finished this book in a day. I found it easy to read and very inspiring. Just looking at the pictures gave me ideas about how I'd like my home to eventually look. Not a how-to or a book offering advice - it's a book to relax with, enjoy reading and use as inspiration!



3. Not so much a how-to book as it is a collection of homes to aspire to, The Cottage Book: Living Simple and Easy's combining of photographic examples and Carol Bass' prose transport the reader right into the cottages and their surroundings, with experiences beyond the visual alone. This is escapism at its asthetic best, a vacation-in-a-book. The title of the book is perfect, as are many of the featured rooms. Highly recommended for those who long to be close to nature and in touch with the past, with beauty all around as well. This is simply the best decorating book I've ever experienced. Inspirational!



4. Fresh and "reader friendly".

   The varied cottages presented by Carol Bass have soul and depth of character. And, they have a usefulness, charm and vitality that makes you want to re-create those kinds of spaces for yourself.

   What does the American cottage, camp or bungalow tell us about what we add to our life when we have a little time to get-a-way? This book gave me a chance to peek into special homes that show a sense of multiple generations beautifully layered into one place at one time.

   What feels very timely today is the bold use of color and the variety of different styles and materials to make a place personal.

   The book is useful in creating a meaningful home.




5. Reading The Cottage Book is a vacation in and of itself. Tons of windowsill sunlight, fresh indigenous flowers, classic patchwork bed quilts, exposed cupboards textured with china patterns from generations past and present, a perfectly positioned telescope, clothes line dried in the fresh air, vintage tablecloths draped over a table offering ice tea and croissants, and porches inviting us to spend a leisurely day enjoying the outdoors--all these things remind us that every cottage has a story worth living! Each cottage in this book is presented as unpretentious and practical, yet bright and beautiful, highlighting the simplicity, comfort, humor, and traditions found there. Particularly unique is the author's note of vibrant color introduced in each cottage room, either through unique fabrics or pieces or furniture. The book demonstrates clearly that the colors around us can have a powerful effect on our feelings and even outlook on life. A touch of vibrant color should be a basic element of any cottage home.

5 comments about Portraits from Life in 29 Steps.

1. John Howard Sanden is one of the "Greats" in the portrait field.
   In "Portraits from Life" he breaks the painting of a portrait down into 29 easily understood steps.
   Great help for the developing painter.



2. This is an excellent book!! It offers good instruction for artists.
   Portrait art is very challenging and this author is definitely an expert in his field. I recommend this book very highly.



3. I vowed not to buy any more art books until I read a review of this one. I haven't tried painting after I've read it but am fascinated by the information and recommendations in it. Can't wait to begin!



4. As a portrait artist, I was hoping to glean some new tips/tricks from this book. What Sanden illustrates in the "29 steps" is nothing more than a quick (completed in one hour) color study of his subjects. He admits in the text toward the end that the portraits featured in the book actually took many days to paint. Really, what a surprise! While it was interesting to see how he prepares his canvas and blocks in his subject, Sanden does not spend any time on the techniques he uses to give his portraits their "finish," which is what most portrait artists are seeking to improve upon. What he does focus on are his own brand of paints that he pushes throughout the pages.
   Don't be fooled by the portrait on the cover. If you want to end up with a finished painting that looks like that, you will NOT learn how to do it in this book. If you are a beginning painter, and need to learn basic underpainting, or how to block in a subject, then this book might hold some interest.



5. This book is so good for portrait artist's. Even advanced artist's will find this book helpfull. It's a great way to start, and he is well established in the Art world. it is worth it.

1 comments about Shaping Interior Space.

1. This book provides a good conceptual approach to designing the layout and organization of commercial spaces. There are many diagrams and sketches illustrating the concepts of space, volume, flow, order, repetition, etc. The only thing is the photographs, while numerous, are just black and white. Helps keep the cost down though. Any student or new professional in interior design should get this book,

No comments about Gregory Ain: The Modern Home as Social Commentary (Architecture).

4 comments about Calligraphy For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. This book was fantastic. It supplied all the information needed to begin calligraphy, including how to set up your lap board for an easier beginning writing experience. I really don't feel I would ever have been able to complete the projects without the help and guidance of this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone in the beginning stages of calligraphy.



2. This book is great for the beginner who doesn't mind being seen with a book for Dummies. The explanations are clear and there is even help for the left handed calligrapher. The illustrations help a lot. Although there are some different fonts to work with the selection has been kept to the simpler types. It is a good way to get started with the art of beautiful writing.



3. It has little depth to it but for the beginner is quite good. Better than many beginner calligraphy books.



4. I just wanted to say that I recently purchased this book and am pleased with it. The book has a nice structure to it and helps walk me through everything from getting the tools of the trade, to building my confidence. For someone with my complete lack of experience, this book was exactly what I needed. Some of the other books I've found have been somewhat slim on explanation, or a poor choice for a tutorial. While it doesn't have the full suite of letter forms inside it that others may have, it seems to have the major ones I'd like to start with, and is a great way to get started. I suspect that someone with experience already would find this book somewhat too basic.
   
   I would have given this book five out of five, were it not for the fact that I really have nothing else to compare it to. As well as the fact that the pages are not really suited to practise on as they are of a newsprint type quality. For those who wish to begin with calligraphy, I suggest using this book to get started with without reservation.
   
   Cheers,
   
   t.

1 comments about Santiago Calatrava: Complete Works, Expanded Edition.

1. I bought Santiago Calatrava's book as a gift but I was dying to see the pictures and his work. I totally recommend it.

5 comments about Bali Houses: New Wave Asian Architecture and Design.

1. A beautiful book well balanced in terms of text and pictures. The quality of the pictures is second to none. Compared to other books about Balinese style mostly focused on interiors, this one captures not only the essence of the interiors but also open spaces and gardens.



2. Great photography and awesome scenarios. It really brings the feeling of being in Bali. And the decorations show the artistic side of the new interiors of the open living. It inspires my clients when they come inside my furniture store. Of the books I have from Bali, this is certainly the one with the best pictures!



3. Being a Decorator, this comes in handy for clients who like the look of the Tropics. It's a complete book of ideas, design strategies, and an overall look into another world of comfortable, colorful, Paradise influence to bring a little joy to the reader.



4. This is a genuinely fine book. The photographs are spectacular, with fine color and resolution.
   The text isn't too in-depth about houses in Bali, but the pictures speak for themselves.
   I wholeheartedly recommend it, got me?



5. Good overall but not as informative as Bali Modern another book by same author. PHotography excellent.

2 comments about Tuscany Style: Landscapes, Terraces & Houses, Interiors, Details (Icons).

1. I just purchased this book thinking that it was something that it turned out not to be.
   
   I was looking for a book that had the pictures of "Tuscany Style" (It does), but also a book that would come with some sort of instructional descriptions to possibly achieve something similar.
   
   This book is STRICTLY Pictures!
   
   The only places where words are used, are at the begining of the book (Introduction) and near the end of the "Chapters" where the photos are given "Titles" like artwork.
   
   I am not going to give the book 5 stars, as I wish the book description included this information.
   
   I am not going to rank it lower than 4 stars, because it basically covers what the title says "Tuscany Style." To achieve the extra star, required that something extra... Helpful Wording.



2. This is basically a pictorial of the ins and outs of italian lifestyle. I find the rich colors and sense of simplicity coming through the photos to be what I needed for the project I am working on. Lots of small details in these photos make the overall very well worth the search for this book.

1 comments about Smith, Currie & Hancock's Common Sense Construction Law: A Practical Guide for the Construction Professional.

1. the book is as expected
   but delivery took a real long time
   compared to the other products i brought from amazon,guess these are the perks of FREE SHIPPING .....

No comments about Pamphlet Architecture 29: Untold Stories (Pamphlet Architecture).