5 comments about Model Making: A Basic Guide.

1. Good book for what it is, but it really is very basic and the techniques are not for anything complex.



2. A very well illustrated introduction to the art of architectural modeling. Good discussion of materials and methods, as well a some introduction to the aesthetics of the business. Excellent for beginners.



3. The book was not detailed enough, but it had some very insightful tips. All the pictures were hand drawn. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners. If you are causal beginner, you might try something SIMILAR to a Warhammer Terrain how-to book (table top games would be too specific). Something like that would have more step by step photographs and detailed instructions for making models.



4. Very basic. Lots of different techniques, none covered in depth. For the very beginner.



5. This is an elegant little book of line illustrations dealing with the art of architectural model building. It is not really a "how to" book. This book is ideal for people who already posses plenty of artistic talent. They will see basic concepts and be able to go from there.
   
   If like me, you want to make models to help out with your kid's school projects, this book is not for you. For anybody looking for a step by step guide to making models, I would recommend a book by Games Workshop called, "How to Make Wargames Terrain", a beautifully illustrated guide book aimed towards teenagers

No comments about Container Architecture.

1 comments about Olin's Construction: Principles, Materials, and Methods.

1. The follow up to Construction: Principles, Materials & Methods is Olin's Construction. The book is both detailed in the same old editions fashions however the drawings and reference images still have that text-book feel and are circa 1980s and some even 1970s. Some more modern methods are not covered which is a problem however many other "modern construction" books handle those. The basics are still where it's at and this book is a great reference that would fit nicely on your architecture, construction or building technology shelf. I'd really give it 3-1/2 stars but rounding makes it a 4 out of 5. To improve it would need to update drawings and images and also include more information on topics such as restoration; historic preservation and of course the ever changing advancements in modern construction. Also, the next edition should have details/topics about Green Construction of which I have found none thus far.
   I had the 5th edition as a student 12 years ago and wanted the updated version. Much of the information is the same and it's a toss up if you should get this as an update instead of say Allen's book.

5 comments about New York's Fabulous Luxury Apartments: with Original Floor Plans from the Dakota, River House, Olympic Tower and Other Great Buildings.

1. If you live in New York City, this is a great book to see what the building "insides" look like. Although I don't live there, I still enjoyed seeing the floor plans and getting a very brief descriptive of each building. Just a fun book to look at and imagine yourself living in one of the more grand one-floor coops or condos. Fun to dream! The only downside is that some of the floor plans were so small that I needed a magnifying glass to identify the room layout.



2. Originally published under the title 'Apartments for the Affluent,' this book is aimed at a very narrow audience indeed. Alpern takes us through 75 luxury Manhattan apartment houses in chronological order, from 1869 to 1974. Each building has a full-page b&w photograph, a diagram of a typical floor plan, and a quarter-page-or-so description. Alpern explains the reasoning behind the various room arrangements, and how that reasoning evolved over the years. I enjoyed this book immensely, but it's not for everyone. If you ever walked by an older high-rise apartment building and wondered how the rooms were arranged and why, this slender volume will fascinate you. Otherwise, you may prefer a book that's a more general survey of the topic (including some by the same author).



3. Finally I got a hold of this book! Great floor plans; but as usual, I would have liked more interior pics (hardly any).



4. This book provides excellent descriptions and floor plans of many of New York's finest apartments. It proved to be a great guide book on a recent trip to the city.



5. This book is a must have for any fan of architecture. A glimps into some of the most amazing buildings, complete with floorplans! My personal favorites: The Langham, 1107 Fifth Ave, 960 Fifth Ave, 625 Park Ave, River House and my ultimate favorite, the late great 410 Park Ave. I am so glad I discovered this book.

5 comments about The Designers Guide to Color Combinations.

1. I greatly admire the work of Leslie Cabarga -- particularly in the book LOGO FONT & LETTERING BIBLE. Perhaps because of the aforementioned authorship, I let my guard down in purchasing DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO COLOR COMBINATIONS. The same tired layout is depicted hundreds of times in colors sampled from "historic" paintings. Though subject to personal opinion, I find the large majority of such colors are period dated or otherwise unsuitable for current graphic design projects. As with other books of this sort, the Live Color feature in Adobe Illustrator CS3 renders this reference work unnecessary.



2. I ordered this book for my college courses. It has been very helpful for several projects so far, especially when having to do projects that are historic in content.
   
   ~Stacey~



3. The book contains hundreds of color combinations derived from packages, posters, advertisements, giftwrap by designers over the past century. It covers Victorian period, Art Deco, Sixties, Modern times, etc.
   
   On each page, beside the art piece, the author has posted a commentary related to the particular color combination which is often rather humorous and very much fun to read.
   
   Underneath each color combination are listed CMYK colors used in that particular combination so that you can reproduce them in your graphic design program - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc. - if you find a color combination you'd like to replicate or experiment with.



4. This book is an excellent resource for anyone in the field of Design. It not only offers a variety of color combinations to suit a particular style or time period but also includes the CMYK values to produce an exact duplication of the color(s) of your liking in the book (contingent upon monitor/printer callibration etc.).



5. The historical information presented was interesting but I found the format for color display dull and unimaginative. It did not really give a sense of the interaction of the colors displayed.

1 comments about Color, Space, and Style: All the Details Interior Designers Need to Know but Can Never Find.

1. Color, Space and Style is a plethora of useful information, tips of the trade, ideas, and resources at your fingertips.
   
   The content is easy to read and understand with well thought out categories.
   
   Full color pages outline the design process from start to finish.
   
   It is obvious a great deal of energy, time and effort went into its creation. A must read for anyone interested in interior design and design related fields, in fact would be an excellent tool in a teaching environment.
   
   Bravo!

5 comments about The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business.

1. This book has a lot of examples and is a keeper. This was a required text in one of my college courses and was a fun easy read. It is structured by common mistakes others have made so it allows you to learn quickly by example.



2. This book is very dry and hard to read. There is some great information enclosed yet it is really hard to access. I also didn't appreciate that at every moment possible the author seems to downgrade the ability of the self employed, multiple times it is suggested that under no circumstances should you chose to be a sole proprietor, which for me seems to disregard those that are starting out on a smaller part time basis.



3. This book was a perfect tool to benchmark my design studio. After 14 years of business I found that Foote's advice, assumptions and calculations were right on the mark ... even for a business in New Zealand. Highly recommended.



4. This is not for me. It is pretty good for interesting reading, but not made for freelancers like me.



5. 
   This book is divided into four sections: organization, personnel, marketing, and operations. It also has four appendices. I really liked this book very much. I'm a volunteer SCORE counselor who regularly counsels SCORE clients on starting their own small businesses. I highly recommend the instant book to people similarly situated to my clients since it will help them better grasp and understand what is involved in starting a business.
   
   If you want to put together a business plan (and you should if you want to start a business), then use this book to help you by looking at the following chapters:
   
   1. A Solid Foundation
   2. Structure and Facilities
   4. Organizing
   9. Positioning
   10. Promoting
   12. Pricing Your Services
   15. Financial Issues
   
   After you prepare your business plan and have your business up and running, then you'll be able to:
   
   14. Grow the Business
   16. Personal Issues (Cash Out).
   
   I particularly liked the Case Study #6 in Appendix 2 (Failing to Institutionalize the Company). And Appendix 3 (A Designer's Short Course on Marketing) was very well done. Chapter 10 on "Promoting" was very well done given the amount of pages devoted to it.
   
   I was a bit disappointed with the Sample Business Plan Form included in Appendix 4. But the book is not exactly set up to cater to people trying to write a business plan. So I can't be too critical here.
   
   This book is packed full of content regarding the business of graphic design (and small business, in general). It will be well worth your time in reading it if you have any interest in small business. 5 stars!

5 comments about America's Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians.

1. I purchased this book to get ideas for a dollhouse I was making. This book gave me many wonderful ideas and inspirations! There are so many detailed pictures giving us a true look into the Victorian Era. Not only did I get ideas for the outside of my dollhouse. I got some great ideas for some of the rooms on the inside of my dollhouse. And what a wonderful surprise to find a picture of the bed and breakfast that I spent my honeymoon in!



2. WOW!! This book is truly a feast for the eyes, and that's no exaggeration! There are so many first rate photos and plenty of text. Every page has multiple color photos. It is a very heavy book! The paper is high quality and the photos are extremely high resolution and stunningly beautiful. What a great job they did just in printing this book! If you love Victorian homes, then this book is a must have! I like it so much I think I will eventually buy a brand new hardcover copy of it (I bought a used paperback copy). I plan on getting all the other books in this series too. Some of the very best Victorian homes are in this book. They kind of remind me of Disneyland with all the colorful paint schemes and fanciful shapes and decorations.



3. Believe it or not but the main reason I purchased this beautiful book was for reference material for scale model building (i.e. LEGO, etc.). I was hunting forever for a book on Victorian homes--with pictures of the OUTSIDE (as most of the books on Victorian architecture deal with the classic interior designs, furniture, etc.). LEGO and Victorian homes go hand in hand, as this book's wonderful color pictures perfectly illustrate--who could imagine such combinations would actually look so stunning!? In addition to excellent photography the text is well written, with interesting facts about each home, why it's unique, yet how it fits into the overall "Painted Lady" lineage... excellent. :-)



4. A fantastic book, a must for anyone who is thinking about painting a Victorian house. It was very helpful to me and my husband who had to come up with a color scheme for our three-story Queen Anne built in 1895.
   
   If you're in the same boat, then you know that deciding on a color scheme for a detailed Victorian house isn't easy and takes careful thought and consideration. This book will help you. It will give you countless ideas, and just looking at the photos is inspiring.
   
   And then, the book will appeal to any fan of Victorian architecture as well. I love looking at the numerous photos of the houses and find myself thumbing through it again and again. Every time I look at this book, I see something intriguing that I hadn't noticed before. Such a book serves to keep me inspired during the remainder of our home's renovation, which is trying at times.



5. i was speechless each picture was so beautiful , i love each and every house. a great book

3 comments about Pocket Guide to the ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (Pocket Guide to the Ada).

1. The Table of Contents of this book is nearly indentical to the "Code of Federal Regulations" issued by the Justice Department and provided free of charge to anyone who asks for it. But at roughly 6x9 inches, it doesn't fit in my pocket. So if the pocket thing is important to you, I highly recommend this book!



2. This little book is easy to carry around and contains all of the ADAAG info you could ever need! I've been using mine for 2 years and would be lost without it! Thomas Schmokel - ADA Consultant



3. Are you tired of tracking down the office copy of the ADA standards? Is the only copy within the workstation of King Tornado? Get your hands on this little number. Keep it by you at all times. I have used this reference guide for two years now and it has saved me a lot of time. This is a very easy to use condensed version of the state issued ADA guide. It is accurate and reliable and it does not have to go back to the office library. And don't let the words "pocket guide" scare you off, this is not a brochure, it is a book. It's just smaller and smarter, not to mention lighter than the stardard issue. So get a grip on ADA, pocket size.

1 comments about Bridges: Three Thousand Years of Defying Nature.

1. This covers every possible aspect of bridge building that a layperson could think of. Except for one thing. It hardly mentions the laborers who are responsible for the work that made these bridges possible. Yes, a bridge is made from concrete, brick, steel, timber, cable, iron, and whatnot, but what about the blood, sweat, and tears? The book goes into the construction of piers, the methods used to erect various parts of the bridge, and so forth. But it stops short of mentioning how the laborers were organized, who they were, where they came from, and how many of them died building these works of art.
   
   So, although the book filled me with knowledge, I finished it feeling a little bit empty, as if I had seen the surface of all the seas and oceans of the world, but never a whale or fish.