2 comments about The Grand Resort Hotels of the White Mountains: A Vanishing Architectural Legacy.

1. Mr. Tolles has reached a perfect balance of scholarly research and easy reading in a "coffee-table book" format. As someone who lives in the area with a strong interest in Tolles' subject matter (I own the annex building to the Sunset Hill House hotel) I can also vouch for the accuracy of what he has written.
   A wonderful book, beautifully presented, highly readable and visually involving. Anyone with a love of history, architecture, romance, travel, or their ancestors is sure to enjoy it as much as I and my guests do.



2. This well-researched and informative book about the grand resort hotels of the White Mountains is simply one of those books which you add with pride to your library collection. It shows the hotel's importance in the architectural and social historical realm of New England and American history. It is full of andedotes on the hotel industry and is a vastly entertaining social picture. The book is full of many illustrations of present and long-gone hotels, 200 b&w and a number of color plates. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the hospitality history of this country, and the importance in the realm of things that the hotel places. Dr. Tolles have expertly brought this subject to life and I commend him for it.

1 comments about Aqua: Miami Modern by the Sea.

1. First, Aqua is in North Beach, not South Beach. Second, Aqua isn't juxtaposed with art deco masterpieces. They razed half an island and took it over drowning the landscape with uninspired architecture. A four lane roadway separates them from the rest of the island.
   
   Other than that, the book is fine if you have interest in looking at a shameless advertisement for not-the-nicest-condos on Miami Beach.

No comments about Fassaden / Façades: Gebäudehüllen für das 21. Jahrhundert / Building Envelopes for the 21st Century.

1 comments about American Barns.

1. Take a tour of 240 old and new barns throughout the United States with this book's clear photographs and concise descriptions. You'll have a good introduction to our regional styles and to the amazing variety of different barn types. If you're planning to design or build a barn, you can't help but be inspired by the many photos of building details.

1 comments about Dovecotes (Shire Library).

1. Very interesting and informative. My husband and I have become interested recently in homing pigeons and the unique impact they have had in historical events. The european dovecotes depicted in this book, as well as the interesting writing of the authors, bears homage to the importance of the pigeon as food source and messenger in yesteryears. Beautiful photos and very well written, we have enjoyed this book very much.

1 comments about Imagine a House: A Journey to Fascinating Houses Around the World (What a World We Live in, 1).

1. Written and illustrated by a retired Peace Corps volunteer Angela Gustafson, Imagine A House: A Journey To Fascinating Houses Around The World is a splendid picture book showcase for young readers and showcases various twenty-two types of dwellings used by fifteen diverse cultures worldwide ranging from igloos, to the tent houses of northern Africa and the Middle East, to houses on stilts such as those found in Southeast Asia, and much, much more. Full-color, photographic illustrations complement the text and offer fascinating glimpses into different cultures.

No comments about Diller + Scofidio: Eyebeam Atelier of New Media & Technology: The Charles and Ray Eames Lecture.

1 comments about The New Wood House.

1. Coastal Architects' Showcase
   
   This book shows fifteen East Coast and West Coast homes by ten architects. One presumes the architects paid for the exposure. Six of the projects are in California while four are in Massachusetts. Each has an introductory page by Trulove then one or two pages of plans and elevations followed by excellent large photos. This book will be useful for those seeking an architect and those looking for design ideas. An abbreviated Materials and Finishes section provides that information plus Web addresses for the architects.

No comments about Retail: Architecture & Shopping.

4 comments about Cabin Kitchens & Baths.

1. Everyone dreams of a getaway cabin - a place of rest and refuge. ~pg. 1
   
   If you have your own log cabin dreams, the best ways to get ideas is to look through wonderful log cabin books written by photographers who have written about hundreds of log cabins. The authors of this gorgeous book live in a farmhouse deep in the rural Virginia countryside.
   
   They are frequently on the road and spend time in New York City at their studio space. Franklin and Esther Schmidt have captured some of the most beautiful kitchens and baths I've ever seen. They are romantic, inspiring and very cozy.
   
   This book is filled with ideas for remodeling or new homes. This book explores architectural elements, furnishings, appliances, bathrooms, design and décor. Many of the cabins are surprisingly modern and quite interesting. The curtains and lighting stand out as highlights against the warm wood interiors.
   
   After reading this book you may find yourself adding heart bundt pans, candles and new pots and pans to your wish list or dreaming about lace curtains. Many of the kitchens have a special shelf for cookbooks and all the kitchens look like dream kitchens. Pots and pans hang from the ceilings along with baskets and dried flowers.
   
   There are many creative ideas in the pictures, like a wagon as a coffee table. Baskets are definitely a decorative element in the kitchens.
   
   While most of this book is about kitchens, there is a section about creating soothing spaces filled with candles, fluffy towels and deep baths. Here are all the bathtubs we dream about, complete with big windows, plants and candles everywhere.
   
   If you love claw-foot tubs, there are many examples in various settings. I had never seen a lavender colored tub so that was interesting. There are ideas for stenciling and one bath tub has a waterfall.
   
   The resources will be very helpful for home builders and almost every source has a website for immediate access to ideas and inspiration.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. I've been looking for a book like this for ages. There are lots of great looking design books, very few offer real help. I found this book to be excellently organized with in-depth information on every aspect of kitchen and bathroom design. The writing is intelligent, without being overly technical, and good-humored while also giving practical solutions to a variety of design and structural challenges.
   The photography, which as another reviewer pointed out, could stand alone as being quite beautiful, is very specific in terms of what is depicted as referencing the subject matter in the respective chapters and sections.
   Another reviewer pointed out that the photography is redundant to what appears in the log magazines on the newsstands. I think that is untrue. I'm an avid reader of log magazines, and have been for a good number of years, and do not see any repetition at all. These photographs are certainly new to my eyes and are of the highest quality.
   I find it remarkable that with so many books on kitchens and myriad publications on cabins, this is the first time that the two subjects have been combined in one volume. And, what an effective volume it is.
   On a personal point of view, as a lover of great interiors and with a nice little library of good design books, this one has great pipe dream potential and one of these days I might even use some of the ideas in re-doing my own kitchen and bathroom.



3. If you subscribe to, or even buy some of the log cabin magazines from the news stand, this book is a repeat for the most part. Most of the pictures have already been published over and over again. If you haven't gotten any log or timber home magazines lately this is a good book. Although, I liked Inside Log Homes: The Art and Spirit of Home Decor much better.



4. Book Review
   CABIN KITCHENS AND BATHS by Franklin and Esther Schmidt (Gibbs Smith, Salt Lake City, 2004)

   This book delivers far more than it promises. First and foremost, it is a chatty but practical and lavishly - illustrated guide designed to lead a cabin or homeowner through the process of designing what most of us would consider the two most difficult and important rooms in our residence. The Schmidts do this by a readable text, made more useful by including opinions from numerous professionals involved in cabin design from soup to nuts. The book...which obviously could be used to design kitchens and baths in any kind of residence...includes helpful check lists to prepare one thoroughly from design to installation.

   CABIN KITCHENS AND BATHS is also a wonderful "coffee table" book for post and beam and log residences. My library holdings include numerous volumes of books whose last name is "STYLE"......"Greek Style"," Japanese Style", etc, and I often reread them for the simple pleasure of it. The lavish color photography makes this book infinitely more attractive.

   Finally, the Schmidts give us a tantalizing look into myriad design choices for decorating kitchens, baths and the rest of the cabin. Collections, individual pieces, the old and the new populate most of the photographs and add yet another dimension to this book. After the kitchen and bath are finally finished, one can easily find pleasure for many years in the other things that this book so richly illustrates.