No comments about Furniture 2000: Modern Classics and New Designs in Production (Schiffer Design Book).

5 comments about Adirondack Style.

1. I totally "loved" this book. One of my favorites. I am totally into "camp,cabin,and adirondack" decorating books and this book totally delivered the goods. Gorgous pictures gives one many cozy decorating ideas and just a book to daze and dream away an afternoon with.



2. In looking for ideas for the second home getaway we are planning, I came across this book and added it to my collection. It is handsome but, as the title would suggest, limited to one style. If that is your thing, fine. In this genre, the book that keeps rising to the top of the little stack on my coffee table is called SECOND HOME/Finding Your place in the Sun (or Fun or something like that). Second Home shows rustic styles and romantic cottage ones, too, taking me on a little tour of the United States as I turn the pages. The author obviously did his homework, too, because Second Home is filled with information on how to shop for real estate, evalute an area, decide what you want (and where you want it), etc.



3. As I just wrote in a review of Cabin Fever, this book, too, is a delight to look at. But it is limited (as its title says, of course) to one style that is a bit more rustic than what we have in mind. Still, this is a lovely book to peruse. As we gather information on vacation homes, our favorite book is a new one called Second Home, which includes visits to everything from oceanside homes and lake cottages to mountain cabins. Second Home also includes information on how to shop for a second home, how to decide what location is right, and tips on building, decorating and so on. I've never met a vacation house book I didn't like, and I like them all. But Second Home is our favorite because it has such variety of home styles and helpful tips in it.



4. In planning the vacation home we hope to have soon, we bought this book and a new one called SECOND HOME. Adirondack Style is more of a dream book and includes historical information about the style. It's also limited to one style, of course. The book called Second Home works on a couple levels as a dream book but it also includes information on shopping, building, decorating, and so on, and it shows a wide range of second home styles around the country. We like both, but if we had to pick only one, it would be Second Home. (A book called Cabin Fever is fun, too, but limited to very rustic styles.)



5. Between this book and another, also from amazon, called Cottage Style, I have more than enough to fuel my vacation house daydreams. A great start for 2000 and for my own dreams of early retirement.

No comments about Maarten Van Severen: Work.

No comments about Made in Oakland: The Furniture of Garry Knox Bennett.

No comments about Masterpieces of Shaker Furniture.

2 comments about Furniture Atlas: From Rococo to Art Deco (Evergreen Series).

1. Pagaing through this oversized coffee-table book is a delight.
   
   It contains over 800 pages with more than 1300 beautifully colored photographs supplemented with black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings.
   
   The book contains photos not only of furniture of three centuries of styles in several European countries, but also the interiors in which the furniture is placed. And the text material focuses on the aesthetic and stylistic aspects as well as the historical aspects.
   
   This enjoyable book is one of the best of its kind that I have seen, and I recommend it to all readers interested in interior decoration. It is well worth the price.
   
   The collaborating authors have done a truly fantastic job.



2. This is a well written book in light of the fact there are different authors for each section. Beware that this book's focus is on Europe--there is no discussion of America or other places outside of Europe. One thing that struck me was the vastness of the furniture world. For example, Chippendale and Hepplewhite each warrant no more than a few paragraphs.
   
   One thing that I found annoying was the focus on the pinnacle of furniture making. I am more interested in furniture owned by average folks, not the crazy over-the-top stuff of royalty. I've never had a client request a bedroom in the the style of Louis the XVI because it would take an army of craftsmen and millions of dollars to recreate the bedroom.
   
   The book has several chapters on interiors. These discussions are nice but again, the focus is on the pinnacle of interior design.
   
   I was disappointed about the discussion of Art Nouveau. The author, Ornella Selvafolta, spends many pages discussing painting and architecture. This discussion did not contribute to what I wanted to know--i.e. furniture design. The same thing goes for the section on Art Deco which was authored by Selvafolta also.

No comments about The Arab Chest.

3 comments about The Bulfinch Guide to Carpets: How to Identify, Classify, and Evaluate Antique Carpets and Rugs.

1. This is probably the most frequently used carpet book I have. I'm not a dealer or serious collector - just wanted to buy nice rugs for the house but I wanted to know what I was buying. I first found this at the library and ended up buying it (along with 2 others that are bigger and different). I go to this book first every time I have a question. This book has great maps of the areas, history of the people in each of the areas, great drawings and explainations of the different symbols and motifs, discussions on the knots/weaves and what to look for in terms of quality, typical indications of what to look for in each type of carpet, and more. We recently returned from a trip to Turkey/Istanbul where we went to the Grand Bazaar and bought carpets for the house - it was lots of fun (great people)- and I feel that this book really helped me not only appreciate the rug making and understand some of the history but also make more informed decisions when shopping. Highly recommeded!



2. This book looks like a beginner level general rug book but it is actually very useful. Of all of my beginner books this is one I still go back to...



3. this is a pretty basic primer for those just beginning to collect oriental carpets. There are quite a few pictures/examples, although the book is less than comprehensive.

2 comments about Fine Wicker Furniture: 1870-1930.

1. Tim Scott did a fine job assembling all the various wicker furniture pieces, photographing them and afixing a general price to each one. But as with most wicker price guides, it was obsolete the minute it was published.

   Since it is the most current price guide on the market, however, I do use it to show my customers when they desire some confirmation on dating their item. I also use it as a good reference in conjunction with other wicker reference books I have in my library.

   Reselling wicker furniture always depends on condition, location and market, which I believe Tim covers in his price guide in the back of the book. You must take these things into consideration when determining value to your wicker item.

   It would have been easier reading if the prices had been written underneath each item rather than having to go to the back of the book to look up each price, but I realize the constraints publishers and authors are under regarding such book layouts. There are a few items that I take issue with in his dating and condition, but other than those minor disagreements, we are on the same general wavelength.

   Tim Scott and Shiffer Publishing have done a very fine job of creating this price guide. I bought my copy when it first came out a few years ago and is a wonderful addition to my reference library. I highly recommend purchasing this book for yours.




2. We have over 40 pieces of wicker and have had a difficult time verifying the value of some of the pieces. Mr. Scott's book helps a great deal in establishing the authenticity and consequently the value. The photos are very defined and the descriptions adequate to determine the maker and circa of the wicker.

No comments about Country Primitives 5.