5 comments about How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home (How Your House Works) (How Your House Works).

1. I'm a book geek, a connoisseur of ideas. And i'm not one of those book geeks who is also very practical or handy about the house or with home repair. This book includes a visual dictionary (label + illustration)along with its plain explanations. I'm glad I bought it.



2. highly recommended. contains clear text and very detailed illustrations of the major systems of a house. i came upon this book while looking for explanations of the causes of excessive dust in a home (e.g., whether it's the contents--furnishings, linens, clothing, etc.--in a room or whether it's old walls, floors, and porous ceilings). this book doesn't answer my question, but it does offer a useful, step-by-step guide to systems like plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling, structure, and large appliances. for new homeowners or, better, folks who don't see themselves as diy'ers, this book will give you the information to do some things yourself. at the very least, you will be able to figure out where/why a system underperforms, and what to do about it. along with amy johnston's book on building and renovating a home, wing's book covers most issues. excellent resource or reference.



3. I have numerous reference books but this is the first one to actually describe to me how the device functions. The "Before calling the...(technician)" feature was a brilliant idea and a potential money saver for most homeowners.
   
   My son-in-law teaches middle school science and will be using this book for its wonderful schematics. My other reference books are stashed away on a bookshelf - this one stays on my desk where it is good and handy!



4. EVERY homeowner should have a copy of this invaluable resource. Particularly helpful are the "Before calling for help" sections. The book is simple and straightforward enough for anyone to understand and the diagrams are visually uncomplicated and clear. Before picking up the phone to call a professional be sure to check this wonderful resource and you just might save yourself a service call and a lot of money!



5. I surprised my husband with this book for Christmas. He was stoked. It was sent to me in plenty of time before Christmas. It will be so helpful to us in finishing our basement!

5 comments about 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School.

1. Great little book that takes me back to my college days. It's fun and a great conversation piece.



2. The book contains 101 ideas and concepts that are explained through text on one page and a simple -pen and ink- sketch on the opposite page. The concepts discussed vary widely from simple drawing techniques to positions of architectural theory through enlightened ideas of form and space composition. The book is a good use for students specially in 1st and 2nd years. And could work as a good reminder for graduated practitioners. But actually not a good use for researchers.
   
   You can end reading this book in less than 20 mins. However you will need to re-read it again and again to explore the ideas more.
   
   My advice to the reader: get use of it -but- not to take it for granted... After all there are some ideas that are controversial and anyone would adapt different "accepted" positions toward it.



3. Very insightful, informative and funny! A humoristic, light-hearted take on the architectural education, which sometime tends to be dry... Well, except for studios hours! Frederick's book is quick read that will quickly become any good student's basic reference to answers that sometime we're afraid to ask, such as are my graphics and texts too small on my panel? See 67. Or, is this a good idea to incorporate in my project? See 28. Or, will be a good architect? See 101.
   
   The book's format and presentation makes it easy to grasp the idea or intention of each of the 101 things to be learned, or remembered (pending where one is in his or her architectural education). Its simple and effective drawings convey the message, just like Ching's architectural design guidebook Form, Space and Order. Frederick's book should be placed next to Ching in every student's library... may be even as its author suggests should be kept in plain view in the studio so other can use it!



4. My only regret is that I didn't see this book until now. Wish I had discovered it sooner. Worth every penny.



5. Great book with funny and very serious tips. I am an Interior Design major and I look at it for ideas as much as I can. I received it quickly and enjoyed every minute of it.

2 comments about Decorating Master Class.

1. Decorating Master Class should be required reading in all interior design firms. As a matter of fact, It is is soon to be a benchmark in the annals of decorating history. The authors have not only captured the essence of good taste and style, but they present their craft in a manner that is easy to comprehend and understand. I love this book!!!!



2. The concept of a "Master Class" is a course taught by a top, often world-renowned, professional in a field, to graduate-level students of the highest caliber. When you really understand what a master class is, you get a better sense of the proper audience for this wonderful book showcasing the work of Cullman & Kravis. BUT be prepared -- while the authors may have intended this as a book for the layman, it's for a more precise niche, either the very knowledgeable amateur, or the young professional hoping to work in ultra-high-end interior design.
   
   I would recommend it highly to someone just starting out in the design world, or someone who wants a better understanding of the options available to those with the checkbook to get anything they want. If, for example, you're planning a major interior design project and intend to work with a designer, this is a great primer on the process and details. It'll likely make you a far more informed client for the designer you'll ultimately choose.
   
   It is emphatically not, however, for the DIY reader. The authors assume that you'll be working with professionals, and present options accordingly. The guidelines in such areas as upholstery & trim, lighting, and flooring are invaluable, but such detail is for those who really want it. Your reaction may be, "Okay, that's more than I wanted to know." They also assume such luxuries as custom cabinetry, custom-colored rugs and upholstery, custom embroidery -- basically, an entirely custom environment. This is, after all, what Cullman & Kravis does so beautifully, but it may not be of help to a reader looking for guidance in the real world.
   
   Such books by top designers are the "in" thing lately -- note Jeffrey Bilhuber's Design Basics: Expert Solutions for Designing the House of Your Dreams, Mariette Himes Gomez's Rooms: Creating Luxurious, Livable Spaces, Rose Tarlow's The Private House, Bunny Williams' Point of View: Three Decades of Decorating Elegant and Comfortable Houses, Michael S. Smith: Elements of Style, etc. They cover the length and breadth of interior design today, and they vary widely in their approach. "Decorating Master Class" is for those who want only the finest, and the authors assume their readers have the wherewithal to achieve it.

5 comments about Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden)).

1. Green architect Eric Corey Freed knows his stuff and it shows in Green Building and Remodeling for Dummies.
   
   Freed makes green building and remodeling approachable and very doable.
   
   I like the checklists throughout the book and the perfect green rooms, both of which make understanding the big picture easy.
   
   Freed does an excellent job in explaining the advantages of building green for the health of the occupants and the environment.
   
   If you've ever wondered what the true environmental cost of a particular product is, Freed does a great job of explaining it in "the life cycle of materials from cradle to grave." If you didn't "get" greeen before, this section will show you how important it is to look at the entire life cycle of a product to determine how green--or not--a particular product is.
   
   I also liked the handy list of green material substitutes which make purchasing very easy.
   
   The book was very readable and concise and even fun to read. I highly recommend it.
   
   By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet



2. This book gives a great overview of various green building options for homes. It has a lot of practical and useful information for the beginner or even the advanced green building enthusiast. It also contains a really helpful list of resources for further research. I would have liked a little more information on solar and geothermal, but the book isn't designed to give thoroughly detailed information about every option. I would highly recommend this book.



3. Great info. in an easy to read format. Really enjoyed learning about different products and solutions.



4. I am truly a dummy when it comes to green building, I've never bought a dummies book before - but wanted to remodel my kitchen and needed some expert green advice. The book is broken down into these really helpful sections like finishes, water and energy. It even includes helpful checklists to remodel your kitchen in a green way. The advice I learned from this book will probably save me thousands in construction costs and will continue to save me $$$ on my water and energy bills. The author presents the info in a very fun and logical way. Anyone building or remodeling their home should do it green - and definitely needs this book to guide them every step of the way. The reason I bought this book is that I heard the author speak at a local green conference, and the way he presented the information just made sense to me.



5. Green Building & Remodeling for DUMMIES is the right information at the right time. This book answers every specific question I have come up with. It dispells many old myths about green building, and teaches that green is not only accessible, but it's enjoyable. You can't calculate the $$ payback of a more comfortable home. You can't put a $$ value on the improved respiuratory health that improved indoor air quality provides. But you can take those monthly energy and water savings to the bank every month. Thanks to Mr. Freed for his passion and his pragmatism.

4 comments about Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People.

1. you have to love decor and fashion to understand this book.it is Vogue after all!!!! the book is full of fabulous properties and fabulous people.I went through it already many times and got inspired by it.
   Buy it f you are a fan of vogue magazine !!!



2. There is no disputing that this is a sumptuous volume. Lavishly produced, its oversized 384 pages are crammed with images of exquisite rooms and lush gardens from 36 unique homes, owned by the rich and/or famous in Europe, America and North Africa and into the likes of which you and I will never set foot. (Which is the reason, thankfully, such books are produced and why we lesser mortals buy them.)
   
   There are rooms modern and rooms classic, arranged with the taste, elegance and restraint of the world's best decorators and captured by the world's greatest photographers. And yet the rooms are not museum pieces, but are demonstrably inhabited by their owners, their well-scrubbed children and their adorable dogs, such as the greyhound on page 317 filching a piece of cheese from the dinner table.
   
   My favourite room which is featured on the front jacket cover is of Janet de Botton's breakfast room in Provence, its French chateau décor a study in white, cream and faded pastel, the background, literally a wall of china - floral motifed white plates and platters displayed on white-painted, floor-to-ceiling wooden plate racks built into the walls. (Already I've been measuring my walls to see how I can incorporate something similar - though less vast - into my old house).
   
   At the opposite end of the décor spectrum is Amanda Brooks NYC loft, all kitsch and brash eye-popping colour like a Barbie Doll house with Brooks herself photographed in a Barbie Doll style gown in a Barbie Doll pose. (It's not to my personal taste but cleverly done & I had to look twice to be sure the figure lying stiffly across the bed wasn't a mannequin).
   
   If you are a fan of décor books you will find plenty more here to inspire, amuse and entertain you and your like-minded friends and family.
   
   So why did I hold back from a five star rating? My quibble is with the empty 14 pages devoted to Madonna which might have been put to better use: Madonna's cow pastures, M. with (admittedly cute) children; a gowned & high-heeled & coiffed M. feeding the chickens (as if!); M. canoodling with husband, a double-page shot of M's sheep -- & only one tiny interior shot, a sitting room that was rearranged by the photographer & does not reflect the actual décor of Madonna's house - which might have been of real interest even to a non-fan like me.
   Thus the book falls just a little short of being, for me, the epitome of the coffee-table décor genre.



3. Flash review: The perfect gift book for this season.
   
   This new book, timed for Xmas giving, features a selection of the best homes shown in Vogue in the past several years. It is a large-scale book, filled with wonderful color photography. Although Elle Decor and Architectural Digest have come out with similar books this season, neither can hold a candle to Vogue's tome. If you are familiar with the 1968 publication, "Vogue's Book of Houses, Gardens, People", which now sells for $400 and up if you can find it, you will know what is in store for you.
   
   Maximum emphasis on homes you would love to see in person, owned by people of impeccable style: Janet de Botton in the south of France, Marella Agnelli in Marrakech, David Cholmondeley's stately, etc.; minimal number of celebrity digs done by decorators of questionable taste which you tend to see in Architectural Digest. The style and taste of the featured houses, gardens (and, yes, people) are on an entirely different plane than those shown in the new books by the other two lifestyle magazines.



4. Photography is extraordinary. The people featured therein, not so much. Still, it's a beautifully done publication and worth the cash but buy it at discount.
   Stylemaven

5 comments about Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors.

1. I have heard American decorating described as "Cheerful Comfort" which doesn't mean much in the overall scheme of things.
   If the concepts learned from Axel Vervordt were incorporated into American decor we would be the envy of the world. Mr. Vervordt's talent lies in combining the elements of form, time, and substance and lets them breath together to create a pallete of breathless beauty. He is humble in his choices and shares it all with the reader in an effortless way which is the mark of great talent. The photo layouts are exquisite and the text is like a novel. So worthy of a great talent.



2. If you are a fan of Mr Verfoordt's restrained timeless chic, this book is for you. Full of beautiful photographs of the timeless interiors the book was named after, this is a lovely edition that will provide endless inspiration.



3. Simply fabulous. You can hear a pin drop in these hushed interiors. Beautifully presented and photographed. Rush to buy now, dahling!
   Stylemaven



4. A beautiful book with perfect interiors atmospherically lit and framed. The soft half-light does leave me trying to decipher the detail a lot of the time, but I suppose that is not the purpose of these pictures. The interiors are wonderful - sparse, minimal and perfect, with the texture of old wood and stone blending together like a gentle whisper of the passage of time. Truly gorgeous, and a visual delight.
   One of the great pleasures of interior design books is the chance to see private collections in their native settings, and my only regret about this volume is that all the houses are either full of "Axel objects" rather than individually chosen works of art reflecting the taste of the owners (with one sparkling exception full of modern paintings and classical antiquities), or pieces cannot be seen because of the lighting. A small enough sacrifice.



5. Like the author (and almost everyone else in the world of antique collectors), we first discovered Axel Vervoordt of Antwerp at the 1984 Paris Biennale des Antiquaires where his display of Ming porcelain that had recently been recovered from a ship lost in 1645 in the South China Sea created a sensation. His huge display of table after table of the blue and white Ming in a large booth at the center of the Grand Palais was the immediate focus of attention for everyone as they entered the fair.
   
   We were fortunate enough to have bought a few pieces, very reasonably priced in part because of the extraordinary number of pieces recovered (surprisingly well preserved by being packed in rice hulks which presumably cushioned their fall and with grains of sand from firing still stuck to the bottom rims of most pieces) but also because centuries in salt water had given the pieces an unusual semi-matte finish. The larger pieces were sold almost immediately, in huge numbers, and the talk around the fair was that the buyers were several Saudi princesses seen hitting the booth at the opening and going over the material at length.
   
   Vervoordt, relatively young (37) at the time, had already been avidly collecting antiques for over twenty years, focusing principally on European pieces from the Renaissance to the present, but also including ancient arts from Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The 1984 Salon launched him into a greater orbit and allowed him to acquire a huge castle in the Belgian countryside which he very tastefully restored over the next four years, using it both as a home and as a shop, albeit one covering acres and acres. More recently, he has refurbished a huge industrial complex on a canal in Antwerp, the Kanaal, to provide a series of shops, work rooms and storage, both indoors and out, for the thousands of pieces in his inventory and to create a large decorating practice.
   
   This new book, by Armelle Baron and published by Flammarion, shows the interiors Vervoordt has created for connoisseurs who share his sophisticated, eclectic interest in beautiful objects (and possess large pocketbooks). The 250-plus pages are full of large format, color photographs showing some twenty homes around the world, where Vervoordt has beautifully incorporated a collection of Basquiat paintings with country furniture; furnished magnificent chateaux for the Queen of Belgium and for the merely wealthy; decorated a Dallas home with sophistication we doubt Texas has ever seen before. All appear very comfortable. Some of the homes featured are not at all grand but are every bit as tastefully done: a Swiss chalet, a Provencal farmhouse, a Palladian-style home on a Florida waterway.
   
   The present book comes six years after "Axel Vervoordt: The Story of a Style", 2001, published by Assouline, which provides a magnificent introduction to his aesthetic as well as his collection, his castle and his extraordinary skill at mixing styles and periods. This is a taste which flawlessly displays a huge Anish Kapoor sculpture (maybe fifteen years old at the most) next to ancient Thai carvings, Renaissance bronzes and wonderful European furniture, all in a gorgeous stone interior.
   
   The current book would be a wonderful gift for anyone interested in interior design or antiques. My only quibble would be the interior photography; some of the many photos do not show sufficient detail across all of the image. The 2001 book from Assouline would be the better choice if you were principally interested in antiques (and has better photography, on a par with the Givenchy monograph of a few years ago). Vervoordt has a different aesthetic than Bunny Williams or John Fowler; think Rose Tarlow working with a very sophisticated European client in the French countryside or a Greek isle instead of Beverly Hills.

5 comments about Bunny Williams' Point of View: Three Decades of Decorating Elegant and Comfortable Houses.

1. This book is wonderful!
   Bunny Williams is someone who will be studied as an iconic designer of her era.
   No one who is interested in interior design should be without this.



2. This was a birthday treat for me and what a treat it is - a visual feast with great words and pictures...just a joy to own! Have read it from cover to cover but I just know it will become an "old friend" - dipped into forever! It is beautifully laid out and the personality and philosophy of Bunny shines on every page. Lovers of antiques, art and gracious warm interiors will adore each and every page.



3. Bunny Williams is not only a fabulous decorator and accomplished author, she is a warm and charming hostess. She made me right at home with her new book "Point of View". Filled with beautiful pictures it is true, but practical and applicable information can be gleaned in every chapter. She generously shares her experiences and knowledge with the reader, which are extensive to say the least. I will return for a visit often with "Point of View"



4. Okay, to be honest I'm only halfway through it, but that is because this is the first one I have ever read every single word of, over and over! I'm trying to go slow and savor every section. As a middle-aged, middle-class woman with "more in my head than I have in my pocket" I have found this to be the best book ever! There are a couple of magazines that I love, but the homes are very grand and while I may get a few ideas, they lack practical advice for me. While this book has beautiful photos and many of rooms are pretty high-end, the advice she gives is applicable to every budget, so it is great for your first apartment or your dream home. It is like having a decorator to consult with because I have finally gotten answers to a few questions I've had for years. This book will save you time and money because it will save you from mistakes. The added bonus is that she shares enough of herself that you will feel like you have made an adorable new friend!!



5. Bunny William's exquisite taste is evident throughout this wonderful book. It's full of large photographs that showcase Ms. Williams' work and that act as a clear guide to do it yourself decorators.
   
   Bunny Williams' writing is an easy read and interesting in its autobiographical moments. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Ms. Williams' house in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series).

1. I bought this book after reading the glowing reviews on amazon. It was also an inspiration for Will Wright to make SimCity and the SIMS..... so I had high expectations.
   
   I was shocked to find how opinionated and philosophical the book is. I expected the book to look at the history of cities, towns, etc. and describe patterns that already exist (much like the GoF's software design patterns book talks about patterns that people actually use). Instead the book presents a series of ideals about how the world should be structured.
   
   If these ideals came from concerns I could identify with, I would take it more seriously. But instead they attack "problems" which I do not perceive to exist. For example, on p. 43 "The homogeneous and undifferentiated character of modern cities kills all variety of life styles and arrest the growth of individual character." This statement is contrary to my experience. I have met many great characters from cities, and seen profound cultural differentiation emerge from cities (e.g. jazz, abstract painting, hippie culture, punk, you name it). But the authors proceed as if cities killing character is axiomatic. I agree that there is a rural character that is not present in cities. But citydwellers have another type of character which is equally valid.
   
   I have only made it through the first 100 pages. In these pages are so many naive ideas about mixing cityspace and vacant space. I live in Los Angeles so I know about sprawl & I also know a lot about cars -- while they are aiming for less sprawl then LA, they also neglect traffic congestion. They claim that making small roads in places make people reluctant to drive there.... the experience worldwide (worst in Malaysia, I hear) is that people use whatever roads are present, and if the roads are small, they then just end up sitting in traffic. The author's are naive in their structuring of space, nowhere do they cite any hard evidence of how these structures function.
   
   I might make it the rest of the way through.... at least it's an easy read, with so many repetitions in how the models work you can kinda skim through it. I like the spirit of the book, it is reminiscent of P.M.'s bolo'bolo.... but where bolo'bolo comes from a purely emotional position, these authors take themselves seriously and believe what they are saying is objectively true. I give the book 3 stars because it is nice to see someone work through the ideas of bolo'bolo (which was actually written ~6yrs after alexander's book). I would give 5 stars to a book that did so by looking more at actual data of how spaces are utilized, and presented designs that didn't have obvious flaws in them.



2. Time has not eroded the significance of this book's contribution to the world of architecture. Though it reaches back to timeless solutions to architectural problems, it is also a way forward. As we devour our social capital in a half century of indiscriminate urban sprawl, this book offers alternatives that will help us revitalize our urban centers.



3. This book is the quintessential book on the subject of creating authentic living spaces.
   This book provides a near mystical approach to architecture in a very simplistic form that anyone can understand.



4. This book talks specifically about what works and doesn't work when building cities and towns and how to take the human element into consideration when doing so. However, I found its conclusions and most of its patterns applicable to software engineering. There are good books on software design patterns such as "Head First Design Patterns", and there are some good books on user interface design such as "Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design", but this book really helped me merge the idea of software design patterns with the user perspective in a way that other books I have read have not.
   
   If you are a software designer, read the book all the way through, make notes as you go, and see if it doesn't help you write better organized code that is more responsive and coherent to a user who walks up to your user interface completely uninitiated in your method of design. I know it helped me.



5. This was an extremely helpful book in using to decide what house or town home to buy, why spaces might work, what needs to be added to them, etc. I am very glad I bought this book.

1 comments about Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House.

1. I bought this as a gift for my son and daughter-in-law as they live in a Cliff May that they need to update. They need to make changes to the kitchen but want to maintain the integrity of the design. They have both told me that this is a wonderful book and it has given them many good ideas. So, based on their recommendations, I would have to rate this highly. I am looking forward to a visit with them so I can actually see the book in person!!

4 comments about Hunt Country Style.

1. The book is informative and the pictures are splendid. However, I came across a substantial printing error on page 48 that detracts. The last sentence is not continued on page 49 or 50, so the narrative is incomplete. This error should have been caught in editing. The publisher refused to acknowledge the error or do anything about it.



2. This book does not disappoint in photography and text as it samples some beautiful Virginia Hunt Country homes and farms. A brief historical and chronological chapter heading of each featured home is included at the top of the page. The text is interesting without being tedious and there are enough beautiful photographs of each property's interiors and exteriors to leave one completely satisfied. The only fault is that on page 48 the text ends in an incomplete sentence, which appears to be a printing error.



3. I purchased this lovely book after a short stay in Middleburg, Virginia.
   The book captures the spirit and beauty of this remarkable part of America like no other document that I have ever encountered. Highly recomended.



4. When you buy design books online, a lot of times you purchase them simply for the pretty cover and hope that the inside pages offer as much as the outside. This book far outshines the cover. As well as showing the interiors and exteriors of some of the most beautiful houses in the Hunt Country of Virginia, it serves as a historical guide to the area and a travel log for a long, leisurely trip you would like to take to see these houses, farms and incredible rolling hills.
   
   This book offers a glimpse into a lifestyle that not everyone can live or possibly afford, but it's not pretentious. I applaud all the owners in this book for having the means to keep these gems in such great condition and for letting us peek in.