No comments about The Gothic (Documents of Contemporary Art).

5 comments about The Well-Worn Interior.

1. A new track to follow in interior design? I certainly think so. Apprecieting the softness of well-used furniture, carpets and so on. And believe me, there is no "dirt" exposed in this book. Unless that is how you describe peeling wall-paper, which is about as extreme as the content goes. But to a spoiled Western population (who rather buy brand new things of inferior design and craftmanship than lovely old pieces secon-hand) maybe that is off-putting. I'm in fact rather turned-on.



2. Yes, indeed, this book highlights well-worn interiors, but the vast majority of the photos are from old English homes and townhouses. I was hoping for more variety, more applicability to the Average Joe's well-worn interior dreams.



3. Not intended for those wanting a simple step by step to revamp their kitchen or lounge. This book is filled with sumptious images of spaces well lived in and loved. A fabulous reference for architects or designers who want to inject character and texture into a space.



4. Pealing, ancient wall paper.... Narrow dim hallways.... ballrooms with ancient chandeliers, what the well dressed haunted house is wearing today. Formerly grand interiors that have NEVER BEEN RENOVATED - It's all about "Authentic." Not one single floor has even a SPECK of finish left on it, they're referred to as "Well scrubbed." Most of these original interiors are European or English from 200 years ago or so. Once grand, these houses are beyond lived in. There is a least one old house from the sourthern United States featured.



5. Although these interiors are probably too worn for American comfort, the style shown gives one ideas to help design an inviting room.

1 comments about Designing the World's Best Bars.

1. This is a nice book for viewing bars that have already been designed. However, I wanted to actually design a bar and this book didn't help me with that at all. Good book. Nice pictures. But if you are looking to actually design a bar, then this book will not help. This book would have been more accurate if it were titled "the world's best designed bars."

1 comments about The Dome of the Rock.

1. CAUTION: There are 3 different books with the same title by the same authors, but with different re-write contents in different years. All discuss the "Dome of the Rock" or the "Al-Haram al-Sharif" hilltop in Jerusalem. [Atop this rock is where Jews believe their now-destroyed Second Temple was located; where Christians await the building of the Third Temple to enhance the return of Jesus; and is from where the Muslim Prophet Mohammad ascended into Heaven to talk with Allah before returning upon his flying-horse al-Buraq to Medina.] #1 (Sept. 1996): "The Dome of the Rock" by Said Nuseibeh AND Oleg Grabar. [Nuseibeh was the photographer, translator and writer, with co-author Grabar adding valuable commentary regarding the architecture of the dome.] It is the large "coffee table" size: 9.6"x12", hardback with 175 pages; Rizzoli publisher; {ISBN-10: 08-47819426} $60 new, $35 used. This book provides countless photographs of every ornately tiled wall and crook-and-cranny niche within this octagon-shaped building, and is the first one that I have seen that translates the extensive Arabic inscriptions contained inside the dome. How should Christians view this inscription in the Dome: "So believe in God and all the messengers, And stop talking about a Trinity. Cease in your own best interests! Verily God is the God of unity. Lord Almighty! That God would beget a child? Either in the Heavens or on the Earth?" (p.107) [Muslims don't believe in the concept of the Christian "Holy Trinity"; and maintain that while Jesus was actually a MUSLIM prophet, he was not the "son" of God and therefore not divine.] Also, this is the only book I've found that has a very detailed bird's-eye view of the top of the entire Haram al-Sharif complex, and depicts where about 65 different shrines, stairs, gates, and domes are located. #2 (Jan. 1997): "Le Dome du Rocher" by Said Nuseibeh and Oleg Grabar; hardback same as #1 but in French. #3 (Oct. 2006): "The Dome of the Rock" by only Oleg Grabar. It is medium-size: 6"x8", hardback with 234 pages; specialty Belknop Press of Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass.; printed in Canada; {ISBN-10: 0-674-02313-7} $25 new; $13 used. This is NOT a smaller reprint of #1; it is a totally different re-write! It has perhaps only 5% of the photographs contained in #1, but does provide several new site maps along with new analysis. #4 (Aug. 1985): "Dome of the Rock" (in 'Wonders of Man' series) by Jerry Landay; 160 pgs; Newsweek Books {ISBN-10: 0882250183 or 088225019-1}. As related items you should review: (a) "Secrets of Jerusalem's Temple Mount" by Leen Ritmeyer {ISBN-10:188-031-752-4}; a study of the architectural history of the building of various temples atop the Temple Mount; and (b) "The End of Days" by Gershom Gorenberg {ISBN-10: 0-684-87179-3}; an analysis of the religious and political struggles between Jews, Christians and Muslims for control of the Temple Mount to accelerate the much-anticipated coming of the calamitous hells-a-poppin "End of Times."

5 comments about Architecture Colors (Preservation Press).

1. I give this book to new parents all the time. I love the use of architectural elements. Its great for the adults reading it as well. Of course, I am an architect so my perspective may be skewed a bit. And the children of all of my architectural colleagues seem to enjoy it!



2. As an architect, I enjoy giving these books as gifts because they are different from your run of the mill children's books. I like how they use building pieces to teach about basic shapes and colors. It is not a book that highlights popular or historic architecture - its more about the components.



3. as architects and parents to a young child, we were excited to discover this series of books. however, we were left feeling a little disappointed when it arrived and the buildings used to illustrate the colors were unidentifiable and rather blase examples of architecture when there are so many high-profile buildings out there that would not only teach, but open a child's mind to what a building can be.



4. The children's heavy cardboard book demonstrates a wonderful idea well executed. My grandson at 3 loves it!



5. This small cardboard book features photographs of buildings and architectural details. The photographs are beautiful - curious subjects in luminescent hues; there is no text other than the names of the colors. If you are a parent bored to tears with green frogs and red balloons, this book is a lifesaver. It is not clear to me what aspect of this book interests my two year old son, but it has been among his top ten for the past four months

No comments about Façades: Principles of Construction.

2 comments about Castles of the Western World: With 240 Illustrations (Magnificent Castles).

1. I ordered this book as a surprise for my son's 15th birthday. I only wish that Castles of the Western World had been a "peek-inside book." The front cover aside, there are no color pictures (which is not a bad thing, but the photos displayed are quite dull). I am no professional photographer, but the subjects of black and white photos must be composed and presented artfully, but the pictures in this book are not. This book has all the appeal of an old textbook--without the requisite dust.



2. I love castles and these are just absolutely beautiful. They give you the feeling that you want to live in them - bar the drafty rooms, etc. Also, they make you wonder who might have lived in them and what kind of history the castles have. If I ever have the good fortune to travel to any of these places, I would most definitely look up these castles.

No comments about Basics Materials (Basics).

1 comments about Interior Design Practicum Exam Workbook, Second Edition.

1. do not waste your money on this book-as you will notice it is only 66 pages, and there is little here to help you. The study guide for the test is better.

1 comments about Children's Fashions 1900-1950 As Pictured in Sears Catalogs.

1. I've truly enjoyed this book as I'm in the process of writing my own novel and needed a good source for period clothing. This book gave me some great ideas on how styles were designed for one of America's most famous catalogs, Sears. Also has great pictures of hats/bonnets. What's even more fun is how much stylish clothing cost in those days! A definite recommendation!