3 comments about Simply Safari.

1. This book is sooo absolutely amazing. I looked through this book & was in AWE with how B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l-l-y put together it is!
   
   There are gorgeous photographs of 26 lodges of the southern African states from: Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia & Zimbabwe! You will enjoy looking & reading through this book time after time.
   
   The wonderful picture's in this book will inspire you if your are decorating or wanting to decorate in African Safari, British Colonial or just wanting to add a splash of Safari to your life. Obviously there are items that you cannot get easily in America, but some of idea's in this book can be found @ Cost-Plus World Market or Pier1 Imports!
   
   I ordered this book along with "Safari Chic" & although both books are wonderful, "Simply Safari" is my personal favorite!! It is a large book, ALMOST: 10x13" & has 192 pages (including addresses & index in case you decide to visit these lodges).
   
   I think you'll be super happy with this book ... I am!



2. This is a book that captures the beauty of elegance in the wilderness. The photographs are impressive and, together with intelligently written text, successfully convey the ambiance of those lodges and tent camps shown.



3. I loved the first half of this book. It's filled with dreamy mosquito netted fantasy rooms and is a real delight to look at. The second half,in general, seemed to feature more contrived sort of interiors, a little bit too over the top for me. Overall a really pretty book full of lovely pictures and a totally different world. A must for anyone with rustic/tribal/colonial sort of tendencies. I must admit I haven't read a great deal of the text yet so I can't comment on that, but it's the pictures that make this sort of book worthwhile and there are plenty of those.

1 comments about Circle Houses: Yurts, Tipis and Benders (House That Jack Built).

1. I thought the book gave an excellent description of yurts and tipis from a historical perspective and present day use. Its gives case studies/examples of people who current live in these types of unique dwellings. We added a couple of yurts to our North Georgia bed and breakfast inn. We have witnessed some of the feelings first hand that our guests have had that were also mentioned in the book by yurt dwellers.

3 comments about George Washington Smith: An Architect's Scrapbook.

1. Located exact item I needed and it was promptly delivered. I am a first time user and was very satisfied with the process. I will definitely use you again.



2. This is a fascinating book on a singular talent. It was so interesting to see images and articles, gathered from the era in which Mr. Smith practiced. The photos are wonderful and the text is highly informative. George Washington Smith was the foremost master of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and this book honors him. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest whatsoever in this style of architecure, you wont be disappointed, it is a long awaited tribute to one of the finest American residental architects of the 20th century.



3. This is truely is a must have book for anyone remotely interested in Santa Barbara architecture. Beautiful images and sketches of the historic work of George Washington Smith make up this coffee table treasure. Highly reccommended.

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!

1 comments about Architecture of Truth.

1. This gorgeous book flawlessly demonstrates the architecture of the Cistercians, the photographs conveying the principles of asceticism which governed their monastic spaces. The continuity of pages filled with black and white photos, alongside which black text communicates wisdom from some of the greatest religious personages, is broken only by the red lettering delineating the beginning of a new section, each of which is named for the canonical hours--mirroring the shift that would have occurred in the monks' day as the bells of terce or nones called them to prayer. Throughout, Hervé's photographs marvelously capture the spirit of light so important to the aesthetic of Cistercian architecture, making it apparent that he truly understands and respects its principles. The essence of L'Abbaye du Thoronet permeates the pages, making me feel (in a way no other book has) as though I am again standing in its cloister, the scent of boxwood in the air, a specific and marked tranquility throughout...
   I believe that this is a volume of which St. Bernard himself would approve.

1 comments about Mastering Tradition: The Residential Architecture of John Russell Pope (American Architects).

1. This is a very well executed book. The pictures chosen are perfect and the authors do a commendable job with the research. The book gives an exhaustive cross section of Mr. Popes work and one gets a real appreciation of his talent. The book publisher deserves credit for creating such a finely made book, one never doubts they are perusing an expensive book. The only qualm I have with the book is that they didn't do like the authors of the book on Delano and Aldrich and include some fine current color pictures to compliment the wonderful vintage B&W photos, that would have made it perfect, but this is close enough. Congradulations to the authors for this fine piece of work.

No comments about Colonial Homes: 165 Plans with American Style (American Collection) (American Collection).

5 comments about Silk Painting: New Ideas and Textures.

1. This a wonderful book for silk painters,whether beginners or old timers.
   You will find so many projects, colors, concepts, and techinques,which are very easy to follow,and conceptualize.
   I read the book and applied some of the concepts,and created my own as well.
   I just loved this book.



2. The reader from Ohio who gave the terrible review must have read another book, either that or she doesn't know what she is talking about. Sounds like sourgrapes to me, wonder if she has her own book that isn't doing well. This book is wonderful, clear explanations, clear details on materials needed, fantastic new ideas for silk painting (dyeing). A fabulous book, one of the best, not just for beginners and not a step by step that leaves you in the middle or near the end of the project wondering what to do next. If you buy this book, you WON'T be sorry.



3. I almost didn't buy this book because of the nasty review (drama, i guess) but WOW am i glad i did. So much that never would have occurred to me because silk is such a 'formal' kind of fabric. Crayons? Awesome. Sugar? Never thought of it. Basic enough in the begining but not your average 'This is how to pick a scarf' book that frustrates people like me who know enough, but want to know more. I didn't need another 'starter' book although i see no reason a beginner couldn't use it, the projects look harder than they are and everything is explained in a clear and concise manner.

   It's also refreshing to read a book that's not 'steamer snobbery' meaning if you don't use a steamer you aren't really serious. This book is inspiring and takes the hesitation out expirementing with silk. I mean, crayons and sugar? There must be even more stuff out there to play with.

   The photos are professional, the text is clear and there area LOT of project directions. In fact this is the most project dense book i've seen yet (and i've seen a lot) with the projects all being capable of heading of into different directions with the same technique.

   So, ignore the Nasty review and buy it. Oh, and no, i'm not one of the authors...




4. If Susan Moyer is benchmark for any silk painting books...this author is not far off! Great book with great ideas. She gives you courage to try her techniques. Like Susan Moyer, I think anything by this author is a great investment. She definetely knows her craft. If I ever wrote a book, I hope it would be like theirs. I hope this has been helpful in your quest for a fine book.



5. Finally, a Silk Painting book that inspires you to create your own pieces! Too many how-to books are very short on the nitty-gritty and just show case the author's designs. This book clearly covers the materials, the type of silk used, and the procedure for twelve different silk painting techniques. If you just want designs to copy, there are tons of other books. If you want to learn how to do wonderful designs of your own, get this book.

4 comments about Sustainable Homes: 26 Designs that Respect the Earth.

1. Sustainability is something that seems to defy definition at this time. Personally, I believe that part of it has to do with lifestyle. I think it is terrific that when pallacial homes are built they bring efficiencies into play. There are many good ideas in this book. Some of them have already been incorporated into projects I am building. That does not make them "Designs that Respect the Earth". Most of these structures are not what I would call sustainable. I would, however say that they are more effecient than they could have been.
   
   Dont get me wrong, I am glad that these are being built the way they are. It is just that the title makes a bold claim I call to question.
   
   They are, in some cases beautiful and as I said, some of the ideas are being incorporated into current projects of Eco-Con Building Systems, Inc.



2. This is a book of sumptuous photos and graceful, though scant, commentary. Featured are sophisticated homes in beautiful, sometimes dramatic settings. Yet contrasting with the title, the brief description of each house seems more to emphasize aesthetics than "sustainability." Dennis Wedlick's forward succinctly lists a few elements like super-insulation, and non-toxic materials; but too little along these lines is discussed in Trulove's text in relation to the specific houses. Occasional fundamental or innovative details of construction, siting, or materials do show up, but more often the discussion is about traditional architectural concerns (like interior space and extensive windows) and stylistic considerations (like exterior cladding, and interior paneling). Besides the photos, the floor plans and roof-line illustrations are informative (though small). And occasionally the text and the photos come together nicely to reveal an interesting design feature - as when an extensive overhanging roof used in an especially sunny climate provides shade for windows (presumably reducing air-conditioning needs). But this book is nowhere near as intensive in its investigation of its featured homes, nor of sustainabile-home concepts or tech, as numerous other available books on the same topic (such as David Pearson's The Natural House).



3. James Grayson Truelove rides the gravytrain of bait-and-switch coffee table fare. His chosen form lures the reader in with promises of topics we long to LEARN about, and a few succulent photographs, only to find the actual product, when delivered, bereft of content...frustrating, unsatisfying calories for an audience truly hungry for information and knowledge. read the reviews for all of his books and you will notice a recurring theme...we've seen most of these houses (even the same shots) in magazines before...readers were hoping for more detail...many people seem really ready for information about how to buck the degrading tide of mainstream housing, how to do it artfully, efficiently, and affordably. it seems almost cruel to cheat such a group of eager, open-minded, ahead-of-the-bellcurve people whose attempts to thwart the destructive housing industry are going to provide answers for the future. what a wasted opportunity. I think Mr. Truelove has the ABILITY, and he obviously has the resources, to do much better.



4. I love to collect books of house plans and blueprints and I especially like those that are environmentally friendly. Some day my family wants to afford to build such a nice house so these give us ideas. However, that only really works if we have full information -- like what types of materials are used, layouts of the floors that we can read, etc. Several, about 40% of the designs in this book lacked understandable or complete basic blueprints for the structure. Only a page or two about the building and the philosophy behind it were included. Primarily this is a pretty picture book and for $30 it should be more.

No comments about Footbridges: Construction, Design, History.