No comments about Corporate Interiors No. 8 (Corporate Interiors).

5 comments about Michael S. Smith: Elements of Style.

1. MICHAEL SMITH IS ONE OF THE BEST AMERICAN DESIGNERS PRACTICING TODAY AND IT SHOWS IN THIS BEAUTIFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED BOOK...EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TEXT, THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN AND HOW IT LEADS YOU THROUGH THE BOOK, IS FIRST RATE.....I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE HISTORICAL INTERIORS; AND ITS DESIGNER, WHO WILL BE IN THE YEARS AHEAD THOUGHT OF AS A GREAT, GREAT DECORATOR... MR SMITH KNOWS HOW TO PUT ATMOSPHERE INTO A ROOM......



2. This book is instructional and very well done. The "instructions" are in the photographs. Read them like paintings, which is how I think Michael S. Smith's rooms each look. There are 2 illustrations in the Amazon listing. Look first at the pictures of the room with the green sofa, then at the cover illustration. Then, please, read below & see whether you agree with me.
   
   1. Pairs help to create a formal look: See the 2 leaf green lamps w/blue grey shades, 2 crystal sconces on end wall, 2 ornate crystal candelabra, 2 brass candlesticks on mantle, and 2 photos framed alike.
   2. Echoes: Black fireplace box w/white surround & mantle echoes... the black & white photographs/sketches w/white mats & black frames and...the black piano next to all-white floor lamp; Painting of black curving figures on light tan background in brass/gilt frame echo the very solid black coffee table on the cream rug w/tan curving figures.
   3. Use of Color in this Room: A subtle example -- There are 3 pieces of furniture with painted wood (excluding the piano): A chair with a cream/white frame, a table/stool in oxblood, and a settee with a blue grey frame. These are shades of the three primary colors. The colors of these 3 painted pieces together comprise the complete spectrum. The "color scheme" of the room as a whole also comprises the complete spectrum. The painted wood is a microcosm of this characteristic of the room. (And the complete spectrum gives us? ...Light.)
   4. Gradations of Tints: The use of light-to-dark shades of each color gives a painterly quality to the room, softening the contrasts of colors and emphasizing the volume of the architecture, of the space. RED: cherry rug border, oxblood table, deep coral chair, pink & red flowers (5 shades of red, 3 not counting flowers). GREEN: deep & light green in settee fabric, brighter green in sofa & curtains, slightly brighter green in lamp bases, spring green in leafy bouquet (5 shades of green, 4 not counting bouquet). GOLD: Cream walls & rug background, gilt of picture frame & candlesticks on mantle & gold of print on settee, light tan of painting background and sisal rug, light camel of rug pattern and side chair, deep bronze of oblong sofa pillow and mantle figure, muted yellow of Chinese vase, sunny yellow of blossoming plant on coffee table. (7 shades of yellow, 6 not counting flowering plant). BLUE: Light & darker blue in settee print, soft deeper blue of Chinese vase (3 shades of blue).
   5. Use of Black: Always important, but especially obvious here. It's needed to balance the massive black piano.
   6. Rooms Need an Element of Surprise. Here it's the settee. The architecture of this room, its paneled walls, high ceilings, wide windows and volume, as well as that 7-foot Steinway (I think.) suggest the use of traditional furnishings. The settee is a subtle and beautiful contrast to the overall English look here. The "surprise" of a steel & glass table, for example, would have been a boring cliché and no surprise at all, don't you think?
   7. Now for the Cover Photo. Its design follows that of the previous room, even though the style is completely different. The branches and leaves of the paper, bouquet and table echo one another. Here too the colors yellow, blue/green and red all range from light to dark, pale to bright, and there is a restrained presence of black. The bright blue Chinese vase, the gilt table and the cherry red (of the cherries) in the paper dramatically form a full spectrum, emphasize the full-spectrum of the color scheme and create light right across the center of the photograph. The surprise here is the hand. I think the main role of the pagodas is as verticals against the movement in different directions of all the curvy diagonals in the paper, the table and the vase of branches.
   8. True, in the end, it's in the eye of the beholder. And yes, some, even many, of the rooms in this book may not be what you want for yourself. Nevertheless, study this book -- carefully. Then follow Michael S. Smith's lead. Simple as that! (Sorry this is a bit long.)



3. I bought this book only because of the very rich Tony Douquette-like intior on the cover, fully expecting to see more of the same or similar inside. After all isn't the cover supposed to represent the main "idea". It spoke to me in my language, and looked like a room ripped from my own home. A friend of mine saw it and even said it looked like I had designed the room myself. Big mistake. There is nothing in the book that comes close to the richness, depth and beauty of the picture on the cover. It was a big disipointment!



4. This book is perfect for the advanced home owner or individuals who have developed a mature and sophisticated style. I find myself returning again and again to the advice of Michael Smith. The more I know about design the more I appreciate his unstructured yet very elegant and extremely discerning method of putting a home together. A terrific resource from a very talented designer!!!



5. This book leaves me cold. I ordered it as an 'add-on' because I was getting a couple of others and I guess it's what I deserve, for buying it sight unseen. This is the first time I have been compelled to write a review... and it is really just as a warning to others to look through this book first, before purchasing. I don't even like the pictures!

5 comments about Eric Sloane's An Age of Barns: An Illustrated Review of Classic Barn Styles and Construction.

1. Other reviewers have done a good job of describing this and I agree with them. I'll just add that this wonderfully illustrated book really brought the memories flooding back.



2. Eric Sloane is known to many of us who love traditional country things as the superb and prolific American artist and author who gave us books with good words and even better drawings. Sloane was an accidental historian of that era of American life when agriculture was king. I cherish my copies of his A Museum of Early American Tools and A Reverence For Wood.
   
   The Age of Barns was first published in 1967. I saw this 2001 version lying on a table in a friend's house and begged to borrow it. The sub-title is An Illustrated Review of Classic Barn Styles and Construction. It is more than that as it also shows silos, root cellars, springhouses, sugarhouses, corn cribs and smoke houses. Also shown are tools of barn builders, construction methods, types of ventilation systems and even hinge design.
   
   Sloane shows the evolution of this most important structure with examples large and small and from many places. Medieval, English, German, American barns. Small and large log barns. The Appalachian overhung-loft barn built on two cribs, decorated Pennsylvania barns, a Georgia barn, a Maine barn, a Tennessee saltbox barn. Pent roofs, gambrel roofs, extended bays, threshing bays. Connecting barns, built so the farmer could do a winter day's chores without going outside.
   
   I have known two barns intimately. The barn on our Wisconsin farm was a classic two-story bank barn built of stone on the lower level with hand-hewn posts and beams above, a cupola topping it off. The farmer whose death allowed my parents to buy the farm had been an alfalfa producer so the barn had huge mows that were filled both from the outside using a hay hook and from the inside where teams and wagons were taken straight in and through. The dairy herd was housed in the lower section next to the sixteen-foot silo. I pulled a lot of, um, teats in that barn.
   
   The humble hillbilly barn at Heartwood in Missouri has two sections separated by a drive-through. In barns this design is called double-crib; in houses it is called a dog-trot. The construction is of hewn oak logs with half-dovetail corners. The logs are held off the ground only with loose stones, so early deterioration was inevitable. When the barn was still in pretty good shape we took a family photo one Fourth of July. My cousin and I hung the huge American flag that was hand-sewn by a grandmother for Lincoln's inauguration and we all posed in front of it on the ground.
   
   Born in 1905, Eric Sloane died in 1985, walking to a luncheon in his honor celebrating his memoir, Eighty: An American Souvenir. His fine books will live on long after him, a legacy of focus and craftsmanship.



3. Sloane's books capture the romanticism of the past better than any picture books, and that is certainly true for his An Age of Barns. The beautiful line drawings range from evocative perspectives to working sections, giving you a good idea of how these barns worked. There are Shaker round barns, traditional gambrel barns, Amish barn raisings and a wide variety of outbuildings associated with the early American farmstead. He lovingly focuses on hinge details, stairs and ventilation openings. Sloane's eye never missed a detail, and for anyone who loves old barns this is the book to get.



4. This has some interesting history of early barns, especially those of New England. Drawings are well done, as usual. If you are interested in barns west of the Mississippi look elsewhere.



5. and I understand that barn so much better now that I have read this book. Sloane gives a brief overview of the history of barns, regional types of barns, and even the tools to raise a barn. A lovely book.

1 comments about The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice.

1. We just received this the other day. At first glance it appears to be *slightly* more condensed than the previous full edition of the "Handbook", which, in my opinion is a good thing. Still very dense and an absolute must-have if you want or need to know anything about "mainstream" architectural practice at a fairly high level.
   
   There is so much good information contained in this tome, I'm surprised the AIA hasn't created a certification program based on it, much like CSI has done with the PRM. It would seem to me such a program would have the potential to help fill a gaping hole in architectural education.
   
   Of particular note regarding this edition: two CD-ROMs are included. The first includes sample 2007 AIA documents -- no surprises here. The second includes the entire text of the Handbook, BUT, in a locked-down proprietary format. You install an application and must activate it online or over the phone before you can use it. You can only install it on one machine at a time. There is no de-activation function; you must uninstall and then call customer support to get a new activation number if you need to change the machine on which it's installed. The electronic version allows searching, but does NOT allow printing or exporting. While the sample AIA documents are PDFs and thus cross-platform, the Handbook reader application is Windows only -- an unfortunate choice. While I understand the publisher's desire to protect their IP, a PDF file would have been so much more user-friendly.
   
   I'll try to remember to post more when I've had a chance to wade through the new edition in its entirety. In the mean time, I thought I'd share what I knew.

2 comments about Lighting Design Basics.

1. If you are looking for a beginner lighting course, this books is just what you need. It goes through lighting applications per room/area, explains how to calculate foot candles, but if you want to read more about lighting plans, layouts, electrical requirements.....I would say - keep looking.
   
   This is a good quick resource with little technical detail.



2. This book is great for designers! It covers everything you need to know and has some great ways for doing calculations for lighting!

5 comments about The Pentagon: A History.

1. The Pentagon by Steve Vogel was thrilling to read, as much for its style as its substance. This is an in-depth history of "the building of the building," the problems, the personalities, and the product. It is one of the best books I have read recently. I highly recommend it.



2. More like a fast-paced adventure thriller than the narrative history that it is. With bigger than life characters, and the US' entry into WWII as a dramatic backdrop, the story of the sheer scope of the effort is fascinating in its own right. Intended from the start to be a no-nonsense government building, even the building's shape transcended the original location's restrictions to be a serendipitous boon to modern office design and efficiencies. The book has many amazing nuggets, not least being the fact that it was finished in less time than it took to repair the 9/11 damage, using relatively primitive construction technology, and during an increasingly acute labor shortage as the US moved to a war footing. Learning how to manage the project led to many other production successes, including the Manhattan Project. Highly recommended on several levels: An amazing and true story; invaluable lessons in project management; the role of politics and ego; and how amazing things can be accomplished when any group works as a team.



3. I think it best to keep reviews short. I rate this work five stars. I found it utterly fascinating. Unlike some reviewers, I thought the author did a superb job in portraying the characters involved in the construction and also in handling the historical period involved during the construction. I enjoyed so much all the attention to detail the author provided.



4. Steve Vogel has written a fascinating account of how this iconic building was conceived, designed and built. Well written, filled with larger than life characters and detailed descriptions of political infighting in Washington, it is also a history of America's military engagements - from Pearl Harbor and World War II to September 11th and the global war on terror.
   
   This excellent book aptly illustrates the maxim that "where there is a will, there is a way."



5. This book is very readable and historically accurate. It gives some amusing and interesting insights into the building of the Pentagon - not only with respect to the practical problems that had to be over-come but also the personalities involved in getting it built. I found this book to be enjoyable and informative.

5 comments about Domicilium Decoratus.

1. This book really is gorgeous. Of course, most of the style and emotion in this book was appropriated from design much earlier in the century, and books on this movement are cheap and plentiful in thrift stores. However, it is really nice to be able to see what life would be like if you were a playboy playmate and married to a real-estate tycoon. I am really not trying to put Kelly down, because her vision is mind-bendingly impeccable. It is truly rare when people with wealth also have taste.



2. As a practicing, professional Interior Designer I have to say I found Domicilium Decoratus inspiring. Being exposed to all types of design, I love it when I am actually left remembering a house...and this one is hard to forget. Although Kelly's style is not my particular taste, the house is full of beautiful color combinations, architectural details, and antiques. I would have to compare this book to looking at a Picasso--you either get it or you don't. If you are looking for a how to book, this is not the book for you. There is no text like in her first book--Your eyes have to do all the work spotting the curious, imaginative details. This is a living art book. If you want to view some images of her home before you buy the book go to her website and Hillcrest estate is under her residential projects.



3. Kelly Wearstler is undoubtedly one of the great interior designers of our time. Her style may be too much for most, and her critics pan her for her ego-centric couture gown wearing, but she has an incredible eye for style. She has managed to create a sophisticated home that is visually arresting, textured and comfortable. No, it may not be toddler safe, as she claims, but who's is?
   Kelly Wearstler appears to live a perfect life, a globally renowned and successful interior design business, a wealthy property developer husband (who happens to throw a few projects her way), two beautiful children and a gorgeous home full of antiques and art that is a wonderful backdrop to her all-round fabulous lifestyle.
   She may not have created the style she has made so popular (see Tony Duquette, David Hicks, Billy Haines or Dorothy Draper), but her almost single-handed revival of a myriad of styles that are as far flung from minimalism as I care to think about has brought a smile to the face of all us maximalists around the world.
   I won't dwell on how disappointed I was to find out she was a playboy playmate in a previous incarnation, but it has not changed my view of her talent.
   Domicilium Decoratus is a beautifully produced book full of gorgeous photos of Kelly, her children and her home. I can't wait to see how her new home turns out!



4. I wish I had have taken notice of the other reviews. I loved Kelly's first book and found it very useful, however this book is entirely over-rated and I'm so pleased I didn't pay full price for it. There is absolutely no text in the book - just pictures from Kelly's house showcasing her furniture and herself and none of them look at all practical for everyday living. Save your money for the many other fantastic books on offer.



5. I'm so glad that I didn't pay full price for this book. The Hillcrest Estate is grand and refreshingly unique; however, I have to laugh at the kid safe reference. As a mom of two young kids, I'm constantly looking for sophisticated kid-friendly decorating. I was thrilled when Kelly, herself,refers to her home as "toddler-safe and visually sophisticated". Huh?!? This home is about as warm and toddler safe as a museum. There are only a few pages dedicated to the kids rooms and only one plastic toy visible. Also, any pool fence?

3 comments about Toilets of the World.

1. This books is worth it for the pictures alone. It will bring back memories for anyone who has every encounterd a toilet that they just weren't sure how to use.



2. for anyone interested in architecture this gives a great overview of a much overlooked subject--the toilet. educational as well as humorous.



3. Although the title (Toilets of the World) may not grab you, it is one of the more interesting little travel books I've seen in some time. The photos are terrific and the information is invaluable. If you are planning an overseas trip and want to experience the true local flavors, you should consult this book so as to avoid what could be some unpleasant culture shock before you get there. Remember the 'Seinfeld' episode where Geroge would not use a bathroom during the trip to India? This book will help you understand why he had a problem with that. This book also contains some terrific snapshots of worldwide culture that my high school students find fascinating - an impetus for them to take a closer look at the different areas of the world.

5 comments about PMP Exam Prep (4th Edition).

1. This book is telling the philosophy of the project management and the most definite and short ways to the PMP exam.



2. The books came very well (on time and conditions). I would like suggest for this kind of product that it must be covered with some plastic protection, in this way, the accidents with any kind of liquids dropped over a box can be avoided.



3. The book covers all the subjecy matter in clear and precise ways. It has been very helpful for the test preparation...
   I think it is also critical to obtain its accompanying Test DVD...



4. The book arrived on time and good conditions. This was a cake walk and I will order from this source again.



5. If you are interested in taking the PMP exam, this book is for you.
   The boot-camp PMP courses are 40 hours, Monday to Friday, or one month. It costs $2500 to $10000. One book to pass the PMP exam, definitely saves you plenty of $$$.

5 comments about Phaidon Atlas Of Contemporary World Architecture: Travel Edition.

1. This nice little book lists some architecturally interesting building, but is missing nearly all my favorites. Listing geographically is a good idea, but I prefer online databases.



2. For those of you interested in the praticality of this as a travel companion, trust me, it works. The maps are not enough alone to find buildings in their respective cities but between knowing their general locations and addresses you can easily navigate your way to find them. I carried this book in my pocket around Europe and can say first hand that it was the best travel guide I had. A must for any Architect or student planning on traveling.



3. When the original Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture was released in My 2004, several reviews were more enticed with the size of the tome in contrast to its contents. Frankly, I was put off by the price tag (albeit well deserved).
   
   However, the recently released Travel Edition of the tome has become one of the essential resources of my library.
   
   First, don't be put off of the fact that the softcover book is referred to as a Travel Edition as it contains a wealth of projects (subdivided by continents then countries). For each project there is a single project photo, project address, and the project architect. With each building a sentence or two states the significance of the project to 'Contemporary World Architecture' (an overly broad subject in itself).
   
   Second, there is a grand diversity to the projects profiled in the Travel Edition in terms of project types and locations. I haven't come across another book to date that offers such a variety of projects within the covers.
   
   Lastly, the Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture Travel Edition provides project insights and narratives that are free of any bias or criticism. The lack of both is something that is rarely found in a subject as subjective as architecture, and is welcomed in this context.
   
   The Atlas suffers from a minor foreseeable problems. The book limits itself to projects that were complete as of the time when the book went to press. Any building completed during its printing or afterwards suffers the fate of being excluded from the Atlas; perhaps it/they will be included in future editions.



4. I think this is a book EVERY architect student should posses as a reference. It contains a large selection of references from all over the world. In comparison to the large version, which is rather costly for a student, this version contains brief descriptions and its a good size. I just wish there was a version on DISK!!!



5. Superb little book. The only problem is how to see all the buildings in it before you die.