Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Details    4. Great Britain    5. History - General    6. History Of Architecture    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior architecture    9. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. Reference    11. Architecture - Details    12. Architecture / Historic Preservation   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful book, great pictures
This book contains a wonderful pictorial view of stone houses, better than I've ever seen.It includes all forms of construction and gives very informative descriptions of each style.The history related here is invaluable to the reader, as it takes you back in time. The pictures are full color and very articulately done.I found the colors presented in the homes helpful to me in restoring our stone house, built in the 1830's.This book is more than a "coffee table" book, it's a history lesson.

Great book
Wonderful photos and very interesting and informative text.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Domestic    4. Historic Preservation    5. Architecture / Domestic    6. Pennsylvania    7. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (3)

BERKSHIRES
Acanthus is the gold standard publisher of books of this kind and their latest book does not disappoint.Mr. White does a supurb job of selecting wonderful images of these amazing estates and his research is scholarly and highly informative.If you appreciate beautifully crafted books on Gilded Age residential architecture, then I can't imagine you not loving this book.I have never had the pleasure of visiting the Bershires, so I guess this will have to be the next best thing to experiencing in person.

Rebuttal to Mr. Millen
Mr. Millen brings up some criticisms that are valid but are misplaced. This is not an ENTIRELY fresh view of the Berkshires but local authors Gilder and Jackson bring to light much fresh architectural and social history. Also, they have found a number of previously unpublished photographs that delight, such as the early view of Naumkeag that appears inside and on the back cover. Ms. Owen's work was groundbreaking, but this work supercedes it, particularly in the great production values for which this publisher is famous.
Well done but not an entirely fresh view of the Berkshires
I found this to be a well researched and mostly through book covering a wide selection of architectural examples from the Berkshires. It has a good mix of numerous previously published historical photos (the Lenox Library put out a photography book of note, too) but also many photos I have not seen before. While many of the properties are still standing today few of the photographs used are current, which is a shame, and fewer still are from the middle of the last century.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Architecture    4. Berkshire Hills    5. Country homes    6. Design & Construction    7. Domestic    8. Historic Preservation    9. History    10. History - General    11. Home Improvement / Construction    12. Massachusetts   

Reviews (1)

Good for all those tiny details
If you are a designer, or a student of design, and your teachers recommend that you obtain Architectural Standards, well don't bother.This gathers all the best details from the Standards, and makes them available in acomprehensive paperback. (That is portable in a backpack, and considerablylighter than the Standards, as well as much cheaper, and that's the bottomline, isn't it?)Full of information about the size and shape ofeverything from a writing desk to a city bus, this work is essential tomake accurate designs for the stage.This work leaves out all the lessused info in the Standards, and if you are an absolute purist, (Or anarchitect,) then Architectural stndards is what you want, but for the restof us, who don't need to know the specifics, but are hung up on thedetails, then this is an indispensable resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. History - General    3. Methods & Materials    4. Reference    5. Remodeling & Renovation - General    6. Architectural structure & design    7. Architecture / Methods & Materials    8. Conservation of buildings & building materials    9. Reference works   

Reviews (1)

Elegant, exhaustive and authoritative
Oh, this is an elegant book, with highly detailed drawings of every molding, mantels, doors, room designs, etc. that you can imagine, all in the beautiful American Federal Style.In this book, you can 'invade' historic homes and 'walk out' with measured detailed drawings of all of the best features -- without anyone catching you in the act. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. 19th century    3. Architecture    4. Decoration and ornament    5. Federal style    6. Historic Preservation    7. History    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior architecture    10. New England    11. United States    12. Architecture / Historic Preservation    13. USA   

Reviews (1)

QUEEN ANNE
Really a well done book on one of the great American house styles.The text is highly informative and the images are crisp and well executed.Overall, I was pleased with the houses chosen, some are quite reserved and some are massive and grand.I do wish the author had chosen one of the great Galveston Queen Anne style mansions, instead of the simple quant home chosen to represent Galveston, the city has some spectacular mansions in this style.Though having said that i still highly recommend this wonderful book, if you have a love for Queen Anne, you will not be disappointed, unless you happen to be a Galvestonian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Architectural & Industrial    3. Architectural Preservation And Restoration    4. Architecture    5. Architecture, Domestic    6. Domestic    7. Historic Preservation    8. Queen Anne revival (Architecture)    9. Residential Buildings Architecture    10. United States    11. Vernacular architecture    12. Architecture / General    13. Architecture; interior design   

Subjects:  1. Ecological engineering    2. Environmental Engineering & Technology    3. Environmental Science    4. Environmental Studies    5. Restoration ecology    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Applied ecology    8. Conservation of buildings & building materials    9. Technology / Environmental   

Reviews (3)

Life can be unbearably sweet
Fantastic book that gives you access to the lifestyles of the truly privledged in Los Angeles. Jaw dropping pictures that other books can only dream of publishing. This is a must buy for anyone interested in Southern California architecture.

Voyeur
I loved this book. Something about the pictures... one feels like you're actually there... technically part of it is that the human eye sees inside and outside. Photographers get one of the other... but not both. In these pictures it feels like you are walking through a house... seeing it as a guest of the famous resident... and seeing it as you would if you were there in person. You can look at the room, the furniture, or out the window. There's an emotional quality that was stirred in me.
A Bricks and Mortar Tour of Hollywood Elegantly Presented
When Lucy and Ethel took the bus tour of the movie star homes on "I Love Lucy", you will undoubtedly recall Lucy finding herself bobbing for grapefruit at Richard Widmark's palatial estate. Now we can all see what is behind the other side of the barrier wall thanks to this elegant coffee table book compiled by fervent Hollywood historian David Wallace. With some beautiful photos and descriptive, trivia-laden text, he includes twenty-five buildings and homes that were designed and built during Hollywood's golden era.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architectural Preservation And Restoration    3. Architecture    4. California    5. Domestic    6. Historic Preservation    7. Historic buildings    8. Los Angeles    9. Mansions    10. Public Buildings Architecture    11. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    12. U.S. Architecture - General    13. Architecture / General    14. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    15. Palaces, chateaux, country houses   

Reviews (1)

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY
This is a very well put together book, the text is well researched and the images are crisp.It's very interesting to see all the different architectural styles.These houses are all furnished beautifully and the photographs really capture the details and craftmanship of these amazing townhouses.When you visitBoston or New York you can't help but be enchanted at the rows and rows of these houses, whether it's New York's Upper East Side or Greenwich Village or Boston's Beacon Hill.The houses in this book are from all over the country, from Savannah to San Francisco and each one is at least as interesting as the last.If you have any interest in townhouses or beautiful books in general, then I believe you will enjoy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Domestic    5. Historic Preservation    6. History - General    7. History Of Architecture    8. Residential Buildings Architecture    9. Row houses    10. United States    11. Architecture / Domestic    12. Architecture / Historic Preservation   

Reviews (1)

Keeping Time:The History and Theory of Preservation in America
Very good review of preservation in the United States.An easy read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Conservation and restoration    3. General    4. Historic Preservation    5. Historic buildings    6. History - General    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Architecture / History   

Subjects:  1. Architectural Preservation And Restoration    2. Architecture    3. Conservation and restoration    4. Construction - Carpentry    5. General    6. Historic Preservation    7. Historic buildings    8. History - General    9. Maintenance and repair    10. Windows    11. Architectural structure & design    12. Architecture / History    13. Conservation of buildings & building materials   

Reviews (4)

BILTMORE
Very interesting read on how Vanderbilt heir's found a way to afford to maintain this behemouth in the foothills of the Appalations.Biltmore is without peer as far as American's great houses go, it looks like the kind of place Frances I and Catherine de Medici would have felt right at home in, it's quite simply a breathtaking tour de force, but as such a true money pit and the proverbial white elephant.You have to give Vanderbilt heir, Mr. Cecil, credit for finding people to tell him how to do what his grandfather could not, and that is to make this place, if not make money, at least break even; indeed, not an easy task.As someone who has toured Richard Morris Hunt's anachronistic Biltmore, I for one applaud his efforts; the mansion looks great and the tour is very well persented, although, very expensive, but I suppose one has to look at it as a donation of sorts, to help to assure the vital survival of this singular American mansion, and the fact it helps enrich, the already rich Vanderbilt's, I suppose it an unfortunate biproduct I can live with, frankly the Vanderbilt's, thanks to the slash and burn ruthlessness of the Commador, will probably always have wealth, well at least they gave us Anderson Cooper.Good read, highly recommended.

Fascinating Story
Having been to see Biltmore in the summer of it centenial, I was thrilled to find a book that told the story of how such a wonderful home was saved.The story is a unique and fascinating one that tells of one man's struggle, against advice and odds, to save his grandfather's beautiful home and in the end fulfill his grandfather's dream of a self-supporting estate.

I wish I had read it before my visit
I purchased the book at the Biltmore gift shop after my tour. It was a excellent read on the flight home. While it is obviously written with less than objective eye to the current owners, it does present a very concise and interesting overview and timeline. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Ashville    3. Cecil, William A. V    4. Conservation and restoration    5. Domestic    6. Historic Preservation    7. Historic buildings    8. History    9. History: American    10. Mansions    11. North Carolina    12. Restoration Of Historical Buildings    13. U.S. Architecture - South    14. United States - State & Local - South    15. History / United States / 20th Century    16. Palaces, chateaux, country houses   

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Colonial    4. Architecture, Domestic    5. Conservation and restoration    6. Designs and plans    7. Domestic    8. Historic Preservation    9. Study & Teaching    10. U.S. Architecture - South    11. Virginia    12. Williamsburg    13. Architecture / General    14. Places & peoples: general interest    15. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (7)

Stonemasonry
I became interested in the art of stone masonry a couple of years ago.This book is by far the most excellent one I have seen, and I have researched back as far as the 1870's.Mr. Cramb is definitely an artisan beyond compare.
The 6th generation
As I am the son of the author,and also the stonemason who's work is featured in some of the pictures in the book ,I have to give the book the highest rating possible.I know my father spent at least 10 years drafting , planning and trying to find a publisher, and now that the book is out of print it is astounding to see how much its value has increased.I have the original drawings my father made (all framed of course) and also the original draft and photos that are featured in the book. I am very proud to have been a small part in what was a very succesful publication.Maybe one day I'll write a sequel !! might call it"the craft of the stonemason",but thats something I'll have to sit down and think about.

This is the book
The author provides hard and fast do's and don'ts derived from his experience of many years.If you want to learn how to build a traditional mortared stone wall this is the best book around.With or without the color photos, buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Architecture    3. Construction - Masonry    4. Historic Preservation    5. Methods & Materials    6. Stonemasonry    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Architecture / Methods & Materials    9. Masonry   

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Civil    2. Reinforced Concrete Structures    3. Reinforced concrete constructi    4. Reinforced concrete construction    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Conservation of buildings & building materials    9. Structural engineering    10. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (1)

Ten Magnificant Homes Beautifully Illustrated
This is a beautifully illustrated book depicting ten magnificant houses from the Arts & Crafts period in Great Britain. These homes dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's reflect a time that seems quintessentially England. You almost expect to find Sherlock Holmes or perhaps Lord Peter Wimsey to come around the corner.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Arts and crafts movement    4. Domestic    5. Great Britain    6. Historic Preservation    7. Interior decoration    8. Architecture / Historic Preservation    9. Arts & crafts design    10. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    11. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

At least he is up to date.
Only problem with this book it is directed towards those who are buyingelevators. Believe the author is a consultant. Mechanic already working onsuch equipment would not find this of much value. Why? Because thetechnology is changing so fast! Again, the two volumes, INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE ON HOISTING MEN... is far better buy. Too bad the author hadnever read those books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Elevators    2. Engineering - Civil    3. Escalators    4. Machinery    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Structural Engineering    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Conservation of buildings & building materials    10. Mechanical engineering    11. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (1)

If you need technical info, this book is for you!
Well writen and full of info for anyone who works in the field or just loves old buildings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Historic Preservation    3. Reference    4. Architecture / Historic Preservation   

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Architecture    4. Care & Restoration    5. Furniture    6. Historic Preservation    7. Repairing    8. Antique furniture    9. Antiques & Collectibles / Care & Restoration    10. Care & restoration of antiques    11. Furniture & cabinetmaking   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Historic Preservation    4. U.S. Architecture - General    5. Architecture / General    6. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. Interior design    9. USA