Reviews (4)

Must have for designers!!!!!!
Very informative and loaded with pictures of gorgeous fabrics from one of the top fabric design houses in the world. A must have for designers or anyone in the interior design business who deal with high end fabrics and trims on a regular basis. Would highly recommend this book!!!!

Sensuous fabrics, trims, and more!
This book has great historical information on the Scalamandre family and brand in addition to fabulous room photos.

Scalamandre review
This is one of the most beautiful books on Interior Design.It does not have a lot of type to clutter the beautiful photos.It will remain an historical account of an historic company that exposes beautiful fabrics to a discerning clientele.It should be in everyone's library...... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. Scalamandre (Firm)    7. Scalamandrâe (Firm)    8. Textile fabrics in interior de    9. Textile fabrics in interior decoration    10. Home furnishing & decoration    11. House & Home / Decorating   

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 (17)

Sun-drenched colors of Southern France
"French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication." For Americans creating French style, who can't go toFrance
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here? French Provencal style influences American interiors
I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. France    8. History    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. Influence    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Interior decoration    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Decorating    18. Interior design   

Reviews (8)

Short review
A very interessting and nice book if you are a fan of japanese architecture. Great pictures and very good information about the ancient and actuel way of life in Japan.

Great Inspiration
Book has many different design themes all with first rate photography to inspire anyone considering a remodel or who just has an appreciation of Japanese architecture.

should cherish the style as Japanese too
I am a man that lives in Tokyo, the metropolitan of Japan. Recently in about thirty years, Japanese living styles have changed extremely, that is, the styles are getting to be foreign styles, the windows: not Syouji, tables: not Tyabudai, floorings: not tatami and so on. Especially in big city like Tokyo, Oosaka and Nagoya the tendency is plain. Though there will be the many reasons that recent Japan have gotten to be such situations, recent Japanese especially young men may wish such cool design like European style, for instance, a data was reported a few years ago, the length of foots per over-all body height of Japanese students have gotten to be long, some specialists of the genre say that the cause will be that young men use chairs of styles that stretch their legs, not the Seiza style that have existed from long ago. Off course the cause may be by other aspects like abundant foods. But I approve about the opinion of specialists too.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural Detail    2. Architecture    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Design & Construction    5. Interior Design - General    6. International Architecture - Asian    7. Residential Interior Design   

Reviews (4)

Beautiful pictures, workable ideas
So you've bought a bungalow--now, what do you do with it?Maybe it's a fixer-upper; maybe it's too small, or doesn't have enough storage space; maybe you're just not sure what kind of furniture to get.This book is a great start toward deciding where to go next.Illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, it shows not only many of the features by which you can tell an Arts & Crafts house when you see it (I was surprised to learn that the big old foursquares such as my grandparents lived in for 40 years are included in this classification), but gives actual ideas carried out by other homeowners, even unto before-and-after floor plans.The author's advice is thoughtful and well suited to the houses she writes about, too.And if you just like to look at pictures of vintage American homes, this would be a good volume to add to your collection.

Houses, er, too large
There's a lot of good in this book, and it's given me a few ideas for my own arts-and-crafts vernacular house, but at the same time it's frustrating.Lots of the pictures feel (or explicitly state) that they're from houses much larger than the classic 900-2000 square foot bungalow.
Its a keeper!
As a librarian and a lover of Arts & Crafts style, I recommend this book to all who desire a peek at some fantastic Bungalow interiors.The color photography is stunning and that material which is covered is covered well.Though the pictures will be enticing to anyone fond of this architecture, I consider the text to be aimed at newbies.Having said that, the chapter on "What Style is Your Home" describing basic architectural hallmarks of various Bungalows is especially well written, albeit very basic.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Arts and crafts movement    3. Bungalows    4. Conservation and restoration    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Dwellings    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Influence    10. Interior Design - General    11. Interior Design - Style Books    12. Remodeling    13. Remodeling & Renovation - General    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Design & Construction    18. House & Home / General   

Reviews (14)

Wonderful Book!
Great book!The minute I opened it I knew it was going to be a thrilling trip to another time in California history.Beautiful pictures of grand homes, grounds, and other structures built with Spanish and Mexican influence.If you want just one book covering this subject, this would be the one to buy.Highly recommend.

Images of California Style
CSAS CALIFORNIA is one of the coffee table books bound to please not only those who live in California and are eager to study examples of California architecture termed Spanish Revival, butalso a fine gift for those out of state friends who wonder if California has any history before 1950!
Not that special
I didn't glean anything more from this book that I couldn't have gathered on a Sunday drive. Most of the pictures are of exteriors and amazingly enough, none of them really inspires appretiation of this architechtural style. I'm an absolute sucker for Spanish Colonial. There's almost nothing built during the classic era of the 1920's and '30's that I don't swoon over. This book, however, compiled some of the least attractive examples of that style and ends up being thoroughly disappointing. Definitely look elsewhere if your objective is designing interior details that honor the classics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Architecture, Spanish    4. California, Southern    5. Design & Construction    6. Influence    7. Regionalism in architecture    8. Residential Buildings Architecture    9. U.S. Architecture - South    10. Vernacular Architecture    11. Architecture / Interior Design    12. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    13. USA   

Reviews (1)

Hampton Havens Review
The book was purchased for an anniversary gift for my daughter who resides on one of the Hamptons.She liked the book and even was familiar with the owner of the garden on the cover. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Decorating - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Domestic    6. Gardens    7. Hamptons    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior decoration    11. New York (State)    12. U.S. Architecture - General    13. Architecture / Domestic    14. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (12)

Great color guide, with only one problem
I bought this book as I was in the process of buying a house.A house we had seen was so welcoming because of the colors, that it inspired me.I really like what I came up with from this book.The only problem is that you can look up colors by paint color only.I had to page through the book to find our exact color of upholstery in the "upholstery" blocks of color.It was tedious and time consuming, but I saw lots of interesting colors to choose from in my other rooms.Overall, I really like the book and it was veryuseful.

Absolutely fabulous!
I Love the usefulness of this book! The way it lays out which colors to use with which and for what is marvelous. Sometimes I was stumped if the author referred to a kitchen or bathroom and I had a den or living room in mind.
Great book to get a Color Scheme for your Room
Yes, we all want to paint our room some vibrant color, but do we have a clue as to what the complementing colors are ? well , I for one have no idea.. and this book helped out a lot. It lets you pick a color from the first two pages and then leads you to the colors that accent the color you have picked. It also explains the color in detail giving you the mood it stimulates, and gives tips on what kind of colors to pick for bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
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Subjects:  1. Color in interior decoration    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior walls    11. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Excelent source of information
this book is excenlent describes the medicasl proceduresand what spaces to design for them, coversradiology, surgical suites, nuclear medicneand medical spaces for dentist it was a big help , an it even comes with plant layouts that you can really see how the facilities work! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Administration    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Dental offices    5. Design and construction    6. Health Care Delivery    7. Interior Design - General    8. Medical    9. Medical offices    10. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    11. Architecture / Interior Design    12. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc   

Reviews (19)

WONDERFUL!
whoever gives this a so-so review is downright silly.
MIchael Answers With Inspiring Decorating Ideas
Our TV fav host and ID does a neat thing: he answers emails and the publishes them with his answers and graphics. Easy to Understand & Pratical Answers
At last an easy to understand interior design book offering a lot of worthwile information.Michael Payne delivers the same informative solutions "Designing For The Sexes" offers.This book walks the reader through design projects in such a way everything becomes possible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior decoration    7. Remodeling & Renovation - General    8. Architecture / Interior Design    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

AffectationIn-A-Box
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Jolene's Reviews
This book has beautiful photos and sketched home plans for luxurious living.If you are looking for ideas to build an estate or a waterfront home, this is a good choice.It has home plans from designers like Sater. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    10. Southern Europe   

Reviews (14)

Really helps
Unlike a lot of other books about design and interior spaces, this one doesn't give you photos and examples of what you can do with the space... it really helps you evaluate what it is you feel/have with your living space and steps to take to make it into the space you feel better living in. It's as insightful into your self as it is where you live.

User friendly and inspiring.I loved it!
Its hard to find books that are accessible and inspire you to find your own aesthetic (rather than imitate the authors).In many ways this is a very gentle and non-judgemental book - its not flashy, hasn't got photos, but it gets the job done.My apartment is coming together beautifully.
A Great Recipe
As a reviewer previously noted, there really isn't anything new here. But like a chef who takes ingredients we are well familiar with and combines them to give us a new experience, so too does Maxwell. There are the little gimmicks--calling people warm and cool, talking about the house like a body when he could just say he's writing about attending to repairs (bones), arranging and organizing the stuff in your space (breath), figuring out the functions of each room (head) and decorating (heart). But this is not a meal of last night's leftovers. Instead it is packaged into another gimmick: the eight week cure. There's a lot to do in your eight weeks: and the work seems unbalanced. It starts out slowly (throwing out one thing, making lists) and ends slowly (preparing for a party) but in the middle there's almost an impossible amount of things to do. But it's all laid out. There are worksheets and practical tips to begin. Maxwell has taken all the steps to transforming a living space and laid them all out sequentially. This book is about more than just fixing up your place however: Maxwell aims to change and enrich your experience of your home. And that's the spice that makes the book worth consuming.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior decoration    8. Psychological aspects    9. House & Home / General   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorative arts    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior architecture    8. Interior decoration    9. Architecture / General   

Reviews (19)

Excellent content, Repetitious Photographs
As a non-designer, this is an excellent design book in that it explains how we can make changes to our homes (or use this as a tool during initial home design prior to construction) to make the home more cohesive, more welcoming, more comfy.The concepts are well described; the biggest weakness of the book is its photography.The small photographs did not bother me per se, but the repetition of photographs really took away from the book.The same photographs are used multiple times to highlight different aspects in different chapters.The homes are primarily architecturally gorgeous, and they are wonderful to look at, but I would like to see these concepts described with less elaborate homes and a wider variety of homes.Most of these have a lot of wood, beautiful views, and lots of investment in design features.Using the same photograph more than once is unnecessary, it would be more helpful to show another home to explore the concept.That said, the content is sufficient to recommend this book to others.
Great support for dreams
As usual, Susanka's books are worthwhile and support in depth looking at pictures and thought.It arrived promptly - 3 weeks faster than another book ordered on the same day.

An Aussie's Perspective
I really love Sarah Susanka's design philosophy.It just makes sense.Here in Australia, there are so many fringe suburbs which are filled to the hilt with McMansions.These houses are built to within centimetres of their boundaries and are generic and worse, shockingly ugly and devoid of character. I loved this book which illustrates the way seemingly small details and good quality workmanship can make such a difference to the feel of a house.If more people embraced these ideals, our cities would improve drastically - more green space has to be a good thing, doesn't it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Designs and plans    7. Do-It-Yourself    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Residential Interior Design    12. United States    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General   

Reviews (8)

Puts the French on Pedestals
The book is written as if the French have a monopoly on good taste.B. Phillips gushes over the French lifestyle to the point of annoyance.I found myself saying, enough already! I got the book because I've travelled to France since I was a kid and now I'd like to decorate my home with French influences.But after reading her book, with its genuflecting and contradictions, I was turned off.An example of contradiction:At one point the book states that the French are not ostentacious and prefer simple, tasteful items in the home.But from the interior pictures of mansions, that hardly seems to be the case.Also, I couldn't see any children being happy in these homes.They look like hotels and museums.The book had one very redeeming quality.The guides outlining "must haves" are very good.

French Details
"Detail is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary." ~Unknown The Nicest Room is on the Cover
The rest of the book is page after page of heavy, ornate rooms that lack individuality and warmth.The decor is superficially beautiful because all the "signals" of wealth are there:expensive sofas and chairs, brocade curtains, period furniture, "French" bric-a-brac, but ultimately it's a collection of overly-designed showpieces. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament    5. France    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Influence    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior decoration    11. United States    12. Architecture / Interior Design    13. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

Inspiration for western architects and craftsmen
Among our collection of a dozen or more illustrated books about Japanese architecture and design, this is by far the best. The exquisite photographs are accompanied by a thorough yet interesting explanation of the various traditional styles found in Japanese architecture.
Great Book on Real Japanese Interiors
Beautiful photos of great interiors.Mostly traditional Japanese homes as they are currently lived in.Features homes with collections of traditional Japanese crafts.Also, some modern homes designed with Japanese aesthetic.I would also recommend the book "Japanese Style". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Interior Design - General    4. International Architecture - Asian    5. Home furnishing & decoration    6. Interior design    7. Japan   

Reviews (9)

Designers
A great book for interior designers. Serves as a great refrence. A must add to any library collection!

One of the best.
A very informative and usefull book for all designers.

DO NOT BUY! it's hard to imagine a more worthless book
This book is a fiasco. As a professional in commercial space planning for many years, I picked it up based on a 'glowing review'. I find another few good ratings here on-line. The authors mother must be writing them, because no one who actually attempted to verify the faulty and incomplete information within, could ever see this tome as worth the paper upon which it is printed.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architectural drawing    3. Architecture    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Design & Drafting    6. Designs and plans    7. General    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior architecture    11. Standards    12. Study & Teaching    13. Technique   

Reviews (9)

Wow !
Informal is an extraordinary work. I guess the reason why it's so shocking is that the content of the book is not like those static structural forms or solutions that we see in structural class. The case studies that Balmond brings to the table are very recent and genuine by star architects. I guess I was shocked by the fact that all these architects are not structurally oriented architects such as Foster/ Piano/ Calatrava/ Hopkins. Rather, they are theoretically approaching architects such as Koolhaas/ Liebskind; or, tectonically approaching architects such as Siza. I never thought projects by them had anything to do with structural or mathmatical innovation. Reading Informal, one can easily detect where the originality lie in each project. Sometimes it's in the irregularity of geometry or sometimes it's in mathmatical mystery. Balmond contends that they are all in mother nature. Unlike a formal structural engineering (e.g. Peter Rice) Balmond's originality comes from the informal networks. In High-tech, the ingenuity of structural entity was condensed into joinery. Informal networks is much more diverse and complex than that. It is against the conventional formal structural idea of hierarchy/center/symmetry. Balmond argues, formal approach is defining a problem in a "fixed" or "contained" manner; hence, leading to a same old idea of solution/ detailing. In Informal, Balmond redefines it in a more active/dynamic geometry, to bring about unexpected realities. Sometimes through structural innovation and sometimes through special surface treatment, Balmond promoted and realized the ideas of star architects. Overall, he has freed architecture from the "Cartesian Cage".

A behind the scenes of great architecture
It was quite interesting to get a look at the somewhat unusual engineering process of Cecil Balmond. Balmond Student
Cecil Balmond is passionate and inspirational. When working with him, you know there is something amazing happening.I had the pleasure of having him as a studio instructor at Yale University, School of Architecture.Cecil believes in the possibilities of architecture and engineering working together in ways that enhance and grace both fields.This book brings his insight and passions together.I highly recommend it to engineers and architects alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architecture    3. Drafting & Mechanical Drawing    4. Engineering - General    5. Engineering Design    6. General    7. Interior Design - General    8. Mathematics    9. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. Technology   

Reviews (18)

Furniture is the Focus
This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.

Moderately interesting
This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.

FABULOUS!
I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style".This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. Furniture    4. Furniture design    5. Furniture, Colonial    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. West Indies    10. Art / Design / Decorative    11. Caribbean islands    12. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

Traditional Adirondack Design
"In time the Adirondacks became synonymous with rugged living, fishing and hunting, other outdoor activities and all sorts of rest and relaxation. It was because of the great camps and rustic furniture that Adirondack became a style until its own." ~Ralph Kylloe
Dream Away The Hours . . .
imagining yourself in the homes pictured in this magnificent book. Again, Kylloe has outdone himself capuring the pure essence of what a true home in the Adirondacks is all about. No author has a better technique on showing the reader all the rustic beauty thats out there far beyond our imaginations, by taking us on his personal home tours into some of the most gorgous beautiful Adirondack homes, most on lakes. He includes Adirondack history and again shows us in many of the homes the rustic furniture and decorating styles that depicks the true meaning of what life must be like for some toown these truely magnificent homes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camps    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    5. Domestic    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. United States    10. Vacation homes    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating    13. Interior design    14. USA