Reviews (4)

A Great Tile Summary
I'm in the process of building on the Maya Riviera so this isn't a book read for fun.This is real research looking for real ideas.Building in Spanish Colonial style can't be done without some incorporation of Mexican Tiles.This book is basically 90% pictures and 10% background and history of Mexican Tiles.The background write-up is excellent and gives good history of Talavera and Talavera-Style Tiles.Then it's on to different uses, floors, kitchens, bathrooms, walls and stairs, and patios and gardens.
A bit of a let down.
I love Mexican tiles but I felt the book was a bit of a let down. The pictures were a bit small and there wasn't enough information about tilemaking in the book. I think the book would have been much more effective in a larger format where the tiles would have been more impressive. There are some wonderful talavera tile websites on the net for anyone who wants a better overview.

Great content
Book has great ideas.Wish it had been hardback.Book binding,does not want to hold together, considering the wear and tear it shall receive.This is also a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    4. Ceramics    5. Color Theory    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Mexico    11. Pottery & Ceramics    12. Tiles    13. Tiles in interior decoration    14. Architecture / General    15. Art techniques & principles   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Arts And Crafts    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Decorating    6. Decoration and ornament    7. France    8. Handicraft    9. Hobbies/Crafts    10. House furnishings    11. Interior Design    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Crafts & Hobbies / Decorating    14. STUDY NOTES - SparkCharts   

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Decoration and ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Frenc    5. France    6. General    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Themes, motives    12. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (2)

Mummefied Magnificence
Don't let a fondness for Proustian luxe sucker you into purchasing this book containing mediocre photography and a text of perfumed flatulence.The ostensible purpose of the book is to reveal French urban, aristocratic taste as of the late twentieth century, or more accurately the taste of their designers (the usual cast of Henri, Renzo, etc.)and other arbiters of taste (Hubert, Alexis, Carlos, etc.).Certainly, there are more than enough interiors of the mummefied magnificence that comes from cocooning staggering numbers of objects in layer after layer of fabric (WARNING:Do not try at home.If you do not possess first-rate things and have access to the production from the best mills in Italy and France, you will achieve only The Old Junkshop look), but the pictures are uniformly fuzzy, muddy and printed on poor quality paper.Most maddening of all, the photography neglects genuine masterpieces (you cannot catch more than a glimpse, for example, of the incomparable Ingres portrait of Betty Rothschild) while devoting page after page to boring tabletop vignettes usually consisting of a few knicknacks and photographs of long-dead nobodies as children.In fact, the real purpose of the book is apparently to provide the author with a vehicle to boast about her ancestors (many of those same long-dead nobodies) and the elegant life they led.There is also a stench of moral decay most evident in the fawning description of Lady Mosley with an outrageous defense of British fascism before World War II.Mostly, however, the premise of the book seems to be that you are what you own, or more accurately what you inherit -- a concept so inherently ridiculous that even the owners of the homes depicted in the book had the good sense for the most part to insist on anonymity.If you truly want to revel in the atmosphere of things past, make yourself a cup of tea, find a hard biscuit and settle back in your recliner with the first volume of you know what.

Le Beau Monde
Though the title under which this book was released in France "Visite Prive" is perhaps more telling and appropiate for this volume, the homes included are no doubt among the finest to be found in that wonderful city. Most notably, the Rothschild's Hotel Lambert, is probably one of the finest homes to be found anywhere in the world. Truly a house fit for royalty for these kings of banking and bankers of kings. The home of couturier Hubert de Givenchy is another which exemplifies "French taste" and elegance even if we visit it in a more simplified state of grandeur then it was to be found some years ago before Mr. de Givenchy sold offa good part of his exceptional collection of antiques. Mme. de Nicolai-Mazery really brings these houses to life as she pays friendly visits to their inhabitants and informs as much about these notables of French society as she does about the houses they inhabit, many of which are truly family houses and have been handed down trough generations. All in all the book is a must for any lover of Paris and France as it illustrates French social life and culture in this cultural capital of the world. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Domestic    6. Dwellings    7. France    8. History    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior Design - Style Books    11. Interior decoration    12. Mansions    13. Paris    14. Residential Interior Design    15. Upper class    16. Art / General   

Reviews (2)

Informative and Inspirational
I love looking at House Beautiful books. I find the pictures to be inspirational.However, I usually don't think the text is very informative.I was pleasantly surprised to find House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets to be an exception to the rule.It does contain beautiful photographs, but the "secrets" are useful and/or inspirational comments by designers.I have to admit I don't recognize the names of most of them, but I find the information to be consistent with other interior design/decoration books I have read.The quotes may not always be particulary earthshattering, but there were enough good ones to justify giving House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets a 5.Out of 750 quotes you are bound to find something that is useful to you!
Top designer secrets revealed
House Beautiful Magazine specializes in award-winning interior design presentations, so you know that when they lend their name to a collection, professionals are involved. Their top designers reveal secrets, provide room makeovers, and pack in over four hundred color photos from selected superior interiors. Utility blends with art in 750 DESIGNER SECRETS: EXCLUSIVE DESIGN IDEAS FROM THE PROS, which tells how to shape and tailor a design project for maximum efficiency and best visual results.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Furnishing    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. House & Home / Decorating    9. STUDY NOTES - SparkCharts    10. Sale Books   

Reviews (6)

Enjoy the show more than the book
I enjoy watching the show, but I didn't get the same things out of the book.Basically the book recaps how they acheived their version of the designer room - something that is fun to watch but not so interesting to read about.

Full of Decorating Tips, even if you don't watch Sensible Chic
This book is based on the TV show Sensible Chic. It takes an inspiration room and tries to create a "similar" room without the high cost of the inspiration room. Like another reviewer, in this book, many of the rooms DID look better than the inspiration room. This is probably because the "Sensible" roomswere generally not as foo-foo (my word) and less cluttered than the inspiration room. The show and the book are good if you need a jumping off point and don't have any idea where to start. If you find a photo of a room you like, then you can try to create a similar room based on YOUR budget.
check it out from the library
I thought this book was disappointing.I was looking for more general ideas on how to decorate, but this book doesn't give that type of information.It shows specific rooms and how they were decorated.Also, in the quiz to find your decorating style, there are 20 question, and I scored 5 points in three of the categories (Traditional, Country, and Ethinic.) So, you'd think there would be a section on decorating in an ecletic style, but there isn't.If you want to see this book for decorating ideas, check it out from the library before buying--you'll be glad you didn't spend the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Interior decoration    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. House & Home / Decorating   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Interior Design - General    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. Home furnishing & decoration    5. Interior design   

Reviews (4)

Good Rules for Specific Styling
I was looking for some basic good advice for smart, clean interior design aesthetics...this book met those standards in a beautiful and sensitively assembled book. My only criticism is that the styling that Kelly shows is a high design with contemporary attributes - not very relevant to many other kinds of decorating challenges. I have an early 1900s home with standard ceilings, wood trim and smallish rooms - not very similar at all to Kelly's gorgeous and mostly spacious examples. I will have to work a little harder to envision the golden rules being applied to my humble abode.

A bit pretentious...
I realize this may not be the most helpful, or relevant of comments but... I was actually quite bothered by the tone of this author's writing.She is, in my opinion, elitist and arrogant.With comments such as "many people try to immitate me, unsuccessfully" or statements to the tune of "I'm more skilled in this than most", I had to devote a lot of energy to focusing on the message, and not the messenger.
Minimalist Chic
I found the photographs in this book to be beautifully presented.It is a minimalist's dream book, clean lines, nothing over done, with rooms full of texture, beauty, and elegance.Nothing overstated, like a fine aged wine, or great architecture.The author, Kelly Hoppen, offers refined elegance, no kitsch. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (5)

Excellent explanation and demonstration of Ms Hoppen's design philosophy.
Ms Hoppen does an excellent job both explaining and demonstrating her design philosophy in this very readable, very well illustrated book.She discusses origins of various influences and then provides examples of the results of the influences.She will use colors, shapes or textures of Eastern origin and then demonstrate her use of them in contemporary settings.This reader found this very heplful because it showed Ms Hoppen's entire process.If one is interested in absorbing some of Ms Hoppen's design philosophy, this is an excellent book with which to start.

Ingenious
Honestly, when does one come across a designer who has that kind of depth and genious to "see" in nature so vividly, imagine how that could be recreated in interiors and indeed implement it in such warm, balanced and welcoming environments, with such evident knowledge and experience in form, color and structure?You'll keep coming back to this book.

Eastern influence on the Western World.
I have always felt a strong pull toward eastern/Asian style of decorating and have found Ms. Hoppen's book inspiring. Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Residential Interior Design    11. Architecture / Interior Design   

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture (Specific Aspects)    4. Domestic    5. History    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior decoration    9. Methods & Materials    10. United States    11. Vacation homes    12. Architecture / General    13. Houses, apartments, flats, etc   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (7)

Island living
Excellent book with something for all tastes.Beautiful pictures make you want to go home and decorate immediately.

Beautiful and Exotic
The cover is just a teaser to the exciting tropical houses Tim Street-Porter captures in this wondeful book.A real treat to exclusive tropical living around the world.Also an excellent reference to decorate in the tropical look.Street-Porter does it again as he did in Casa Mexicana.A book to enjoy over and over.

Perfect for Decorating Ideas
We are trying to get an "island" feel for our home and this book was the perfect reference.Not only are the pictures of the homes (inside and out) breathtaking, but there is enough detail about the decorating itself to be useful for our purpose.The only downside is that it makes you want to sell your current house and just travel the world staying in these amazing homes!Especially tempting is the contact information at the very end in case you actually want to rent one of them on vacation... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture And The Environment    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Architecture, Tropical    5. Building Construction    6. Construction - General    7. Domestic architecture    8. General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. International Architecture - General    11. Technology    12. Tropical architecture    13. Architecture / Interior Design   

Reviews (7)

Mary Muse!
What a scrumptious book! Each page is an inspiration- an indulgent look into Mary's sweetest home. Take a peek at her collections (robots, monkeys, storks, etc) and truly be swept away by her signature style. You will get an eyeful of the rooms in her home, including her incredible attic studio. Collages of colorful and charming photographs fill each page and large text make this a breeze and joy to read. As I moved through this beautiful book, I began to feel as if I were being taken through a personal tour of Mary's home and couldn't wait to put some of the same touches in my home. Home Sweet Home is the perfect book if you want to be inspired to charm up your space or just want to ogle Mary's adorable abode.

Home Sweet Home : A Journey Through Mary's Dream Home
I think this book is fabulous.I would love even more pictures and details.I would love a floor plan to be able to get a better sense of scale.It left me wanting more and that is always good.
A lovely look inside Mary's home!
Do you ever drive by a great house and wish you could look inside? Well...that's what this book is like!Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House furnishings    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful Book of Beautiful Boats
In this spectacularly illustrated and printed book, some of the most dramatic designs of yache interiors are illustrated. These boats are a long way from their sisters from the past. Modern design techniques, including using computers to assist in the design and new materials with which to implement them have enabled yacht interiors to create a dramatic impression that simply wasn't possible before.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Interior Design - General    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. Interior design    5. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Reviews (5)

Well worth the money.

great for all skill levels!
I bought this book as a just in case my other book didn't have all the information I needed but I ended up using this book as my main book to do my house. Great illustrations and explanations.

A Great Resource!
I bought this book in preparation for painting rooms in our first home. Having always rented, I didn't know what all was required in preparing your surface or how to choose the proper application tools. This book started from the beginning and included these topics. The examples throughout the book are marvelous and the directions for achieving such great effects, as stenciling, colorwashing, stippling, sponging, ragging, etc. are easy to understand. The instructions also include applying the these techniques to not only walls, but objects like picture frames, candlesticks and furniture if appropriate. A must have for anyone who is redocorating their home and wants to stretch their budget a little further by using paint techniques. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Decorating - General    4. Decorating - Painting/Wallpapering    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House painting    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Magnificant Redecoration of Older French Homes
This magnificant book consists of photographic studies of some 22 homes in the Provence and Cote d'Azur regions of France. These homes are primarily older (as much as 300 years) that have been seriously redecorated to make them into jewels of plesant styling.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Dwellings    6. France    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. Pictorial works    11. Provence   

Subjects:  1. 1865-1950    2. Biography    3. De Wolfe, Elsie,    4. Decorating    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Interior Design    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decorators    10. United States    11. De Wolfe, Elsie    12. Non-Classifiable   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (3)

Lovely but lacking
I like this book and its sister book, Family Houses by the Sea (which I prefer). Both books, however, make me feel that I am simply looking through a window at something I cannot have. I find I prefer a new book called Second Home, because it offers the same kind of yummy dreamlike quality yet talks to me about how I can make my getaway dream come true. If you can afford a stack of books on retreats, add this Family Houses volume to the pile. If you can only afford one or two books, I highly recommend Second Home instead.

Great for Inspiration
This book gives you great ideas for building a country home. It doesn'tlimit itself to only one geographic area, but moves from country tocountry. It allows you to review different elements, materials and designused over time. It's a beautiful book, great inspiration.

Extraordinary Genteel Living
Forty-three beautiful summer-type homes appear in large glossy colored format covering more than 250 large size pages that make the book weigh as much as a heavy fire-log ready to sink a coffee table. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Domestic    6. Europe    7. History    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior Design - Style Books    11. Interior decoration    12. Pictorial works    13. Residential Buildings Architecture    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Vacation homes    17. World - General    18. Architecture / Domestic   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art    3. Design - Decorative    4. Interior Design - Style Books    5. International Architecture - European   

Reviews (1)

Great Idea Book
The designs of restaurants is non-trivial. Not only must the design be pleasing to the eye and attractive to the customers, but the flow of the workers, the food, and the dirty dishes must work well. The result says this book is that a restaurant must be considered as a theater where the food is the show.
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Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Architecture    3. Decoration    4. History    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Interior decoration    7. International Architecture - General    8. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    9. Restaurants    10. Architecture / Interior Design    11. Interior design    12. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc   

Reviews (2)

Touring Italy
Instead of reserving this book to a coffee table, read it, enjoy it and see what Italy has to offer.Now that your interest has been sparked, travel to the places in Italy that are featured in this book.

O To Live In Italy!
Catherine Fairweather has honed her skills as a writer from her days as a contributing editor to House and Garden and here joins forces with photographer Mark Luscombe-Whyte to present a volume of life in Italy that not only makes for a beautiful and informative book, it makes the reader long for the pleasures of living in what surely is the world's most romantic country.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Design & Construction    3. Design - Decorative    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Domestic architecture    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. Interior design    11. Italy    12. House & Home / Decorating