Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Not What I Expected
As an experienced gourd artist, I admit I was tempted by the cover illustration - and should have resisted.While there are excellent pictorial offerings of work by artists I've actually had classes from, there were no instructions for those particular pieces.Of the instructions given, nearly two-thirds involved tole or one-stroke painting, which is NOT what I was looking for (nor particularly versed in) at all. In addition, even the instructions given left a good bit to be desired, assuming that everyone understands the tools and terminology used, and the finished products of these pieces looked very "beginner-ish".Granted there was helpful information, but none that I don't already have from other, much more useful, sources.This would NOT be my pick for someone interested in TRUE gourd art, nor for a beginner, unless you're visually adept and can replicate a process simply by looking at the finished product.Thank goodness I decided to take advantage of the "buy both books/save money" offer when shopping for this one - the other book [Beyond the Basics: Gourd Art (McFarlane)] is worth its weight in gourds!!

Creating beautiful craft's
Very easy to understand.Outstanding for identifying the many different gourds and easy instructions on creating beautiful craft's ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointing
If you give the author some latitude and assume that her intention is to show how you can effectively integrate cottage style elements into regular settings, then this book is probably adequate. However, I tend to buy books and magazines whose country and cottage aesthetic represents pure escapism where the photographs never give you any reason to think of anything but a charming cottage room, lived in, but untouched by cheap modernity. I found it jarring to be constantly confronted with glimpses of thermofoil cabinets, plastic coverings on furniture upholstery, obvious fake flowers or plants and plastic fruit as I thumbed through this book. (Honestly? You prove that a glass cloche can turn anything into an objet d'art by photographing one over a plastic pear?) Add Scott's apparent unwillingness to remove her store labels from many of the items photographed and most scenes became unbelievable and unsatisfying.

Scott has made the effort to include a number of projects, and I may try one or two of them, but I haven't come away from my initial perusal feeling inspired or even that there was important information in the project instructions. For example, "Trunk Restoration" had the following three steps (slightly abridged): "1. Scrub off the dust and dirt. 2. Spray the entire trunk with an acrylic varnish. 3. Let the trunk dry." There is so much more that could be said under the heading "trunk restoration". These are not instructions, this is one tip.

Even projects with more involved instructions, seemed like they included a lot of common sense masquerading as instruction. I doubt most readers will need a book to point out that wider bases add more stability to the candle holder you are constructing - and yet, I believe many readers might appreciate more detail on mitering molding to fit your base than "...cut the molding to fit the base. 5. Miter the corners of the molding."

The crowning touch in a book that seems marked by a lack of attention to detail is a typo in one of the section headings.

There is some lovely furniture in the book and for that, I'm content enough to have it in my library, but I paid $5 for this book. I would be more than disappointed if I had paid more.

Good book but wrong page number listed
very good book, lots of ideas but in the product listing it has 512 pages but in reality the book only has 128 pages.Thought I would receive a book with more pages and , of course, more ideas.

Practical ideas for the "cottage-style" decorator

This is a beautifully photographed book written by NEVA SCOTT.This book is exactly as the title states.

The ideas are very do-able and easy to duplicate. Each chapter is filled with various insights into the making of a casual cottage-style home.

The author also gives "how-to" directions on duplicating some of the photographed ideas. Easy to follow,once again!

Since the author also owns a small boutique in Richland Washington, I hope to visit her store soon!

Great Sense of Color and Style
A cottage brings to mind a more carefree style of living than does a house or condo. It brings back the thought of summers spent in small dwellings in the mountains or along the shore somewhere. And in those cottages, you were likely to find mismatched furniture, dishes, silverware; a random collection of art work hung on the wall; fabrics from god only knows where, or when, or even why; and the finish on the wooden pieces of the furniture may or may not have paint.

In this book Ms Scott shows what can be done with such low cost (or no cost) items in a way that would fit into nearly any home, and yes, even in a condo. She has broken the subject matter into four major areas: Cozy Cottage Colors, Nurturing Nature, Decorative Displays, and Decorative Furniture.

What I find most impressive about the book is the sense of color that comes through. The photography is well cone and the printing is excellent so that the woods, the fabrics, the glassware simply sparkles. While this type of decorating isn't everyone's cup of tea, her sense of style, color, and selection of individual items might make it fit your sense of style better than you think. ... Read more

Product Description
Famed portrait photographer Monica Rich Kosann has spent a career helping people add a final layer of personality to their home once the interior designer’s work is done. Monica’s clients—celebrities, designers, socialites—want to find ways to add warmth and love to rooms, celebrating what they cherished most—be it family, pets, jewelry, books, or travel. Having helped countless families artfully present their family photography, heirlooms, and collectibles, she now divulges the secrets to her skill in this book. Living with What You Love shows you how to integrate your treasured objects with your home’s décor.

With inventive ideas as simple as arranging a vignette of vacation souvenirs, and as complex as covering an entire wall with family photographs and memorabilia, Living with What You Love offers the skilled guidance of Monica’s trained eye. There’s inspiration for everyone, and for every type of space, whether small or grand. Anything can be a stage for display: a coffee table can be arranged with collectibles; kitchen shelves a showcase for heirloom stoneware, while walls are a canvas to be covered with happy times.

Full of stunning photographs of the homes of real families, those of well-known interior designers, and Monica’s own, Living with What You Love is a gorgeous and helpful guide that will help you bring your most cherished possessions into your everyday life.
 
MONICA RICH KOSANN is a nationally recognized fine-art portrait photographer, who has worked with many prestigious families and celebrities, as well as a designer of jewelry and home accessories.  Her work has been profiled extensively in national print, such as Town & Country and Elle Décor, and television media, including NBC’s Today Show and Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. Her collections are sold in fine jewelry stores and gift shops nationwide, as well as at Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and her own shop within Bergdorf Goodman.  Visit her web site at www.thefineartoffamily.com.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Boring, boring, boring.


I wish I had looked at this book before purchasing as I would not have bought it. Nothing new here.Given the title I thought it would be more broad and varied but I found it to be quite narrow in its content. Mostly about displaying photos.It was difficult to relate to the content, it appeared that most of the homes belong to people who seem to be quite wealthy and I found no common ground. I will say the author is quite great at self-promotion.Anyway I have to say I really dislike this book and it is off to become a donation to my local library.

A fine survey, this will find its place in any general lending library
Living With What You Love: Decorating With Family Photos, Cherished Heirlooms, and Collectibles comes from a portrait photographer who has spent her career helping people add personality to their homes. Her clients want to find ways to celebrate their interests within their home decor - and here she tells how to meld family photos, heirlooms and collectibles into the home. A fine survey, this will find its place in any general lending library.

photolove
A lovely book with beautifull photos in different settings to inspire you to do the same.

a Jewel...More than a Coffee Table Book
"Living with What You Love" is a jewel, and certainly more than a coffee table book.It does a terrific job of taking everyday things hidden in cabinets and drawers, and helps you put together those items in incredibly creative ways.Its a terrific way to make your home look arty and wonderful, but at the same time gives you great feelings as you pass by these treasures.Its also a great way to "decorate" your home in a low cost way, which is always exciting.All the best with continued success in this series!

Design Freedom!
"Living with what you love" is creative and design freedom.Reading this book inspired me with confidence to attack my home.It is not about expensive pieces, interior decorators or what is right.It is all right, it is all real and it is all me.The tips throughout - and the amazing images - just start the ideas flowing.It's also a great reminder to get off your laptop and into the real world where real memories can be created. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best book yet!
I've ordered and read many home decorating books in the past 2-3 years.This is one that I've found to be the best yet.It gives the reader insight and practicality of achieving desired "looks". ... Read more

Product Description
Explores both the new and traditional facets of this popular decorating style. Provides the groundwork and inspiration for creating casual, cozy country interiors by juxtaposing photographic examples with a series of Smart Steps and Smart Tips that offer easy, expert advice. Over 200 color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Smart Approach to Country Decorating
This book arrived in much better shape than I expected. The pictures and text are great. A very helpful book for decorating my home.

very nice book
The book was in very nice good shape.I enjoyed looking through it as this ismy favorite style of interior decoration.

Smart approach and great reading
This is a beautifully illustrated book and is almost like a textbook for country decorating.I found it very helpful and would gladly recommend it to anyone considering country decorating or anyone who is involved in country decorating but who wants some new ideas.A great book for your library.

Fantastic book, filled with gorgeous photographs of country homes!!!
I have owned this book for years, and I continue to hang on to it. It's a fabulous book, well written, with absolutely gorgeous photography of a range of country home interiors. I keep coming back to this book because of the amazing photography. There are photos in here that really stir my imagination and get my creative juices flowing. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed if you love to look at wonderful photographs of wonderfully designed and decotrated country homes and interiors. ... Read more

Product Description
This revised edition offers all-new material showcasing the latest trends in color palettes for the home. Chapters are organized by color and feature inspirational photos of real-life decorated rooms that illustrate different ways to combine the dominant color with other hues to achieve a variety of effects. Each room photo is accompanied by a palette of color swatches showing the relative amounts of each color to use to re-create the scheme. A special bonus section at the back of the book features all the color-swatch palettes, which a reader can tear out and take to the store to match up to paint chips.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not overwhelming or extreme
I bought this after reading many of the reviews on Amazon. I agree with the positive ones! It's not weird, has lots of ideas - both in text and in photos. I certainly recommend it to anyone who is taking on a painting project in multiple rooms with an eye toward coordinating but with an insecurity of how to begin! This is a very helpful book.

Dont waste your money
The color schemes in this book are crazy and harsh. I think if you were a teenager you might like the wild color combos in this book. If you want your home a nice warm restful retreat, this is not the book for you. Every page just screems at you with neon color combos. A person would get real tired of living in one of the rooms featured in this book. The color combos are very hard on the eye, so dont waste your money buying this one.

Great book to have around
I saw this book at Lowes and was impressed with the variety.If you are needing a little color inspiration and ideas, great book to have. I like to keep a few of these types of books around just for that reason. There may be a scheme I haven't considered. Many times I find one that works with what I have.

Invaluable resource!
I am facing the daunting task of decorating an entire house, about 12 rooms, and this book is exactly what I need to help me choose color palettes (I felt completely lost in doing so on my own) and guide me in making big purchases. I'm not always crazy about the style of the rooms they show for each palette, but that doesn't really matter as the overall effect achieved is still present. The book is divided by color, so that you have about 5 palettes with yellow as a main focus, 5 with red, and so on. Each page has a decorated room with the palette and squares of the colors (so that you could take the book along shopping to match paint or anything). I initially got the book from the library and then bought it because I was using it so much.

Useful book, good for any beginner.
If you are one of those people who go to a paint store and stare helplessly at the five billion color samples in front of you, zoned out, in a panic over what to decide, then this book is for you.

It runs through such useful categories as starting points--choosing maybe your favorite color or a favorite color from a rug. And then, and this is what really helps, the book goes through all the colors, such as yellow, or red, and shows different hues, different tones, and what other colors go well together with them.Every set of colors shows you a photo of a room using those colors.

There is also a section at the back that includes many neutrals, and shows you how to blend them. If you are terrified of painting everything in your living room blood red,then this part of the book, with its soothing blend of neutral shades, will really help. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful Ideas, but lacking in some details
I give Kate's designs five stars but have to mark her down a star because I feel like most of the cakes are lacking in some vital details.For instance, she never tells you how many cups of cake batter or buttercream you'll need for a given recipe.She'll list equipment like cutters but then not say what size to buy.

For example, the dogwoods and butterflies cake just says to use dogwood and butterfly cutters. But a quick search of cutters on various cake supply sites turned up a variety of sizes.Cutters aren't cheap so I wish that she would spell things out a bit more.

Also it would be great to be told how many servings the cakes make.I know there are websites that tell you based on pan size but I think it would be helpful to have that info in the directions.

A good book
What I like about this book is that she gives insider tips.She gives her history and she's all about doing things the easy way.I haven't made anything or tried the decorations yet... still amassing my collection of necessary items.It has some fun ideas, however, if you are looking for more buttercream ideas or how-to's, you're much better off just getting the Wilton 1,2,3 course books.This book is mostly about fondant.The pictures are great and I am looking forward to developing my hobby!

A better how to than most
Saw Kate Sullivan on the Food Network and liked how she progressed from kitchen baker to an internationally known cake professional. I collect cooking books, and Ms. Sullivan has made it easier for us amateur cooks by furnishing templates of her ideas to work with - makes you think you want to take a crack at baking something special.
This is a down to earth book and that is what makes it special.
... Read more

Product Description
Architectural salvage is all about saving and reusing unique bits and pieces of the past--whether from old buildings, businesses, or homes--and preserving them as beautiful reminders of the talent and artistry of yesteryear. Good Old Things shows how architectural elements and antiques--such as a 200-year-old solid-oak door, an Arts & Crafts fireplace mantel, a Victorian stained-glass window, or an Art Deco lamp--can impart character and heritage to any home, even if you never got around to buying that perfectly restored historic home of your dreams. See how vintage sinks, hardware, and lighting are perfectly blended into new environments, giving the items a new lease on life, and in the process, preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

From a Manhattan brownstone to a Marin county barn-turned-cottage, Coleman has documented an exquisite array of homes in locations across the country.See how a large Arts & Crafts apartment is restored to its original 1916 décor with salvage finds and a little sleight of hand, a San Francisco row house is reborn with glamorous salvage, and a tranquil, Vermont retreat is enlivened with salvaged, nineteenth-century architecture in this beautifully photographed new book.

Brian D. Coleman, M.D., is a practicing psychiatrist in Seattle, Washington, and the author of several books including Scalamandre: Luxurious Home Interiors, Classic Cottages, and Vintage Victorian Textiles. His articles on historic home design have been published in a variety of magazines such as, Old House Journal and Period Living (U.K.), and he is the West Coast editor for Old House Interiors. He divides his time between New York and Seattle. Dan Mayers is a New York-based photographer whose work appears regularly in Country Decorating Magazine's Cottage Style, Country Collectibles, Country Victorian and Old House Interiors.His work has been included in books such as Scalamandre: Luxurious Home Interiors and The Ultimate Kitchen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Extraordinary Interiors: Decorating with Architectural Salvage & Antiques
Lovely photos for interior decoration but not really architectural salvage as promised in the title.The best is the cover photo which has nothing to do with architectural salvage and was an entire room just purchased at auction as is.This is more of what you'd find in a glossy magazine - If you're looking for architectural salvage ideas there are a FEW, but
you won't find much here.

Bring an Old World Feel to Your Home
I discovered this book after reading a very favorable review in the Orlando Sentinel.The book shows salvaged items used in "elegant rooms to funky apartments, with practical ideas and whimsical inspiration."
You just don't find pieces like an antique Indian swing or Syro-Turkish wall panels at the local Home Depot.The book shows rooms with salvaged items like an ornate painted mirror or bistro lamps from Paris.Saving these items from demolished buildings preserves the past and adds character to new homes.
Anyone who loves home decorating will enjoy browsing this book and the inspiring rooms in it. ... Read more

Product Description
In Painting and Decorating Furniture, Sheila McGraw shows how to transform old furniture into functional works of art, using amazing new methods and finishes to complement traditional ones. Along with introductory chapters on basics like painting with brush and roller, McGraw shows how to master such techniques as block and potato printing, sponge painting, decoupage, stenciling and tiling. 900 full-color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

great book
What a great price for an exceptionally instructive book--and hard cover to boot!I have already painted the primitive cow on a wooden tray table--positively dashing!!

ALOT OF BOOK FOR THE MONEY
I highly recommend this book. It has many beautiful pictures, offering many ideas. It gives clear, simple instructions that are easy even for a beginner.

Painting and Decorating Furniture
Excellent visuals and direction for those who want to try paint decorating.Gave it as a gift and the recipient was very pleased.Will see how her next project turns out.

Made my fingers itch to paint!
This book is amazing with the ideas of creating with old furniture. After recieving in the mail I just wanted to get started painting a dresser or creating my own piece of painted work. The desciption of the different techniques is very good. Top notch book.

Finally, a crafting book I can use!
I'm not looking to make an artistic statement, just remake some old furniture I inherited into something I can live with.I've looked for ideas and books for months, and when I found this in the library I loved it so much I bought too copies:one for me, and one for a friend with zero craft skills.

There are lots of ideas (so what if it's simple old decoupage?who'd have thought of pasting an entire poster on a dresser, or using lovely calligraphy?) The instructions could not be more well thought out and illustrated

There are lots of tips and "words to the wise" sprinkled throughout to avoid mishaps or just to make the project look better, and the projects are infinitely adaptable to whatever furniture or materials you have lying around.

There is something for (almost) everyone -- some projects are a little high brow artsy for my taste, some a little too country cute, but there are also antiquing and modernizing techniques, projects incorporating natural materials and descriptions of faux finishes.Materials, tools and techniques are thoroughly reviewed, patterns are provided, alternatives are suggested.There's even a section on repairing broken furniture in preparation for painting.Oh, and the index and table of contents are thorough and make it easy to find a project to go with the supplies or ideas you have already.

In a word, this is a wonderful book that does what it says it does -- gives folks with some ugly, broken or boring furniture inspiration and practical guidance to make something useful and attractive. ... Read more

Product Description
Showing how to choose and arrange the countless details that give a room its personality, a renowned designer offers a series of increasingly detailed drawings and color illustrations to trace the progress of ten rooms through successive levels of accessorization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very helpful
I thought the "stages" shown in this book were very helpful.True, I don't own the type of home shown but one can easily interpret the ideas to suit a more modest home and budget.I purchased this book after her newest book, "A Winter House" (so very scrumptous!}. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Fun Book
This book is a gift for my daughter who is interested in baking/decorating cupcakes. Illustration/photos are amazing.

The Artful Cupcake
For anyone who loves to decorate, this book is for you.The different frostings, especially the chocolate clay are dynamite!
The finished look of your baked goods will markedly improve--making you the bakeshop diva of your office!

Simply Cupcake
Quick, easy-to-make cupcake recipes satisfy the sweet-tooth and indulge our recent obsession with the petite and individual.
This book offers a range of ideas for baking and decorating cupcakes, including such simple topping recipes as buttercream frosting, and an occasional idea for more awe-inspiring complex decor, such as crystallized edible flowers.
Marcianne Miller has managed to target a broad range of bakers and decorators in beginner or intermediate levels, yet challenges them to advance their skills by teaching them confections such as realistic-looking rosebuds without requiring her students to have taken a special cake decorating class.
She reminds us that even the simplest most natural of toppings -- berries or nuts -- look as enticing and inspiring as any artfully crafted fondant.

What a delight!
Oh, I do so love this book. As I have stated in another review of cupcake books:I own six (to date...) and I love this one for its easy accessibility and beautiful photos.

There is nothing about the book description to add after B. Marold's review, but I will reinforce the "crafting" aspects of the cupcakes.One can find good, basic cupcake recipes almost anywhere, right?But why bake cupcakes if you are not going to have fun with the decorations, unless of course, you are baking for the school bakesale and they have requested 416 dozen...

The cupcakes in this book are exactly as the title describes: "Delicious Indulgences" and that includes time and effort, but you also don't require a certification from the Wilton School of cake decorating: Fourteen pastry bags and 23 tips are not a requirement to produce elegant to clever little cakes; maybe just one or two.....

For a chance to "play" and hone some decorating skills, as well as sit back to the oooohs and aaaaahs of your adoring, drooling public, this book is loads of fun.Enjoy!

Fun, Elegant and Unique
This is a fun little book that provides all the basics and beyond for creating your own show-stopping cupcakes. So many other cupcake recipes result in cutesy, childish cupcakes. This book contains fun ideas that could be used for kids, but also takes it several steps further and provides ideas and techniques for beautifully elegant adult treats. In addition to providing specific instructions on how to achieve these, it also gives me inspiration to come up with new ideas of my own.

I have tried only one recipe thus far - the lemon cupcakes with meringue frosting. The cupcakes were easy and very tasty. The meringue frosting was a bit more tricky to handle than I expected, but it quickly became apparent that with a little practice, I would be able to make mine look exactly like the ones in the book. I will definitely be trying other recipes in the future and am looking forward to the "oohs" and "aahs" I will receive for my beautiful creations! ... Read more

Product Description
Decorating with Architectural Trimwork fills a void in the existing literature on trimwork.There are plenty of books that tell the reader how to install trim around windows and doors, but few that also explain how architectural trim can enhance a room's aesthetic appeal.Responding to the recent trend of building houses as empty boxes, author Jay Silber shows readers how to choose and use a wide variety of moldings, trim, and design concepts to transform a sterile, open floor plan into a warm, inviting, richly textured home.Trimwork shows readers how to decorate their homes with trim and wall panels so that their walls, passageways, and stairways can radiate the warmth, character, and beauty of the well-trimmed homes of eras gone by.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Worthless
I bought this book for crown moulding.There was really no useful information in it....save your money.

I love wood work
Since it is no longer safe to travel most places I now spend my time and money making my home a show place. This book has encouraged me and guided me to make some dramatic changes in my home. My friends are amazed at the beautiful things you can make with a little time and effort. I am a woman and I find this book an easy read and fun way to spend my weekends.

Very useful for ideas and techniques
This book is wonderful. Starting with some carpentry skills of my own, I was able to design and trim out my entire dining room with crown molding, chair rail, wall frames etc. This book was invaluable in helping me design and execute the project.

Yes, it is really a decorating book
Well, I should have known.The title "Decorating with..." tells it all.It is first and foremost a decorating book that the wife would love.This book has the best and sharpest color pictures of any decorating book and is very tastefully presented. But it is skimpy or just plain bad at helping you to DIY.There is little that is useful in technique and little that is useful for tackling the complexities of say installing crown moulding.But, I can't fault the author.After all, the title is "Decorating with...".

Pretty Pics, Spotty Advice
If you're interested in ideas for interior woodwork, this book offers some nice photos that may inspire a project ... and sometimes inspiration is just what's needed to get us out of the chair and actively working. However, if you're interested in executing the work that's shown, an inexperienced carpenter will be hard pressed to succeed based on the information here. No book can substitute for experience, and this book is great for dreamers, but there are better carpentry guides out there if you actually want to do the work. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book about how to have a good time decorating. - Dorothy Draper After beingout of print for more than sixty years, Decorating Is Fun!is finally being reissued with its original illustrations. Amazingly, the book which was originally published in 1939 on the eve of World War II, is still practical, amusing, and inspirational. Draper's earnest enthusiasm feels fresh and contemporary. She believed that though there were troubles in the world, one's home should be a refuge, a cheerful place for entertaining one's friends and a colourful and comfortable shelter from the storm.Decorating Is Fun!is also a serious book about decorating that does not take itself too seriously. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Inspiring!
Although Ms. Draper was in her hey-day in the post WWII Era, so many of her concepts still relate today. Her precepts of courage, color, and attention to detail are inspiring. A must read for any fan of Draper or anyone looking for empowerment to be your own decorator.

A CLASSIC FOR ALL DECORATING ENTHUSIASTS
This is a classic interior decorating book written with flair and humor and much common sense.Perfect gift for the newly wed or first home buyer as well as anyone who is interested in interior design.The book jacket is also a collectible... looks good on a coffee table or small bookshelf!

Fun, funny, and full of ideas
I'm really pleased with this book. I was glad to see that this new edition with its boldly striped cover is true to Draper's flamboyant style, which I've always loved. In terms of content, Draper's advice and drawings are practical and helpful, if dated. The book is definitely a product of its time. I found some of the advice to be startlingly basic, but also got some good ideas from it, particularly with regard to color schemes and fabric choices. Fans of Draper and of vintage domestic advice books will love the book, and since these are the reasons I bought it, I found the practicable ideas a bonus.

Decorating Is Fun!
Huge Dorthy Draper fan here. The book is a captures the vision of Dorthy it was a step back in to a fun and tastefull time.Recomended reading, great delivery...

RFL

A focus on how to have a good time decorating
This isn't another book about the history of decorating nor even how to design an interior, but a focus on how to have a good time decorating - which sets DECORATING IS FUN! HOW TO BE YOUR OWN DECORATOR apart as much today as when it originally appeared in 1939 on the even of the second world war. The title's been out of print for over sixty years and is reissued here with its original illustrations, making for a serious and informative title any serious home decoration library needs.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Ideas
If you enjoy getting decorating ideas from pictures, this is a very good book.I have enjoyed looking at the pages over and over. Yes, I would recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The rich, sensuoususe of colour explained reassuringly to set a new and adventurous design palette.Amazon.com Review
According to author Vinny Lee, "dark colors don't have to beoverpowering or somber." If you've ever considered painting a roomscarlet, or allowing a deep blue chair into an otherwise light andunthreatening white room, Mood Indigo will inspire you further inthe direction of such bold statements. Lush photographs and commonsenseadvice are intended to spur on the amateur designer with a penchant fordarkness. Chapters and photo galleries are divided by color: blues andgreens, reds and purples, browns, and grays and blacks. The introduction explains and explores the irrefutable logic of the color wheel. Whether you're envisioning a "tone on tone" room in varying shades of the same color, or a room where red and gold run up against each other, this book makes a good guide. Highlights include a green room that looks like part of an underwater palace, and a persuasive argument about the beauty of black walls. --Emily White ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Best book on using deep rich colors.
I absolutely love this book! Indigo Mood is such a perfect title for this book. The deep dark rich colors used to decorate the rooms are fabulous. The photograhs in the book are absolutely beautiful. Even though the colors are dark the rooms still all appear to be light and airy. It's a great resource book on how to use intense colors to design and decorate with. I am really pleased I purchased this book, it's a great book to add to your design reference library. I highly recommend it.

A lovingly photographed book
Mood Indigo, like the song of the same name, is smoky, sensuous, and quite beautiful.

If you love rich colors, you'll love this book.

If you're afraid strong color won't work in your spaces, one look at these rooms will change your mind.

Showcasing interiors using browns, blacks and grays, purples and reds, blues and greens `Mood Indigo' works with all shades from the strongest, darkest of the hues to the lightest.

There are tips on how to use strong colors, discussions about rooms size, light needs, finishes, textures, a short history of paint, pigments, and color trends.

Color is used not only on walls but in accessories, on fabric, floor coverings, lampshades ... well, just about anything you can think of.

Room designs run the gamut from country to traditional to eclectic to rustic. You'll see color used in hallways and kitchens as well as the more usual bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms.

Inspiration abounds. Add the fact that this is a great coffee table book, if nothing else, and you'll be happy you bought it. Everything about this book is quality.

Exquisite interiors, beatufiul high-quatily coffee table boo
This is a beautiful interior design coffee table book. It is packed with large photos of exquisite interiors that use strong colors including blues, greens, reds, purples, browns, grays and blacks. The wonderful photos are printed on high-quality glossy paper making them appear even more vivid.

In additional to the gorgeous pictures there is also advice on color, texture and light. Color scheme basics are covered with a discussion of tone, shade, balance and the moods each color creates. There are also suggestions for sources of inspiration for each color in nature, history and various cultures.

The interiors shown are simply fantastic and filled with rich, dark colors. There are no large rooms of empty white here. I loved a relaxing bathroom with shades of plum and a cabinet decorated with multiple hues of green, blue and yellow. I also enjoyed a Japanese style bedroom with red walls, a wood chest and a huge hanging white kimono. A dark blue living room with nude outlines on the wall and an artistic cozy brown couch is another of my favorites.

I really appreciated a great list of suppliers and helpful index included in the back. This is a great book of useful ideas as well as being a wonderful display piece or gift.

Color you can live with.
This book was exactly what I've been looking for.Lots of color without being garish.If you want some ideas on home decorating, and you are weary of the tried and tired neutral schemes, but don't want to feel like you are living in a day-glo home or a Fisher Price retail outlet, I definitly recomend this book.It's also not just about paint, but also mentions flooring, trim, wallpapering, accesories and furniture.

hooray!
I had been looking at design books for months now and was bored out of my mind seeing page after page of white-on-white color schemes (most of which were heralded as 'fantastically innovative' -- how innovative can they be when they're filling every single book?!) I knew that wasn't what I wanted, but I needed some ideas to spark my creativity.

And then I found this book!It's big, it's beautiful, and as other reviewers have pointed out, it does an excellent job of showing different styles of rooms.(Yes, dark colors don't have to be baroque or ultra-modern!Although those are pictured here too.) ... Read more

Product Description
HEIRLOOM linens, painted furniture, handmade quilts--nothing evokes the same personal warmth, comfort, and enduring values as the Country-style home. Combining the best of the old with the finest of the new, Country is the most popular way of decorating today.

Now the editors of Country Living America's favorite decorating magazine, have gathered hundreds of the most original, most effective ways to bring home the Country spirit.

WITH OVER 300 color pictures this book provides:

An invaluable decorating tool. How to create a country look in any home, be it a converted barn in Vermont, a log cabin in Wisconsin, a suburban tract house in California, or an apartment in New York City.

Great ideas for every room. From the front door to the back porch, the simple touches that personalize a living room, add character to a kitchen, or bring romance to a bedroom.

Expert advice on country collections. What to look for, how to display, and how to care for quilts, pottery, baskets, teddy bears, dolls, coverlets, decoys, and many other collectibles.

A classic country crafts handbook. Clear, step-by-step instructions for making a patchwork quilt, a penny rug, potpourris, wreaths, and other country handicrafts.

Inspiring, achievable decorating techniques. Concise directions and professional tricks of the trade for stenciling, sponging, and other paint techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Country decorating guide
This is a beautifully photographed book.It is interesting to read but I didn't feel it gave any new information on country decorating.If you've read other country decorating books this will add more pictures but probably won't give you any new ideas.

Country Living Country Decorating
What an inspiration!Filled with gorgeous pictures and great advice, this book is sure to please.It ranges from primitive, to Americana, to rustic style decorating.

The majority of the book is dedicated to different rooms of the house.These include kitchens, bedrooms, kid's rooms, porches, etc.Each section had a variety of types such as romantic or country.Each also had many pictures and while there was a part of description, there was also tiny blurbs about the pictures as well which made it handy for identifying different crafts and ideas.

The next smaller section was on crafts.It had information on painting, stenciling, and other assorted crafts.It also had a nice section on restoring quilts.There were also some cross-stitching patterns and ideas for rugs.

Overall the chapter listing is as follows:

Country Living Rooms, Country Dining rooms, Country Kitchens, Entrances, The Country Bedroom, The Outdoors, and Creating the Country Look.Each of these have sub chapters that go into more detail about the types of places.At the end there is also a Country Sourcebook, Index, and Picture Credits.

The pictures were absolutely gorgeous.I saw many things that I'd like to do one day when I have a home of my own.Stenciling especially seemed like a very unique way to decorate a home.I also learned about a craft I'd never heard of, penny rugs.They are very beautiful and look easy enough to make.

A wonderful book for anyone who likes the country look!While maybe not something for someone with modern tastes or other styles, it fills this area of decorating very well.

Country Living Country Decorating
Copyright 1988
254 pages

Beautiful book
This is a wonderful book filled with gorgeous photos supplying an endless source of decorating ideas.It takes you from room to room in your house giving you wonderful examples of several different country styles - from primitive, to "shabby chic" country, and in between.On each page there are wonderful ideas to incorporate into your own home for displaying collectibles, arranging things, and decorating ideas.They also include porches and outdoor spaces.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for decorating ideas for a country / primitive / Shabby chic-country theme.You'll love it. ... Read more

Product Description
Innovate while you renovate!

It's Decorating 101! Here is a comprehensive guide to decorating styles and terms, design basics, inventive solutions, tips on working with a professional, and more-presented in the illustrated format that home improvement readers love. From a room at a time to a whole house, start-from-scratch to dazzling makeovers, this book offers everything aspiring decorators need to know.

€ Photos and line drawings throughout plus a lush 32-page color insert
€ A back-of-the-book decorating kit offers templates, graph paper, and a sketchbook so readers can get started on their projects right away
€ Particularly timely as Trading Spaces hits the NYT bestseller list! ... Read more

Product Description
Christmas is one of the most special times of the year and there is no better way to add a personal touch to the festivities than by creating your own decorations. From mistletoe kissing rings to Christmas crackers, Christmas Decorating shows you how to make over 50 charming ornaments, decorations, table pieces, presents, wraps and trimmings and encourages you to experiment with your own ideas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for inspiration
A very nicely presented book.

The projects inside are imaginative, and for the most part fairly simple.The instructions are sufficiently detailed and well illustrated.

The downside is that it relies quite a bit on materials from craft stores, such as glass balls, foam cones, stars and balls and so on, that are not easy to come by in my part of the world.I would have liked to have more projects that could be done with found or recycled objects.

The photographs however, provide the inspiration to use substitutes where possible, to try to achieve the eye catching results. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

modern for its time
The best feature of this book is the layout. As the title suggests, instructions are given out in a most logical sequence. Directions start off with information on sculpting, then covering with fondant, onto to using color, then instant decorations and so on.
The techniques offered here were modern for its time, but now seem a bit dated. The sculpting ideas are good. I like the way she showed how a # 3 cake could be made, and there is some interesting information in the instant decoration section. Using jimmies as a board covering is a neat idea as was the caramel decoration-they looked like little butterflies. Other techniques new to me were the fondant ribbon insertions and modeling applications similiar to the polymer clay Fimo (the striped fondant on the circus cake is a good example).

However most of the other techniques have been better represented in other works.The cake designs shown in the book didn't appeal to me and I was not inspired by her book as it read like a text book. She should of shown a different cake to illustrate painting; a toy top would of been a much better choice, as the example she offered looked amateurish.
Other complaints include having too much information in this book to fit the title listed and the piping techniques being too difficult for a beginner to do. Overall not a great book.

Fine if you like fondant
Like many cake decorating books published in the UK, this book's cakes are not apt to have broad appeal to the US home baker. People who grew up with Aunt Betty's buttercream icing and Mom's frosted cupcakes after school may find the taste of the sugarpaste (rolled fondant) covering used on nearly all these cakes unfamiliar, too sweet, and with a stange texture. Most of the cakes are lovely to look at, but there is not a single one in here that I would actually make.

Beautiful cakes for the advanced cake decorator
The book is beautifully photographed and written, however the tools and ingredients are not for beginners.Ribbons and marzipan are used frequently, rather than plain icing, and the cakes are elaborate.

Only discusses fondant and sugarpaste techniques
This book does not illustrate any techniques used with piped icing.There are some beautiful cakes but they are decorated with either poured or rolled fondant.

I would reccomend this book to many others who are learning.
I have enjoyed reading this book, and learning all the techniques described inside. The recipes, and guidelines to follow are easy for the first time decorator.I will definitly recommend this book to all my friends, who wish to learn the basics about the art of cake decorating.Thank you Janice Murfitt ... Read more

Product Description
Christopher Lowell has done it again! In response to thousands of letters requesting a book on small-room decorating, the Emmy Award-winning star of the Discovery Channel's most popular decorating show applies his innovative thinking to the challenge of turning cramped quarters into a comfortable, stylish home.He takes the Seven Layers of Design system introduced in his first book one step further by applying it to small spaces and inspiring readers to create extraordinary rooms out of the ordinary.

With his trademark energy and innovation, Lowell guides us through two modular homes, one designed in a traditional style, the other in a more modern decor, but both intended to offer the reader a myriad of design options and ideas.The traditional home features a Nantucket-style master bath, a sunroom with faux stone walls, a French-influenced guest bedroom, and a separate dining room.The modern home contains a kitchen finished in sophisticated stainless-steel paint, a living room-guest bedroom partitioned with sliding bookcases, and a Zen master bedroom with a space-saving platform bed.

Room by room, Lowell tackles such problems as how to make the most of tiny master bedrooms, how to create several rooms from one, what to do with narrow hallways, how to conserve space by creating multipurpose rooms, and how to renovate a guest bathroom for under $100.Before and after pictures show how anyone can perform miracles just by "thinking outside the box." Once again, Christopher Lowell inspires readers to dream big, no matter how small their space. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Lots of creativity but little practicality
Although I have lived in small spaces for most of my adult life, I have never been very good at maximizing the space that I have. In an effort to embrace the small-space lifestyle I chose, I am looking to a number of books on small spaces for guidance and inspiration. My goal is attractive and highly functional spaces.

"Attractive" is relative. I have to be honest: Lowell's aesthetic does not match my own. I know there are people who highly enjoy his designs and I feel like I am objective enough that I could glean ideas from his book even if I don't want to copy his rooms exactly. However, for a book on small spaces I felt like there was way too much going on in most of the rooms. His ideas would not help me meet my goal. There was not enough practical advice or innovation with regards to storage. I saw lots of bold, bright color and rich-looking upholstery, but all of the example rooms seemed brimming with stuff. I find that form does NOT follow function in Lowell's design. I also question whether or not the rooms he was dealing with were actually "small spaces," or at least find "small" to be a relative term. He has some ideas for a 10'X10' space that some might consider a "throwaway" or wasted space. I certainly would not as two of my home's bedrooms are that very size. Finally, even though this book was written less than a decade ago, I have to wonder if some of the elements are a little bit dated. I was very surprised to see wall-to-wall carpeting installed in most of the rooms as a deliberate design choice.

I can't give this book one star because I am certain that some will love and feel inspired by these designs, even if they aren't my cup of tea. However, I have to call the author to task on not really tackling "small spaces" as the book claims to do. The suggestion to get rid of all of one's extraneous things is a helpful one, but once you've done that, what's the next step for someone who is truly trying to live, work, play and make the most of fewer square feet.

Organization
Christopher Lowell has a passion for design and organization.It comes out clearly in this book.

Some good ideas but not worth the investment even at a discount
Fortunately I bought this for $5. I will take it back today for a refund!

Here are the good points:
--he uses his trademark 7 layers of design. There is a chart at the back, on a couple of pages explaining this concept. Good concept, nice short description. Now I don't have to bother with his other books.

--he discusses decluttering oh so briefly (but then spectacularly doesn't follow his own advice)

-- and he explains the poverty attitude where people hang onto stuff out of fear of the future instead of making use of what they like and letting go of the excess stuff.

--he breifly explains the Japanese method of using layers of foreground, middle and background to create depth in small spaces. Not how to do it though. Just that you use layers, that you can see bits thru, like a city skyline (his analogy, and a good one) where the skyscapers are all differing heights and you see vignettes of the city thru the gaps creating a sense of depth.

--he uses colour in a rich way. With less clutter in the photos, the blends of deep rich colour would be stunning instead of overwhelming. Reminds me of shopping at Pier One.
----------------------------------------------


NOW as to WHY NOT TO BOTHER:

----The amount of clutter is overwhelming. The man layers on top of layers with no sense of open space to let a person breathe. None of the objects show to advantage when they are as jammed and cluttered as a dime store clearance rack.

-----The man wastes a LOT of space in the book with cutsey pictures of himself with a yellowish box in all sorts of poses. Less than attractive and a real slam to the poor buyer who might actually have been hoping for more pictures or more explanations in those same spaces. Another reviewer counted 43!!!! of these self portraits. Obviously he thinks he did it all himself since the staff weren't worthy to include in any of the pictures showing the projects halfway. That would be ok if the rest of the book was worthwhile.

-----The text is confused and jumpy. He bounces around like he is on some kind of speed drug or something.

-----He invents language. It took me half way thru the book before I figured out what HE meant by the term "merchandising". Hint--it isn't about selling stuff which is the normal definition.

-----He uses dated hardware on the cabinets in the kitchens, even when he changes them out. That bright brass went out in the late eighties, and brushed nickel was a nineties look. This decade is going thru oil rubbed bronze and the newest hint of any type of gilding is a weatherd gold look. Anything but bright shiny brassy "gold".

-----He CONFUSES OPEN DISPLAY SPACE with true STORAGE WHICH IS CLOSED (to hide stuff that is less than visually appealing).

eg *** Nowhere is that worse than the master bedroom with the huge pillars. He is so delighted with his "storage" shelves in the massive headboard unit, that he decides the room won't need a dresser of any kind. A few towels, a basket or two and some books are what he stores in this master bedroom.

Most normal people might want some hidden storage for underwear and the like but not him. I presume that the cramped closet space will be sacrificed for more drawer type storage as a result.

And WHY???

so he can display a few more mismatched towels and create a straight walkway thru the bedroom to another area of the house.

Somebody tell him bedrooms are not hallways, and somebody tell that mobile home company to mke the door to the sun room off the kitchen area.

Problem solved, without creating a runway thru a private space.

THE CONFUSION between storage space and display space IS COMMON to a lot of designers but this one goes over the top. He keeps claiming that he has added tons of storage to these trailers but in fact there is very little storage added, that wasn't already there in kitchen cupboards and closets.

WHAT HE CALLS STORAGE IS REALLY DISPLAY SPACE and he does do a nice job styling the shelves full of useless but pretty stuff. Too much of it, but that seems to be his trademark design.

IF YOU TRY THIS AT HOME please remember storage space is CLOSED space, while display space is open to view and is only intended for a few spare items of great beauty. Display items are focal points, and too many simply means visual clutter.

---In every possible corner he crams fake plants, visual clutter, junk and trivia. He discusses the necessity of being able to move thru a space but then ignores such practicalities as vacuuming room. In order to clean these heavily dust collecting spaces, you need to get in there to dust, and to vacuum.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that running a vacuum thru these spaces is an obstacle course that would take days of effort.

MY CONCLUSION?
People don't live like that normally unless they have a Molly Maid who can help them clean every week and a storage unit out back where they can park the real necessities of life, that you don't want out on display such as underwear, or spare rolls of toilet paper or that truly ugly but effective shampoo bottle.

This man should do store displays for Pier One and similar home decor stores. He has the rich colour sense that is so attractive in these places, but he should leave the design of small spaces to people who truly understand them.

A good place to start is the magazine Style at Home which will give you all the richness and colour and design, without the clutter or dated combinations. I suggest a subscription to that magazine instead of the cost of this book. Their annual small space issue in in the spring, but the rest of the year they include tips for smaller spaces with each issue.

LOVE THIS BOOK!
If you have small spaces (and who doesn't!) this is the book for you. I devoured every page. Christopher's designs are impeccable, classy and you WILL be able to douplicate them yourself.

Misleading!! Not really for tiny spaces.
I don't watch cable tv and Christopher Lowell isn't familiar to me, but I was eager to read this book as I have a number of small rooms. I was extremely disappointed to find that all the rooms in the book were comparatively huge. I was hoping for decorating tips for rooms 12 x12 and smaller. Oh, well. Some of my friends who have bigger rooms have been happy to borrow it. ... Read more