Furniture Books

A good book with some interesting history about the Adirondack chair. Simple and easy to understand.

I'm a programmer not a woodworker but even I was able to produce a beautiful piece. I did the bench but gave it away, now I need to build some pieces for myself.

I broke down an bought a table saw. I had always used tools that I borrowed from friends. Be careful, you don't know where this book will lead you.

I followed this book cover to cover and have built 2 chairs and 2 footrests - The table and bench are next :)

I enjoyed the history at the beginning of the book, then got stuck in to the process of building.

The work had already been done to come up with the cutting plans, so you don't waste a lot of wood on scrap.

The only mistake I made was that as I couldn't find 5/4 lumber, I used 1x instead - this alters the cutting lengths - be careful!!

A fabulous book; clear illustrations; easy to follow text. I built the chair and table, and had great success. Great for the beginning woodworker.

Great book. Clear. Well illustrated. Starts from scratch and brings you all the way through the building process for a number of porjects. Couldn't have asked for more here, in terms of clarity and explicit narrative. Crisp drawings are backed up with instructive photos. I would HIGHLY recommend this book. Great history section too!

Greg Sanders, Atlanta

I really had to work on this one to keep the story straight. I felt like I had ADD most of the time. It is not a bad story and parts of it I really like but it was just too much work.

Kitty the Cutter finally got what she deserved in the last book, which is where this book picks up.

Temple is hired to do PR for a furniture store, which is really a front for a drug smuggling operation. Bad things happen to nice people and Temple investigates the murder of a loved one for an old friend. Windows are shot out, Temple is threatened by a gay motorcycle gang, and there is another murder.

The romantic triangle is back and stronger. Max has other fish to fry and just sort of drops in a time or two in this book. That leaves Temple open to the attentions of Matt who is definitely interested in a relationship with her, and they come VERY close to acting on it. Max had better do more than just feel guilty about neglecting her.

The Fontana brothers are an absolute hoot and I hope we see more of them. We also find out a little more about them in this book. More of Ma Barker and her gang would be welcome, too.

There are some weaknesses. Like an earlier reviewer said, there are too many Jimmy Choo references and shoe talk in general. It is hard to tell who is speaking sometimes (a chronic fault in this series). The part about the pictures used as a signal is weak and not very subtle, even if the plot is built on it. Also, there is one glaring error that neither the writer nor the editor caught: Mozart's "murderous rival" was Salieri, not Solari (Solari was an architect). Antonio Salieri was Mozart's competitor of sorts, not a killer. Why change the name, unless it was an error? Temple put her Jimmy Choo'd foot in it

Overall, it was a good read and I look forward to the next one.

I couldn't get into the story as most of the sentences were gussied up with fancy prepositions and the gratuitous use of "Jimmy Choos." With 380 pages to go, I wrote my $$$ as a loss.

A tad bit slow in the beginning but so worth it when the hook finally sinks in. The characters are as colorful as always and I feel a thrill of delight at each of their witty snaps. I was ably caught up in the relationship troubles of our svelte lady Temple and the visit to Midnight Louie's mother was precious.

For those who haven't read any of the Midnight Louie books before, I'd say start at the beginning but by all means, continue on down to this one. For those who have... of course you must have this for your complete collection!

I'm desperately addicted to these books. While I really enjoy the individual mysteries, and "Orange Twist" is a good 'un, I'm absolutely hooked on the overarcing storyline, laid out in what will, eventually, be 27 chapters (starting with "Catnap" and "Pussyfoot" before the alphabet starts with "Blue Monday"). About the only thing I can't stand is that I'm going to have to wait about eleven years for, oh, say, "Cat in a Zebra Stripe"!

This installment moves the lives of our intrepid cast of characters forward without losing track of the intriguing mystery at hand, murder in a new furniture store. The ever-resiliant Miss Temple Barr tackles her PR duties while sleuthing out who the culprit(s) are with her usual finesse and style, and in the meantime, my favorite golden boy Matt finally makes his move while the nice-but-rarely-there Max is too busy, once again, saving the world from rogue magicians to get in the way. Pardon my lack of impartiality, but good.

Midnight Louie and possible-daughter Midnight Louise round up a cast of cat characters to help save the day and rope in the baddies and, of course, save Louie's beloved Miss Temple! Also nice to see some folks from the "old days" back, including Danny Dove and the flotilla of Fontana Brothers. I also very much appreciated the extremely sensitive and intelligent use of gay characters. Hooray for Ms. Douglas.

All in all, an extremely pleasant read and my favorite of the series since "Cat in an Indigo Mood." It's really tough to have to wait a year between chapters. One fun thing is to read the series rapidly and in order, which, with this volume, is up to 16 chapters and of course has taken over a decade to write, while only about two years of "book time" has passed, which means Las Vegas has swelled, changed, and grown at an awesome rapid pace. Topical events happen in staggeringly rapid session. But no matter. Even with the occasional inconsistency (often a sudden change of hotel or stumble over detail, and just a few little things anyone familiar with Vegas might cringe at), I just can't wait for the next installment.

I found myself nearly 80 pages into this book and still had not learned anything new. I put it down. I had a long weekend, so I picked up and read the rest. It was there I discovered a few factual errors that is likely to get a neophyte into trouble. Turpentine is not the same as mineral spirits. They work similarly, but are different products. Most every product labeled Tung Oil _FINISH_ is not tung oil and does not contain tung oil. They are either thinned varnish (wiping varnish) or oil-varnish blends (with linseed oil). Thrown into the mix is "Danish Oil" that is never really explained. To top it all off is the dreaded linseed oil + turpentine + vinegar concoction that is a disaster for furniture.

A reader at any level would be much better off getting Bob Flexner's Understanding Wood Finishes and cut through the myths and misleading labels.

The book's owner (a relative) offered it to me for free and I declined.

Way, way back, before DIY and HGTV and do-it-yourself shows, there was Bruce Johnson. This book is a reissue of an older version of the book, and it's still as relevant today as when I first bought it.

I've refinished furniture (including antiques), refinished a room full of kitchen cabinets, redid all the woodwork in my house, all with this book as a guide. It's well written, simple enough for a beginner (as I was), and makes SENSE. Nothing silly or extraneous here. Just all good, solid information, written in an engaging style, and easy for the beginner to master.

I'm also now the Tung Oil Queen because of Bruce Johnson. It's simply his favorite finish, and mine, too (easy to apply, non plasticky like urethane, and it's a "living" finish; you rub it in, as many coats as you want, and it's easy to redo.)

Especially for the beginner, but even the expert can cull great tips and info from Bruce Johnson. I can't recommend this book highly enough, or Bruce Johnson, either!

No photo's to accompany text. Very cheaply put together as the paper that is used seems to be the type used in kindergarten class. Very dissapointing.

Who have no clue where to begin with refinishing. I've had a dining table and chairs waiting *months*. Now I can get it done and feel *really confident* about being able to do myself.

I bought this book after reading the reviews on Amazon.com. While I found it helpful, I felt the author spent too much time writing about himself. Being a writer myself, I found the book too wordy. I want more direct information without all of the anecdotal stuff. Please get to the point! And while some of the points were good, many of my woodworking friends disagreed with some of the information.
I also bought "Finishes & Finishing Techniques" published by Taunton Press. It was a more expensive book, but I thought it was money better spent.

Some very good ideas in this book. But, the book would be much better with an introductory chapter on the materials specific tools needed. For example, Proulx mention how with the right screws and the correct blade, you can make solid joints and chip-free cuts with Melamine PB - but he doesn't describe the screws or blades! Also, it would be nice if the materials lists gave total quantities, such as number of sheets of PB, approximate screw count.

There are some good ideas in this book, he uses a lot of particle board. I need to remember that it is just shop workstations, cost is most important.

A sound and sensible approach to building workstations for your shop. If you have the perspective (as I do) that workstations are inthemselves "tools", you will find this book valuable.

Like previous reviewers I found this book extremely useful - very good sound practical ideas, a very clear approach to construction of workstations, excellent drawings and photos accompanied by easy to digest text. Additionally, and most important for someone who lives outside the USA and who fnds it hard to source even the most basic of fittings, its very good to be provided with designs based on easily obtainable and relatively inexpensive materials with a minimal amount of hardware.

This is one of those books where a sceptic might say 'I could have thought of that simple idea' but the truth is most folks don't and it takes someone like Mr. Proulx to stimulate one's mind.

I particularly like the idea of mobile workstations - whilst Mr Proulx may not have reinvented the wheel he has pcertainly provided a variety of ways of putting it to good use and in turn (no pun intended!) has helped me solved the layout problems I previously had in my relatively small workshop.

In summary, a great 'ideas' book and well worth the purchase.

Thanks to the writer and the editor - and of course to Amazon!

Each project is relatively simple to build and well described by step by step intructions.
Each step is illustrated by a picture.
Most are based on using MDF or MPB and simple hardware which make it perfect for the budget limited hobyist.

Every project have measurement both in inches and centimeters.

I would have given it 5 starts if I didn't face a problem while building the router table due to some missing explanation. However, I sent an email to the author and received an answer promptly.

This book is wonderfully educational. It takes you back to the beginning of furniture and walks you through the centuries providing you with the intial inspiration through Modern design. Great pictures too.

I found the book to be a good overall reference and extremely
useful in explaining period furniture to my design clients. I would like to have seen more coverage of Mid-century Modern, especially the work of Edward Wormley and DUNBAR.

Definitely worth the money - should be all designers reference
libraries...

This book has brief history lessons on furniture from the begining of time! It's a great reference when you need an answer about a design period- quick! A must for every Interior Designer!

Based on the reviews of this book I decided to buy it! To my absolute shock, I dont understand who wrote these great reviews??? They were probably written by the publisher or author of this book.
What a waste of time and money. Being a designer myself, i ve got every possible book on interior design, and furniture styles that are out on the market. Based on the price of this book, and good reveiws, I figured it would be a great addition to my collection of books and references. Its poorly printed, very bad paper quality, no detailed shots of the furniture pieces, and not worth the price whatsoever. I mean if the publisher is charging this price, then the least they could do is print it on good paper and have clearer pictures.
I am extremely dissapointed and returning the book asap.
If u enjoy throwing your money away on a small book with poorly printed pictures(aside from the info, which is fine)then this is the book to buy . But if you are looking for details of furniture, including the background and history, and worth every penny, then i suggest you buy (Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary by Judith Miller )

I was not impressed when I received this book, with the quality of the paper or the overall presentation. I thought some of the photography left much to be desired quality-wise. However, it is quite a comprehensive book and I leaned on it considerably in my studies of furniture and design. So don't let me put you off. I just think that, with all the research and hard work involved, and considering the price, a better quality might have been forthcoming.

My husband is a carpenter and very good with working on things in the home. He needed a little guidance for outdoor projects that he never had done before. This book was even great for me who has no knowledge or training in building or landscaping. The two of us redid our entire back yard and it looks wonderful....we added a deck, patio, retaining wall, and lots of plants. Now we are looking forward to working on the front yard next Spring. This book will definitely get more use.

Generally when I used think about home improvements (indoor or out) I thought about calling somebody (experienced or not) to help me with it. It was usually at this point that the neighbors would bring their kids inside. . . Just to be safe. . . To be honest, until just after I bought this book (a year ago) I didn't think I had the inate skills needed to do something as alien to modern men as replacing a fawcet washer, much less replacing the whole fawcet and installing a greenhouse!! This book, aside from not being very good at helping you lift heavy things, is all the help you will need to complete hundreds of different improvement projects in and around your house.

The skill gauge is very acurate in it's time estimates and tells you what level of skills you should have before starting a project - This is helpful if only so you can put your local fire department on call. With all the information on tools, their usage, and the type, amount and quality of materials you will need this book could make Homer Simpson look like Martha Stewart. . . Well, maybe more like Tim Allen, but you get the point.

I highly recommend this book and the Home Depot "HOME IMPROVEMENTS 1-2-3" book as well!! Truly money well spent!

This book truly gives you the most "bang for your buck". If you are interested in learning how to do a wide variety of things and are somewhat mechanically inclined.....THIS is the book for you! I have my own contracting business and refer to this book many times for that "extra" insight I need on a project. The diagrams and pictures are very helpful and I truly would recommend this book to anyone!

this book is great my husband wanted it and now he loves it he uses it all the time and it give us both ideas on things we can do and then shows us how.

A user-friendly search manual of OutDoor/Indoor do-it-yourself projects. This book is a quick read with adaquate illustrations depicting vital home upkeep/improvement projects in simple lay terms. Sport reading for the seasoned professional, critical for would-be's.

Very impressed with the level of information provided. This book could be used as insight to one of the pure forms of art culture in the Op-Pop era. It's a must for the classroom. It's classic.

It's a beautiful book, but I was looking for examples of wood furniture that I could give to a craftsman and ask to custom-replicate, so as to match the period of my house. Most of the stuff was plastic--much like the chair on cover. Fortunately, Amazon gives refunds.

As a person who collects and decorates with 60's pop art furniture, I use the Op to Pop book as the ultimate resource guide when looking for new pieces for my collection. Every time I logon to the internet I carry this book with me because it has every designer, manufacturer, date, and a full color photograph of every piece of pop art furniture that came out in the 60's. The best part of this book, however, is the resource guide in the back of the book which lists: every state's vintage furniture shops, current manufacturers of pop furniture, auctions carrying 60's vintage furniture, and a list of pop art-centered web sites. I highly recommend this book! I have ordered so many vintage design books, both current in print and books printed in the 60's, but none have ever compared to Op To Pop by Cara Greenberg. After reading this book, I am now inspired to buy the 50's version, written by the same author.

I just don't get anyone actually liking this book. I paid $12 and it is not even worth the shelf space. I love the author's other book. The stuff doesn't even look usable to me. Dlifferent strokes for different folks....

great representation of mod 60s and 70s furniture...would like to see more knoll and knoll type knock offs, more op art.....there is much of this era to still be photographed and published, as always, leslie pins's book is a landmark guide to collectors.......we just want more and more and more......loved it and still want more,,,,

I was so excited to get this book and so disappointed after reading it. The stories have great potential but lack any evidence or needed detail. I read paranormal books all of the time and usually enjoy them. This on the other hand isn't good enough to waste $10.
The final story was like being slapped in the face after being disappointed. You read this longer more detailed story only to find out that it's fiction. Like a joke or something. I won't be purchasing the second book.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It makes you take a second look at antiques! Ed weaves a spell around you with each and every story and makes you read the book from beginning to end without putting it down. From haunted dolls to creepy cradles... this is a must read for all who are interested in "things that go bump in the night".

I have long held a fascination for true ghost stories. And so based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews 'Possessed Possessions' received at this site, I ordered a used copy. You can imagine my initial delight and confusion at receiving a copy signed by author Ed Okonowicz to its previous owners since the seller had not advertised it as such. Alas, my confusion turned to complete understanding after reading the book itself. For I, too, wanted to be rid of it soon after suffering through its ninety nine, interminably tedious pages. But as a charitable gesture, I have tossed my copy in the trash instead of re-selling it so as not to inflict it on yet another unwary reader. If genuine, the writers of all of the other 5-Star reviews here, warning of sleepless nights and guaranteed chills would be frightened by Casper the Friendly Ghost. More likely, I suspect, these raves have been "planted" by friends and associates of the author...or perhaps the author himself under various aliases? Indeed, the one and only imaginative stroke the author shows is his creation of the name "Billy Peaches" in order to protect the identity of an unfortunate gentleman terrorized by kitchen-door cabinets. While the book's basic concept is an intriguing one--i.e. true ghost stories concerning haunted objects instead of the standard house--none of the stories are worthy of the badly-designed pages they are printed on. If anything, the reader comes away with serious doubts about the mental stability of the objects' owners, rather than believing that anything supernatural is afoot. I mean really, are we supposed to be kept awake nights frightened by the apparition of a boy who leaps in and out of a bed's headboard or a plastic, oversize Barbie doll kept wrapped in plastic in a backyard shed? Unlike Mr. Okonowicz, I spent about five minutes on the Internet researching some historical bits noted in the tales only to learn of their utter inaccuracy. And as for the actual writing of the book, there is nothing wrong with a penny-plain style, but Mr. Okonowicz repeats phrases and information once too often in the same story. It was also a bit unfair to include a fictional piece by the author in this collection. Furthermore, it is odd that a biographical note on artist Kathleen Okonowicz (the author's wife, not surprisingly) is afforded an entire page. The only item I could find in terms of artwork in the book is the third-class black & white photograph that appears on the cover, and another smaller one on the back. So please do not waste your hard-earned pennies on this volume...or (gasp!) its sequel. You would do much better scaring yourself by visiting the author's Web site to learn how he has made a career out of peddling similar dreck in related books.

This book was helpful. I have antiques that we found in a funeral home. If anyone is interested. The haunting story behind them is very interesting and any advise is welcomed.

...

Bad enough ghosts give ya the spooks now objects now that just sends goosebumps up my arms. I loved this book so much I read it aloud with my husband. Now at night instead of looking for ghost I am looking to see if any of the furniture or knick nacks are going to go flying through the air :O). Great Book I highly recommend it!!

For many years I have furnished doll houses, early on as a child, then came my daughters, and am now in the grandaughters phase of my life. The project directions were very easy to follow (you could tell the authors are hands-on) and my grandaughters loved working alongside me with the fabrics etc.to furnish the various small rooms of their dollhouses. I found many of the projects they had no problem in completing themselves while others they only needed a little assistance. I feel furnishing dollhouses is a wonderful on-going project for generation after generation, and this book is one to refer to with confidence that the projects will turn out nice and they don't get discouraged by the friendly writing of the directions. I have purchased one for each of my grandaughters for Christmas, as it makes a great birthday or Christmas gift.

The authors have created some delightful furnishings, and I would recommend the book to those who are only just starting out in the World of Dollhouses. If you're putting a play house together for children, this book is a good starting point. However, if you a serious miniaturist, and have a more discerning eye for scale, you should probably look elsewhere. I would more highly recommend Nick and Esther Forder's "Dollhouse Decor: Creating Soft Furnishings in 1/12 Scale".

I know it's hard to write a book, so I feel badly about dissing this one. However, it is not good. The projects shown are, almost without exception, out of scale and "clunky" looking, rather like a very young Brownie troop's efforts. I was very unhappy when I received it and found nothing in it of value. I suspect I am not alone in my estimation as copies of this book began appearing on Thrift Shop shelves soon after its release. Sorry guys, it's just no good.

For many years I have furnished doll houses, early on as a child, then came my daughters, and am now in the grandaughters phase of my life. The project directions were very easy to follow (you could tell the authors are hands-on) and my grandaughters loved working alongside me with the fabrics etc.to furnish the various small rooms of their dollhouses. I found many of the projects they had no problem in completing themselves while others they only needed a little assistance. I feel furnishing dollhouses is a wonderful on-going project for generation after generation, and this book is one to refer to with confidence that the projects will turn out nice and they don't get discouraged by the friendly writing of the directions. It makes a great birthday or Christmas gift.

Fabulous book! The illustrations are great; directions are easy to follow. Very motivating, new and fresh ideas. Authors are interior decorators and it shows. I wish I could make my own home as attractive as the examples in this book. Highly recommended,you'd love it. From Paris!

Amateur, cheap looking finishes. I was looking help with finishes that look like they came from Habersham or other great furniture makers.

I bought this, and both my wife and I went through it, and we both agreed that it was a worthless book. I can't believe it was ever published. I have returned it and will never buy another book by this author. Sorry to be so negative, but this book truly is worthless.

This is preciesly the book I was looking for! Has copious details about re-finishing all kinds of furniture surfaces, from bare wood to laminate to steel, plus how to get a wide variety of effects. This book has a higher level of detail than many other faux finishes books (which often skip over how to prep the surface or how to deal w/any surface other than bare wood).

This book is not for the person who wants to do huge amounts of serious woodworking, and you need to come to it with an imagination. What it does is effectively tell you how to do a hundred or so styles and techniques. You can't replicate everything that's in here, but it's simply incredible to go through when you have a beat up old piece of furniture, and are open to thoughtful, imaginative refinishing.

I stumbled upon this gem of a book while on a recent day trip to Northampton, MA. Since its discovery I cannot put it down and have begun some of the projects in it. This book is a packed full of helpful ideas and the book's standout feature is that step-by-step guides serve to help the novice in creating a replica of the pictures that exist in the book. Wagstaff & Thurgood's book is softcovered vinyl. Should paint get on it it is easily wiped clean. For certain, I will be purchasing 2-3 copies for friends and relatives as Christmas presents!!!