Furniture Books

This book is a must have on any boaters book shelf. It has a good balance of theory and pratical instruction on refeer repair. Nigal always writes a good instruction manual on just about any boat system and this is no exception.

Excellent in all aspects, I got tired of waiting for tecnicians that never arrived. One day after 4 years I decided to get my sailboat's refrigeration back and running, Purchased the book, instruments, and all paraphernalia associated with it, including a Ritchie Vacuum pump from EBay as well as an electronic gas snifer or leak detector. We bought all this among 4 sailboat owners and never again had to call on service. The book is invaluable. And think of the bundle saved plus we don't depend on anyone to resolve our problems.

Hillar

Not very good for practical applications. If you like plenty of theory and equations its great, if you are trying to use it so you could repair and maintain your system it is weak and of not much value.

This book is technical, and without any previous HVAC knowledge, it'll take some review work to put the pieces together. That being said, it will get you from total ignorance to ability to design, order parts for, and build your own onboard refrigiration unit or freezer. This does need revision, as R12 refrigerant has gone by the wayside, and newer products are now used. The components and design elements however, remain unchanged.

If you want to design and build the perfect onboard unit, I'd say you have to have this book.

This book is a little on the technical side and is overdue for a revision, plus a good bit of the material covered is also covered in Mr. Calder's Mechanical & Electrical Manual, but not all of it. We get more detail here. If you want to become one with your refrigeration unit, this is the book for you. It'll help keep you in ice cubes no matter how hot the clime.

I began woodworking about one year ago and started by taking some classes at the local woodworking store. I had the idea in my head to build a wooden chest and finding a good starting place was not easy. Most of the wood workers I encounter are all over the spectrum of skill. No one really had a comprehensive method for teaching woodworking or where to start with the tools of woodworking. I think that this book gives a great start when it comes to selection of necessary tools as well as some general knowledge of how to use them. Keep in mind that a book can not accurately describe the pressure and overall feel of how to use a Plane or any other tool for that matter. These kinds of skills must come from doing.

I have all the other Taunton press books in the "Complete Illustrated" set and I think that together I have a great reference set to begin designing and working with wood. They also all match each other and this makes my bookshelf look good as well. I would recommend the hardcover over the soft cover because it can be more easily used in the shop this way.

Publications by Lonnie Bird are always excellent and informative to woodworkers, and this one achieves the same high level. I am enjoying reading Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools and looking forward to more time in the workshop with this publication.

This is a good book. However, Lonnie Bird writes not as clear as Gary Rogowski, Andy Ray or especially Kelly Mehler. This is also applied to his "Band saw" book.
There is no clear analysis of cons and pros of different tools. Use of the tools does not contain alternative approaches too. He really thinks that only high end equipment is useful.

A basic guide that covers just about all you need to know on the subject.Taunton is always the source to use for the best in anything to do with carpentry and home repair.

Overall this book is very well illustrated, it contains information on some tools and put an emphasis on hand tools.

The book is basically a catalog of the different tools and the basic techniques to use them.

I was expecting to at least have some discussions on how to set them up, and care for them. I was also hoping to find more detail discussion on how to chose a power tool (other than you can find some great bargain on used items).
There is a small section on sharpening but I guess you need to buy the book dedicated to the subject to go anywhere.

The images are very nice and well photographed, however as a work of scholarship it is flawed. There are a large number of datelines that are so clearly wrong as to question the authors expertise. I won't bore you with a image by image critique but suffice to say that there are better books on the market such as Friends of the House or Kai Yin Lo's book on Vernacular furniture all of which are real works of quality. As for the price guides included in the book, how helpful is it to give a ...[broad] price range... for a piece of furniture without explaining why one will be the lower price the other the more expensive.

In Chinese Country Antiques: Vernacular Furniture And Accessories, c. 1780-1920, Andrea and Lynde McCormick successfully collaborate to offer a comprehensive, authoritative, reader friendly survey of antiquarian Chinese furniture. Profusely illustrated with hundreds of full color photographs, there are chapters devoted to provenance, finishes, fakes, cabinets, chairs and stools, tables, and accessories. Of special note are the chapters on fakes, and accessories. A highly recommended and beautifully presented introduction to Chinese antiques for the novice collector or student, Chinese Country Antiques is further enhanced with an informative appendix on "Woods" and a brief bibliography for further, more specialized or detailed study.

With regard to furniture, the McCormick's state: "China gets under your skin." How true that is. Their book provides a wonderful coffee table reference for the collector or designer. The selection of pieces photographed is a fantastic representation of the vernacular furniture and accessories China has to offer. Their book also provides interesting information about the amazing background of these pieces since the Qing period.

This book creates appreciation for the type of Chinese furniture and accessories that are both within financial reach and that work with today's lifestyles. The author has revealed a well kept secret. It's beautiful. It's informative. It's a must read for anyone interested in history and/or the decorative arts. One of the best books of its kind.

With all the fuss about Ming and early Ching Dynasty antiques, I am glad that someone has finally written a book about furniture from the late Ching Dynasty. At face value, it is a very attractive book indeed, with colourful pictures of antique Chinese furniture and accessories. However, those hoping to learn more about antiques from this book will be sorely disappointed. Not much was written about the history behind the antiques, such as the difference in styles during different times in China's history or even differences in styles between regional furniture. This book was written by people who own an antique business, so what you read is rather like what you would hear should you walk into an antique shop and speak to the shopkeepers. The literature covers only the first 29 pages of the book, and save for the last 2 pages where there is a short discussion on the various kinds of wood, the rest of the 176 page book contains page after page of photographs of furniture and accessories, with no further explainatory notes.

I love color, and I own about twenty books on painting. I have used this book dozens of times in the past few years--more than I've used any other painting book--and I have found it easy to recreate even the toughest designs. I've used my own paint colors or colors similar to these suggestions, all to stunning results. I think I've even covered a chair and made curtains based on something I saw in this book! I return to it over and over again.

[...]

Carter's book gives a wide-ranging look at many aspects of decorative painting. He starts with a brief introduction, followed by a gallery covering just about every room in the house in his bold, dramatic painted treatments - the cover give just of his interior examples. Take that as an inspriation or warning, as you see fit.

Next, he gives brief descriptions of many basic techniques, including multilayered washes of color, spattering, dragging, marbling, woodgrain finishes and others. This could have been a great resource, but lacks the detail and clarity needed for a do-it-yourselfer to have much chance of success. The project section includes two samples of furniture decoration, but the large majority describe room decorations. Again, I found the directions improvable, especially because I already had reservations about the wisdom or practicality of a beginner tackling such large projects with unfamiliar materials and techniques. I really had to wonder, too, about whether I'd like to live in a room decorated in faux leopard fur by means of stamps cut from potatos.

The last sections present primers on paints, solvents, media, and surface preparation (primers included, if you'll pardon the pun). This is epsecially helpful for special problems, including metallic and masonry surfaces. In most other ways, though, other books are better for the fussy bits of technique, materials, and suggestions for approachable projects.

//wiredweird, reviewing the 1996 edition

I have been a professional faux painter for over 5 years. This is the book I turn to when a client is looking for something unusual. The photos provide endless, timeless finishes and designs. I have spent countless hours poured over Mr. Carter's book and I always find a little something in the pictures that I can turn into a 'new' look. The current 'in-style' colors may change, but that is the beauty of paint! Change the colors and you have a new look. As I always say, the best ideas usually begin as someone else's!

I have been a professional faux painter for over 5 years. This is the book I turn to when a client is looking for something unusual. The photos provide endless, timeless finishes and designs. I have spent countless hours poured over Mr. Carter's book and I always find a little something in the pictures that I can turn into a 'new' look. The current 'in-style' colors may change, but that is the beauty of paint! Change the colors and you have a new look. As I always say, the best ideas usually begin as someone else's!

I checked this book out of the library to determine if it was one I would like to add to my collection.

The first half of the book "Inspirations" showed different rooms with various faux finishes and paint, none of which were detailed. The second half of the book was divided into "Technique and Effects", "Projects" and "Directory of paints and surfaces".

"Technique and Effects" addresses the various techniques, i.e. sponging, splattering, combing, strie and others. Generally there were 1-2 small (about 2" x 4-5") close-up photos of the specific technique. The instructions for the technique followed with a few illustrations, not photographs. Some sections did not have illustrations, just text instruction of the technique (antiquing, aging wood and trompe l'oeil).

"Projects" included things like:
- Crackle-glazed headboard (basic and brief)
- Opulent hallway (some weird star-like spots that seemed more appropriate for a child's room or maybe a celestial theme)
- Faux Fur Interior (walls painted in a leopard-print using potatos)
- Theatrical Drawing Room (very amateurish looking).

There WERE several nice projects such as the:
- Empire Style Salon which used Trompe l'oeil panels (no detailed instructions)
- Townhouse Suite with Blue and white striped walls (again just brief steps)
- Silhouetted Salon - very unusual technique and kind of a stylized art painting of a figure done in a navy color
- Stone Blocked Bathroom - brief instructions but think I could follow this one without too much trouble

"Directory" discusses different type of finishes and how they are used; exterior and how to paint various objects (gutters, brick, doors); tiles/ceramic/glass and plastic. I found this section very informative, even though it did not go into a great amount of detail on each component but it was helpful information.

This book may be great for someone who already does faux-finishing, but I felt it lacked details for the beginner. I do think there are much better books out there for learning paint techniques which go into more detail. You might want to try Fresh Paint by Glenwood Sherry, Walls that Wow from Country Sampler Decorating Ideas (even though many of their techniques are not country) and Great Paint Finishes for a Gorgeous Home by Gary Lord

This A Beatiful and Unique book. My only problem with the books is that the instructions could have been a little better. I have already redone my kitchen table with artist canvas as in one of her projects and it came out wonderful.

The ideas in this book are all great, as long as you like modern decorating styles...such as a blue glitter chair, a bright red latex painted chair, glitter tealights, and feathered lamp shades. If you are looking for more of a contemporary but also a more reserved look you should check out Home File by Christine Dimmick, she uses the same ideas as Boase,(decorating on a budget and making trash into treasures) but at the same time she caters to a more sophisticated style. I am going into professional design and will definitly add this book to my shelf and will refer to it when I get a client that wants a modern look, but this book is definitly not for someone with conservative tastes.

This is a really clever book. The ideas are so fresh and modern. The projects are easy to understand and accompianied by great photography. I think the ideas could be easily adapted to fit into a wide variety of budgets and levels of sophistication. It's a must for anyone who loves funky designs and enjoys a "do it yourself" approach to decorating. It's also just a fun book to look at, very colorful and full of photos.

Finally I found a book that matches my decorating sensibilties. I love funky, unconventional decor, and this book, not only provides great projects for those interested in more color and quirkiness than Martha can muster, it also acts as a springboard for one's own ideas. The projects look straightforward (one can marvel at how sparse, but effective the instructions are), and are easily adaptable. I am goin to be looking for all her books. For anyone who loves the decorators of BBC's Changing Rooms, I would also recommend they check out Petra Boase. (As a side note, after moving from London back to the States I found this book and was surprised that she does work for one of my favorite stores in Notting Hill where I lived!)

The best thing about this book was the photography; all of the projects were well-photographed. However, as a new apartment owner I was looking for more "mature" and classic decorating ideas . . . most of the projects in this book were trendy and colorful, not quite as sophisticated as I had hoped. Although it did have some cute decorating ideas and I'm sure most of the projects could be adapted to suit one's own style, I am not a crafty, do-it-myself person who has time or knowledge to learn how to go about renovating furniture and painting knick-knacks for the wall.

During the 50's & 60's , Ed Wormley and Dunbar were leaders in the fine furniture industry. Leslie Pina's reprint of one of the catalogs from that period gives collectors a nice reference point. The company is about much more than what is presented in this basic presentation, hopefully someone will write a more comprehensive reference on the entire collection. I've heard word that the company is coming back and going back into production with some of the primary pieces. That would be great! The book on Edward Wormley is also worth checking out.

Great starting point on Dunbar.. I agree with the review that said they miss some key points about the company and the top designs, but this is only a reprint of one of their catalogs, not the definitive story of Dunbar.

Enjoy it for what it is.

Edward Wormley and Dunbar have much more to offer than what is presented in this snapshot... nice to see the copies of the breakout advertising campaigns that Dunbar invested in to promote the product launches.... Check out the Edward Wormley profile book by Judith Gura and Chris Kennedy - its very good.

It would be nice to see some of the Dunbar pieces back in production... quality pieces are hard to find and often expense because of the auction setting.

This is a remarkably disappointing book on an outstanding furniture company.

To have missed the opportunity of including many of Dunbar's most important pieces is not just negligent, but a crime. Missing are classics like: the rolltop desk, the famous contemporary wing chair, the bentwood chaise and the elegant upholstered model 971 chair series.

This should not be confused with a collectors reference book, as it isn't one.

The illustrations consist solely of muddy, fuzzy, apparently unresearched reproductions of old Dunbar catalogs.

Also missing is a proper account of the lore of the company.

This is basically a reprint of the 1950 catalog --- OK for collectors, but you can get the new color version at the dunbar website www.collectdunbar.com Wormley was a great
furniture designer -- nice to see the designs are back in production.

If some one like antique furnitures, you got to have this book. it is very completely and tells you most the styles in the history.

This is an encyclopedia of furniture. The information on each subject is limited. It makes a good quick reference, but didn't help me too much..

This is a great visual encyclopedia for learning what parts of furniture and styles from different periods look like. When reading about a reproduction Greek klismos chair with sabre legs or a Louis XV commode with Sevres plaque and riband trim, there is nothing like a visual reference to understand what those words actually mean. Not a light read, but this is an important addition to the bookshelf of anyone really serious about being educated in elements of interior design.

The condition of the book was very good.
The book itself was not very useful, it had a lot of information and enless you knew exactly what you were looking for it was hard to find

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FURNITURE is more like a dictionary of design terms with pictures of specific furniture pieces. It gives a brief history of the furniture periods, but it will not aide you in learning about the characteristics of the pieces in each style. It is a good choice if you are looking for a quick reference guide with pictures and definitions.

The Washington, DC section is only 14 pages which is short considering only 1 store is on each page and she omitted suburban MD and VA. In the intro she mentions that Bethesda and Alexandria are just a short distance away, but she doesn't list any stores. The big furniture stores are only found in MD and VA, not within DC.

I thought this book was excellent and helpful. It really made furniture shopping fun and efficient. The guide really gives a vaid and useful description of everything you need to know to have a successful experience. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to refurnish their home and it also makes a great gift! Loved it

This is an essential guide for anyone who wants to furnish their dream home but has no idea where to start. Not only is the book practical and useful, it is entertaining because of the anecdotes based on Litwin's own furniture buying experiences that are interspersed throughout the book. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever left a furniture store feeling like they could have gotten something better.

I sat down with this book last night expecting to start the first of several nights of reading. I threw it aside about 15 minutes later surprised that I had reviewed every part that was relevant to me.

I think the problem lies is the nature of furniture selling. Furniture is primarily sold by local retailers, rather than big chains, so this book only has a small amount of relevant information for any single individual.

I live in Boston, so I'm not interested in the best places to buy in Atlanta or Washington DC, and what was included for me was a pretty small sample. I was surprised that none of the major local stores were there, like Jordan's Furniture and Bernie and Phyl's. Even some of the national chains were not mentioned, like Thomasville and La-Z-Boy.

These are the places where my family and friends actually buy furniture. I assume they were eliminated because of space, which underscores the key problem here. She's trying to cover so many regions that none get covered very deeply at all.

I don't have a problem with the information that is included (hence the two stars rather than one). The author clearly put a lot of effort into compiling all this. I just think the main idea behind the book was flawed from the outset. I wasn't expecting the book to be comprehensive. It's just that there simply isn't very much useful information in it for me, and that therefore doesn't make this book very valuable to me.

I think this is ideal material to be covered by a local newspaper or magazine.

While furniture shopper expect Jennifer Litwin's Furniture Hot Spots: Best Furniture Stores And Websites Coast To Coast could easily have been featured under our consumer's reviews, it's featured here so homeowners won't miss what might be the most valuable consideration of a home: its furniture choice. Learn where to locate the best furniture, how to identify the best, and how to bargain for it in a guide which reviews hundreds of furniture stores in 12 major cities across the nation: stores which specialize in unique, fine pieces from antique to modern, low end to high. Her excellent, candid assessment offers 'chair' ratings by quality, price, personnel and ambiance.

Very nice book, well illustrated with many representations of what a garden may be. However, too many photos of gardens full of tat, make this a slight dissapointment. Would make a fun gift for an enthusiast.

If you love gardens, you have to get this one. Some of the gardens are just plain eccentric, but incredibly beautiful.

Incredible mazes and topiaries. If you want to see something original, and something out of the ordinary, this is for you. Makes a GREAT gift for anyone who loves gardens, or who just loves beautiful books.

I work part time at a greenhouse (mostly as an indentured servant to my own gardening habit) and am TIRED of those whom I refer to as "Garden Nazis" - people (some of them - horrors - my very own co-workers) who think gardening is all about what you see in *those* magazines. You know the ones. This book offers a much needed and totally refreshing viewpoint that takes the onous off of we gardeners to create in just one way and opens avenues into whole new worlds! Have a look and be transported.

I OWN A LANDSCAPING COMPANY AND I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ORIGINAL IDEAS.THIS BOOK HAS GARDENS FROM A FANTASY LAND. BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF BREATHTAKING GARDENS. THIS BOOK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ENJOY BEAUTY...NOT JUST GARDENING.

When I was a kid, I thought I'd like to be eccentric when I grew up. On my good days, I flatter myself that I've attained this goal. Compared with the people whose gardens are shown here, however, I'm a rank amateur. The gardeners whose work are presented have a clear vision of what they want, and they've gone to whatever lengths were necessary to create it. There's topiary, there's folk art, there's real art. I guarantee you'll find some of it ugly or tacky -- but anyone who wants more from a garden than what good taste and convention can provide will be riveted and inspired.

This book is superb. Moser writes extremely well, with clarity, precision and an overabiding love for the subject. He is a master craftsman in both wood and words.

In this interesting volume I found the drawings of Shaker furniture by Christian Becksvoort to be excellent. They augment the text by Moser and give it depth.

In this book, Thomas Moser mixes instruction with philosophy, and both are much improved as a result. He lays out the Shaker philosophy early on in an effort to explain Shaker design, and then he shows how to realize the classic Shaker forms in clear, concise hand-drawn illustrations. This book recalls Eric Sloane's similar books about the technologies of early America; it's a must if you're interested in classic American forms.

I dislike books with misleading titles. This one containes mostly the authors watered down ideas of Shaker furniture. The whole effort is sub-par: poor quality photos, and crude drawings yeild a low quality book. If you want authentic Shaker pieces, try Kassay, Rieman or the new book The Shaker Legacy. Don't waste your money on this one.

Over the years I've collected several woodworking books. I find this book one that I come back to again and again for ideas and inspiration. Unlike most of the project focused books on the subject, Moser communicated the tenants of the craft. He stresses the basics that you need to know to be successful whether it's a bed or a dresser you're building. This book just makes sense. When you combine it with a more technically detailed book like "Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking" you've pretty much covered the range of "stuff" you need to know. I have friends in Europe and Singapore who have become interested in woodworking. The first book on the subject that I've given to both of them is Mosers. I highly recommend this book.