Interior Design Books

Caroline Clifton-Mogg's French Country Living is a delicious book to look at; the pages are filled with beautiful, airy rooms and the accompanying text does a good job of explaining how the effect is achieved--lots of grey in the colors, painted furniture, small-sized fabric prints, etc.

This is French country living in the Marie-Antoinette-at-Petit-Trianon style, not truly rural la France profonde, however. The exquisitely restored rooms are filled with priceless antiques, and a cursory glance over the photo credits suggests that the majority of houses shown are located in either Provence, or the richer departements near Paris (the most famous house in Yvelines is Versailles, if that gives you an idea of what's in the neighborhood of some of the chateaux photographed). Having seen more than one room in a rural French house with vinyl wallpaper on the ceiling and door, I can only wish that all of French country life was this beautiful!

Beautiful book. Inspiring photographs that capture French country style (obviously, note the title). My only complaint about Clifton-Mogg books is that the photos are recycled. I see the same photos is many other books. There are MANY wonderful estates, villas, and country properties out there - - - it would be nice to see more of them instead of these multi-used images. The "recycles photos" are no problem if you just have one of her books - - but if you buy many European decorating books, you may see repeat photos.

Actually bought this book French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Christopher Drake (Photographer) as well as New French Country : A Style and Source Book by Linda Dannenberg (Author), Guy Bouchet (Photographer) and this book is really great for those of us who look for more of a French Zen style devoid of lots of tassels and furniture that you are afraid to even sit on.

I especially appreciate the crisp clean photography and amount of white theme rooms and simple room designs. I recommend this book to anyone who loves open, bright and airy homes and rooms, that in my opinion help alleviate or even prevent depression in many people.

And the rooms are so easy to clean and easy to live in. No fear of messing something up. In some ways the book shows what I would call California or casual university town style living that is also environmentally friendly and physically healthy. Also very affordable styles are shown so the book should appeal to all financial groups.

If you are afraid of color, this book is for you. Don't let it convince you, though, that french country is not about bold colors- every other book I've seen says the opposite. That said, it is a beatiful book, with lots of rustic elements.

Outside of Paris and the other bustling cities, France's image is of small farms, atmospheric medieval villages, and of an age well past but well preserved with an understated elegance. Even newly built houses are often designed with a view towards looking like the 19th century.

In this book, hundreds of color photographs illustrate the essence of the French countryside. The book is in two parts, the first emphasizes the soft, non-contrasting colors and the natural materials and textures that are distinctly France. The second part of the book looks at the overall style. It looks at the French home, starting of course with the kitchen (this is after all France). Only then does it move on to the rest of the house, ending with the French garden. And this is France, so the garden also emphasises a place to eat and drink.

This is an absolutely delightful book.

It's a very interesting book, it offers a vew over design from ancient times to ower days. We can follow the developement of design over time. The book is recomended especialy for professional designers.

History of Interior Design is great. I study interior design and, without John Pile's books, this wide-ranging subject would have been far more difficult. Studying the subject "history of interior design" would have been such a struggle for me without having this book at my side. I just couldn't find all I needed on the internet. Apart from the high quality paper and excellent images, John Pile has a writing style that gets his point across very clearly. That makes for rapid reading and faster absorption of information.

WOW! beautifully organized and articulated. thoughtful and well-rounded discussion of the variation and evolution of interior design. it was purchased to use as a course resource (on 20th century American consumer culture), but am now tempted to buy my OWN copy.

I really do enjoy the book except that on some important topics in the class I am taking with this book there is little information. Nonetheless on the topics it greatly expands upon the book shows impressive and accurate knowledge. The pictures also aid in examples and are for the msot part the best picture examples that any book could offer.

If you're bored with historical overviews of a discipline, you're in for a surprise. Pile brings interior design to life with vibrant examples, wonderful background detail, and the kind of information that will help you understand this arena with much more depth.

This is a fantastic book that will help anyone create the perfect home office. It is packed with great ideas, hints and tips as well as lots of example photos. The two major issues of the home worker, limited space and integrating work functions with living space, are always kept in mind.

The book starts by helping you identify your needs and determine what type of worker you are. By using this information you can establish a home office plan. It also helps you choose the right location, exploring the pros and cons of different rooms.

Office design is next. Here the book guides you through choosing materials including flooring, wall-coverings and window treatments. It shows you a variety of floor plans and assists you in planning a your workspace arrangement. Selecting the appropriate lighting and purchasing furniture follows. There is a useful ergonomic tip sheet and a chair buying guide. Creative storage solutions, filing secrets and the basic home office supplies you will need are also covered. There are even small sections on décor and creating a client-friendly office.

The final chapter shows you real world offices including guest room and laundry room makeovers. Other offices, including those of an interior designer, a web designer, a researcher, a writer and literary agent are shown as well. Other examples feature a wide range of styles. I loved a funky black & white office with an "S" shaped bookcase and offbeat variety of wallpaper. I found an office under a metal bunk bed interesting as well. Whether you have a whole room or just a tiny corner to work in this book will help you.

Lisa Kanarek is well-known for her expertise in home office design and operation. She's written other books, published articles, and appears frequently as a professional speaker on the topic. Because of her knowledge and positioning, Lisa appears in the media frequently. I was understandably startled when I saw this coffee table book with her name on it.

I started looking through the book and discovered that the author's valuable advice is plentiful. And so are gorgeous full-color photos of examples of the designs and approaches the author recommends. The book is best suited for someone contemplating developing a home office, but it can be just as valuable for someone who already has a home office but is thinking about making improvements. Prepare to take copious notes; you won't want to write in this book.

If you look in a bricks-and-mortar bookstore for this book, you may have some difficulty. The publisher has categorized the book as "Home Decoration/Interior Design." OK, I acquiesce. It is a beautiful book on decorating and design, and it is related to the home. But this is a business book, make no mistake about it. The volume does, however, demonstrate that it is possible to have an efficient workspace that also looks really good.
And that bothered me about Home Office Life. Everything is so neat and pretty in those pictures. I'm not sure our home office looked that good on the first day of operations! I suppose you have to make everything look pretty and sterile for such photos, though.

Lisa Kanarek covers the waterfront for us. The first chapter deals with How to Make a Better Business at Home. Some of us really need this! Included are planning, set-up, and organization. You'll learn things about how to carve out a space for yourself and how to design the office that will work for you. And you'll get lots of tips along the way.

The second section of the book talks about Getting Down to Business. You'll learn how to put your home office to work, setting up shop and getting settled in. The third section deals with reality, presenting real examples of how home offices can work. This section has the information needed by people considering a makeover of their home office. A resource list and an index make this book even more valuable.

With the movement toward home offices, this book is a winner. You might suggest your architect buy one, too. If you use an interior decorator, get yet another copy.

A book filled with helpful information and beautiful illustrations is rare. Home Office Life includes a variety of home office photos in full color and gave me plenty of ideas for improving my own home office. Kanarek's first book, Organizing Your Home Office For Success, gave me the direction I needed to set up files, plan my day and handle multiple projects. Home Office Life has turned my home office into a place I enjoy walking into each day. I highly recommend this book.

It's rare to find such a book that is both beautiful to look at and filled with helpful advice. Along with dozens of inspiring photos of innovative home office set-ups, there are many useful checklists and tips that are easy to follow. Plus there's an outstanding categorized "Resource List" at the end which includes a helpful description of each resource. I also liked all the real-life examples from a wide variety of home-based businesses-- there's something here for everyone.

Written by home office guru Lisa Kanarek, you'll learn ways to make your office work for you (pun intended). The design ideas in this beautifully illustrated book will help you think out of the box and implement the best working system for your home office needs.

The pictures alone will change the way you think about an office at home. Whether you need to create a niche in your little corner of the world, find furniture that doesn't crick your neck, or design a space that fits your lifestyle, Home Office Life will guide you every step of the way.

A must have for all architects and those interested in how buildings come together and the importance the skin plays. As specially when trying new materials.

The book describes simple and neat building enclosure design in detail and palette. The book should be applicable to architects or designers who aspire to work in minimalism or modernism and who desire to improve the building enclosure design to be more insighfully creative and blight. Through the publication good samples are reviewed to support reader's imagination and to confirm the practicality of use.

There was a time when there was no question as to what the outside skin of a building was going to be, glass alternating with metal panels. Something monolithic looking like the UN building.

Now significant advances in materials, architectural design, creative use of conventional materials like shingles, concrete, or sprayed on foam are producing building where the skin becomes more than just what you see.

The book is organized into two main sections. The first third or so is used to describe the general changes that have been taking place in the general area of building skins.

The last two thirds show where various treatments have been used in actual buildings. The buildings vary from tiny, micro houses to athletic stadiums, stores to factories.

This is European publication. Most of the buildings are in Europe, with a few from Japan. They represent the most significant advances in design I have seen in a long time.

Great examples of innovative building skins with good details.
Highly recommended for architects and architecture lovers.

I cannot say enough about the quality of this entire series, and this book is among the best of the set. Few architecture books are of this high quality; one usually expects some level of editorial compromise; either we get lightweight analysis and documentation with beautiful photographs, or you get overly complex, teched out stuff that doesn't understand the fundamental concepts. Or it's just bad architecture. But this entire series, from the quality of the writing, the great beauty and clarity of the drawings, and finally to the aptness and excellence of the finished architecture; it represents the new state of the art. Buy the whole series, but start with this one and "Building Simply", which I'll rave about separately.

I have never been able to travel much but have always liked learning about other cultures. This book provides a look into another life style in an area that is basic to the understanding of all cultures.

Monisha did a great job in writing this book. It reflects her good taste in decorating homes in Indian style. Eventhough it is nice to see some of the maharaja styles decor she definitely includes examples of decor of regular households and contemporary looks that could definitely be applied.

Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

When asked to describe Indian style in one word, most people would say "colorful". That is indeed true. Indian style is rich in color, which is liberally used by everywhere- from palaces of erstwhile maharajas to homes in rural and urban parts of contemporary India. What fascinates most westerners is the ability of Indian interior decorations to assimilate mind-boggling number of styles from different cultures and even different eras. The whole design flows with ease- different elements blending together to enhance the look rather than impart incongruity.

This book presents exactly these aspects and is meant to inspire the reader. As each part of the home is visited, different styles are explored, explained and in some cases, re-interpreted for contemporary living. Some of these are high-end and would not be practically possible to duplicate. But most can easily be adapted in the Western settings to infuse them with an ethnic flair or just make them outright Indian. The beautiful color pictures are sure to fire your imagination. The types of accessories shown are commonplace in India and at most Indian art stores in other countries. You may not find the exact duplicates but you are bound to find something close. Recipedelights.com recommends this book and feels that it will start off the reader in the right direction. Everything else is limited only by the reader's imagination.

Monisha did a great job in writing this book. It reflects her good taste in decorating homes in Indian style. Eventhough it is nice to see some of the maharaja styles decor she definitely includes examples of decor of regular households and contemporary looks that could definitely be applied.
Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

India Style is a timely and refreshing look at one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India 'style' relfects the complexity and depth found in Indian cooking. Similar to how spices are blended and prepared, the country's style is a vibrant blending of color, texture, culture, religion and history. India style has been developing for thousands of years. There is something within our soul that responds and reaches out to this richness.

Excellent value for the money. Beautiful photos covering a broad range of interiors.

We review a number of books and the first time we saw this one, we were very sure it was going to make to our top selections list. And we were not wrong.

A beautifully laid out book with 500 vivid color photographs is a visual treat. Recipedelights.com gives it a "must-buy" rating for interior designers and style lovers. One of the few books that correct the injustice done by western journalists and gives a positive spin to thousands of years of culture and history. It truly reflects the grandeur of Indian style by weaving a colorful mélange that will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever visited India. This book explores a spectrum of interiors ranging from Palaces to Havelis to Huts. It does not bore with endless text or try to influence the judgment of the reader. Short text (In English, German and French) accompanies each photograph though the pictures speak for themselves.

This LUSH book captivates the eye and provides such a visual feast of color, I feel saturated, then satiated, each time I dip into it. Good for hours of fun.

I have to say, I was lucky enough to meet Deidi on her travels in Ladakh and can tell you that she is one intrepid traveler. There was a war going on in Kashmir when she went to take these photos - although you'd never know it from these pictures which paint such a beautiful image of these sumptuous settings.

She is a great photographer, with three Taschen books to her credit (Gardens of France, and Fantasy Worlds). She also makes enormous photos of sacred trees in India which are exhibited in galleries - very dramatic and her best work yet!

This book focuses a great deal on Rajasthan, but also includes regional coverage of key areas.

A first of its kind and a good antidote to the predictable picture books of India. Everyone expects India photo books to show weird babas in Benares and starving people in Calcutta, so it's good for the West to see there's more to India than that.

Glad to see that scenes from the folk and peasant traditions are included alongside the fantastic royal palaces, proving that art has no boundaries.

This is a gorgeous book, beautifully laid out, with good photography and a vast range of type of interiors from palaces to village huts. Having spent significant time traveling throughout India, I frankly opened this book fully expecting to be disappointed and expecting it to be one more example of journalism not being able to do justice to the breadth and scope of India. We see that failure in all manner of books about India, from cook books, design books, culture books, and travel books; any subject that trys to cover the subcontinent in one fell swoop. Remarkably, this book achieves what no others I've seen has. In addition to photography of Deco interiors, British Revival, and Native Cultural Design, INDIAN INTERIORS wisely leaves the commentary to short blocks of text detailing the background of the property and the homeowners but not forming broad judgements or attempting to endlessly characterize and embellish. I have photo books on Village India, India Rail, Indian Design, etc., and they all try to do too much and not let the material speak for itself. This book is different, very different, and from what I've seen from this publisher in other venues, Taschen is one to watch for if you like your material presented succinctly and beautifully without gushing or extraneous filler.

This totally sumptuous book has been beautifully produced and is proof yet again that Taschen are publishing some of the most beautiful books around. Apart from being a visual delight, each picture has accompanying text on the place featured. The book covers a wide range of interiors from palaces and havelis to Rajasthani huts and everything in between. Whether you are interested in Indian style or interiors generally, you will find much to like in this book.

I found the book very helpful. I was unsure of how I was going to decorate the windows in my new house, but now I have a few ideas. I definitely recommend this book to people who know style, but need a little help once in awhile.

Candice B.

(...)


 

This book is a great source for step by step instruction on swags. Several styles to choose from, breaks down the seemingly complicated swags and jabots and walks you through the instruction.

Useful in assessing what styles should be considered and what it takes to create them. Also, the introduction is instrumental in deciding what window treatment should be selected based on certain criteria such as light, view, energy efficiency, etc. As noted by other reviewers, instructions are too vague to use as the only source of reference unless you have prior expereience in making window treatments. I would purchase this book again.

I used this book to get an idea of what kind of window treatments I want to make. This book is simple to read and understand and I can't wait to put it into practice.

the instructions are so badly phrased and illustrated, it's next to useless. I am an experienced sewer, have made lots of draperies, just needed a refresher, and instructions on interlining. There are no instructions on interlining, and the language of instruction is so inexact I simply can't figure out what she's talking about. Same for the illustrations, and I'm a artist (painter) who reads engineering drawings as easily as written language. The least of the faults of this book is that it gives no basic overview of what's possible, and the esthetic exercised is ... well, irrelevant to mine. By the way, I have constructed clothing for fashion shows for pattern companies here in New York.

This was a wonderful pictorial book with all kinds of useful ideas for small spaces. The photos were colorful and clear, the text explaining them was informative and brief enough to keep interest and keep the pages turning.

For about 5 years, my adult and single son has complained about the inefficiency of his kitchen. Since he is an excellent cook, the kitchen is a hub in his historic but small home. When I sent him this book, he found immediate adaptability to his situation and the thinking process began. As a package design specialist, he decided to draw up plans and "repackage" his kitchen. One space saver that really caught his eye was the concept of building drawers in the steps up to the second floor.

In "Making Room: Finding Space In Unexpected Places", author Wendy Jordan draws upon her more than twenty years of experience in the remodeling industry to help apartment dwellers and homeowners to create new areas of `liveability' within their existing residence without the necessity of major remodeling. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Making Room" features more than one hundred creative, do-it-yourself ways to make the living space within a home bigger and better without adding on or tearing down walls. More than forty case studies illustrate dozens of ideas highlighting transformation that are `small in scale but big in impact'. From converting the toe-kick under kitchen cabinets into perfect storage areas for serving dishes; to the use of hooks, shelves, and slim cabinetry to enhance the usefulness of a closet, to building a draw into a stair and thereby creating a jumbo-size storage area for bulky items, "Making Room" offers a highly recommended wealth of practical ideas and recommendations for interior design and remodeling that are easy to do and enduringly useful.

Brought this book to Friday lunch at our Design-Build company. Passed it around the table and everybody had different favorite great idea's they wanted us all to check out. I like the way the material is organized great idea's, a couple different versions, suggestions for ways to "Make it your own"

A permanent addition to our design library. If you are building or remodeling there are good ideas to be had in this book.

It took me about five minutes of looking quickly through this book to realize that I needed to take the book home and to carry it around the house looking at things in an entirely different way than I'd ever seen it before. I've been wondering about storage space for some time. This book points out that there is room for about twice as much as I have if I would just look at some of the areas of the house in a different way.

Just some of the ideas:

Stairs: Make the treads to flip-up lids to access the box underneath, or insert drawers underneath. Page 17

Dorway: The space over the door can be converted to a small bookshelf of antique display area. Page 56

Under/Over Kitchen Cabinets: Build a drawer into the toe-kick area under the cabinets for storage of thin things like serving dishes, or all kinds of things can be put into the space above the cabinets.

This is a great idea book of how you can probably double your storage area.

The techniques in this book are so painstakingly explained with text and photos that it's almost as if the authors are looking over your shoulder as you work. The reader will notice many extra tips and suggestions along the way in margins, charts, stylized boxes or picture captions. One feature called "Masterstroke" contains ideas for one a bit more advanced or ambitious.

Mastering Fine Decorative Paint Techniques might be a bit overwhelming for someone who's never tried any of the techniques. It's probably better suited for someone who's done some experimentation with these techniques previously. This is not a book for someone who just wants to sponge a jewelry box or closet wall. At the other end of the spectrum, even an advanced painter should find things of interest here to help him/her fine-tune some techniques.

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

I am currently reading this book as I prepare to redecorate my home using painting techiques. This book is excellant in the volume of information it contains from a discussion of colors, paints, glazes, brushes, and tools to specific techniques such as sponging, ragging, stippling, color washing, etc. I found the contents to be very specific yet simple enough for a beginner like me. The best feature however is the variety of color pictures that accompany each topic. Once I have mastered the simpler techniques, this book will allow me to move on to the more advanced techniques which are also included. Happy painting!

I am a professional faux finisher/muralist, and I really enjoyed this book. I have literally dozens of books on decorative painting techniques, and this is one of my favorites. It's like an encyclopedia- lots of different techniques explained very clearly, with good general info. If you're not sure what type of finish you're looking for, this would be a good book to invest in. Also has a good color reference for help on mixing your own paint colors. Another nice feature is that there are finishes in both water and oil based paints. Some Faux books only deal with oils, which i personally don't like to work with because of the smell and clean-up, etc... If you're looking for a more advanced book, I'd suggest "The Art of Faux" by Pierre Finkelstein.

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

As a new mom, I was overwhelmed by all the "must haves" parents are bombarded with. This book helped me cut through all that and focus on the key elements of designing my hursery. It has great tips about how to avoid chaos (at least in the nursery design!) and streamline, without ever being preachy or intimidating. A Peaceful Nursery is a wonderful guide for anyone getting ready to welcome home a baby and has become one of my favorite shower gifts.

I bought this item for my granddaughter who is expecting her first child in about three months. She is way into Feng Shui. Her entire home follows the foundation of Feng Shui.
While I did not read the book myself, my granddaughter was very excited and pleased about receiving it. She had looked in the city where she lives and was unable to find such a book.
Based on her enthusiasm, I rate this book highly.

I wish I had this book when I set up my childs nursery! It is so easy to read and understand. I have given this book as a gift to many of my pregnant friends and they are really enjoying it. It is a great introduction to Feng Shui as well as a great introduction to parenthood. Getting ready for your baby is often overwhelming and this book is a wonderful resource for how to set up the room, what you will need, and how to keep it clean and healthy. This book is truly a find!

An excellent guidebook to creating the most important room in your house! Very comprehensive but easy to read and understand. I love the checklists which made shopping for the baby so much easier. This book was very helpful for our first baby....a must have for every new parent!

"The nursery is the most important room in any expectant parents' home, and every parent wants to ensure that it will be as warm, inviting and healthy as possible for their new baby. Designing this special space is also an opportunity for expectant parents to prepare mentally and physically, for the changes to come. Through stylish photographs and practical, easy-to-understand design tips, home and lifestyle experts Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes show expectant parents how - by applying principles gleaned from interior design, Feng Shui, healthy living and their own parenting experience - they can:
*Create a balanced and peaceful nursery
*Make health conscious choices when selecting paint, fabric, toys and furniture
*Enjoy the practical and emotional benefits of a streamlined and clutter-free home
*Set up a nursery that encourages good sleep for their baby
*Prepare and organize nursing, changing, bathing, sleeping and play areas
*And many more helpful step-by-step guidelines for creating a nursery that will nurture their baby's mind, body and spirit - as well as their own - during their transition into parenthood." (from the author's website)
I think some people resist feng shui, thinking it too "new-age" or something. Actually so much of it seems based on common-sense, once you try it. I like that this book addresses clutter problems too, since many American homes have issues with that. V. Allain