Interior Design Books

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT BOOK FOR THE COFFEE TABLE. INTERESTING LITERATURE AND HELPFUL FOR THOSE WHO SEEK ARCHITECTURAL HOME'S

Panache Partners, the publishers of this book use as a tag line, 'Creators of Spectacular Publications for Discerning Readers.' And they have certainly fulfilled this goal in the publication of this book.

Although the title of this book implies to me that the homes would be in New York City, the book really has a coverage that is more broad. Indeed it is broken down into five general areas: Manhattan & Westchester, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, Gold Coast of Long Island, and The Hamptons. The Hamptons, at roughly 80 miles from the city can be included because they are a traditional summer playground for the rich and famous of the city.

Anyway, by stretching the geography just a bit, the editors have opened up a lot of territory to choose from. Lots of places on various waterfronts. Lots of places where a client with money (there are a lot of those in NYC) can build magnificant homes, truly 'Dream Homes.'

The result of this is a book that is filles with beautiful full color pictures of a wide variety of homes that illustrate the range of architecture to be found in the area. It's a beautiful book.

I used this book for restoring an Edwardian home that had been stripped of its details in the late 1950s. An invaluable resource for designing stairwell banisters, interior columns, and crown moldings, as well as a guide for antique shopping to find appropriate period light fixtures and stained glass windows. Couldn't have gotten by without this book!

This book does a wonderful job of compiling all those little details concerning Edwardian Home Styles... I tried for a long time to find a book to do research for my dollhouse, and this fit the bill perfectly. I found all sorts of interesting info, and the seller was wonderful too!

Briefly, a fine book to sensitize one to issues of design as they apply to older persons. Although much of this book pertains to new constructions, I used it to sensitize me to issues that were also relevant to retrofit--such as putting up railings, etc., in an existing house.

The author gives advice on designing and furnishing a smart aging home, providing room-by-room analyses, checklists, and recommendations for resources. She addresses specific physical conditions and considers 'the healing bedroom' as a means to setting up a home hospital. And she covers 'the caring community', outlining the local support systems available for the onset of health and disability issues. (I found the reference to 'motion seating' and the company that makes it to be worth the price of the book alone.) Having seen my father through his last years, I already had an appreciation of the need for things as basic as proper seating and an accessible bathroom. The author's experience with her mother's Alzheimer's disease gave me even more to think about. This book appears to be going out of print which is unfortunate because it is quite practical. Buy it while you can.

My husband and I just recently moved in the new condo and I had to make a big decision on how to decorate my space from scratch. I bought probably over a half of dozen books with great photos. along with series of books by Dylan Landis. And turned out that I used them most.Aldo this books do not have photos, mostly drawings still was extremely helpful. I would recomend it to anyone

I am AMAZED at how helpful the tips in this book are. Yes, it doesn't have nice photographs like many other books, but it gives short and easy tips for decorating. It is easy to read, understand and apply many of the concepts. This book actually turns out to be the one I reach for the most among all the interior design books in my collection. Don't judge this book by the photographs (or lack of it).

What an excellent collections of detailed descriptions of Hotels. This book is really a guide one should have with him in his journey.

While most of us probably don't have the opportunity to stay in many of Europe's elegant hotels, we can take a peek inside them through the pages of this volume which is as luxe as the hostelrys it features.

Included are urban retreats, townhouse hotels, country inns, castle hotels, and manor houses. All are shown with both exterior and interior views.

And, all are beautiful, comfortable, and extravagant.

This book covers ecology, process of planting design, the use of plants, and graphic presentations of planting plans. It also covers soils, climate and local requirements as well as color, forms and seasonal effects of plants. A good attempt to achieve the balance between technical issues and aesthetic considerations.

This book was great help in working on a planting design for a client. I got a few ideas just flipping through the pages. The plan graphics at the back of the book were also a good resource for ideas.

The Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an represents the most current knowledge available regarding Islam and Qur'anic Studies. Jane Dammen Mcauliffe has done an excellent job compiling contributions from an impressive list of scholars. Andrew Rippin, G.R. Hawting, Patricia Crone, Herbert Berg, Bowering, Beatrice Greundler, and a host of others all weigh in on issues ranging from the Chronology of the Qur'an to its Compilation; and from Exegetical issues to the controversial questions of the Origins of the Qur'an. Excellent Scholarship marks the first volume's entries on the topics of Arabic Scripts, Language, and Paleography. It draws on recent research and scholarship, including the "paper grave" of manuscripts discovered in Sana'a Yemen which are currently being analyzed by German Professor Gerhard Puin. This first available volume covers topics from "A" through "D", and makes many references to future entries in the volumes which are to follow. While the entries are based on thorough research and academic study, several of the conclusions and observations will be quite controversial in the Muslim community, particularly those which call into question the reliability of Muslim Literary Traditions, and those which are damaging to the traditional understandings of the nature of the Qur'an as a monolithic, unevolved (or even uncreated) source of Divine Revelation. This volume, and those which follow, are certain to establish themselves as instant classics in the libraries of scholars and academic students of Islam around the world.

"The need for a large-scale reference text that covers the various aspects of their scripture in a serious and responsible yet innovative and broadly accessible way is an obvious one, and is superbly well served by this fine encyclopaedia." Lawrence Conrad.

"The Qur'an is a text, a literary text, and the only way to understand, explain, and analyze it is through a literary approach. This is an essential theological issue." Nasr H. Abu Zayd



The Holy Qur'an:
The Qur'an, also spelled Koran is the "holy book of Islam, regarded by believers as the true word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. In its written form it is accepted as the earthly reproduction of an uncreated and eternal heavenly original, according to the general view referred to in the Qur'an itself as 'the well-preserved tablet' (al-lawh al-mahfuz*; Sura 85:22)." Encyclopædia Britannica
The Qur'an (literally, 'Recitation') is believed to be the word, or speech, of God delivered to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. The Qur'anic text revealed to Muhammad is considered to be an earthly manifestation of the eternal and uncreated original in heaven, a parallel to the Ten Commandments of Judaism. Divided into 114 chapters (surahs) of diverse subjects and varying length, is the fundamental source of Islamic teaching. The early Meccan surahs, are concerned mostly with moral, and spiritual teachings and warnings about the last Day (of Judgment.) The later surahs revealed at Medina are concerned mainly with social legislation and the politico-moral principles for constituting and ordering the community.

A Qur'an For Muslims:
Today, Muslims constitute about a sixth of the world's population, only second to Christians, numbering about one billion inhabitant. The great majority of Muslims do neither read nor understand Arabic, the language of the Qur'an, depriving them of a first hand evaluation of the source of their own faith. Encyclopaedia of the Holy Qur'an stresses that "Reading, reciting and learning of the Qur'ân by heart are not the ways of real approach to it. By approach we mean that we should understand what the Qur'ân says to us, what message it conveys to us, and what demand it makes from us."

Islamic Thought:
Islamic teachings, law, and thinking in general are based upon four sources, or fundamental principles : a. the Qur'an, b. the Prophet's Islamic and social traditions (sunnah), c. Islamic consensus (ijma' ), and d. individual scholarship (ijtihad). For Muslims, the Qur'an is the uncreated word of God, that contains the ultimate truth, and whatever is revealed in it has been the object of meditation and explanation through the centuries. Thus, since the nineth century, commentators on the Qur'an have been by far the most important witnesses for Islamic 'mythology.' They relied heavily on Jewish tradition, and wove into their explanations various strands of ancient oriental lore and Persian fables. Jewish converts, brought much of their Jewish literature (Isra'iliyat) into Islamic tradition. Later on, the mystics' commentaries expressed some Apophatic (Mystic), dualistic Gnostic views, and Hellenistic concepts (idea of the Perfect Man, personified in Muhammad) was to gain greatest prominence. Commentaries written in the border areas of Islamic countries now and then accepted a few popular traditions from their respective areas; however, the formative period was finished quite early.

Modern Islamic Scholarship:
The plight of Nasr Abu Zayd, an unassuming Egyptian professor of Arabic who sits on the encyclopedia's advisory board, illustrates the difficulties facing Muslim scholars trying to reinterpret their tradition. For more than a century there have been public figures in the Islamic world who have attempted the revisionist study of the Qur'an and Islamic history, the recently exiled Egyptian professor Nasr Abu Zayd is not unique. Perhaps Abu Zayd's most famous predecessor was the prominent Egyptian government minister, university professor, and writer Taha Hussein. A determined modernist, Hussein in the early 1920's devoted himself to the study of pre-Islamic Arabian poetry and ended up concluding that much of that body of work had been fabricated well after the establishment of Islam in order to lend outside support to Qur'anic mythology. A more recent example is the Iranian journalist and diplomat Ali Dashti, who in his Twenty-Three Years: A Study of the Prophetic Career of Mohammed, 1985, repeatedly took his fellow Muslims to task for not questioning the traditional accounts of Muhammad's life, much of which he called "myth-making and miracle-mongering."

Encyclopedia of the Qur'an:
Brill's Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an is the first comprehensive reference work on the Qur'an to appear in any Western language. It assembles an encyclopaedic dictionary of Qur'anic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and exegesis with essays on the most important themes and subjects within Qur'anic studies, integrating alphabetically-arranged entries of articles about the contents of the Qur'an. With some thousand entries in five volumes. This Encyclopedia is a genuine collaborative enterprise, carried out by Muslims and non-Muslims alike; its articles present multiple approaches to the interpretation of the Qu'ran, some of which are likely to challenge traditional Islamic views. The time may be less ripe for a revisionist study of the Qur'an, but decidedly necessary in clearing moderate Islamic Fiqhe from allusion of violence. The articles, that widely range in length, discuss the themes found in the Qur'an. Both Muslim and non-Muslim approaches to the holy text are featured, and extensive reference is made to the classical, and contemporary Islamic exegetical tradition. The choice of English text, helps to make the Encyclopaedia accessible to non Arabic-reading specialists.

Contributing Writers:
Edited by Jane McAuliffe, of Georgetown University, the Encyclopaedia relies mostly on U.S. authors, together with other Westerners and Middle Eastern contributors. Over 200 scholars from around the world have contributed the approximately 1,000 articles in these five volumes. Their willingness to contribute their range of expertise has made the work both a summative enterprise and one which highlights potential future directions of Qur'anic studies. The contributing writers, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, including the progressive Egyptian Scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd. Professor Abu Zayd studies modern Islamic thought by critically analyzing classical and contemporary Islamic discourse in the field of theology, philosophy, law, politics and humanism. The aim of his research is to suggest a theory of hermeneutics that might enable Muslims to build a bridge between their tradition and the modern world.

General Editor:
Georgetown University professor Jane McAuliffe, recently published the fifth, concluding volume of the Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an (Brill, 2001-2006). McAuliffe served as the general editor of the collection, multi-volume reference work on the Muslim scripture to appear in a Western language. The editor takes up a methodology of what she calls "two parallel conversations" about the Qur'an, between Muslim and non-Muslim scholarship on the holy book, which existed in separate sources, one pious, the other inquisitive; she also acknowledges that some authors found her concept of the project tainted and chose to stay away from it. Muslim critic S. Parvez Manzoor, in a cautionary preview, stated, that "The Orientalist enterprise of Qur'anic studies, whatever its other merits and services, was a project born of spite, bred in frustration and nourished by vengeance: ... the vengeance of the 'orthodox' against the 'nonconformist.' "

This truly delightful book shows cottage interiors that reflect the pasttimes, habits, and way of living that one likes to believe are essentially "English". These homes look as if they are actually lived in and all exhibit that special British propensity for comfort blended with eccentricity. The ubiquitous Aga is featured in a number of the kitchens, but there are also enough 'jolts' in the form of colour use and collections to make this book memorable and somehow fresh. A book I refer to again and again and well worth adding to your collection - almost a reference on English cottage style. Very good value.

u can feel the charisma with each breathtaking picture of charming cottages and gardens.it makes u want to jump in and get warm and cozy.even from across the room this book relaxes u.a 100% certifiable coffee table legend.

Beautiful colorful book, full of designs from around the world. Gave me great ideas for my new home.

I already own her book, "Ethnic Interiors" and love it. I ordered this book online thinking it would be just as good. But it's actually the exact same book with a different cover. No kidding! I have no idea why she'd release the two books with different covers but identical content, but that's what's happened here. The content is wonderful. I wrote a great Amazon review of for the other book, which I won't repeat here. But I'm terribly disappointed that no one has bothered to mention in the item description that the two books are the same. I guess I'll be passing this book on as a gift.

How do I love this book? Let me count the ways:

* 14 different ethnic themes are featured, categorized by continent and subcategorized by culture. These themes are: Cowboy, Native American, Mexican, Nordic, Celtic, Tyrolean, Mediterranean, Eastern Eropean, North African, Tribal, Gold Coast, Japanese, Indian, and Asiatic. Each theme is distinct, yet similar in the feeling of comfort and ease evoked in the featured rooms.

* Text describing regional features and differences,as well as full description of the interiors illustrated.

* Many richly colored photos with natural lighting. The light sources are sunlight, candlelight, and a few well placed ambient lowlights. Rooms that are naturally dark are not brightened by harsh studio lighting. The rooms are allowed to speak for themselves. Sunlight filters in at odd angles, leaving darkened corners and letting shadows fall where they will.

* The homes are all livable, believable. There are no sterile showroom model home interiors featured here. Each room looks as though the occupant just stepped out for a moment and will soon return.

* All these styles are easily achievable for almost anyone. Though undoubtedly some of the decorative elements are cherished antiques or expensive imports, the focus seems to be on the use of color, texture, random easily obtained materials, and imagination to produce very comfortable personalized results. The furniture is worn and aged, but cozy. Woodwork is dented and faded, but cared for and functional.

This book was exactly what I've been looking for, a simple and unfussy, well-illustrated book on ethnic design featuring real homes with real decor. The size of the book may be smallish, but it makes incredible use of it's spacial limitations. The inspiration found within the covers of this book is infinite. I highly recommend it.

This book is filled with the most wonderful photographs of so many different regions- Americas, Europe, Africa and the Far East. Along with 14 major deisign themes. Not only do the photos give the feel of the region but thay offer very valuable visual design elements. This is a concept driving book. I thoroughly enjoy this book every time I pick it up- I have owned it for a few years and continue to use it as a reference and inspiration. There is also a great directory for sources in the back. Designers will love this book as well as shelter book collectors- it's beautiful!