Interior Design Books

There are plenty of books on home renovation, but very few on modern renovations and additions for older homes, and fewer still that have the quantity of examples, images and floor plans that this book has. In this book the additions and renovations are contemporary whereas most of the homes are older and more traditional. At 228 pages with 300 photos, editors Il Kim and James Grayson Trulove have the space to present these unique American makeovers in detail. New American Additions and Renovations is intended for the professional community of practitioners and clients but will appeal to any fan of architecture.

This book brings together twenty-five additions/renovations. Most of these projects are what I term avante garde, or object like home additions, meaning that the new portion of the building relates to, but does not necessarily match the existing building. It is interesting to compare and contrast this book to Taunton Press' "Design Ideas for Great American Houses - Additions" which features more conservatively designed seamless additions - also an excellent addition sourcebook.

Most of the projects are designed by seasoned and up and coming young architects. In most cases there is a display of exceptional rigor, which makes these projects very unpredictable. Most projects employ superb craftsmanship. The book's large format makes a beautiful presentation of these projects. As the owner of an architectural firm that does a lot of additions, I found this book to be a great inspiration and highly recommend it.

I can't think when a new decorating book excited me as much as this one. I buy a lot of decorating books, but New Classic Style is so chic yet so helpful all at the same time. The premise, which is carried out stylishly by the photos, involves mixing classic furnishings from all eras and genres to create "personal" style. The book is so what I'm all about and what I see my friends doing. I've never seen a book on how to create your own mix before.

This is a great book if you are looking for new ideas for your home and you don't want to spend a fortune. Also a great book if you want to NOT do what everyone else is doing!

Samuel Chamberlain was one of America's preeminent photographers during the early and mid 20th Century. He is conspicuously and sadly forgotten today. I use the word conspicuously because if you every see his work as originally published he no doubt would leave you intrigued. That's putting it mildly. I think his greatest passion and love was the rural New England setting. It is amazing how his black & white photographs could actually capture the colors of the New England foliage. One can feel the sun shining through autumn colored leaves. I find that remarkable and that is what has intrigued me and has sent me on a never-ending quest to locate copies of his originally published books. If you do become intrigued, you must locate copies circa the time of the original date of publication. I am not an expert on printing techniques and papers, but I do know that his original works were usually printed on a bright white matte finish paper, which reproduced the photographs as close to photograph paper as was possible. When you see photographs in a newspaper, they look as though they are made up from a series of dots, which they are. I believe what you are seeing is a sample of the dpi or dots per square inch. With more dots per square inch definition and tonal qualities are increased. With Chamberlain's original publications, one does not see any dots. The photographs are vibrant and have to be seen in person to be appreciated. I have seen one of his old titles back in print recently, "The New England Image." I own a first printing, which was bound and printed by Conzett & Huber, Zurich, Switzerland, 1962. Actually this is one of Samuel Chamberlain's best-known books. The first printing is a work of vitality and art. The new edition is so poorly printed that it makes the photographs look entirely undistinguishable from the originals. The latest printing of "The New England Image" in fact makes Chamberlain's photographs look very mundane, commonplace and "undistinguished." As an extension of his New England subjects, which were often composites of nature and typical historical and uniquely New England structures, he also turned his lens to Colonial American architecture and interiors. Actually, that was another hallmark of Samuel Chamberlain. Later in his life he did some shooting in color. You can find a quantity of his color work in books on Cape Cod circa 1968. I do recommend this book because if you are unacquainted with Chamberlain will possibly gain some appreciation for his work. Again modern printing techniques do not do justice especially for black & white photography the more that I think about it. I think the main thrust of technology today is the perfection of color reproduction. How unfortunate that is for Samuel Chamberlain and for future generations.

Samuel Chamberlain was one of America's preeminent photographers during the early and mid 20th Century. He is conspicuously and sadly forgotten today. I use the word conspicuously because if you every see his work as originally published he no doubt would leave you intrigued. That's putting it mildly. I think his greatest passion and love was the rural New England setting. It is amazing how his black & white photographs could actually capture the colors of the New England foliage. One can feel the sun shining through autumn colored leaves. I find that remarkable and that is what has intrigued me and has sent me on a never-ending quest to locate copies of his originally published books. If you do become intrigued, you must locate copies circa the time of the original date of publication. I am not an expert on printing techniques and papers, but I do know that his original works were usually printed on a bright white matte finish paper, which reproduced the photographs as close to photograph paper as was possible. When you see photographs in a newspaper, they look as though they are made up from a series of dots, which they are. I believe what you are seeing is a sample of the dpi or dots per square inch. With more dots per square inch definition and tonal qualities are increased. With Chamberlain's original publications, one does not see any dots. The photographs are vibrant and have to be seen in person to be appreciated. I have seen one of his old titles back in print recently, "The New England Image." I own a first printing, which was bound and printed by Conzett & Huber, Zurich, Switzerland, 1962. Actually this is one of Samuel Chamberlain's best-known books. The first printing is a work of vitality and art. The new edition is so poorly printed that it makes the photographs look entirely undistinguishable from the originals. The latest printing of "The New England Image" in fact makes Chamberlain's photographs look very mundane, commonplace and "undistinguished." As an extension of his New England subjects, which were often composites of nature and typical historical and uniquely New England structures, he also turned his lens to Colonial American architecture and interiors. Actually, that was another hallmark of Samuel Chamberlain. Later in his life he did some shooting in color. You can find a quantity of his color work in books on Cape Cod circa 1968. I do recommend this book because if you are unacquainted with Chamberlain will possibly gain some appreciation for his work. Again modern printing techniques do not do justice especially for black & white photography the more that I think about it. I think the main thrust of technology today is the perfection of color reproduction. How unfortunate that is for Samuel Chamberlain and for future generations.

Definitely a must-have book to help you decorate your home, especially your kids' bedrooms. Inside this book, you will find many great ideas of decorating the bedroom with limit of space. I always think that the idea of bunk beds are suitable for them living in apartments or duplex apartment. But I changed my mind when seeing this book. I like the idea to harness the stairs of bunk bed as a cupboard. Voila! It can be a storage to keep toys and many other things.

This book presents so many beautiful pictures and its design neatly prevent you from boringness to look at it again, and again!

this is a book i really need, but i cannot get it in China.

Its a great book, it presents alot of great solutions very creative ones for the new way of desing offices sapces.

The New Office gives readers insight into the future concept of office architecture by combining the author's training in architecture and knowledge of new organizational design. The book with plenty of graphics and pictures covering 20 real life case studies of companies in the US, Europe and Japan was certainly inspirating for me.

I was in Sicily last February, a beautiful time to be there and though I saw many beautiful things, I did not see all the wonderful palaces described in this lovely book. The book is a great incentive to go again.

How great the book is.Through the book you can watch the most beautiful palaces in Sicily. The phots show the incredible buildings and sight, just like you walking among them,breathing with them. Off course the words introduce the history about each palace , just like a sweet dream, enjoy it.

When I read the inside back flap of the dust jacket and read that the author is a designer as well as a devotee of Tibetan Buddhism, and teaches yoga I senses I might like the book and I was not the least bit disappointed.

To many books on simplicity of design that I have checked out recently are void of true simplicity and or are to 'cute,' which suggested to me that the author thought he/she knew what simplicity of design was, but really did not.

There is nothing 'cute' about this book or its superb photographs. On page 27 the author notes 'Light and Dark. In addition to color, the balance and interplay of light and dark are instrumental in shaping our visual experience of our environment. To promote harmony and well being within our homes, it is essential to create a balance of light and shade in each interior that is appropriate to the room's function at different times of the day. Light has an energizing effect on the body, promoting activity and mental alterness; an abundance of light is therefore desirable in rooms that are used for active daytime pursuits.' Notice she realizes the power sunlight, natural light plays in our overall health. When we changed the colors in the cottage to brighter hues we noticed even occasional depression lifted. Because we felt both energized and destressed.

Now I readily admit that those people who prefer Levitz furniture style wont like this book, because this book and its photos are devoid of clutter that all to many American homes have an abundance of. Especially cookie cutter look alike suburban homes.

Also like as she shows on page 69, her example of how a blend of brick, tile wood and metal in clean lines can work well together. Or how on page 73 she notes that sensual stimulation is important especially at mealtime when one should strive to present food on colourful dishes. Makes me so happy I have a nice collection of Fiestaware in various colours with place settings for four in at least six colours since we entertain a lot.

Her examples of calming restful bathrooms is a feast for the eyes and one can see how using examples she shows can make soaking in a hot bath a spiritual and renewing experience. Clean crisp lines and no cluttered or overdone ceramic tile, shower curtains or matching rugs, toilet tank and toilet seat covers!

She even has a wonderful section on gardens and outdoor dining beginning on page 147 titled Gardens, Balconies and Decks. Where she shows examples of each that will fit in city, suburb or rural spaces.

A wonderful book for the person looking to plan well before they build or even buy a fixer upper. One of my favorite books on peaceful abodes and it lives up 100% to its title Peace At Home.

Unlike most design books, I felt a strong emotional attachment to the succinctly conveyed advice, demonstrated in inspirational, calming pictures. I actually find it calming to review after a long day as well. I recommend taking your time and thoughtfully trying to digest its messages, as oppose to glossing over the pretty pictures.

"Remember," wrote the British art critic John Ruskin in 1853, "that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance." When a peacock unfolds its plumage, the eyespots on its feathers form exact logarithmic spirals, like those in a daisy, a pinecone, and a sunflower. Twenty years later, Ruskin's remark inspired the Aesthetic Movement ("Art for art's sake"), of which the chief proponents were the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde and the American painter James A.M. Whistler. Wilde sometimes wore a sunflower in his lapel; and Whistler, as is documented in this thoroughly researched and richly illustrated volume (with 250 illustrations, nearly half in color), created an opulent dining room for London businessman Frederick Leyland, with peacocks as the main motif. Completed amid controversy in 1877, Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room was dismantled and sold after Leyland's death, and, in 1923, reconstructed in the U.S. at the Freer Gallery of Art, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution, where it remains on view. A key event in design history, it was restored physically in 1989 through 1992; and now this book restores it historically, thereby "dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions that had settled over the story like mantles of aging varnish." As a cultural biography, the book's greatest virtue is its breadth of focus: Just as Whistler's interior served as an elaborate setting for Leyland's Chinese porcelain collection, Merrill provides a rich wide factual setting for the Peacock Room. (Copyright © by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 14 No. 3, Spring 1999.)

This is an erudite investigation into the life styles of both Whistler and his patron Frederick Richards Leyland. Whilst being essentially an art book, it deals with its subject matter in a lively mannner which could well form the basis of a movie script.

This is the best home design book I've come across because it covers such a wide range of styles. It helps you understand the kind of home you would ideally live in and how not to be constrained by one period or another. I make everyone go through the survey part and we always have such interesting discussions about it!

If most interiors books/magazines leave you feeling like someone else is trying to impose their taste on you, this is the book for you. It helps you identify your own personal style (easier said than done I find, especially as most people only get to decorate an apartment once every few years - you have to live with your mistakes). If you've just got one or two whimsical foibles, and a few strong likes or dislikes, it helps you locate these in one of six categories - e.g. pure. maverick, urban. Most of the time - and you can try the exercises on your friends - it gets it exactly right, and, more excitingly, makes you realise things about your taste you never would have guessed otherwise. In short, a lot of fun - and a much cheaper investment than buying something only to discover it doesn't go with any of your other stuff.

This book epitomises who Philippe Starck is. There are a lot of surprises & fun in this book that got me grinned from ear to ear. Who needs literature of him when the pictures of his works speak louder than words? Having said that, essays written by the great man himself at the end of the book potrayed him as a great visionary, a man ahead of his time rather than being a populist culture buffoon that some of my friends described of him. In today's rat-race world, it's good to have someone like him producing items that manage to stir our emotions & making our hearts miss a beat. In more ways than one, he's very French: unpredictable, daring, romantic, playful, enchanting, elegant,& just be himself! Viva La France~~ I can't help wondering what's next?

This is an updated and expanded version of this Taschen title originally published in 1996 as part of their "Jumbo" series. This second edition has been published at a more convenient size as well as at half the price of the original. The first edition was the most complete volume on the full breadth of Starck's prolific output. This second edition retains all of the visual impact and stylish layout of the original while including numerous Starck projects of the past several years. IF YOU BUY ONE BOOK ON THE WORK OF PHILIPPE STARCK - THIS IS THE ONE TO GET! *****