Interior Design Books

Deftly co-authored by Melissa Cardona and Nathaniel Wolfgang-Price, Custom Kitchens: Fifty Designs To Satisfy Your Appetite is a fun and inventive introduction to fifty different kitchen design ideas and innovations. Creatively presenting an innovative and picturesque compendium of precision-crafted kitchens, Custom Kitchens is a superb introduction for selecting detailings and designs for kitchen setups, themes, materials and much more. Profusely illustrated in full color, Custom Kitchens is a very strongly recommended reference for interior designers and "do-it-yourself" homeowners searching for a beautiful and functional design ideas for finely crafted household kitchens.

This is an excellent book on Daylighting especially in the way the author discusses so many related and synergystic issues. It is an extremely informative, elegant, scholarly and comprehensive book on the subject. Beautifully illustrated with superbly photographed plates. As a daylighting practitioner and architect in the field, I find it to be both useful and interesting. My congratulations to May Guzowski who, incidentally, teaches architecture at the University of Minnesota.

I bought this book two weeks before Christmas because I thought
it would be relaxing to look at the color photos of all the beautiful projects that I would never have time to make. I spent several hours relaxing with this book and read many of the directions for holiday projects that someone less exhausted than myself could have made one or two of before the holidays.
There was even a section on food projects such as Sand-Painting Brownies and Hot Chocolate Mix that looked delicious as well as speedy to do. And I would have done it if I had not found a new all time low in holiday cooking. (I ordered cookie dough from an Italian restuarant while I ate chicken marsala, and the nice chef delivered it to my husband at work and all I had to do was tie on an apron and slice and bake.)
Anyway, I fell so in love with many of the projects in this book that if I only made one a month for this coming year--I'd have all my gifts done for next year. My favorites are: Partridge Pincushion.(To die for-with real feathers--and I know where there is a taxidermy shop over the state line.),birdhouse welcome home banner,wreath pillow, French hen tea cosy,flying geese placemats,
French hen address book, calling bird Christmas cards, six geese a laying quilt,goose wall quilt,seven swans a swimming vest, Christmas cactus and currants pillow (this is stunning and if I ever make it, no one else is getting it.),lord of the manor apron and chef's hat( something a man in the kitchen would really like to get.), wreath door banner (this is really nice--not at all cutesy--but three wreaths from pieced triangles with red bows and bells and the squares in the middle are naturals for custom embroidery--maybe your dog or cat's face?) twelfth hour quilt, and much, much more including menus and recipes for Christmas dinner and Christmas brunch.
This is my kind of Christmas book. Lovely original projects that would be fine to make any year. Lots of inspiration here to start
early and surprise lucky friends and family with stunning gifts.

THIS BOOK CONTAINS EXCELLENT INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO TAKE PRIDE IN DOING IT YOURSELF AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEM DECORATING AREAS BUT DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THOSE FLOORS, WALLS, ETC., WHICH THEY MIGHT CHOOSE.

Don't let the title fool you. Yes--this book is full of compelling kitchen decoration projects, but it is so much more than that. There are quilts, tablecloths, curtains, chair covers, totes, pillows, pot holders and matching directions for folk painting objects to go with the theme kitchens. There are four main kitchen themes. Vintage Kitchen is in red and white patchwork with redwork inserts. I'm crazy for redwork, country kitchens and antique oak. I have an antique wooden office chair that I have failed to paint and I'm going to make the chair cover in this book. The Koffee Klatch Kitchen is a log cabin theme in bright red, blue, yellow and white. I've got to make the table runner! Antique Fruit Kitchen has an apple quilt to die for. Folk Art Rooster Kitchen is warm browns, tans, and deep red. There are folk art pillows,a table runner,and a rooster on a stick that make me laugh and will no doubt make me sew! There's a chapter on kitchen completers too--more nonfabric projects! The color plates in this book are awesome and I want my kitchen to look like everyone of these themes! The directions are clear and have color pictures and diagrams! This book took an honorable mention in the Accidental Quilter's Quilting Book Award 2000. :)the accidental quilter

There are plenty of decorating books on the market, but what makes DECORATING EASY: CREATE A SIMPLE, COMFORTABLE HOME WITH PURE STYLE so attractive is its focus on easy, budget decorating ideas which cover everything from using space more efficiently to adding furniture and fittings which work aesthetically. Chapters use step-by-step color blocks to outline tips - such as in 'Sleep: 10 Ways to Make a Calming Bedroom', making for easy at-a-glance instruction perfect for any collection catering to busy home decorators.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book gives room by room ideas and tips on how to make a room more physically and visually comfortable based on your individual style. This is the most practical book for decorating for the do it yourselfer as well as people who are using decorators. I found that I used this while re-decorating our whole house this year

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's quite informative and there are a lot of marvelous photos of various types of china and glass in this book. They show diverse styles and patterns throughout the centuries and cultures. There is also a good section on how and where to store your china and glass. Such amazing things they can do with glass. I was impressed. I really liked the section on the art of the table. Can't get enough of the elegant table settings! Such beautiful kitchens in this book as well. It's a great book. I only wished it were longer.

Bold and exciting looks predominate in this book, which presents tons of great decorating tips. The styles are mainly contemporary, eclectic, classical and traditional. There are not many country, frilly or floral rooms.

The book starts showing you dramatic rooms. I loved a bedroom with purple walls, a huge white ball lantern light and a simple bed. I liked a soft yet high-tech looking living room done in several shades of blue and accents of orange as well. Many more examples show how to use contrasting colors that work well together to create dramatic yet harmonious effects.

The role of texture in enhancing color and style is then examined. Using fabric, furniture and decorative objects, rooms are completed in several themes including Eastern and modern. In the section on the Eclectic look you see how color and texture are used to pull together diverse items and styles to suit personal taste. Here I found an elegant sitting room with a green velvet couch and animal prints to be quite impressive. I also liked a cozy bedroom with a purple wall and a wrought iron bed.

There is an emphasis throughout the book on decorating to satisfy personal taste, style and comfort. Guidance is provided on color schemes to fit different functions and create desired moods. There is a wonderful chapter on bringing the elements of nature into your
home. The use of natural finishes in woods and fabrics as well as plants and other natural
objects as decorative accents is employed here.

An excellent resource guide is provided. This includes a glossary, a supplier list with web site addresses and directories of designers and photographers. Among many decorating books I have, the emphasis on practicality and livability along with style and creativity make this one of the most useful for me.

Have you ever struggled with combing fabrics or patterned wallpaper in your home? If you have, then this is the book for you. Learn to use classic stripes to create an elegant look or a bright simple floral print to create a lively retreat.

The book starts out focusing on contemporary and classic fabric patterns. I love the decorating tips scattered through the book like using tiny prints and in a small room and larger ones in a big room or garden. It then discusses combining patterns. Again there are lots of great tips here like using several floral prints to create a rich looking collage or using patterns that include the same colors.

The next section on quick-change fabrics is great. It shows you how easy it to change a room by adding, subtracting or changing the fabrics in it. You can transform from season to season just by changing the curtains, slipcover, bedding or pillow shams. This is great when you want something different, but don't want to spend a fortune.

A chapter on creating pattern with your collections follows. Here you learn how to use pictures, knick-knacks and art to personalize and add the final dimension to your home. I love the many display ideas here. The book wraps up with a glossary, resource directory that includes websites and information on contacting the designers. This is a great book of tips and ideas with something here for every style.