Residential Books

I purchased this book to get ideas for a dollhouse I was making. This book gave me many wonderful ideas and inspirations! There are so many detailed pictures giving us a true look into the Victorian Era. Not only did I get ideas for the outside of my dollhouse. I got some great ideas for some of the rooms on the inside of my dollhouse. And what a wonderful surprise to find a picture of the bed and breakfast that I spent my honeymoon in!

WOW!! This book is truly a feast for the eyes, and that's no exaggeration! There are so many first rate photos and plenty of text. Every page has multiple color photos. It is a very heavy book! The paper is high quality and the photos are extremely high resolution and stunningly beautiful. What a great job they did just in printing this book! If you love Victorian homes, then this book is a must have! I like it so much I think I will eventually buy a brand new hardcover copy of it (I bought a used paperback copy). I plan on getting all the other books in this series too. Some of the very best Victorian homes are in this book. They kind of remind me of Disneyland with all the colorful paint schemes and fanciful shapes and decorations.

A fantastic book, a must for anyone who is thinking about painting a Victorian house. It was very helpful to me and my husband who had to come up with a color scheme for our three-story Queen Anne built in 1895.

If you're in the same boat, then you know that deciding on a color scheme for a detailed Victorian house isn't easy and takes careful thought and consideration. This book will help you. It will give you countless ideas, and just looking at the photos is inspiring.

And then, the book will appeal to any fan of Victorian architecture as well. I love looking at the numerous photos of the houses and find myself thumbing through it again and again. Every time I look at this book, I see something intriguing that I hadn't noticed before. Such a book serves to keep me inspired during the remainder of our home's renovation, which is trying at times.

i was speechless each picture was so beautiful , i love each and every house. a great book

Believe it or not but the main reason I purchased this beautiful book was for reference material for scale model building (i.e. LEGO, etc.). I was hunting forever for a book on Victorian homes--with pictures of the OUTSIDE (as most of the books on Victorian architecture deal with the classic interior designs, furniture, etc.). LEGO and Victorian homes go hand in hand, as this book's wonderful color pictures perfectly illustrate--who could imagine such combinations would actually look so stunning!? In addition to excellent photography the text is well written, with interesting facts about each home, why it's unique, yet how it fits into the overall "Painted Lady" lineage... excellent. :-)

I've been looking for a book on private structures, not public buildings or houses by famous architects but living places of everyday people. I couldn't imagine anything this amazing. Dwelling from all over the world. Places you would never see unless you traveled to the far reaches of our earth. I am thrilled to have found this book.

For a number of years, Yoshio and Eiko Komatsu have been travelling the world taking high quality photographs of traditionally built homes. At first view, many of the photographs while though pleasant are not especially remarkable. However, what makes these many photos special is that they are combined together to tell a story about houses are traditionally built around the world.

The photographs are gathered together in short chapters dealing with building techniques. For example, the first three chapters are entitled, "Hand Coiling or Coursing Wet Earth", "Earthen Blocks", and "Compacted Earth". Along with a cursory explanations of the building technique are numerous color pictures from around the world illustrating the different techniques.

What makes this such a great book is the sheer number of interesting photographs of vernacular architecture. In a sense, this book is a momument to the creativity and artistic talent of the world's people. These photos stimulate the imagination.

Finally, keep in mind this is a photo collection and not an academic text on vernacular architecture. This is not a book on how to build by hand but a creative homage to what people can make with locally available materials and ancient know how. Highly recommended.

superlative book; pictures are top; as I've not enough money to travel in so many places and anyway I'dont want anymore take planes and contribute to pollution that will may kill us; I'm happy to travel with this book and the wonderfullest Dwellings from Paul Oivier. together with too HomeWork from Loyd Kahn, You get the best to study dwellings all over the world and maybe going back to more simplicity and built healthy powerful and sacred places as all dwellings should be !

As books go this one makes it to my top ten. People are always using the word venacular out of context, this book puts it right back. The pictures in this book speak a thousand words. Use whats local, works with materials found around you. I live on an Island on the West coast, lots of rain. There are so many people on this Island building 'green houses' with straw bales. There are so many people who are going to have mouldy homes!!! Venacular learn the word. Live in a home made of the materials around you! Buy this book, and learn.

Owning quite a few Vernacular Building type books, I would say that this rates up there with the best of them. I will not say it is the best though, the reason being is that all of these types of books have their own unique photos that you won't find any where else.

This is a very well produced, easy to read book. It is broken up into 18 sections, with lots of full colour photos from around the world. Each photo also comes with a short explanation.

With 469 pages of beautiful photographs not only showing the architecture, but also the people living in these dwellings, this book is a must have for your Vernacular Library.

Hmmm... I'm looking at the book right now and see that the glue has not done it's job and the binding is falling apart!!! Beware!

Wonderful pictures of some of the most famous & picturesque castles in the world. Mostly in Europe. Some history; brief history for most of the featured castles with very general area maps to locate them. Generally one pic per castle and no floorplans or diagrams (another reviewer said diagrams probably meaning the map diagrams). Great book for planning a castle sightseeing trip to Europe.

I would also recommend 'The Medieval Fortress - Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages'. It has a ton of pics, history and floorplans; 10 times better than Sidney Toy's book on Castles.

This is one of my favorite "coffee table" books. To begin with, it's huge. The cover is an outstanding photo of the breathtaking Neuschwanstein (there's an even better one on page 96). The first few chapters give an illustrated (via hand drawings as well as awesome photos) history of the castle, its many functions, and its evolution. Chapters 3 through 6 focus on the castles of Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Crusader Regions. The last chapter details more modern castles, walled towns, and palaces; with even more focus on the castle's architectural evolution. Included here among others are the Casa Loma (North America's largest), the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, even the Cinderella Castle at Disney World. If you're a fan of history, architecture, and/or photography, you will not be disapointed with this book.

This is a wonderful and beautiful book that shows off the medieval castles we always dreamed about as children. The variety of castles, all shown in beatiful color photographs, present to the reader the various architectures and designs from different countries in Europe, and short written commentary give this book a five star rating. You can enjoy this book if you are in the age range of 3 to 103. This is the best photo book out there that shows off the medieval castles and fortresses of old.

Tour guide to history and spotlight examples throughout the world, including Europe, and modern works in North America along with palaces and walled towns.

Incredible to eye these rising fortresses into the sky, out of rivers and on top of mountains, they are living monuments of protection and engineering and dungeons, etc.

Makes for great reading and viewing.

Covered with large colour photographs from cover to cover, this book is bound to turn any reader into a castle lover.
Whilst this book contains great photographs, this alone is not its only content. The book does in fact contain pages of historical information on the origin of castles, historical overviews of the castle building eras, the different styles, architectures and functions of castles and even an overview of siege engines and castle attack and defence strategies. This book can therefore easily perform the dual function of a coffee table book and a reference book.
Definitely one of my favourite books.

I feel this book should be titled more as to the content. The design work in the book is primarily l950's and l960's.
This was not what I expected when I purchased a "Contemporary" book. I felt it should reflect at the most the early 2000's to date. I feel it is worth while for my purpose now which will be a donation to the local library.

Woah! This is one of the coolest books ever! I very seldom have given 5 stars to anything, but this one deserves it! Jackson really went out of her way in obtaining these pictures-the real deal, too. If you've ever seen a retro Armstrong flooring ad, a home modernizing magazine from the 50s-60s, Matt Maranian's book "Pad", or anything on retro ranch homes and furniture, this one takes the cake! It's also gives a pseudo-history of midcentury architecture, through pictures-and it's amazing how many pictures are here. I haven't purchased the books "Modernism Revisited", "Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong", or "The Eames Primer", although I plan to get these, but if you or someone you know are into this period, this is definitely a book to obtain. I have a friend that just went ape over it when he saw it. Now he wants to go retro, too. Another book that I've had my eyes on is "Modern Retro Living with Midcentury Modern". Once I get these, I'll leave reviews, as well. Don't hesitate to get this one if you're into this period, also!

If you like the direct innovative designs of the 50's & 60's this book will provide a great overview with lots of photos.
It would have been nice to see more coverage of the furnishing specifics, especially DUNBAR and Edward Wormley - my personal favorites.

Put on some lounge music, pour a martini and enjoy!

This book is a great general guide to what was 'contemporary' - including architecture of the home, public building and office. In addition, it delves into interior design - including glass, wall treatments, flooring and furniture. The prospective reader should be made aware right off that this book is written from the British perspective - one will see British English spellings of words, and names of British companies. However, the vast majority of the book deals with American developments, which is more pertinant to the US reader. I call this book a great 'general' introduction because it digs about 75% of the way into each subject. But how many other books can cover so many subjects as well? None that I've been able to find so far. The book is richly illustrated, including some photos which span the entire page. The text is interesting and easy to understand. After reading each chapter of the book, you are left with a good basic undertanding of what you've just read. The pictures themselves are generally period photos, which really help the reader see what 'contemporary' was to the eyes of the folks living at that time. If you are contemplating purchasing a 'contemporary house', or perhaps decorating in the 'contemporary' style, this book will give you some good ideas. Overall, a very enjoyable book - it would make a good present, and look great sitting on your coffee table!

This is a pretty cool book. The photos are honest, as they're from the era instead of reconstructed rooms today. Very in depth also; it covers furniture, architecture, glassware, kitchens, textiles and other home furnishings.

I've been making window treatments for about 6 yrs and I have to say that this is my favorite book by far of all the window treatments books that I have purchased. Not only does it give all sorts of great information its sketches are sooo creative. I find designs in this book that I have not seen anywhere before. A must have for all workrooms!!!

Clear illustrations. I think about every type of window treatment is covered. Can help maximize sales with customers. A must have for all Drapery Professionals and Designers. No more misunderstandings between customer and designers. Can hardly wait for Jackie's NEW bedcovering book to come out next year. I will be one of the first to buy it.

Fabulous! Most comprhensive in the window covering industry. Which does make it large and heavy. Highly recommend this book

I am an interior designer with a start up company. The Design Directory of Window Treatments is an absolute much- this is an invaluable tool to someone who really needs assistance with window treatments. The CD is also a great tool. I could not be happier with my purchase!

Fast and simple, my title says it all. The book is well worth the cost, with wonderful sketches and terrific organization.

Clear, practical instructions on decorating in general as well as how to achieve the atmosphere portrayed in the book's fascinating photos. I collected her gorgeous ABC ads -- hope there will be another book.

I do NOT have a french or english country estate, so decorating books showing large rooms are not helpful for me. I hate French country decor, with the stupid ugly chickens and everything painted mustard and blue. Pottery Barn, Res Hardware and Crate and Barrel are handy but cookie cutter... This book is not any one of these things and I really love it! Some of the decorating styles, like "Alienated" are a bit too eccentric even for me but I love seeing the ideas taken to completion with out appology. It's not about shabby chic, it's more eccentric than that, like vintage photos of show girls, morrocan lamps and velvet couches... I really hate decorating books where everything is painted flat white, like an apartment, and cutsy little flowers everywhere. Too girly. No punch. This book is using what you love, even if, or especially if, its odd to create atmosphere with attitude. I think this is especially good for people with old houses or apartments, who are good at found art and collage. If your mother was an antique dealer like mine and you have mis matched yet interesting things, there are very useful ideas here. Medieval enthusiasts and goth kids would love this book. People with Magickal households that have unusual things would love this book, as well.

This is more of an analysis of your artistic style than one of those cookie cutter decorating books--every page is amazing. If you are artistic & don't like to follow current trends, you will love the offbeat, quirky ideas. Worth every penny--sequel, please?

Firstoff the four stars is hard to explain. I want to give this item five. But there is a few things I cannot overlook. However, this book is amazing. It is a decorating eden, filled with wonderous things you should look into and explore. If you look at this book and you think "ack, $$$!! I do not have the money to pull off these styles" you will miss the entire point of the book. The entire book is about doing it yourself, and she does it on a penny. she explains throughout - its possible to get the look and spend a reasonable amount of money. The book is not about buying the most expensive antique. Its about creating. Its about making something yours from junk. Its about hooshing - making it yourself; spending no money. It is a tome of creativity.

The only reason I cannot give it 5 is the one chapter 'Humble' - while the style is visually appealing she seems to forget a few things, like sanitation. The cute little guest cottage is made out of an old large chicken coop, where the walls have sustained beautiful natural water damage. While asthetically pleasing, its mold. Also, chickens carry alot of airborn diseases that if you mess around in their dried feces (like oh say, in a chicken coop) you can inhale and get terrible things like meningitis. (It happened to a friend's brother of mine while he was cleaning out a similar coop to the one she uses. Not something to mess around with. And he was wearing an air filter and construction gear.)
While this chapter can be completely overlooked and ideas still gained from it, it completely ignores hygine and health. But honestly, this shouldn't make you ignore this book. Its a diamond in the rough. No book is perfect, but this - is pretty darn close.

I adore this book. I found a copy of it mysteriously in my office (I'm a set dresser) and it has completely overhauled my beliefs in decorating. The pictures are feasts for your eyes... There's just so much to look at, all layered so perfectly. I can't wait to create my own lofted bed, my own hooshes, and mysteriously curtained nooks. I feel like I finally fit into a design catagory.

Even if this book doesn't quite mesh as well with your design style, it is still interesting to look at the unique ways of decorating, and the text is lively and quite non-snore inducing (which most decorating books tend to be).

Amazing book. Buy it, you won't be disappointed. It will leave you yearning for another one from the very creative Rebecca Prucell.

I recently completed a major addition to get the professional kitchen of my dreams. For almost a year prior to demolition, I studied just about every other "kitchen book" known to mankind, and saved hundreds of idea-pages from magazines, etc. Then I found Jan Weimer's book, and I so wish I had know about it so much earlier. This book is a must-read for anyone embarking on any type of kitchen renovations. Jan's writing is witty, relating the saga of all the foibles and pitfalls she encountered during her own renovations. But, more importantly, she provides a wealth of information on just about any possible aspect of kitchen overhauls. In retrospect, I would have saved lots of time and money if I had read this book first before even starting this project.

Not a cookbook, but a really valuable guide for anyone who wants to build or remodel, Jan Weimer's "Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels & Replacements" is a superior sourcebook. Not for nothing is this volume subtitled "Without Murder, Suicide, or Divorce." The problems inherent in letting strangers run rampant through your domain, charging fees left and right, have been known to harden even the most optimistic of homeowners.

Weimer does an admirable job of making the reader examine thoroughly his or her kitchen needs--and then divide them into "needs" and "wants." She can take a glimmer of an idea and give you the hard facts on how it would work on a day-to-day basis. She covers such neglected topics as contractual obligations of the contractors, kitchen lighting, countertop choices, and depth of storage cabinetry.

There is such an abundance of information herein that it would takeý-well, it would take a book to tell you all about it. And here is that book, highly recommended by yours truly, who has been through the kitchen design/house-building experience.

I've never written any book review before, but feel compelled to let others know how great this book is. I've looked through over thirty (30) books on kitchen projects-at libraries/in bookstores/from an architect- and found none I wished to own but this one. It's almost too thorough, as many of us just wish to read conclusions and then go on to the next project. This book covers ALL aspects of a kitchen project, including detailed reference/contact material at the end of the book. So don't waste your time reading anything else-- it's the only book on the topic I've actually purchased and I don't regret it for a minute.

If you're looking for the "best ever" kitchen book, look on. This one is just average. It's outdated and, unless you're a complete beginner in the remodeling game, won't tell you much you haven't already learned or thought of on your own. (Just for example: the author is clueless about butcher-block countertops, saying that they must be scrubbed with a wire brush every week. ??? I've had butcher block countertops, and neither I nor anyone I've ever known has been silly enough to use them as unfinished cutting boards. And do we really need to be told that countertops should be level and cleanable? Oh, darn, I was thinking about a wavy sod surface--I guess that's out.) "This Old House Kitchens," although far from new, is far more helpful. I was disappointed after the rave reviews here. I probably paid around $15 incl. shipping and it wasn't worth that much.

I recently completed a major addition to get the professional kitchen of my dreams. For almost a year prior to demolition, I studied just about every other "kitchen book" known to mankind, and saved hundreds of idea-pages from magazines, etc. Then I found Jan Weimer's book, and I so wish I had know about it so much earlier. This book is a must-read for anyone embarking on any type of kitchen renovations. Jan's writing is witty, relating the saga of all the foibles and pitfalls she encountered during her own renovations. But, more importantly, she provides a wealth of information on just about any possible aspect of kitchen overhauls, and far more informative than all the other publications I purchased combined. In retrospect, I would have saved lots of time and money if I had read this book first before starting this project.

This just might be the most awesome book about my hometown of NYC. The artwork is fabulous and this book is put together so well. Its shown me things I never saw. I think being a tourist in your own town is great.

I'll disregard the book's one glaring omission--Saarinen's TWA Terminal at JFK is not included--and give it a five. Well written.

and come back and sit and look at this book.

Bet you missed a lot on each street.

Then go out again and do it all over.

A real treat.

The title might have been 1,000 of the BEST buildings in New York City. No city in America, and few the world over, contain the mind-boggling ensemble of outstanding urban architecture, both historic and modern, as does New York City. This city is a national and world treasure, and all of Manhattan SHOULD be a UNESCO World Heritage site, but, alas... There's simply no comparison possible. This book is a survey of 1,000 outstanding structures in the city, properly chosen in my opinion, each including a black & white photograph and short descriptive essay. With so much wonderful material from which to choose, the book is a real feast of architectural goodness! Because it isn't as exhaustive as White & Willensky, it is more thorough in coverage of the selected buildings. It's well put together. Good buildings. Nice photography. Well written short essays. Covers the five boroughs well.

America's peninsular cities; San Francisco, New York, Charleston and Boston also happen to contain the best architecture. Hmm...

Every once in a while I'll walk down a street of my busy city and spot a building that I'd never seen before, or, if I had seen it, never paid it much mind. But something about it--its age or its architecture--tells me that there's a story to be told about it. Judith Dupre, Bill Harris, and photographer Jorg Brockmann in their monumental book, "One Thousand New York Buildings", fill in the gaps left behind in the AIA books.

There are hundreds of buildings that, for whatever reason, have escaped landmark status and/or the attention of New Yorkers. Although "One Thousand New York Buildings" does discuss the familiar structures, like the Empire State Building, the Woolworth Building, and Grand Central Station, it also devotes equal time to those that have been ignored or overlooked. What are those tiny, Colonial style houses on Harrison and Greenwich Streets? How old is that building at 2 White Street? Who lived in those somber buildings at 130-132 MacDougal Street? "One Thousand New York Buildings" answers these and hundreds of other questions. In this sense, this book is much like "New York Streetscapes: Tales of Manhattan's Significant Buidlings and Landmarks" by Christopher Gray and Suzanne Braley, in as much as it pays equal tribute to the famous and not so famous structures.

One last note, this is a solidly put together book. The binding is sturdy, the paper thick and glossy, and the photos are clear and intriguing. It as well constructed as the buildings they pay homage to.

inspirational and pleasant! an eye candy, a page turner, I could not get enough! Pages filled with interiors variations from vintage cottage to modern with a chock of color. Unexpected combinations of textiles and wall hangings mixed with truly amazing architectural details. the book is the celebration of eclectic style. Almoust every page shows a fantasy home, created with such ease, charm and playfulness - it's contagious.

This book is eye candy offered at a great price! Wonderful photography, colors, and graphics.

Out of all the books from Tricia Guild, this one is her very best, I think! I am a huge fan!!!

This book is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. Rich and colorful, it's a feast for the eyes! If you design interior spaces or home textiles, this book will be an especially great addition to your collection.

You will not want to put this book down! If only I could magically transport myself to one of Tricia Guild's ethereal spaces...I would never want to leave. Opening this book is like taking a journey...it's an adventure in sumptuous fabrics, luscious colors and tactile textiles. Her patterns are romantic yet whimsical, and she masterfully juxtaposes modern and antique elements and motifs with themes of flowers and nature accented with candy colors! This book appeals to feminine sensibilities!

I've had this book since it came out and still consider it to be peerless in capturing all that the Vanderbilt heirs attempted to build as monuments to themselves. It is a great read and the amount of research invested to unearth so many top-notch photos is amazing. I'm dismayed at the original remarks from the library reviewer who panned it!

You'll never see more insightful photos as to what happened to Elm Court in Lenox, MA - the largest shingle-style manor house ever built - or even the wealth of historical photos for Shelburne Farm. The latter produced their own smaller hardcover book which pales in comparison to what "Architectural Aspirations" captures in the one chapter devoted to the estate. As an aside, Elm Court rose again with heirs to the family have restored it between 2000 and 2006.

Picking up even a used copy to add to ones collection is something I strongly recommend.

We have a great group on Biltmore if you are interested. At Yahoo, search yahoo groups for biltmoreestate, and join the great unoffocial history.

I loved this book. If you are looking for a book that shows you sites deep inside the long lost mansions of 5th avenue, then this is your book. Read it from cover to cover or just skim through the pages over and over again. These photos tell a million stories, from the caen stone interiors to the triple mansions' immense proportions and details to the lives of the architects themselves. This is a great book!

If that Library Journal reviewer read more than just the Introduction, which contains a couple of typos, he'd have realized this book tells more about the Vanderbilts and their world than any other book on the subject. Obviously, he didn't. It's a great read.

This book is a great look at the stories of all the houses the Vanderbilts purchased or created with their spetacular wealth- and also some of the fascinating stories of the eccentric family members behind the houses. The book is filled with rare photographs and stories of all the Vanderbilt castles.

I found the book to be very entertaining- a must have if you're interested in the Vanderbilt family or the Gilded Age in general.