Design and Construction Books

Yee-fan really knows what she is talking about... too many style books offer great ideas, but their idea of a "budget" includes $200 pillows. Buy this book for amazing style on a realistic budget!

First, let me start by saying that I thought there would be more pictures in this book. I'm very visual and that's usually what drives me to buy decorating books. But that alone did not distract me, and since it's mentioned numerous times in the book that the author is also the editor of Digsmagazine.com, I can pop in there to augment all the great information in this book.

Usually books about decorating, which is such a visual thing to begin with, have lots of pictures and very little text. If there is a lot of text in the book, it's usually pretty boring and hard to stay focused. Not so with this book. Yee-fan Sun's style of writing is very conversational and easy to read. The best part is that unlike other books on budget decorating or appealing to the newly free, she takes into consideration that many of us on a budget are renting and usually aren't allowed to make changes to our pads. Yee-fan provides plenty of easy, inexpensive, and temporary ways to inject personality into the cookie cutter apartments that we live in. Since she's lived all over the world on a starving student's budget, Yee-fan really knows what she's talking about.

It's a lot of reading, but if you want to give your place a huge dose of personality without blowing the budget, this is the book for you!

Great ideas for someone on a tight budget. I bought this and gave it to my cousin who is going to college. Perfect gift for the graduate... great ideas for dorms/first apartments! :)

I loved the book! There are lots of good tips and pointers, and for people like me who don't know how to do some home projects, the instructions were easy to follow and easy to use.

I ended up buying 3 copies - one for me and two to give away to friends! Totally encourage you to check this out.

This is the book I wish I'd had when I was just starting out on my own, and the book I wish I'd thought to write after moving house about 10 times since I first started college!
Yee-Fan does a great job of fitting all kinds of information into this book, and speaks in a voice that is easy to read but not patronizing to first-time renters. She's been there, done that, and wants to pass all that she's learned, good and bad, on to you!
Everyone has lived in the white cardboard-box style apartment, and signed the lease that says "no painting, no restoration, no personality." This book has a TON of ways to get around all that and really make a rental your own. Once you read this book from cover to cover, you can satisfy your need for more by culling through countless articles on the website.
I'll be buying a copy for every person I know that moves out on their own.

If you like experimental aviation, this is a must read.

Completed by Curtis Peebles after the death of Milt Thompson the story of Flying without Wings is told by a pilots pilot. Milt has the uncanny ability to mix the technical engineering side of experimental aviation and then put the reader in the pilots seat for a hair-raising ride from 40,000ft down to the ground.

Milt thompson has written a great book on the hardships of the early attempts at flying with out wings. He describes in detail how the M2F1 was designed and tested and how the program eneded with the futuristic X-24B. A great book and a must read for aviation buffs of all ages.

Lifting body research may be an esoteric subject, but is fascinating for anyone interested in aeronautics; Thompson was in the cockpit during most of the testing of the early forms, and draws an exciting picture of the high risk drama of these pioneering flights. The final chapters link the early research in the 60s with the later design and construction of the Shuttle, and the reader will understand how these "mad monk" test pilots really made the orbiter possible, by proving the validity of the core design. Finally, one interesting note is how the early testing was done with minimal funding, and a lot of do-it-yourself common sense by the teams at Edwards. Those days are certainly gone. Highly recommended if you have an interest in the field, and at least a basic understanding of the terms, concepts, and physics of flight.

The late Milt Thompson, one of the top NASA research test pilots during the glory days of flight testing at Edwards, kept an extensive diary of notes during his years of work. The book digests these notes and presents them in a very readable format that truly captures the imagination of the reader, describing a time of grassroots research and the determination of individuals at Edwards. Thompson, the pilot, and other great engineering minds, notably, Dale Reed, truly believed that there was a better way to bring spacecraft back to earth that didn't involve splashing down somewhere in a large ocean. Their efforts resulted in the construction and testing of the Lifting Bodies, giving us a body of knowledge that led to the Space Shuttle concept and will continue with NASA's newest efforts...the X-38 and Venture Star single stage to orbit concepts. The book is a must for anyone with an interest in this field of aeronautical history.

This is a very absorbing book about the giant airliners that fly today's skies, covering them from their inception, to the drawing board, last minute changes, technical information, how new ideas and technologies gained ground and their service with the airlines. The chapters are not organised by aircraft but by topic such as Stretching and Shrinking, the Operator's Role in influencing the final design, Safety Measures, Concepts and Hurdles and the Giant Jetliners of the Future. This organisation makes for a much more exciting read on a concentrated topic rather than the more boring Chapter by Aircraft type approach which is more like reading a dictionary. This is how the book "Boeing Jetliners" is organised and although that is also a good book, I prefer this one for that reason. So in the Safety chapter, you get to see how these planes introduced redundancy, early warning systems, the Propulsion Controlled Aircraft system, fatigue testing, design changes and of course, ETOPS. Loads of information for the serious commercial aircraft enthusiast in an immersive documentary that you will find hard to put down.

Nicely illustrated guide on "Giant" airliners. From the 747 to the A340. Potential variations and designs that never made it to the production line. A look forward to the "Giant" jetliners of the future. Buy this book...

This book is nicely illustrated and very informative. A must buy for any aircraft enthusiast.

This is an illustrated book with substance. If you just want some pretty pictures, get a calendar. This book gets into the hows and whys of large commercial aircraft. It meaningfully and clearly discusses flight physics and how these great aircraft are engineered. Any lay aviation buff would enjoy this book.

Giant Jetliners is the perfect book for anyone who has ever even been the least bit facinated by commercial aviation. Full of pictures and info about the most facinating things around. Worried about the future of commercial aerospace? See some of the proposed future aircraft like the MD-XX, 747-X program, Blended Wing, and the A3XX. The future is full of X's! This is a must-read for you.

I highly recommend this book above dozens of books and magazines I have looked at and/or purchased over the years. Beautiful ideas abound. Wall and window treatments range from the sublimely simple suitable for any DIY to professionals only. A visually stunning compilation of wall and window decor. A feast to assist your imagination and help you see the possibilities. Yes, I have seen some ideas before but this book pulls them together in one guide with styles ranging through traditional to contemporary and craftsman to cottage.

I have many books on window treatments and decorating ideas. This book is my FAVORITE ONE! I love BHG Windows & Walls magazine, and this book had a few I'd seen there before and hundreds more. This is actually the second one of these I bought because one of my friends loved it so much she bought my first one from me. She wasn't the last one to buy this book for themselves after seeing mine! Worth every penny and more!

Love the number of window treatments in the book. I was looking for some ideas that weren't too crafty or off-the-wall but different. I also didn't want a lot of technical detail on how to make the coverings, but I needed enough to be able to explain it to a seamstress.

this book is a great help to my clients
the visual is so important in the window treatment field
the photo are crisp and easy to see

Great Windows & Walls Collection has hundreds of pictures; this is a spectacular book that will help you create a gorgeous personal sanctuary with its ideas of furnishing, window treatment and wall finishes. This is an excellent book for inspiration, regardless of your own personal style.

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.

This is the best book on the HO229 from the technical perspective. I like the detailled technical drawings. You could almost start building a Ho229 using these!

Shepelev & Ottens make great attempt at making a lot from very little actual information,interviews with people who where there, great photos, excellent diagrams but the brothers Horten remain an enigma.

I've been in love with the Horten 229 since the first time I saw a picture of it. This book is packed with photos and technical drawings. It covers the whole development of the plane. Recommended!

... and just the right amount of writing - this book has got the mix right.
Researching this little known family of aircraft that must have taken the writers years to research, and not to be content with that, the authors uncovered the Dunne D.5, a British WW1 era tailless swept wing biplane -in the introduction ... an even more obscure aircraft.
No mention of the Northrop wings in there, so this is history of European flying wings.
The main driver was for drag reduction and maximising the range of the aircraft not stealth.
If you like unusual aircraft you should buy this.

I've been fascinated since I saw the first pictures of the Horten jet powered, wooden, flying wing from the Smithsonian collection. The stories I heard was that this was a deliberate attempt on the German's part to build a 'stealth' fighter way back at the end of the Second World War. But there has been very little published about the plane. Therefore I was delighted to find this book that covers this plane in great detail.

Clearly the plane was far ahead of its time, indeed, its design looks so much like the canceled A-12 from McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics that it's uncanny.

In reading the book, the authors make it clear that the Horten brothers were thinking of aerodynamics and scarcity of materials rather than stealth when they designed the plane. The book points out that the wooden skin of the plane would basically have been invisible to radar, but the metal frame underneath the wood would still reflect radar waves. Designers simply didn't know enough about radar at the time.

The modern American flying wings such as the B-2 bomber are stable only because of sophisticated computer controls. The book reports similar problems with the Horten plane. This might well have prevented its use for its intended use as a fighter, but we'll never know.

The authors have collected an amazing amount of information and a large number of photographs that I don't believe have been published before.

Typical of its kind with lots of great photos of fabulous makeovers, requiring extensive remodeling and an architect. But it does have some concrete ideas that push it up a notch over the competition.

We purchased this book hoping to find new ideas to fit our needs. It was obvious the authors researched the material at length and offered a variety of solutions that could be adaptable to any lifestyle. Lots of illustrations which helps visualization. We are able to incorporate many of the suggestions in this book to our remodeling projects. Now the hard part - tackling the hammer and nails.

When I picked up this book, I thought it was for empty nesters and retirees who wanted to downsize or "undecorate" the kids out of their former rooms. Not so! These homes are for people who have lots of living and big plans for themselves. There are only a couple of places I would call "retirement" homes. The rest include homes with offices to make work life go along with home life,homes with studios for the fulfillment of dreams and even homes with guest wings and guest houses to welcome whole troops of extended family. Absolutely brimming with ideas.

What an outstanding resource for empty-nesters looking to redefine their lives! The house is yours again, what do you want to do with it for the second-half of your life? I can't wait until the last child leaves so I can put so many of these examples to use. Well, I'll enjoy the time left and just use it to plan. The attractive photo of Todd Lawson is an added benefit.

I purchased this book for my parents who are planning on building. They absolutely loved it! It has lots of great ideas.

I am always looking for ways to improve my gardening and this book offers excellent instructions on building several different types of greenhouses.

I finally "sprang" for this book because I read a good review on a garden club website. It is a wonderful book on all aspects of greenhouse design. I am sure glad I spent this money before we started spending the serious money, and hard work, on the real thing.

If you're operating a small or a LARGE greenhouse - this will be your "bible"...... for operation.

I have 2 copies! In the house and greenhouse.

Any who would build a greenhouse will find HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE: DESIGNS AND PLANS TO MEET YOUR GROWING NEEDS offers up the hope of year-round gardening as it explores a range of greenhouse designs and options, from simple cold frames to elaborate freestanding tropical constructions. Chapters cover basic freestanding and extension designs for greenhouses, include lean-tos and garden shed blends, and discuss not only construction of independent structures, but how to incorporate them into an existing home. From floor to ceiling options, HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE covers it all, includes design tips and basic plans, and is a pick for any library strong in homeowner's or gardener's construction references.

I originally bought this because I am thinking about making a greenhouse. The book is very comprehensive with lots of drawings and pictures. It was well worth the investment.

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.