Book Description
Kaari Meng’s first-hand knowledge of what makes a beautiful, French-inspired home comes from years of combing French flea markets for unique treasures. Her popular shop, French General, offers handpicked linens and collectibles from her yearly visits to the south of France, plus an array of products to awaken the senses, from bath and laundry potions to ribbons, beads, and baubles. Here, she distills her much sought-after sensibility into 40 charming projects that capture the sights, scents, and textures of the French countryside. They include lavender sachets, lovely etched glasses, pillows, covered hangers, French potting boxes, and herbal lotions.
A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Every page is a treasure!!.......2007-08-18
I read this book from first page to last right after I opened it from the mail. It is filled with inspiration, helpful hints, decorating ideas, and an archive of full colored images that you can scan into your computer and use yourself. I love how she does not force her shop onto the reader, she states that you can find the items that she is explaining at flea markets and antique sales all over the world. I would rate this book 5 stars, for helpful insight into creating a "french inspired home." Cant wait for the next one!!
Disappointed.......2007-08-08
I must say I was disappointed in the book. I thought that it would have been more ideas of what furniture and fabrics to use to create a French inspired looking home.
I am in the processing of trying to create a French looking kitchen and I had hoped that would be inspiring.
But unfortunately for me it wasn't.
Defining What Is French Decorating or a French Home.......2007-06-12
I would have given this book 3-stars, if I hadn't read the 5-star view of C Albers. I realize that perhaps I didn't read the fine print regarding the book's description. Based on the title "French-Inspired Home" with French General -- who I don't know, I expected a book with a greater focus on rooms (a suggestion also made by Albers). In fact it is essentially a vintage crafts book with a French flavor.
I've visited Paris and the south of France well over 250 times on business and pleasure, and this particular style of French decorating is not prevalent. In fact, the most inspiring to me aspect of French decorating is the mix of old and new, ornate and clean modern. I spent two nights at the Louvre in Jan. 07 and marveled that only the French would be flashing modern blue lights on a heap (truly) of ancient Greek and Roman columns, with modern dancers and acid jazz playing to create a "new" mood for ancient art. THIS is French imagination at its best.
The photos in this book, while lovely, are stylized in a very old-fashioned attitude . . . great-grandmother's attic. Most of us don't live this way and what we appreciate are touches of these special memories, not an entire house full of them. Who has time to dust. Just kidding. Some of the bath projects look like easy pampering to make for yourself or special gifts to create.
In summary, if you know French General, then I would follow the Alber's review and 5-star recommendation. If you are expecting a sophisticated book of French home and country decorating, this is not it. Like me, you will be disappointed. A more descriptive and informative title would have saved me the money.
Bravo!.......2007-05-29
Charming book brimming with inspiration - well done! The photography is wonderful! Geared to encourage shoppers to visit Meng's store (brick & morter and on-line), you'll want to incorporate all of her ideas. Lots of how-to's. Meng's creativity and ideas are not just crafty - she looks to Europe for clues to create a relaxed French life. C'est tres bonne.
The French-Inspired Home.......2007-05-09
If you are looking for pictures of French decorated homes this is not the book you want. This was more like a craft book on how to make things for the French home. If thats what you are looking for it is a good book, I wasn't. If you want pictures and ideas buy Charles Faudree's Country French Living.
Book Description
From House Beautiful comes a worthy addition to any decorator's library--a stylish guide on making books a part of your home décor.
Opening the pages of a book can instantly carry you off to another world. But did you realize that, open or closed, books can also make your real world--your home--more fabulous? As legendary designer Billy Baldwin pointed out, they're “the best decoration,” capable of bringing incredible warmth, color, and character to a room. From grand bookcases in home libraries to casual stacks artfully arrayed on chairs, House Beautiful presents countless eye-catching ideas for displaying and arranging your hardcovers, paperbacks, encyclopedias, and even valuable first editions. Useful tips shed light on how to organize a large collection; situate bookcases in the room for the best effect; and make the most of books' appealing visual and tactile qualities. From traditional interpretations to contemporary visions--such as putting a book on a pedestal as an objet d'art--these concepts write a new page in design.
A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2007-08-13
This book shows some stunning rooms beautifully decorated with books. For everyone who loves books and loves decorating it is full of inspiration and ideas.
Books or Elegant Rooms?.......2007-04-12
I sent the book back to Amazon. Was disappointed in it. I expected it to be more about books and less about elegant rooms to put them in. A few books put on a chair or on a table or, obviously, in a bookcase really isn't that imaginative. A good magazine showing displays of collectibles including books does a better job as far as I'm concerned.
what to do with all those books.......2007-03-03
When you have 6000 books and counting, it is a continuing challenge to find ways of storing, shelving and displaying them without looking like you've taken up residence in a public library.
"Decorating With Books" is not my favourite book on this subject. (I preferred "At Home With Books" by Ellis, Seebohm and Sykes for the sheer volume - no pun intended -- of books shown in the illustrations). Nevertheless, "Decorating With Books" is a very practical choice for many book owners and is chock full of interesting ideas for incorporating your collection into your décor.
Who knew that a stack of books could double as a bedside table as well as bedtime reading, or that leaving piles of books on the tables and on the floor would function as design elements?
Works for me!
A child could have "written" this book.......2007-02-28
Photo book featuring home libraries and - shock - books stacked throughout homes! Five year olds decorate like this when you tell them to put their books away. No original ideas or actual creativity to be found. There are other books on this subject, search Amazon for them. I suggest "Living with Books" by Alan Powers.
Decorating with Books.......2007-01-04
I love this book. My husband and I are avid readers and enjoy collecting books. We have a lot, to put it mildly. This book gave me many ideas for decorating our home to showcase our books. There are tons of pictures so in addition to being useful, it is just enjoyable to leaf through the pages. I would think that anyone with even a small home library would really enjoy this book.
Book Description
From classic swags to minimalist breaths of muslin, window coverings are no longer simply a way to keep out the sun; they're the subtle accent that can make or break the decor of a room. THE NEW CURTAIN BOOK is an innovative decorating guide filled with practical information and technical advice from the top curtain and blind makers. In what is part reference book, part showcase, Hoppen has consulted with the world's foremost interior designers. In exclusive interviews, they discuss their inspirations, the origin of their ideas, how and why they choose fabrics, and what they see as future trends. Lush full-color photographs--400 in all--taken by Fritz von der Schulenberg highlight each designer's work, creating a master portfolio of window-covering style. THE NEW CURTAIN BOOK integrates stunning inspiration, in a range of styles from Grand Baroque to elegant contemporary, with invaluable advice from design experts to make this a truly helpful guide.
Customer Reviews:
A master class from the masters of design.......2007-09-09
This is an inspirational book that is tailored to a decorator, designer or design enthusiast. It contains the views and insights from some of the worlds leading international designers. As the cover states, this is a MASTER CLASS, it is more about the philosophy of decoration and how window treatments compliment good design rather then a step by step guide for the do-it-yourselfer. Which I personally found very, very refreshing. Fabulous photogaphy and styling, with a broad cross-section of styles and a wonderful eye for detail.
All inspiration.......2007-09-03
It's true--"Master Classes" could throw you off. It isn't a how-to book. Sunset's Curtains and Draperies book is the best at that--very nitty gritty. This is a book of gorgeous photos from brilliant designers that talks about what your window treatments should do for your home. I've gotten it from the library and am planning to purchase it bc the quality and taste is superior (and my house is small and pretty plain).
Not for your average home........2007-01-16
I was looking for a book that had some practical ideas for the average home. The ideas in this book were pretty elaborate and very pricy. There was not one picture in this book that remotely resembled a room in my house. If you have degree in interior design and live on Park Ave you will probably like this book. But if you fit that description you probably have a designer on speed dial and would not need the book at all.
Review of The New Curtain Book . . ........2006-08-15
This book contains many ideas for curtains and drapes grouped in a logical order. As a drapery maker, I found it useful as an idea book for clients, but not as useful for the do-it-yourself at home sewer. I agreed with most points in the book, but there were some ideas that I did not agree with, as if it were written by someone who had not actually sewn the draperies. It had many examples of different fabrics, and, thus, was very colorful. Great for some one in my line of work, but probably not as practical for someone who wishes to sew some drapes for her/himself.
Very pleased.......2006-05-28
This book is amazing! Its basically a trend book, fabulous ideas, very well presented in beautiful enviroments. I get inspired every time I look at it.
Book Description
Award-winning fiber artist Mary Hettmansperger reveals the secrets of using traditional basketry techniques to create 28 striking pieces of jewelry. It's a new and exciting approach that yields remarkable results--even for beginners. She covers four basic procedures--plaiting, knotting, looping, and twining--and incorporates materials such as copper, colorful wire, natural fibers, even bottle tops and bark. The array of projects includes soft-fiber necklaces as well as one made from looped linen over a forged silver mold: small retro pins, bright and colorful in twined pattern shaped; and a variety of pieces made from wire twisted with beads. There's no other book like it, and it's sure to appeal to a diverse range of crafters.
Customer Reviews:
New way of thinking.............2007-08-27
I am primarily a jewelry artist, and wanted to incorporate weaving techniques into my work. This book is amazing! I was fortunate enough to be able to take a class from Mary, and found that the illustrations and directions made for perfect "notes" from the class. Don't be intimidated by the techniques..... they're very simple and easy to follow. The trick is to practice the technique and then determine how to incorporate it into YOUR work with your imagination! LOVE the book!
A really eclectic selection of materials.......2007-07-12
Before I read this book, I had not considered how basketry techniques and materials might be applied to jewelry. Wire, metal sheets, paper and found objects are also used. Very good illustrations and a nice selection of projects. This book really expanded my horizons.
Inspires to using new techniques.......2007-06-12
I bought this book after having it recommended to me. And I'm not disappointed. To be true, it was not exactly what I thought it would be. But I did enjoy it. I've learnt many new techniques and enjoy the mix of metal and fiber.
Somewhat more than half the project use fiber, including raffia and black ash etc, and the rest wire. The projects, in my opinion, are not as interesting as the techniques used. To me this is a book on techniques, not on designs. I most probably won't try any of the specific projects in the book. Although they are fairly good examples of what can be made in the line of woven jewelry. There is also a good mix of styles being used so while some projects feel a bit similar, there's still enough variation to show different ways of using the same technique.
But the lack of inspirational designs in the project part is compensated by the great gallery in the end of the book. Approximatly 15 metal wire and 12 fiber projects are featured. And as the main part of the book inspires the use of textile techniques, the gallery gives inspiration in the process of going from technique to an actual piece of jewelry. And hopefully also in the process of finding your own style.
You'll have to use your imagination.......2007-06-08
The photo on the cover of this book is beautiful. I am searching for innovative techniques to incorporate into my textile designs and art quilts. I'm not at all interested in the specific projects illustrated in the book, however I was inspired by some of the techniqes. If you are an artist who likes to work in mixed media, then this book will serve you well. If you're coming to the table with your own sense of curiousity & adventure and you just need to see some fresh takes...This book will get the creative juices flowing.
Fabulous Woven Jewelry: Plaiting, Coiling, Knotting, Looping & Twining with Fiber & Metal.......2007-05-14
Nice book but very simplistic. More for the beginner.
Book Description
This beautiful book makes the lushness and luxury of two of today's most acclaimed interior designers accessible and practical for readers at home. With clients from Vera Wang to Tina Turner singing their praises, Stephen Sills and James Huniford, of Sills Huniford Associates, have written the ultimate guide to creating a beautiful home. This book brings the luxury and sensuality of Sills Huniford's signature style to a practical level, addressing concerns like integrating technology into the home, devising the most flexible floor plan, and getting the most out of a small space and modest budget. Every aspect of style is addressed in clear language detailing the basic lessons of design. Their unmatched understanding of atmosphere, color, and design is brought to life in stunning and never-before-seen color photographs that prove both inspiring and practical. Written by Michael Boodro, a former editor at Vogue and current editor for the New York Times Magazine style section, DWELLINGS is certain to become a touchstone for a generation that is searching for a new level of style and sophistication in the way they live.
Customer Reviews:
"Shallow & Vacant" doesn't begin to describe it .......2006-04-21
These designers have a great gimmick going. Basically, they travel around the world, hoarding antiques, ship them back to NYC and have cheap Mexican labour refinish them. They then charge foolish, rich clients (the ONLY people they'll work for) exorbitant prices for shoddily refinished junk. The reason the book seems "shallow & vacant" is because it's a direct reflection of the designer's personalities. Their designs are more stage settings than ones for living in. They manage to pull the wool over most clients eyes, but, they have been sued when their scheme was discovered and had to drastically lower their prices as compensation. So, if empty, weirdly coloured interiors don't make you vomit, then buy this book!
A must have .......2006-03-23
This is a divine book.
Sills and Huniford show in the pages of this book that they are America's premier decorators. Thier talent is so great and the understanding of how interiors can be elegant, refined, well edited and still very livable are beautifully portrayed in this pages. To have this as a reference and a cronicle of thier work is a treasure. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Don't listen to other reviews.............2006-01-06
This book is great!! From the text you actually learn something rather than just a bunch of boring pictures. The pictures are annotated with the designers comments- you can actually LEARN things from this book. It's not a pretty coffee table book ( thank god, do we really need another one of those?! ) but one which you can actually learns secrets to great design. One step above the beginers level. I would highly recommend this book!
size is not important.......2005-04-07
Yes, many photos are small. However, all photos are beautiful. If you want to upholster your own headboard or want new and fascinating uses for MDF, look elsewhere. Maybe I am biased -- I don't read (or look at) decorating books to learn how to decorate. I look at them for color, balance, and proportion. Sure, there are ideas here. Subtle ideas. Quiet ideas. Lovely ideas. Not all rooms of color are orange (will this trend end)! Think of grey, watery blues, nut browns! Trading places does not tread here. As far as no dust cover, who needs it? I pet my book often. Not merely a decorating book, this is an art book. Enjoy! Don't just learn how to lay tile.
I just HAD to add my two cents' worth, because..........2005-03-05
I was amazed by the polarity of the reviews for this book -- always a good sign, as long as the lengthier reviews are the negative ones. Having bought a copy for resale, the reviews below motivated me to heavily skim it, and here's the fat skinny as I see it.
These guys really are gifted professionals, whose approach melds formal principle with intuitive insight. Their advice taken piecemeal may read like mostly conventional wisdom, but there is a LOT of it packed into a small space. And their "writing about themselves" (hard to avoid, really) is how you get the Be-Here-Now feel of their process. This personal, casebook approach adds considerable vitality to the link between the layered and revealing text and the superbly composed interior photos.
No, the latter are NOT huge -- discernment is a mark of these designers, and the medium is as much the message here as with the design examples and text. The real learning comes Zen-like, in the space between the words and images -- that's why some readers "get it" and others (who tend to want concrete "how to" or big, flashy pix and divertingly original text) don't. Check out a library copy if you're in doubt as to whether you're this book's kind of person. Or just take the plunge, get humble and patient, and see what -- and how -- you can learn....
On the text: sure, we all know that the floor is the foundation of any room, furniture should be suitable, luxurious bathrooms will pamper you, wall surfaces offer lots of possibilities, and colors should harmonize but need not match. But then you come upon nuggets of concentrated utility, like their three (primordial) strategies for the use of color, and such interesting observations as, "When color is integral to the material -- stone, wood, metal -- it registers less strongly".
The authors' offbeat perspective surfaces here and there like a thread in a tapestry. They liken the floor to the "face" of a room -- then survey ten classic flooring materials in a sentence, list eight functions that floor designs can serve in two more, and rattle off a dozen points of practical wisdom about carpets -- all this being reflected in the accompanying pictures. You don't read this book so much as you mine it.
The use of many transitional pages with nothing but large-scripted aphorisms and chapter titles IS a tad on the indulgent side, but even here the whole can be more than the sum of the parts. "A room's function should be paramount in determining the way it looks" (4: Living in a Room), yet "The more defined a room's function is, the harder it can be to design" (8: Functional Spaces). "Be Here Now", gentle acolytes -- these dividers are really connectors as well, functioning on the rebound as subsumers of more practical wisdom than is apparent until you've done your homework. Read that text and get your eyeballs into those pix for a couple of iterations, grok the "tell `em then show `em" paradigm in play, and go to school on these guys!
In sum, "editing, function and order" are as masterfully displayed in every aspect of the layout as they are demonstrated to be essential to the design of a room. The book is multi-dimensionally gorgeous, inside and out -- quite the bonus, really (check out the super-classic "Billy Baldwin Decorates" by way of comparison, and see what I mean). You can display this coffee table gem with pride, for its fascinating Persian-Miniature style photos, discussion-provoking koan/cliches, sheer textural delight to the eye and hand, and for the delectation of your subtler friends....
Average customer rating:
- At Home with Books - How Booklovers live with and Care for their Libraries.
- More than a coffee table book
- One of my favorite "Books about Books"
- Books or looks?
- Come in and look at my books...
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At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries
Estelle Ellis , and
Caroline Seebohm
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Book Collecting
| Books & Reading
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Library & Information Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Decorating with Books (House Beautiful)
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The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
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Living with Books
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A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books
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A Passion for Books : A Book Lover's Treasury of Stories, Essays, Humor, Love and Lists on Collecting, Reading, Borrowing, Lending, Caring for, and Appreciating Books
ASIN: 0517595001
Release Date: 1995-10-31 |
Amazon.com
For the bibliophile anxious to enhance the home library, At Home with Books presents both practical advice and divine inspiration. Chapters on starting a collection, organizing the library, and caring for books offer useful information on categorizing, editing, storage, and space-saving--"break down the books into categories by subject matter ... and compare their quantities to the available shelf space. If necessary, measure. Consider the book's height as well as its width. You may need to adjust your shelves to optimize your space." "Library Lighting," "The Art of the Bookshelf," and "Library Ladders" further encourage collectors to create a personal space suitable for its intended purpose, yet reflective of one's passion--"shelf lighting can draw attention to cherished objects and volumes; track lights can highlight certain areas of your room." Interspersed throughout these highly helpful chapters are interviews with noteworthy bibliophiles, including Keith Richards, Loren and Frances Rothschild, Bill Blass, and Paul Getty, whose "literary lairs"--ranging from the classic book-lined walls to books in the kitchen and the bathroom--are beautifully photographed, making At Home with Books not only a valuable resource for the dedicated collector, but a beautiful addition to any collection.
Book Description
At Home with Books is a visual delight, a helpful resource, and an inspiration for every bibliophile with a growing home library. Includes professional advice on editing and categorizing your library; caring for your books; preserving, restoring, and storing rare books; finding out-of-print books; and choosing furniture, lighting, and shelving.
Full-color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
At Home with Books - How Booklovers live with and Care for their Libraries........2007-05-08
I found this book a delightful and easy read and a great addition to my library. Every bibliophile should have a copy if only to read how others obtain so much enjoyment from their collections. I particularly liked Victor Niederhoffer's comment "I could spend a lifetime in this room and not be bored". I agree.
More than a coffee table book.......2007-05-04
I really enjoyed this book. I expected to use it primarily to get ideas for my own library. As I was browsing it, however, a couple of articles caught my eye and I started reading more. Before I knew it, I was curled up in bed reading it clear-through. It has interesting articles about different people's libraries, their collections, and a few about collecting in general. Mix in a little bit of history on books and collecting and you have one enjoyable book.
Some of the other reviews criticize this book because it seems to focus on the aesthetics of books. I must say that I agree that a library is more than how they look but that is certainly part of it - particularly in a coffee table book about home libraries. After all, I do not think that anyone would like to see photos of my aunt's double wide full of tens of thousands of paper-backs.
So the library of books all covered with white bindings may not be my taste or yours, but it is the celebration of these differences that makes this book interesting and compelling. My only complaint is that I would have liked to seen a few more average-Joe home libraries.
One of my favorite "Books about Books".......2007-02-22
This is a wonderful book for book lovers. It's primary purpose is to show how people (mostly living now) that love books chose to live with them. That is a theme throughout all the "articles". The folks profiled in this book live with their books. They surround themselves with them. Just my style!
This book has gorgeous photographs of current libraries and homes turned into "libraries" (basically just homes crammed with books so that every room has thousands). It also has short, but interesting profiles of the the booklovers who's libraries are photographed. The book is worth it for the pictures, but reading about others who love books, and learning about how they related to books and live with them is fascinating as well. Finally, the book also contains pretty good general informatin related to the care and appreciation of books. In many cases, the book even provides lists of companies that provide needed accessories, services, and tools (like covers, book repair, library ladders, etc.).
To pick a few nits: the information on book care is pretty basic, and there is little information on how an "average" book lover without unlimited financial means can build a library and care for books. The lists of information is necessarily dated, as well, but I think still worth inclusion. My biggest complaint is that there seemed to be a much larger percentage of "booklovers" profiled that were artists. The problem with that is that I am a booklover for the books themselves, not the artistic elements of the books (covers, illumination, artwork, etc.). So I didn't relate to as many of the people in the book as I wanted, because they related to books in a different way than I did - and that was the majority of people profiled. There was even one person who collected primarily journals and magazines, and had them all bound in white to match the decor of the room. For me, it's about the BOOKS! NOT about using books as an accessory for decoration.
All that being said, however, this is a book I go back to time and time again. For the pictures, for just immersing myself in text that extols books and their virtues like I do, and for the occasional refresher on book care and tending. This is book is a great general-purpose coffee table book and a MUST for bibliophiles!
Books or looks?.......2007-02-19
This is the same review I posted concerning the paperback edition; in fact I own the hardback, but the books' contents are the same. Only two stars here because the editors did not even bother to make an attractive binding: therefore, the hardback is not a good buy if you insist in having the book.
Having read some of the raving reviews here, and having read the book and possessing a very large library myself, I must say I was somewhat dismayed by the book's contents. The authors seem to try to illustrate many different kinds of libraries, studies and living rooms that function as libraries. This is all right, indeed, this is exactly what I expected. The only trouble is the choice.
Many of the photographed houses seem to have many books but not great book readers. The texts, themselves, give that impression. Also, why were almost only famous people's houses pictured - some of them almost without books at all? The house of a real bookworm is a very different thing from most of the pictured libraries.
If I may put it this way, I would have liked more emphases on books and less on looks. For instance, it is suggested that one might classify books by colour. For anyone that actually uses a library this is almost insulting. Other kind of advice ought to be given: what is the right height of a shelf, what are the more or less standard measures of books, and why this matters (because of space and aesthetic reasons).
Finally, a real book lover cares about bindings, first editions, and typefaces. There is not a single word about the actual "feel" of a book.
Perhaps this is just a very personal opinion. But, having lived with books all my life, I felt this book to be rather superficial. It does not delve into what a book is to its reader or how a book ages, what is different in han-dling incunabula, a Plantin book, a 19th Century small octavo or a modern hardcover or paperback.
I will not say that there were not one or two libraries with which I empathized. I did, in two or perhaps three cases. But the rest seemed about people showing their books off.
Come in and look at my books..........2006-11-15
For what looks like one's standard coffee-table book, this is so much more. The authors present us with lavish colour photographs and intelligent commentary on a wide selection of private libraries from the homes of book collectors from different walks of life - from the scholar, to the English aristocrat, to the Rock musician. For one who loves books and book collections, it is a treat to be able to step into the homes of serious, passionate book lovers and learn how they live with their books. There are lots of ideas here for arranging one's books and the room(s) in which they are kept; and I felt inspired simply to buy books - often I found myself straining to decipher some of the book titles in the various collections, often tantalizingly just out of focus. The authors help the initiate by providing essays on book care and storage issues, and at the back there is a useful guide (mainly for U.S. and U.K. readers) to booksellers, bookfairs, great libraries, stores that cater for library furniture needs, and so on.
Book Description
Whether you're toying with selling a few of your favorite digital photos or hoping to go completely professional, you need to read this comprehensive analysis of the business. It's utterly realistic about what to expect and how to gauge your own aptitude for making it in this highly competitive arena. The author, himself the owner of an extremely successful online stock photography company, begins by debunking misconceptions and defining the various possibilities open to photographers so they can pinpoint a compatible business model. An overview examines the different types of equipment and how they increase sales potential, and you're also given the lowdown on image management, advice on dealing with legal issues, ideas for establishing an online presence, and guidance on identifying buyers for your product.
Customer Reviews:
Great for a non-pro.......2007-06-06
I'm not sure what the two other reviewers were thinking when they gave this two stars, this book is awesome. Surely, if you're already making money at this, the book may not be too useful to you, but if you're thinking of getting started and don't know how to get a foot in the door, this book is great. It goes over the major issues in a very plain, straightforward way. It talks about everything from equipment to software to business models, to advice about taking good pictures. Surely, the book can't tell you "sell your pictures on this site" or "talk to this person if you want to open a gallery" but it gives you a good framework for understanding the business, what area is right for you to target your photo sales, etc.
The writing is easy to read and digest. The author has a funny sense of humor, but unlike one of the other reviewers, I don't think he's cocky at all.
It would have been nice if the other reviewers suggested a BETTER book than this one on the same subject, because I haven't found a better one.
Disappointing lack of useful information.......2007-04-13
On the surface of it, this book seemed to cover what I was looking for, but it only took me 5 min after receiving it to realize that it would not be very useful. The format is chatty and rather uninformative and states mostly the obvious, like the fact that you can make money by selling prints, or pictures on the internet, but without much actual information on how to do so. The book does contain a lot of nice pictures (presumably by the author), but the print quality is actually surprisingly poor for a photography book.
Fairly informative, not quite what I was looking for.......2007-04-06
From the cover and a quick glances at some of the colorful photo filled chapters, this book seem promising at first. But the cliched saying of never judge a book by its cover has taken its toll. This book provides marginal advice on how to -potentially- make a profit from the wonderful world of digital photography, however, it fails to give any real world working model on how this can be accomplished.
Most of the marginally useful advices and sales model, i.e. pricing structure on stock photos, are based on the author's own personal preference and experience, rather than taking into account the wide breadth of pricing methods that exist in the real world of photography.
This is a great book for amateurs that are trying to break into the business of selling their prints from an outline or a strict table-of-content perspective of the available methods and channels of distribution to target, e.g. card stock, stock photo, art fairs, etc.
Most of topics cover seem to be more 'theoretical' than actual real-world hands down information and the author seems to expend more time, energy and care in expressing his disdain (with a condescending overtone, might I add) toward enthusiastic amateurs that aim to make it big and quick. His favorite recurring adjectives for such amateurs includes, but certainly are not limited to: prima donnas, pretentious, and pretend aficionado. Heller may be a [self-aggrandizing] professional photographer, but anyone with such high caliber should be more helpful, than pompous or supercilious. Remember Heller, you were an amateur at one point too.
Further more, Heller likes to take a seemingly interesting idea, get your hopes up and then tell you why you shouldn't pursue it because the odds are just too high against you.
Bottomline: If you are serious about licensing your photographs for use, then this book does not really cover the core foundations that you need to get your feet wet. On the otherhand, if you want to take a look at what you can do to -potentially- make a profit from your hobby, then this book basically gives you an -general- idea.
I'd give this book a 1-star for the lack of usable information and the author's cockiness, but it does contain some interesting theories and sales model to warrant a 2-star rating.
Well worth the money and the wait!!.......2006-02-17
Dan Heller has been sharing his insights and experience on his web site for some time. Now, this book has captured just that insight and experience in one, easy to read volume. For anyone who is thinking about making photography their livelihood or for amateurs who are interesting in what it takes to succeed, this book is a goldmine of information.
Book Description
In recent years, mid-century modern furniture, glass, ceramics, and textiles have become hugely popular among those who appreciate the stylish contribution these pieces make to the contemporary home. Modern Retro will inspire you to create a look that combines modern classics by such visionaries as the Eameses, Bertoia, and Aalto with thrift-store finds and the best contemporary design. Created by modern classics dealer Andrew Weaving and design commentator Neil Bingham, with photography by Andrew Wood, Modern Retro is not about slavishly recreating a period feel. Instead, it shows how to take the best designs of the 1920s through 1970s and use them throughout your home in a relaxed and individual way, allowing you to make the most of the gloriously eclectic forms, colors, and patterns available.
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring and accessible.......2002-06-14
Since I already have a few 50-60's modern pieces in my home, I purchased this book to give me a better idea of what other items were out there. The designs have great style, but seem totally achievable. Using this book as a guide and source of inspiration you could decorate your home in a comfortable yet stylish manner. Some of the pieces they show are pricey, while others are probably inexpensive flea market finds. The author gives you enough information that you could go out into the flea markets and antique/second hand shops and make some sound purchase. It is a shame the book is less than 200 pages. I would have loved to see more.
Expensive style without the costs!.......2001-12-30
This book is amazing. It teaches you to create a contemporary looking home, without the outrageous costs of designer furnishings. It tells you what to look for at thrift stores, and how to use what you already have. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone even just a little bit interested in design! It's truly great.
Inspirational book.......2000-11-15
For a book on home furnishings, this book certainly contains enough good pictures to get you inspired. It is also well researched and written and actually covers quite a lot of ground inspite of its rather small size at 144 pages. In fact, this book is so good, I only wish there was a bigger version of it, with even more wonderful examples of lovely interiors filled with retro furniture. This book covers interior styles from the Art Deco period to the 1970s. It does mention a little of the famous designers such as Noguchi, Eames, Nelson, etc., but its primary purpose is to teach you about how to achieve the modern retro look, with discussions on living rooms, kitchens, work rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, furniture, lighting and accessories. What I find particularly useful is the list of retailers specializing in original pieces of furniture, a list of retailers and manufacturers of modern re-issues, and a list of architects and designers whose work had been featured in the book. Be warned though, that the list consists mostly of companies in the United Kingdom. This book is definitely a good buy for enthusiasts of retro furniture.
Customer Reviews:
Sunset Tile book.......2007-08-26
Excellent and clear as all Sunset books are.Very good explanations and directions for a novice.
Book Description
Everyone has books—but most people simply put them on a shelf, neglecting more creative ways to make their treasures an integral part of the interior design. Alan Powers’ witty, elegant guide to showcasing your precious volumes will change all that. Going room to room, from kitchens to hallways, he reveals inspirational ways that books can create character in the home. Stunningly photographed images from around the world display large-scale libraries, as well as such ingenious space-saving devices as enclosed book lofts; shelves cleverly tucked into stairways; and narrow wall-mounted boarding that fits snugly behind a chair. There’s advice on caring for the volumes, technical hints on planning and building bookshelves, and practical, detailed projects. Special double-page features cover such topics as designer solutions and constructing furniture out of books.
Customer Reviews:
Living With Books.......2006-01-31
Lots of design information on home decorating with books. If floor space is being taken over by your collection of books and magazines, here is a book packed with creative book storage and display ideas for every room in the house including the bathroom. From "Design Matters" in Oregon Home, "There are options for the maximalists (walls covered floor-to-ceiling with books of all shapes) and minimalists (neatly piled art books as mantelpieces) in us all." So if you are a big-time book collector or just looking to stash your cookbooks, this book is inspiring.
Just what the title says..........2004-09-06
I'm shocked amd confused by the negative reviews I see here. This is a fabulous photo book. Even if you don't like how others seem to live with/use their books, you have to respect their ingenuity and funky designs. Some are quite sloppy, lol. This will get you thinking about how you can use books as decor and even furniture. This is far from boring, whereas another reviewer mentioned the Ellis book At Home With Books, which I thought was just AWFUL, a total snooze. I've never returned a book to a library so quickly! I was so impressed with LIVING WITH BOOKS that I added it to my wish list...and will be purchasing it today.
disappointing.......2004-01-27
I had high hopes because I love reading about books, but this one was disappointing. I originally gave it three stars for the photos, which are worth looking at, but the text it pretty awful -- a serious drawback in a book aimed at compulsive book collectors. I took off one whole star specifically for a line that says something like, "It doesn't matter if books access is difficult, as long as it isn't completely impossible." Doesn't matter to whom? It does to this reader. I reread. I browse nostalgic favorites. I like to handle my books, and I need to be able to get to them. Also, a substantial number of the storage systems shown appear to be concerned more with style than with storage -- I didn't mind the coffee table constructed of books layered with glass, as those were old design catalogs and the whole was sort of a pun, but the grid system and a few other types of shelves that only contained a book or two here and there as placed by a decorator is really not my idea of living with books. Get this if you want pretty pictures. If you're really interested in books themselves and how they are stored, try Henry Petroski's The Book and the Bookshelf instead.
pretty interesting.......2003-05-01
This is more of a coffe table book. It's full of interesting photographs of, what else, books. The pictures show books incorporated into interesting architecture, unique shelving and storage for books, home libraries and offices, etc. The text offers advice and commentary on displaying and storing books in practical, unique, and interesting ways. If you're a bookworm and/or collect lots of books, you would enjoy paging through Living With Books.
Books in their natural habitats . . ........2000-11-29
I have a feeling the previous reviewers were expecting a how-to book of home construction projects. Actually this is more of a tour guide. It's fascinating to discover the many creative, ingenious, and very original ways architects and ordinary booklovers have found to store books, display them, and enjoy being in their presence. Face it -- one never has enough bookshelves. And some of these homes are definitely masquerading as libraries! Here are bookshelves up under the eaves of an older house, or installed over the doorways in the hall, or built into closets and cupboards and under kitchen counters. Others are freestanding on metal shelves and poles and rigged like a ship's masts. There are small libraries built into the landings of staircases and others that cover entire walls of bedrooms. Some are two tiers deep, with the front one moving sideways on rollers. Others share space with lamps, TV sets, telephones, clocks, computers, ancient artifacts, photographs, and knick-knacks. And the one thing all the arrangements depicted in this book have in common is, none of them -- even the most attractively arranged -- are just for show. One look at the worn covers and frayed jackets tells you these books are the constant companions of their owners.
Books:
- The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906: How San Francisco Nearly Destroyed Itself
- The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: Automatic Pistols (Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly)
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes (Klutz)
- The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
- The Norton Sampler, Sixth Edition
- The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #37 (Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide)
- The Official Price Guide to Collector Plates: Seventh Edition (Official Price Guide to Collector Plates)
- The Pipe Fitters Blue Book
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Taggerung
- Maple Computer Guide for Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- Granite Bay, Inc. Level One CD-ROM Practice Set
- Chasing Cezanne: A Novel
Pretty Little Things: Collage Jewelry, Trinkets, Keepsakes
Romantic Home Sewing: Cottage-Style Projects to Stitch for the Home
Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women
Simple Sewing with a French Twist: An Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes and Home Accessories with Style
For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home
