Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Perfect book
  • YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK
  • Beautiful photos; strange text
  • Very complete book
  • Surprisingly COMPREHENSIVE!
Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
Michael Littlewood
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Outdoor & Recreational AreasOutdoor & Recreational Areas | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Swimming PoolsSwimming Pools | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0764321838

Book Description

Natural swimming pools rely on the correct balance of plants and microorganisms to clean and purify the water. They are a safe place for children to play and birds to drink, and are a dramatic example of ecological design, combining the natural and man-made worlds while creating beauty. These pools offer enjoyment not only in the warm months, but during winter, too, when they can be used for ice skating and other activities. Often the focal point of a garden, natural swimming pools blend into their environments, flowing into the surroundings with plants and rocks.They reflect the changing seasons and they enhance the environment naturally. They are easy and less costly to maintain than chemical pools, providing significant savings in water. Chlorine and other common pool chemicals are hazardous to human health and are not used. This book is a necessary resource for anyone interested in having a natural swimming pool and shows how a natural swimming pool system works, as well as the environmental, health, and safety benefits it offers. Drawings, diagrams, and charts cover planning, design, biology, materials, construction, planting, and maintenance. Over 300 beautiful color pictures feature projects that will inspire you to have your own natural water garden where you can swim in harmony with nature at any time.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Perfect book.......2007-09-04

Great book for all aspects of creating a variety of green/natural pools. Beautiful pictures and good illustrations and copy to help in decision making.

5 out of 5 stars YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK .......2007-08-22

Simply put this book is a MUST READ for anyone intersted in any aspect of Sustainable and Ecological Design. It should be read right along with Permaculture by Mollison, the Passive Solar Handbook by Mazria, Rainwater Harvesting by Lancaster, and ecocities to Living Machines by Todd. Even if you aren't specifically interested in making a swimming pool (which you will be after reading it) the insights into the workings of hydro-ecologies and how to design natural systems are invaluable!

If you aren't interested in the whole range of sustainability but just this particular topic of pool design then this book is STILL A MUST READ. If you're an ecologist who wants to make a pool, or a pool designer who wants to do something ecological this book provides an excellent layman's understanding of ecological design, with good technical and artistic advice for how to do it, and good technical and artistic advice for swimming pool construction.

I would still advise you to also purchase the book Poolscaping as a companion to this one.

This is an all around excellent book buy it now.

4 out of 5 stars Beautiful photos; strange text.......2007-08-01

Thumbing through the book will make you want to move to Austria or Germany where beautiful "natural" pools are somehat established. Why is the U. S. so environmentally backward? Unfortunately, the text is awkwardly translated at times such that one has to struggle to figure out what is meant with limited success.The assumption is that one is swimming only in the summer, but in California we may want to swim year round. Useful especially since so little information is available. Can't understand why the publisher didn't insist on professional proofreading.Buy it for inspiration, or wait for the next edition, or wait for one more applicable to your area. It does provide info in the back about two U.S resources, one in CA.

5 out of 5 stars Very complete book .......2007-02-24

Is the book i need for learning on natural swimming pool. Now i can make my own pool

5 out of 5 stars Surprisingly COMPREHENSIVE!.......2007-02-09

This large sized book covered the subject exceedingly well in lots of color photos with explanations and, more importantly, in lots of diagrams and nuts and bolts descriptions. I only read sections here and there but what I did read clearly indicated to me that you could actually use this book to build a natural swimming pool. At the least, you could definitely make a solid decision whether or not you could build or would want to build such a pool on your property. These pools are basically like salt water aquariums in that you have to make a biosphere and monitor it. In some ways it's not as easy as it sounds but also not as hard as it sounds. However, start up takes time and it can be tricky to finally reach environmental stabilization. I am not going to build a natural pool but I still found this book very useful. At the end this book are MANY pages of water plants and trees recommended for certain types of water areas. There are zone maps of the US included for reference. So even if you just want to make a little ornamental fountain in a big pot on the patio deck or a pond or a bog out back, this book has a VERY comprehensive set of plant lists you will find exceedingly useful. 18 pages of them. Categories include Submerged Plants, Floating Plants, Floating Leaved Plants, Shallow Marginal Plants, Deep Marginal Plants, Moisture-loving Plants, Bog/Marsh Plants, Waterside Plats-Trees & Shrubs, Ferns, Grasses Sedges Reeds and Rushes. Botanical and Common Names are listed along with height, spread, water depth, flower color, flower period, foliage, position, comments and plant zone. It's the best I've seen in any book so far.
The Complete Taj Mahal
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent book!
  • A Ten-Star Book that Is Without Parallel
  • Agra the Extraordinary
The Complete Taj Mahal
Ebba Koch
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0500342091

Book Description

The greatest monument to love, and the lost world of the Agra gardens and their characterful owners, re-created through superb scholarship and evocative illustrations.

The Taj Mahal is the epitome of Mughal art and one of the most famous buildings in the world. Yet there have been few serious studies of it and no full analysis of its architecture and meaning.Ebba Koch is the only scholar who has been permitted to take measurements of the complex. She has been working on the palaces and gardens of Shah Jahan for thirty years and on the Taj Mahal itself—the tomb of the emperor's wife, Mumtaz Mahal—for a decade.

The tomb represents the house of the queen in Paradise, and the author shows how its setting was based on the palace gardens of the great nobles that lined both sides of the river at Agra. She leads the reader through the entire complex of the Taj Mahal, with an explanation of each building and an account of the mausoleum's urban setting, its design and construction, its symbolic meaning, and its history up to the present day.

The book features hundreds of new photographs plus drawings by the Indian architect Richard Barraud that include plans and reconstructions of Agra and the Taj complex as they looked in Shah Jahan's time.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent book!.......2007-09-26

Having visited the Taj Mahal, I wanted to have an authoritative book on the history behind its construction and this book is not only an excellent souce, but also a very good photographic record of this amazing Wonder of the World!

5 out of 5 stars A Ten-Star Book that Is Without Parallel.......2007-04-15

Having read a number of books about the Taj Mahal, including the recently published "Taj Mahal: Passion and Genius...," I would bet good money that if given a copy of Ebba Koch's book to preview, those truly interested in India's national treasure will buy "The Complete Taj Mahal," even if they have to skip lattes or lunches to afford it, even if they have already done so to afford Okada/Joshi/Nou's "Taj Mahal" with its stunning photography.

One reason, of course, is that TCTM is so complete. To others' overviews of the material covered, I would add only that Koch does not neglect the human element. For example, in eight introductory pages of text, Koch provides excellent background information about Shah Jahan, his wife and his predecessors; later, she details Jahan's passion for building. Koch also includes interesting information about the artisans, craftsmen and laborers who did the actual work as well as details about others associated with the Taj-related structures/gardens of Agra. Further humanizing the story of this garden city are colorful Mughal paintings of its nobility and rulers.

Another aspect of TCTM that makes it a must-have are the many photographs of sites, structures and architectural ornamentation, photographs "The Hindu" declared "often brilliant" as well as "judiciously chosen." Just how apt these descriptions are is suggested by the following: There were only seven pages of O/J/Nou's photographic extravaganza of the Taj complex that I photocopied to tuck into Koch's book, and of them, five were additional close-ups of floral inlays and calligraphy. Adding to the appeal of TCTM is that the camera goes beyond the splendors of the Taj complex. Of special interest to those who have been in Agra, for instance, will be the realistic photographs of the Taj Mahal peeking above the "agglomeration of haphazard constructions" that have "almost obliterated" its bazaar and caravanserai. Shown, too, are its architectural precedents as well as artisan workshops and quarries. Though most of the photographs in this book are in color, even those in black and white are revealing.

Also making TCTM next to impossible to resist are the "company drawings," most of which are in color as well. Forerunners of postcards, they were "made by local artists in the early days of the Raj" for European tourists, who bought them "to illustrate their journals." Works of art in themselves, often the drawings are so detailed that they could easily be photographs. But they do not serve as mere eye candy: many are of Taj-related structures that no longer exist or have been stripped of all that made them magnificent; some are juxtaposed with recent photographs to show the toll time has taken on the brilliance of color and intricacy of design. Evocative paintings and watercolors of the Taj Mahal by foreign artists are included as well.

What may ultimately sell people on TCTM, however, is that it is a book they will actually enjoy reading much if not all of. Not only is Koch's narrative writing fluid and easy-to-digest. Even her descriptions of architecture will be relatively easy for laymen to understand, provided that they are willling to refer to the glossary of terms and look at the many visual aids, including Barraud's "precise and clear" line drawings, that accompany the text. So well done is this book, in fact, that as "The Hindu" noted, even "information which is more technical and not at face value so interesting to general readers will, in fact, be found by them to be equally absorbing." (All I would personally exclude from this are the two pages of precise measurements of the Taj complex.)

To another reviewer's assertion that TCTM is a book that "should be in the library of anyone fascinated by the Taj Mahal, not just historians and architects," I add a thousand "Amen's."

5 out of 5 stars Agra the Extraordinary.......2007-03-16

A superlative volume showing in detail and with historic drawings, maps, and photos, as well modern illustrations and reconstructions the unsurpassed achievements of the Mughal in residential garden architecture. The riverbanks of the Yamuna River as it passes through Agra was where this artistic impulse achieved culmination in the seventeenth century garden residences and tombs sponsored by the nobles and rulers of the Mughal state and built by the craftsmen of India. One of the signal contributions of this book is the inclusion of the stories of the architects, carpenters, and masons who left their signatures and marks on the individual elements of the overall project. The residential and tomb gardens which stretched along the river and are now mostly gone gave way at midpoint to the grandest residence of all, the Red Fort which remains today the second greatest landmark of Agra. And at the southern end of the development stands today the greatest tomb ever built, one of the architectural wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. The work is so complete that it documents not only the construction efforts but also the tourism that followed and the depth to which the Taj Mahal became embedded in the consciousness of the world. The culmination of three decades of meticulous research this substantial volume tells an engrossing story of the planning, development, and eventual decline of a unique garden city. It more than fulfills the adjective "complete" and should be in the library of anyone fascinated by the Taj Mahal, not just historians and architects. A truly extraordinary accomplishment.
Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Pure inspiration
  • Gorgeous book and inspired arrangements
  • Enjoyed it all
  • container gardening
Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting
Ray Rogers , and Richard W. Hartlage
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Container GardeningContainer Gardening | Techniques | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0881928348

Book Description

No longer a technique just for apartment dwellers or novice gardeners, the use of ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself can save time, space, and money, while offering experienced home gardeners unique creative challenges, site flexibility, and experimental fun. Author and award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers takes you on an engaging exploration into basic design principles as well as how to create focal points, use water, exploit the potential of empty containers, and more. Stunning photographs by Richard Hartlage provide guidance and inspiration, as well as visually explaining each principle. Gardeners at every level of experience will find inspiration and instruction in this comprehensive book.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pure inspiration.......2007-08-21

Yet another really fine book from Timber Press. I'll spend long, dark winter evenings wandering through these pages, absorbing the wisdom of the writers and generating ideas for next spring. Gorgeous photographs, too.

5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book and inspired arrangements.......2007-07-30

I purchased several gardening books together and this one was the highlight. Not only beautifully photographed but full of interesting suggestions and writing. My husband and I were able to immediately use some of the arrangements as inspiration for a new bed in our garden. Turned out beautifully!

5 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it all.......2007-05-14

The book is an excellent reference source. Photos are beautiful. Numbering the pictures with the description very helpful. Lovely coffee table book. I have told other gardeners to seek the book out.

4 out of 5 stars container gardening.......2007-03-14

(This review focuses on the photographs in "Pots in the Garden.")
Picture quality is very good throughout the book, and in parts I and II ("the elements of design" and "bringing it all together") the picture content is excellent as well.
Unlike most container gardening books this one neither details container plantings nor uses captions, instead it inconspicuosly numbers each picture and then conspicuosly puts the number in the text with its corresponding description. Garden styles represented vary but the bold, Little-and-Lewis-type modernists lead the way, and even if this isn't your favorite style of garden you will probably love the containers featured in them!
What really sets this book apart is the variety of pots featured. Terra cotta and stone/concrete are great, and the English gardening books display some wonderful copper and lead, but those of you who especially love high quality glazed/rustic containers and know that it is not all that easy to find good examples of them will be happy to add this book to your collection.
The reasons I didn't give 5 stars are the book's slightly smallish size (9 1/4 x 8 1/2) and its 3rd part ("plant groups for containers") which, though it has some very interesting and unique plant picks (dark purple/black perennial clematis?), does not show most of them in containers; admittedly difficult to do, but David Joyce's "The Complete Container Garden" sure did it well. That's about eighty pages where pots are rarely pictured.
Overall a beautiful and inspiring book at a very good price.
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Best Garden Book for Beginers
  • Not "Just" for Small Spaces
  • Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
  • Love it -- it's so easy!
  • I just can't be this meticulous
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
Mel Bartholomew
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1579548563
Release Date: 2005-03-10

Book Description

One of the bestselling garden books ever is fresher than ever! Ready to inspire a whole new generation of gardeners.When he created the "square foot gardening" method, Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer and efficiency expert, found the solution to the frustrations of most gardeners. His revolutionary system is simple: it's an ingenious planting method based on using square foot blocks of garden space instead of rows. Gardeners build up, not down, so there's no digging and no tilling after the first year. And the method requires less thinning, less weeding, and less watering."I found a better way to garden, one that's more efficient, more manageable, and requires less work," Bartholomew explains. Not surprisingly, his method quickly received worldwide recognition and has been written up in every major newspaper and gardening magazine. His book, which served as the companion to the nationally acclaimed television series, has sold over 800,000 copies. Now freshened with new illustrations, the book Ingram calls "the largest selling garden book in America" is reissued for the delight of a whole new generation of gardeners.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Best Garden Book for Beginers .......2007-09-05

I have owned this book for years. Worn out more that one copy. This copy was purchased to give to a new urbanm garden project in a develpomently challanged area of my city. We will be teaching at rick young people how to garden and landscape. This is one of many tools we will use and is as far as I am concerned the best how to do it garden book for people who have little or no knowledge about gardening.

5 out of 5 stars Not "Just" for Small Spaces.......2007-05-12

Wonderful information is contained throughout this book for gardeners planting in small 4'X4' spaces to huge gardens. In fact, "Square Foot Gardening" is chocked full of useful information which can and should be used in any size gearden from a small container on the patio to very large gardens. The info saves a gardener many back-breaking laborous hours.
Before I read this book, I did not know that cantalopes can be trellised, which saves "those" vines from rambling all over the garden. There is too much info to be missed without this great book.

5 out of 5 stars Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work.......2007-03-11

All the information a gardener needs to begin this method of raising flowers and vegetables is found in this book, which pleases me greatly.

5 out of 5 stars Love it -- it's so easy!.......2007-03-02

The techniques in this book ABSOLUTELY work! I have 3 4'x4' raised garden beds, and all seeds I planted are sprouting (and I have seeds left over for planting later in the season, too--no more wasted seeds).

Mr. Bartholomew explains all of his techniques very well and the book is very easy to read. I'm especially fond of his formula for good garden soil and planting with coarse vermiculite. I think this an extremely important step in preparing the garden, and I attribute my success, so far, to his detailed instructions regarding soil prep.

I'm not a great gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I love the idea that I am growing more in a smaller space, plus my weeding HAS been very minimal. His technique of growing in "grids" is also very visually appealing and my children (ages 18 mos to 11 years) can very easily see what's happening and identify the vegetables that are growing.

Kudos to Mr. Bartholomew for writing such a helpful book for those not-so-green-thumb gardeners!

3 out of 5 stars I just can't be this meticulous.......2007-02-02

Is anyone really this uptight about measuring everything and not overproducing vegetables? The methods are organic and the garden looks lovely, but can you truly guarantee that no matter how well you take care of your garden you will have no losses to critters or pests? Last year, I had a family of raccoons move in and eat half of my sweet corn. The only reason my family got any was because I planted more than what we needed. The coons also got the raspberries and grapes. I've also lost beans and peas to rabbits, and been invaded from time to time by various creepy-crawlies. A garden is not grown in isolation, at least, not mine. I preserve what we can't use in season or store it in the root cellar, and when I get extra veggies I share them with friends and family. They are always welcome.

The techniques are good and I agree that it is better to take care of a small patch of garden well than to care for a large patch poorly. I am just more of a "cottage garden" style gardener, so this was not the book for me. If you like this book you should read some books by Eliot Coleman. He's a very precise gardener, too.

Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • OK
  • Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden
  • Thorough, informative and with a gammot of projects
  • Fun Projects
  • Excellent book
Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More
Sherri Warner Hunter
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1579905854

Book Description

Sherri Hunter, author of the best-selling Creating with Concrete, proves once again that concrete isn't just for sidewalks anymore; it's perfect for the garden too. A selection of 30 beautiful designs suggests the range of this increasingly popular material, and the illustrated instructions make the craft's fundamentals easy to learn. Because the simplest projects come first, beginners can work their way through the book progressively, building on their skills. Novices will have fun making the carved trough, sandcast bowl, and elegant relief panel. More sophisticated projects, including a decorative walkway and polished table, come next, and they'll bring charm to any outdoor space. More adventurous artists can unleash their creativity on a "Garden Guardian" sculpture or water feature. A Selection of the Crafters Choice and Homestyle Book Clubs.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars OK.......2007-09-21

Check it out from your local library first - not one I'd add to my permanent collection

5 out of 5 stars Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden.......2007-08-25

Super book with detailed information on creation from beginning to end! Super for beginners and seasoned artists.

5 out of 5 stars Thorough, informative and with a gammot of projects.......2007-08-24

I really enjoyed this book. It is detailed and the projects are vastly different from one another. What I also appreciated is the emphasis on doing things right, such as waiting for the concrete to set for 24 days is an example on an item. More emphasis on the internal structure using wire, rebar, etc. I would highly recommend this book and I am anxious to put into use what it taught me.

5 out of 5 stars Fun Projects.......2007-07-03

This a great idea book. Many fun and interesting projects. Directions and supplies needed are well explained.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent book.......2007-04-07

The author is very thorough on this subject and provides extensive desciptions of concrete ornament projects and concrete mixes. The only frustration I had was that in most examples a picture of the completed project was not included until the final chapter. It would have been more helpful after the description of 'how to' make the project. I think most would find this book extremely helpful by taking you from start to finished project.
Gardening All-in-One for Dummies
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • love it
  • Gardening All-in-One for Dummies
Gardening All-in-One for Dummies
The National Gardening Association , Bob Beckstrom , Karan Davis Cutler , Kathleen Fisher , Phillip Giroux , Judy Glattstein , Mike MacCaskey , Bill Marken , Charlie Nardozzi , Sally Roth , Marcia Tatroe , Lance Walheim , and Ann Whitman
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764525557

Book Description

God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
-- Sir Francis Bacon

National surveys show that gardening has become the most popular, least exclusive hobby nationwide. From the balconies of Manhattan to the patios of Malibu to the backyards of Chicago, anybody with a few square feet of earth is doing their best to make their little corner of the world more gracious and beautiful. And the best thing is, you really dont have to be born with a green thumb to give life to a glorious garden. Anybody can do it with a little coaching. Which is where Gardening For Dummies comes in.

Puzzled by pruning? Baffled by bulbs? Cant tell a hosta from a hyacinth? Dont worry! This all-in-one reference delivers the know-how you need to transform your little patch of the outdoors into a blooming paradise. Drawing upon the expertise of the National Gardening Association, it gets you up to speed on:

A veritable encyclopedia of gardening, this Gardening For Dummies is an indispensable resource for novices and experienced gardeners alike. It brings together between the covers of a single volume seven great books covering:

Your one-step guide to a beautiful garden, Gardening For Dummies shows you how to experience the purest of human pleasures in your own backyard.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars love it.......2007-04-28

checked this out from the library, but had to purchase it! first of all, i knew NOTHING about gardening, so this gave me a starting point and help with the basics. i am slowly learning ... and have started my first vegetable garden! while there are very FEW pictures, the info itself was valuable to me. i have a book that is chock-full of pics, but the text is designed for a novice or advanced gardener. i love to look at that (other) book, but i needed something very basic to begin with- and this is it! good price for all the info you get. a must for those just starting out from scratch! good luck & have fun with your hands in the dirt!

5 out of 5 stars Gardening All-in-One for Dummies.......2007-01-10

Great book. Wonderful service and fast delivery. Thank you.
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Rather Big 'Not So Big"
  • pretty much only covers enormous houses
  • Landscaping 101
  • Wonderful Book- Susanka is the best!
  • Many ideas for designing small areas near small houses
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
Julie Moir Messervy , and Sarah Susanka
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

LandscapeLandscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:
  1. Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka) Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
  2. Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka) Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
  3. The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
  4. The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
  5. Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka) Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka)

ASIN: 1561587346
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, noted landscape designer and award-winning writer Julie Moir Messervy and bestselling author Sarah Susanka reveal how to bring house and garden into perfect harmony. After all, who doesn't yearn for a landscape that is as well designed as the interior of their home? In Outside the Not So Big House, Julie and Sarah teach you everything you need to know about the design concepts essential to extending your home beyond its four walls.

Lushly photographed and illustrated with vivid drawings, Outside the Not So Big House explores how to build pathways and journeys in your gardens; how to make the most of your site; how to use details to bring it all together. Twenty homes from across the country aptly illustrate these easy-to-grasp design ideas. Fans of Sarah's previous Not So Big books will be pleased to discover not only Julie's clear, concise prose but also a new vision for creating home.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars The Rather Big 'Not So Big".......2007-03-29

I come away with the feeling that Sarah was lead astray when this book was in development.

Many of the houses in previous books in the 'Not So Big' series have been rather expensive even if they have not been that big. At least these books have provided me with ideas in redoing our moderate sized/priced house.

In this book I find a 'Not So Big' house with a library, a sitting room, and a sunroom on the first floor in addition to a mudroom, kitchen with eating area, formal dining room and living room. The next house in the book sits on a 4 acre lot. Almost every house in the book has grounds that require hired maintenance professionals.

I would imagine that one of the first chapters in Sarah's new book, 'The Not So Big Life', will recommend reducing the square footage of your house and the maintenance required for your grounds. Reducing the square footage of your house will substantially reduce the work needed for upkeep. The 'grounds' could be turned into a native prairie for which God will provide the maintenance. Half of our 1.3 acre lot is native forest looked after by God.

The subtitle of the new book is 'Making Room For What Matters'. One of the things that matters for me is making time for things I enjoy by spending as little time as possible 'mowing the lawn'.

3 out of 5 stars pretty much only covers enormous houses.......2007-01-11

I find the title of this book incredibly misleading. For her, "not so big" means "integrated with nature" as opposed to, well, "not so big"! Almost all of the houses in here are enormous (without counting I'd say maybe 38 of the 40 she talks about), so it's not very helpful for someone like me with a smaller house. Granted, she says her "starter home" was a large Victorian in Boston with a wrap-around porch and stained glass windows, so her perspective is bound to be different from the average American's! But unfortunately I had a hard time applying her concepts to my smaller home (on a 1/4 acre lot), and found myself heartily annoyed because the title had promised something that perhaps might be more useful to someone like me.

5 out of 5 stars Landscaping 101.......2006-09-14

This is a grand book with homes in differing sites in differing parts of the US. One can glean many ideas from the great photographs and text. Julie Moir Messervy's designs are elegantly simple and reflect her studies in Japan. This book is a real addition to the library of anyone interested in designing their landscape.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book- Susanka is the best!.......2006-08-22

Susanka is a great architect! Love it all and look forward to generating a whole new look for my entire property!

4 out of 5 stars Many ideas for designing small areas near small houses.......2006-07-15

(4.5 Stars) I can see from the other reviews that there exist a wide range of opinions about this book. I fall on the high side, I suppose. I enjoyed the large number of photos and ideas for landscaping small areas - spots even - in the yard around a smaller home.

One, rather unreal aspect was that, most of the homes pictured are modern homes with interesting custom architecture. Some of us live in simple ranch-styles (boxes).

Julie's training and interest in architecture does come through, but I did not find it distracting. In fact, I found the emphasis on the relationship between the interior design of the home and landscape as seen from inside very useful. Most landscaping books present only the view TOWARD the house, not FROM it.

I got several good ideas from this book and learned a bit about design.



The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent book for newer bird watcher.
  • Great pictures, information, poor selection of birds
  • Great book, informative on many levels
  • excellant book for the money
  • YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE
The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Robert Burton , and Stephen Kress
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GardeningGardening | Home & Garden | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
Science & NatureScience & Nature | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Garden FurnishingsGarden Furnishings | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Backyard Bird Identification Guide (T.F.H. Wild Birds Series) Backyard Bird Identification Guide (T.F.H. Wild Birds Series)
  2. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
  3. Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book) Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
  4. National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition
  5. National Wildlife Federation  Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation) National Wildlife Federation Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation)

ASIN: 1571451862

Book Description

Discover how to create a backyard bird sanctuary with the expert guidance of the National Audubon Society. Your backyard will come alive by applying these feeding and gardening techniques. Includes a photographic guide to the birds of North America, as well as the trees and plants that attract them. The ultimate resource for anyone interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent book for newer bird watcher........2007-03-08

We found your book to be full of beautiful bird pictures and good information. A excellent book especially for the newer back yard bird watcher. An excellent addition and tool for anyones library. A beautiful gift.

3 out of 5 stars Great pictures, information, poor selection of birds.......2007-01-23

I purchased this book for myself and our children to aid us in identifying the birds that are visiting our southern Arizona feeders. Unfortunately I found many of the birds we see were missing from this guide. It's got fantastic pictures, and excellent full page details on each bird which IS included, such as song, nesting habits and duration. I was very impressed with the guides on how to make your own birdfeeders of various types as well as the helpful guide in the back regarding landscaping for birds. Unfortunately, because it's not a regional book, it is proving to be less useful than I hoped. It's a great book to start with, but I think many birdwatchers, even casual ones like myself, will quickly wish for a more comprehensive guide.

5 out of 5 stars Great book, informative on many levels.......2006-12-15

I am new to birdwatching and purchased this book along with Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. The Sibley guide covers more birds, but the Audubon has all of the common ones that I see in my yard, and has actual photos of the book as opposed to the drawings in the Sibley guide. I find that I refer to both of them frequently, however the Audubon book is one that you can sit down and read, whereas the Sibley one is a true field guide with just a paragraph on each type of bird. The Audobon book is a great starter book, and not only contains information on particular bird species, but also has great information on bird behavior and things you can do to encourge more visitors to your yard. I have enjoyed this book so much I just purchased it as a Christmas gift for my sister who is new to birdwatching also.

5 out of 5 stars excellant book for the money.......2006-08-12

Well illustrated, informative,helpful,perfectly priced.I recomend this book to amateurs and veterans of this hobby, this is a beautiful book easily worth the money.

5 out of 5 stars YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE.......2006-06-23

I have been a rather serious birder for well over fifty years now and when I first saw this book (it was a gift) I almost felt insulted...back yard birder indeed! Well, I was wrong...I admit it. I have actually enjoyed this one far more that several of the many hundred or so more technical books on the subject that inhabit my shelves. This is a wonderful quick reference and is quite well organized. I have interested grandchildern and I not when they are here, which is almost daily, they reach for this volume far more than any of the others. Sharing my passion and hobby with them is great and this work is a wonderful help tool. Recommend it highly.
New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
Average customer rating: Not rated
    New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
    Better Homes and Gardens
    Manufacturer: Better Homes and Gardens
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    LandscapeLandscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    LandscapeLandscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Landscaping Illustrated (The Complete Idiot's Guide) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Landscaping Illustrated (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
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    3. Landscaping with Stone Landscaping with Stone
    4. Landscaping Your Home: Creative Ideas from America's Best Gardeners (Fine Gardening Design Guides) Landscaping Your Home: Creative Ideas from America's Best Gardeners (Fine Gardening Design Guides)
    5. Walks, Walls & Patios: Plan, Design & Build Walks, Walls & Patios: Plan, Design & Build

    ASIN: 0696208504
    Release Date: 2002-02-15

    Book Description

    The perfect companion to the Better Homes and Gardens New Complete Guide to Gardening.

    Illustrated easy-to-follow instructions for planning, designing, and building typical landscape projects.
    The Essential Garden Book
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Great Garden Designs with Excellant Information
    • Excellent Resource
    • Inspirational Garden Book
    • This is Essential
    The Essential Garden Book
    Terence Conran
    Manufacturer: Crown
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    LandscapeLandscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Terence ConranTerence Conran | Expert Advice | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0517708108
    Release Date: 1998-03-03

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Great Garden Designs with Excellant Information.......2006-06-29

    This is, without a doubt, one of the finest gardening design books I have come across. It shows many different styles of gardens with distinct flair. If you want to be inspired by innovative ideas, buy it. It is one of my two favorite gardening books---and I have many.

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource.......2006-03-09

    This book is a beautifully photographed, well written book about landscaping. It is like owning a pictoral encyclopedia for gardeners.

    5 out of 5 stars Inspirational Garden Book.......2003-02-12

    One of the most useful and innovative garden books. If you are looking for inspiration, this is a good one to buy.

    5 out of 5 stars This is Essential.......2000-09-29

    The pictures are inspirational and the advise is practical and lyrical. The authors write well and LOVE gardens of all kinds. Everything is covered from balconys to estates, minimal to extravagant, and covered thoughly with many idea engendering photos.

    Books:

    1. Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
    2. New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
    3. New Cook Book, Limited Edition "Pink Plaid" : For Breast Cancer Awareness (Better Homes & Gardens)
    4. Origami Design Secrets: Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art
    5. Outdoor Kitchens: Designs for Outdoor Kitchens, Bars, and Dinning Areas (Quarry Book)
    6. Pattern Cutting for Lingerie, Beachwear and Leisurewear
    7. Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand
    8. Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes: 100 Mixed-Media Techniques Plus Project Ideas
    9. Practical Yacht Joinery
    10. Prairie Children And Their Quilts: 14 Little Projects That Honor the Pioneer Spirit

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