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:
OK.......2007-09-21
Check it out from your local library first - not one I'd add to my permanent collection
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.
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.
Fun Projects.......2007-07-03
This a great idea book. Many fun and interesting projects. Directions and supplies needed are well explained.
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.
Book Description
As indoor kitchen design books do, The New Outdoor Kitchen covers initial design and planning and, in subsequent chapters, covers "stove" options (grills, smokers, wood-fired ovens); the rest of the kitchen (outdoor refrigerators, sinks, cabinets, and countertops); the entertaining and eating areas (including a discussion of outdoor heaters, social fire-fireplaces, firepits, and chimineas--and bug control to increase your season of enjoyment); and, finally, the grace notes of the outdoor kitchen--lighting and sound systems, plantings, and water features. Ten portfolio kitchens will be laced between the chapters, and the book will conclude with an extensive source list. The kitchens pictured in the book will run the size, price, ambition, and creativity gamut, from kitchens sited on decks and patios to a small urban backyard set up to elaborate built-in, freestanding outdoor environments.
Customer Reviews:
simply beautiful - a must have!.......2007-06-06
Deborah does an amazing job with this how - to on outdoor cooking. beautiful pictures and designs to inspire even the most uncreative of readers. highly recommended - she even includes pictures of her own amazing outdoor kitchen which is just a testament to her knowedge and experience. even if you are just looking for ideas or creative possibilities pick up a copy and you will not be disappointed- you truly get what you pay for. i wish i could just carry out all of the projects she puts in here!
Book Description
Detailed plans for outdoor kitchen in a variety of locations.
Color photos provide inspiration on how to apply designs to any setting.
Insights and ideas for the cook, as well as smart tips for the builder.
Coverage of both form and function to help homeowners assess their needs for cooking and storage space.
Special section provides all-time favorite grilling recipes and tips for outdoor cooking from the Better Homes and Gardens experts.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent starter/idea book.......2007-08-12
Okay, this is not a book of plans and layouts--there are several--but, that's not the primary purpose of a book like this. IDEAS that's what you got here.
Transposing one of these designs wholesale into your backyard would be fine IF you have the space, the matching terrain and the $s and, if the design matches and fits the style, scale and complements the features of your house. The writers admonish the reader to sit down and seriuosly think about how they use their kitchen and how they plan to use their outdoor one--that bit of advice alone is well worth the price of the book.
As to the do-it-yourself aspects of the book they are well thought out, well laid out and clearly illustrated--and they are repleat with warnings and "bail-outs"
All around outstanding
Outdoor Kitchens.......2007-07-23
This is a good book. I gave it three starts because it only gave s few designs for the construction I needed, but it was a good reference. I think its important to research projects with these books then launch your own project with the ideas you've learned.
3 stars out of 5.
The man's book.......2007-07-02
The girls can look at the pretty pictures but this actually shows you how to do the job... (Or some of you girls can come over and help me with my project:)
Book Description
-Aimed at the fastest-growing segment of the how-to market: gardening landscaping.
Customer Reviews:
The complete guide to creative landscape.......2007-05-14
This is a great book with so many very well illustrated projects. I have just built a new home and am beginning to landscape my 4 acres I find this book very useful. All the projects are described in great detail with lots of pictures. Thanks L. Rocha
It can't be replaced!!!.......2006-05-15
I bought this book over a year ago. I've read through each project a dozen times. I love about 94% of them. Our house sits on a lot that is ~ 100 feet x ~ 120 feet. I was going to get crazy this spring and summer with a new patio, arbor, and several garden areas.
Sometime a couple of months ago, my book disappeared. I have searched nearly every square inch of our attic and basement, in addition to every closet, underneath every bed, and even in the garage. My wife has looked as well, but to no avail.
I'm 32 years old, and losing this book has nearly made me cry on at least four occassions. It's that good.
Our library doesn't have it. None of the hardware stores in town have it. We have one bookstore in town - and they don't have it. Last weekend, I finally broke down and bought two other books, thinking that by doubling up it would somehow take away the pain of losing my B&D Creative Landscapes book.
It hasn't worked.
I'm purchasing another copy on line this afternoon. There are just too many things in the book that I can't find anywhere else. It's nothing that difficult, but they do such a great job of making things easy to follow, and each project gives you ideas for three more.
Buy the book. Buy two copies. And be sure to hide one in your drawer where no one can take it.
Great Book.......2002-05-12
This book is so well layed out. I give this book 5 stars because it has excellent descriptions and pictures. I built the terra cotta fountain in the book and I love it so much.
Not bad depending on what you are looking for.......2002-01-13
This book is great as general advice. There are SO MANY different projects though that there is not a great level of detail on any one. Just enough of an overview and "how-to" to make you feel comfortable about taking some of these projects on for yourself or answering those questions that always used to make you go "Hmmmmm." Still, for a first time homeowner it will give you a lot of ideas and confidence to start making plans.
great book!!.......2000-10-28
I have been in the search of a home for months now and the one thing I kept telling myself was that when I finally bought it, I would also buy this book. I looked at lots of books at Home Depot, B & N, etc. but this is one of the best and most creative landscaping books I have found. So today, knowing that I have a home and YARD that I can call my own, I am buying it!!
Amazon.com
There is no question that gardening inspires creativity and playfulness. A full measure of both is captured in this book on garden accessories. Giant bronze frogs standing erect and playing the sax and cello, sunflowers sporting hats, fence posts sprouting gloves, and a bench with undulating serpent arms are just a few of the compelling images captured in the many color photographs.
Gardeners tend to be eccentrics, and it looks as if the gardeners in this book have fully indulged their visions, making the very best kinds of personal gardens. While many of the ideas are large and expensive, such as Italian stone follies carved into huge mask faces topped with bridges, or gazing balls eight feet in diameter, many more are simple and easy to emulate. Many of the lightest touches are created with paint or found objects--trellises woven of twigs, fences built of old shovels and rakes, a shed roof painted cobalt blue, or a scarecrow dressed up in bohemian duds including shawl and beret. What makes all these delightful ideas work is that they are buried amid flower borders or set onto pedestals on smooth expanses of emerald lawn--what better backdrop could any flight of whimsy ask for than a beautiful garden? --Valerie Easton
Book Description
If it sometimes seems that gardening is all work and no play, here's the book that will turn that canard on its head. Garden Whimsy is an entertaining look at the lighter side of gardening -- a refreshing change from how-to books on composting and double-digging. When author Tovah Martin lectures, her talk on garden whimsy is the one her audiences like best. This book brings her marvelous stories, illustrated by Richard Brown's stunning photographs, to the wider audience that has come to appreciate this talented team. So what is whimsy, botanically speaking? It may be as subtle as an inscription on a sundial or as noticeable as a child-size lighthouse. Birdhouses and scarecrows are favorite subjects, and so are topiary animals, capricious gates, and fences topped with the gardener's collection of blackbirds, kitchen utensils, or gardening gloves. It is eccentric, askew -- in short, whatever strikes a witty gardener's fancy. Best of all, it will inspire the reader to go and do likewise.
Customer Reviews:
Garden Whimsey.......2000-07-04
Beautiful pictures of smatterings of whimsical art in gardens. Tasteful and fun. A winner!
Amazon.com
This is a joint project between the editors of Better Homes & Gardens and the Home Depot, and much like their earlier collaboration, Home Improvement 1-2-3, they cover a lot of ground in this big, detailed book. Clear, step-by-step instructions and diagrams for just about any outdoor project one can imagine--from deck building and maintenance to building a retaining wall to making outdoor furniture to installing an outdoor faucet or constructing a customized fountain--it's in here.
A very useful series of features throughout the book helps guide the homeowner: "Skill Scale" assesses the skill level needed for individual projects; "Trip Saver" helps save time and money, eliminating numerous trips to the store; "Safety Alert" warns of potential dangers on given projects; "Oops!" describes common errors and boo-boos and helps find solutions; "Designer's Corner" helps the reader with design and style choices.
Overall, as a comprehensive and nitty-gritty guide to all of the most common outdoor projects, this is a perfect book for the novice, but will have information and shortcuts for the experienced homeowner and do-it-yourselfer, too. --Mark A. Hetts
Book Description
Combines the expertise of Home Depot—the nation's #1 home center retailer and Better Homes and Gardens Books—America's leading home and family publisher.
Every project is shown with clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations.
The Home Depot employees review ever page to ensure accuracy.
Skill Scales for each project indicate the level of skill required and how long the project might take.
Stuff You'll Need features with every project includes a list of tools and materials needed to complete each project.
Bright red Safety Alerts call to the reader's attention any potentially dangerous situations.
Homer's Hindsight highlights mistakes homeowners should know about and how to avoid them.
Designer's Corner provides design tricks and tips that only experts know.
Buyers Guides highlight how to get the right part and offers advice on how to get the best value.
Regional variations in construction techniques are highlighted.
Customer Reviews:
Great for the 1st time landscaper!!.......2006-12-07
My husband is a carpenter and very good with working on things in the home. He needed a little guidance for outdoor projects that he never had done before. This book was even great for me who has no knowledge or training in building or landscaping. The two of us redid our entire back yard and it looks wonderful....we added a deck, patio, retaining wall, and lots of plants. Now we are looking forward to working on the front yard next Spring. This book will definitely get more use.
nice book!!.......2005-08-14
This book truly gives you the most "bang for your buck". If you are interested in learning how to do a wide variety of things and are somewhat mechanically inclined.....THIS is the book for you! I have my own contracting business and refer to this book many times for that "extra" insight I need on a project. The diagrams and pictures are very helpful and I truly would recommend this book to anyone!
A boon for us non-carpenter, born-in-the-big-city types........2001-01-01
Generally when I used think about home improvements (indoor or out) I thought about calling somebody (experienced or not) to help me with it. It was usually at this point that the neighbors would bring their kids inside. . . Just to be safe. . . To be honest, until just after I bought this book (a year ago) I didn't think I had the inate skills needed to do something as alien to modern men as replacing a fawcet washer, much less replacing the whole fawcet and installing a greenhouse!! This book, aside from not being very good at helping you lift heavy things, is all the help you will need to complete hundreds of different improvement projects in and around your house.
The skill gauge is very acurate in it's time estimates and tells you what level of skills you should have before starting a project - This is helpful if only so you can put your local fire department on call. With all the information on tools, their usage, and the type, amount and quality of materials you will need this book could make Homer Simpson look like Martha Stewart. . . Well, maybe more like Tim Allen, but you get the point.
I highly recommend this book and the Home Depot "HOME IMPROVEMENTS 1-2-3" book as well!! Truly money well spent!
love this book.......1999-10-25
this book is great my husband wanted it and now he loves it he uses it all the time and it give us both ideas on things we can do and then shows us how.
The Handymans Hand Guide.......1999-09-01
A user-friendly search manual of OutDoor/Indoor do-it-yourself projects. This book is a quick read with adaquate illustrations depicting vital home upkeep/improvement projects in simple lay terms. Sport reading for the seasoned professional, critical for would-be's.
Book Description
This book features all-new projects aimed at the hottest trend in garden and yard decoration - rustic structures and accents made from green wood, soldered copper, weathered wood, rough cedar, unfinished iron, and other common materials. Rustic ornaments and structures now dominate most upscale landscape centers and arboretums - some structures sell for hundreds of dollars, using materials that can be acquired for a few dollars. Given the expense of these pieces of yard art, the cost savings offered by doing it yourself are enormous. The book opens with an idea section demonstrating how rustic structures and accents can transform the look of a landscape. This is followed by a section showing where to find green wood and other materials, and how to work with them. The heart of the book is 20 plans and step-by-step directions for a wide range of projects. Projects include: rustic bird houses and wildlife feeders made from weathered cedar; arbors and trellises made from rough willow branches; a garden bench made from bark-on branches shaped by an ax; a garden obelisk made from soldered copper allowed to weather; woven-twig garden edging. The projects are remarkably easy to build, and most can be completed in a single weekend. Dawn King has taught the art of building bark-on garden art pieces at the McLaughlin Woodworking Museum in Kingston, Ontario, and her work has been featured in magazines. She lives in Perth, Ontario.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2007-06-30
Great book. Has good instructions and lots of projects. I have already built a 2 trellises based on this book, and am getting ready to start on some chairs.
Alot of fun!.......2007-05-17
I just attended my 3rd course with Dawn King. If you can take a course with her it is well worth it! The book is easy to follow and the projects actually end up looking like the pictures in the book!! Dawn is a super teacher with a light hearted approach. 5 stars for her and her book.
Disappointing.......2006-08-09
This book has photos of some neat projects, however, there is one page of basic 'instructions' which is not helpful at all. There is no advice on selecting wood/branches, bending them, curing them, finishing/varnishing etc., nor is there instruction (except for screws and a very basic tenon on the aforementioned instruction page)on how to attach the pieces. The only 'directions' are simple illustrations of what order to put the pieces together in. A real disappointment.
Book Description
Advice and techniques to create the perfect outdoor cooking center for your home and lifestyle-from a simple grill to an elaborate outdoor kitchen. The meat of the book is fifteen complete barbecue building plans, including simple surrounds for portable grills, smokers, and even fire pits. Whether planning to build-your-own or hire a professional, Building Barbecues has the recipe for a successful project.
Customer Reviews:
Building bbqs.......2007-07-23
There were not too many books on the market when I decided to build my own barbque. This book helped me understand what I was getting myself into, but it fell short of giving me all the information I needed for my project. But it was a good resource. 3 out of 5 stars!
Gotta get started!!.......2007-01-17
There are some really great ideas in this book...want ot start building them all!
If you are looking for outdoor kitchen ideas, grill plans, Barbeque (the real wood burniung smokehouse style, not propane grill) outdoor fireplaces, etc. This is the best book to buy and start building!
Gives all the details.......2007-01-16
This gives details from the concrete support to tiling the countertops. It even shows how to brick a patio or walkway for an outdoor grilling area. The only problem is picking out a design from the many listed.
Absolutely Inspiring.......2003-01-20
I bought this book about a year ago and was immediately captured by the possibilities of different types of barbeques. I would have never been able to dream up these types of structures. The stucco ones that you can purchase preassembled are a joke compared to these. Aside from the design ideas, this book only gives a brief description of different building techniques for masonry, electrical and plumbing. The reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because it is not thorough enough with the "how to" aspect, the depth of experience that you need to complete each project or the costs involved (some of them would easily be ten grand). The book should be called "Backyard Barbeque Ideas for Your Contractor". You will have to be experienced in several trades or do a TON of research in order to do these projects yourself (I learned the true meaning of the term "learning curve"). I had zero experience, so being tenacious (stubborn), as usual, I figured I would give it a shot. I looked through the book several times to decide which style I liked the most and then began drawing plans based on a space in my back patio. After working on and off for nine months...yada, yada, yada...I have a beautiful brick and slate summer kitchen (covering a forty sq ft area), fully accessorized with sink, fridge and stainless grill. I used a concrete block structure covered with facebrick, which may have been overkill. But, I live in Florida and am fully convinced that this will be the only structure left standing if a category 5 hurricane ever goes through my backyard. One last word of advice...if you decide to take on one of these projects yourself, be patient, work slow and do it right the first time. It was a great learning experience and I owe it all to the inspiration of this book.
Great Ideas for Your Backyard BBQ.......2002-12-14
I'm considering building a BBQ/firepit in my back yard and this book has been extremely helpful in presenting various designs and the pros and cons of each. It gives tips on the construction of various designs from the concrete slab to the chimney. Offers designs for gas grills and charcoal/wood grills. The only down side is that the books seem overweighted with luxury setups. This is unfortunate since more people who pick up this book are looking to either do it themselves or hire someone to do a simple backyard pit inexpensively. It's definately worth a look if you are interested in creating a backyard grill.
Customer Reviews:
Finished projects are rough and utilitarian-looking.......1999-05-04
If you're a beginning woodworker looking for ideas, this book will be helpful. The instructions are detailed and clear, there are ample photos illustrating the construction, and complete cutting lists are provided.
There are some projects here that give you good woodworking experience. Unfortunately, the finished products are rough-looking and utilitarian. There's nothing in here that you would be proud to show off.
Some of the projects could be cleaned up by adding some finishing techniques such as routing edges on the wood and adding more curves to your cuts. If you have an eye for design, this book will give you the technical know-how to put together outdoor furniture. But if you follow the plans step-by-step, you'll have a backyard full of furniture that looks like it was made by the local troop of Cub Scouts.
Book Description
Much more than just lawns, the backyards of today make full use of this area's unlimited possibilities for lounging, dining, playing, and communing with nature. Outdoor kitchens make cooking a treat for the senses while backyard fireplaces create a natural gathering place for friends and family. Decks, patios and porches can be transformed into fully furnished outdoor rooms with floors, walls and ceilings. Backyard Idea Book helps readers unlock the extraordinary possibilities of this incredibly flexible area, and showcases a huge array of cutting-edge ideas for turning backyards into personal, satisfying spaces. New twists on old themes are offered, as well as some of the freshest ideas from the brightest talent in landscape design. An effective combination of stylistic concepts and hands-on advice helps readers select specific projects, while hundreds of color photos serve to inspire and delight.
Customer Reviews:
Great inspiration.......2007-04-29
This is a wonderful book with beautiful photos and great ideas. It is not a how to book, but it does inspire!
Good choice!.......2006-06-24
I'm satisfied. More than enough pictures with detailed analysis for each. There is nothing missing.
just looking.......2006-03-13
This book has excellent photo's of backyard ideas. It is a great book if you are just looking for ideas. I had expected a book with a little "how-to" mixed in.
Very helpful book with great ideas.......2005-12-08
I haven't finished reading it yet but so far love it. It has many photos along with a paragraph about why/how this works - the type of landscape and things to make sure you do/don't do. I am buying a copy for my sister for xmas.
Books:
- Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager Handbook
- Designing with Succulents
- Easy Gardens for South Florida
- Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set)
- Elementary, My Dear Watkins (Smart Chick Mysteries, Book 3)
- Elementary, My Dear Watkins (Smart Chick Mysteries, Book 3)
- Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach
- Fatal Flaw: A True Story of Malice and Murder in a Small Southern Town
- Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community
- Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community
Books Index
Books Home
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- Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response Manual and Desk Reference
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- Wheel, Deal, and Steal: Deceptive Accounting, Deceitful CEOs, and Ineffective Reforms
- An Introduction to Geographical Economics
- TARZAN of the Apes; Return; Beasts; Son; Jungle Tales; Untamed; Terrible; Golden Lion; Ant Men; Lord
Garden Furnishings
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Garden Gallery: The Plants, Art, and Hardscape of Little and Lewis
Creating and Planting Garden Troughs
Outdoor Stonework: 16 Easy-to-Build Projects For Your Yard and Garden
Decorative Concrete (Sunset)
Garden Mosaics: 25 Step-By-Step Projects for Your Outdoor Room
