Amazon.com
Martha Stewart's new home reference book is a must-have for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it's gorgeous. Printed on thick, glossy pages covered with subtle sepia photos and that perfect Martha-blue as an accent color, Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook is a pretty and practical package for everyone: "all mothers and daughters, fathers and sons who have a room, an apartment, or a home to care for." Stewart's exhaustive handbook features a handy "how to use this book" introduction; a room by room guide with weekly, monthly, and seasonal checklists; tips for cleaning, creating a comfortable and safe home, and moving; and a guide for identifying and caring for materials in your home. Curious? Take a look at some excerpts below. You'll be sweeping and shelving your way to a happier home in no time. --Daphne Durham
How to Use This Book: An Excerpt
When the first issue of Martha Stewart Living was published in 1990, I could not have begun to anticipate how wide-ranging our readers' homekeeping concerns would be. Since then, we have discovered new solutions to age-old problems, brought in experts to advise us on very specific questions about very specific?c concerns, and experimented with all the new (and not so new) home-care products. Over the years, I've brought these lessons home with me, too, which has made me more organized and made my homes better cared for and maintained.
Households are busy places, works in progress where there is always something needing immediate attention and always something more that can be done. With that in mind, I have organized this book to address the tasks at hand and also to address the "more that can be done" for when you have the time and the inclination go beyond the essentials.
It starts with the big picture--an examination of every room and everything you will find within each. The eleven chapters in the "Room by Room" section take you on a tour through the house, focusing on the surfaces and furnishings you might find in any room, and offering strategies for their care and maintenance. Starting with the kitchen, the central staging area in any home, these chapters open with practical space-planning advice, followed by the golden rules of organizing. This information is intended to help contain your belongings and make each room clutter-free and functional. Relevant homekeeping concerns particular to each room are explored in depth--so stain-removal basics appear in "Laundry Room," the best way to clean grout in "Bathroom," and easy sewing repairs in "Utility Spaces." The equipment essential to each room is also addressed, so if you are considering what kind of bathtub to install during a bathroom renovation or whether a gas or electric range would best suit your style of cooking, you will have the information necessary to make such an investment with confidence.
Organize Your Kitchen: Martha's Golden Rules
Book Description
Whether your home is small or large, an apartment in the city or a country cottage, it is a space that should be at once beautiful and livable. The key to that is managing the upkeep without feeling flustered. Until now, there has never been a comprehensive resource that not only tells how to care for your home and everything in it, but that also simplifies the process by explaining just when. With secrets from Martha Stewart for accomplishing the most challenging homekeeping tasks with ease, this detailed and comprehensive book is the only one you will need to help you keep your home looking its best, floor to ceiling, room by room.
In Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook, Martha shares her unparalleled expertise in home maintenance and care. Readable and practical–and graced with charts, sidebars, illustrated techniques, and personal
anecdotes from Martha’s decades of experience caring for her homes–this is far more than just a compendium of ways to keep your house clean. It covers everything from properly executing a living room floor plan to setting a formal table; from choosing HEPA filters to sealing soapstone countertops; from organizing your home office to polishing your silver and caring for family heirlooms.
Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is organized for clarity and maximum practicality:
Room by Room covers the upkeep of the appliances, tools, furnishings, and surfaces found in each room, from the entryway to the kitchen, from the attic to the laundry room.
Throughout the House instructs the reader on the proper ways to routinely clean and periodically maintain everything in the home, including dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, polishing, scrubbing, waxing and much more.
Comfort and Safety focuses on techniques to ensure your home is running properly and safely, such as recognizing when to clean vents, fixing a leaky faucet, and eradicating pests.
A-to-Z Materials Guide provides an invaluable resource that explains the unusual materials that many favorite objects are made of–from abalone to zinc–
and how to care for them so they last.
Encyclopedic yet friendly, Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is a seminal work–a must-have for everyone who wants a well-cared-for home that will endure for generations.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book - But Amazon Sells Low-End Editions.......2007-09-07
The book is fantastic, I give it for housewarming gifts and use it myself for info on how to clean and take care of all kinds of things in my home. BUT - This is the second time I've had an issue with Amazon's books. Yes, it was a little bit less expensive than the other online booksellers, but it is a lower-end version of the book. The little fabric bookmark is not on this copy and the dust jacket is made of cheap clear plastic. I will not buy any more books from Amazon unless they are soft covers and I don't care what they look like. The other book I purchased from this site was missing the dust jacket completely and they never figured out how to order one for me You get what you pay for I suppose. Disappointed.
Protect Your Investments.......2007-08-20
There are many hidden costs to owning your home and preserving its value. Proper maintenance and care is key to protecting this investment. This book is the ultimate guide in caring for every aspect of your home from room to room. Detailed instructions on routine cleaning, periodic maintenance to providing comfort and saftey are included in typical Martha fashion of simple articulation and common sense logic. Easy to read, easy to find information. This really is not a handbook however, it is more encyclopedic in portion and size. Worth having in every home. Also makes a nice gift for new home owners.
Lots of useful information.......2007-08-20
I refer to this book often for ideas on how to take care of my home. We use it to settle a lot of disputes in our house. If my husband and I argue on how to do something in the house, we can refer to this. A few examples would be: how much laudry detergent to use, how long to run the washer, how to do dishes, how to keep floors clean & the frequency that things need to be washed/cleaned. It gives lists on what chores to do and when & how to do many other things. It's like a bible of housekeeping.
I enjoy it. It motivates you to be a little less domestically challenged & to take care of your home.
Martha Stewart's homekeeping handbook.......2007-08-17
An excellent resource to have on hand. I wish I had it twenty years ago. A definite good gift for newly weds of any age.
Outstanding.......2007-08-15
This book is virtually an encyclopedia of how to keep a home.
Martha is the Mother I always wished I had! I have no more lingering homekeeping questions on what to do, or how to do it.
Book Description
Change the way you clean and keep your family's home wholesome and healthy with the help of expert and activist Deirdre Imus.
We all grew up thinking chemical smells like bleach and ammonia signaled "clean." But as Deirdre Imus reveals, some of the chemicals we use to maintain our homes are doing us and our families much more harm than good. In Greening Your Cleaning, the first in her Green This! series, Deirdre shows how cleaning house the environmentally responsible way can be as effective and often cheaper than the more traditional, toxic, means. This volume includes:
- Simple, efficient cleaning methods for every room of the house
- Spotlights on everyday products (all purpose cleaner, glass/window cleaner, laundry detergent) and the toxic ingredients you should be wary of
- Summaries of the latest research on the toxic effects of ordinary chemicals
- Resource lists of widely available "green cleaning" products and retailers
Filled with tips and testimonials, Greening Your Cleaning will show you how to streamline your cleaning products and practices, and how easy it is to make "living green" your way of life.
Customer Reviews:
Green Your Lives and Live Healthy and Longer!!!1.......2007-10-05
Deirdre Coleman Imus is married to sharp-tongued fired radio broadcaster, Don Imus. She is the mother of Frederick Wyatt Imus better known as Wyatt. Mrs. Imus has done her homework. She was an aspiring actress before meeting Don Imus and she has turned his whole world around for the better. With her in his life, they have created and built a working cattle ranch for children with cancer, siblings of SIDS, and other diseases. While the children only get to spend a week, the Imuses go the extra mile when they hear of a child's loss from cancer by attending their funerals. Deirdre and Don are truly genuine people and this book came out at the worst time. The proceeds from this book benefit charities and not the pockets of the Imuses. This book is her promotion of household cleaning products because they contain cancer-causing effects. Deirdre started this greening craze when she learned that hospitals used toxic products for cleaning materials. Her idea morphed into something far beyond our imaginations because she has developed with the assistance of others in the field to use non-toxic and healthier products for us to clean our homes. The Imuses practice what they preach. They are vegeterians and use the products in their own home. Unfortunately, her husband's spoken phrase got him fired at a time when they raising money for children's charities including cancer, the CJ Foundation for kids with SIDS, and another charity in a radiothon. The Imuses have paid dearly but they still enjoy their lives in New Mexico and New York City. Deirdre Imus is no trophy wife. She might be younger and more beautiful but she has always spoken her mind with Don and everybody else. Buy this book, maybe it will help clean up your life and home for the better.
Perfect information for environmental cleaning.......2007-09-14
Not only is this a extremely useful book, Deirdre and Don Imus do fantastic work with everything they are involved with. Especially the Imus Ranch!
Buy this book!
Not the whole story..........2007-09-05
I'm a huge fan of cleaning with more natural products, and use baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc to do so. In that way, I totally agree with the author's message. However, I don't agree with the presentation of the book. An example is the section on fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The author warns that these commercial products may contain limonene and linalool...as suggested alternatives, she mentions essential oils, such as lemon, lavender, bergamot, and rosewood. Throughout the book, she states that these chemicals, limonene and linalool, are scary and toxic...and then suggests essential oils which themselves have these chemicals in their makeup. (The recommendation of rosewood is another issue altogether as the author recommends it (several places) despite environmentalists' growing concerns for its endangered status and for the protection of the rain forests. Not a very "green" thing to do, IMO.) Her own commercial line of cleaning products contain essential oils as well, and I'm betting limonene and linalool can be found in them as a result.
There are dangerous products on the market, no doubt about that. And we as a society are guilty of "over kill" when it comes to "germs". And natural alternatives versus "man-made" chemicals are likely safer and better. I don't disagree with any part of that message.
Again, I am a fan of essential oils, however one must also understand that anything can be dangerous if applied incorrectly or without due care. I felt that many of the suggestions were overboard and failed to include proper warnings. For example, there are some essential oils that shouldn't be used around pets. Most, if not all, shouldn't be used around cats due to a cat's special physiology and the cumulative toxic effect the oils can have on a cat's liver. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere.
The author talks about the dangers of artificial fragrances, but doesn't acknowledge that many of the "dangers" can and do apply to essential oils as well. She constantly mentions "dousing" and "saturating" items with essential oils...which I makes me wonder if she has really ever been around them. Essential oils are powerful and I can't imagine ever having to "douse" anything with them. Generally, a few drops will do. I could go on and on, unfortunately. In the end, I was left feeling that the "homework" the book was based on had been incomplete and that it failed to tell the whole story. A shame as I said I do agree with the author's basic message. But regardless of where the profits go, I have to be honest with my review. I hope that it will be appreciated.
Do this for your family's health.......2007-09-01
I have always been concerned with the 'fumes' that I inhale when I am cleaning with the products you buy in the supermarket/chemists... although we have started to convert our various cleaning products to e-friendly; but after reading this wonderfully educating book - I just binned all the other products and went straight to my health store and replaced them with ecover. we love ecover products- the creme cleaner really cleans the greasy parts of the kitchen without scratches and it is e-friendly too. I always wondered why this country has such high rates of cancer and illnesses and could never pin down a reason ... our inside environment is so toxic and we thought we were keeping a clean house! I love this book as it re-educates you on what clean really means and that it is really quite simple. I have wasted so much money on toxic products and harming our health! Thank you for re-educating us and keeping life simple. I wish the supermarkets would stock -efriendly products as well. I am lucky that I have access to over four health shops within easy access to home.
Very useful!.......2007-08-12
I saw Diedre Imus promoting this book on the Today Show, and was only able to get a few tips out before the went onto the next guest. So I went onto Amazon and checked out the book, and it seemed interesting enough to order. I have gotten so many ideas that I rarely use any chemicals in the house anymore. I have killed insects naturally. I rarely see a roach, when I had a big roach problem, I clean rust and my drains naturally, and even my laundry. A great book overall. If not for the evironment, do it for your own health.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Very complete book .......2007-02-24
Is the book i need for learning on natural swimming pool. Now i can make my own pool
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.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome help with home buying and sales!.......2007-01-06
Vitt's book has been a tremendous help to us with the complicated and emotional process of buying and selling our homes. We knew we wanted to move, but each of us had very different ideas of what the "perfect home" would be like. Our differences sometimes seemed insurmountable. Also, it was often hard to understand why we were looking for certain characteristics in a home, and why we wouldn't compromise. Fond memories of homes that we had loved mixed and collided with current and future needs. For example, one of us wanted a wooded lot on a quiet street above all else; the other didn't care about location but wanted the home to be big enough to meet our need for interior space. We couldn't find a property that suited us both; how could we resolve this potential pitfall? Ms. Vitt gave us a structure for examining our motives and hopes, as well as a way to resolve our differences and find a home we can both love.
Also, the financial aspects of the decision-making process were important, and "10 Secrets" gave us a very clear path for avoiding potential financial disasters.
A home is so important, both emotionally and financially. "10 Secrets" gave us the tools and information we needed to navigate our way to successfully buy a home.
Also, we were so impressed with Vitt's book, that we gave a copy to our realtor, who frequently has to negotiate between couples, as well as between buyers and sellers. A Must-Buy for Realtors, too!
Have given copies to friends who are thinking about moving. Great gift.
Well-written, well-organized, an awesome book!
Yippee!! I made the decision..........2005-01-25
to stay in my house! Having recently gone through a divorce, and somewhat uncomfortable with my neighborhood, which has a very different demographic from mine, I struggled with how I could manage the house on my own, and finance numerous small and large repairs without taking on too much debt.
After taking the quiz, I realized that the financial stability of my house is the most important factor I needed to satisfy. Once I realized that...it was much easier to invest a few thousand dollars to update the furnishings and to make the house more like a home that reflected my personality. I was also able to take on additional debt to make some costly, but necessary repairs, such a new foundation and sewer line. In doing so, I found a way to restructure my entire debt load that allows me one smaller monthly payment, leaving me with a greater monthly cash flow.
I can honestly say that I wouldn't have had the courage to undertake the repairs, and take on the additional debt, if I hadn't read this book. Having a clear insight into my issues surrounding "home" and understanding more clearly my emotional profile, I was able to make my need structure work in my favor, instead of against me. Without this book, I would probably have sold the house at a discount, and made another, equally unsatisfying move.
Housing and Happiness.......2005-01-05
I purchased this book on the advice of a friend. After determining my housing profile I purchased ten additional copies as holiday gifts for colleagues. This book is the first of it's kind and will assist you in understanding how your housing decisions are made and how to make your home a place of happiness and not only financial but emotional security. I found myself highlighting passages as I went along for quick future reference. I would highly recommend this book to anyone - no matter what your living/financial situation.
Housing Decisions.......2004-12-28
At last a book that entertains you while giving solid information. I especially like the way this author uses flesh and blood real people to illustrate her points. I'm halfway through already in one day --maybe I'll write another when I finish it.
A Remarkable Effort.......2004-12-27
I have worked with Dr. Vitt for many years, and I am always amazed when the final product arrives. This book is just one of many of the remarkable things she has written, but this book alone has been the greatest help to me in deciding to refinance my home, an idea I had been toying with for a long time. After rereading it for pleasure and learning, rather than editing, I have learned a great deal more about the dynamics of buying, selling or refinancing my own home, and for this I am grateful to Dr. Vitt. This book should be a great help to anyone who is considering any kind of housing change.
V. Karen McMahon
Book Description
/*0-13-048399-0, 4839J-7, Riggs, J. Rosemary, Materials and Components of Interior Architecture, 6/E*/ Taking into account the dramatic advances being made in materials and technologies, this innovative book on interior architecture offers a refreshing, synergistic approach to the field while exposing readers to many exciting nonstructural materials available to today's designers. With an eye on the environment, it provides a firm understanding of the products, properties, and uses of all materials, covering everything from floors, walls and ceiling to installation, and recycling. Progressing from the ground up—literally—it looks beyond the more decorative aspects of design to study the properties and uses of both finishing materials in the design field and structural materials in the architectural field. For interior designers and specifiers.
Customer Reviews:
Very Poorly Written.......2006-08-22
This book is very poorly written. It also does not adequately discuss estimating materials.
Broad Outlook on Interior Products.......2000-06-21
This book is a good reference for anyone who is currently designing or building a luxury home, but for a general education on construction interiors, this is not the book. There are many references to the latest products, which include both color and feature description that will be quickly outdated. Most of the discussion centers around materials that would be used in an affluent home rather than your typical family residence, and product descriptions focus on the unique product, not the typical. Dimensions for comfortable clearance and layout hints are useful for residential layout, but the commercial references are very limited.
Book Description
When you think of what it will take to clean your house, are you so overwhelmed you throw up your hands and cry, "It's all too much"? Do you dream of having a closet where your clothes aren't crammed in so tightly that you can actually get to them? Is your basement filled with boxes of precious family mementos you haven't opened in ten years but are too afraid to toss? Are your kitchen counters overrun with appliances you've never used? Do your kids play in the living room because there's no room left in their playroom? If somewhere along the way you've simply lost the ability to keep your home organized and clutter-free, then It's All Too Much has the solution you've been searching for.
Peter Walsh, the organizational guru from TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, understands how easy it is for clutter to creep into your life and how hard it is to get rid of it. In It's All Too Much, he shares his proven system for letting go of your emotional and physical clutter so that you can create a happier, more stress-free home and life. At last, here is a system for managing your clutter, regaining control, and living the life you imagine for yourself.
Peter has helped clients from every walk of life. With his trademark humor and insight, Peter guides you step-by-step through the very charged process of decluttering your home, organizing your possessions, and reclaiming your life. Going way beyond color-coded boxes and storage bin solutions, It's All Too Much shows you how to reexamine your priorities and let go of the things that are weighing you down. Clearly and simply, Peter gives you the courage you need to go through your home, room by room -- even possession by possession -- and honestly assess what adds to your quality of life and what's keeping you from living the life of your dreams.
Filled with real-life examples and advice for homes of all sizes and personalities, It's All Too Much will set you free from the emotional baggage that goes along with clutter and help you lead a fuller, richer life with less stuff.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely practical and helpful guide - worth the cover price for sure, but declutter this when you finish clearing your home!.......2007-10-08
I have some of the usual problems with enjoying shopping and enjoying the things that I own, but having a few too many of these things to truly find my living space useful, comfortable, and attarctive. Add to this the fast that my partner is a total and incurable packrat, and you have the recipe for a couple that needs this book!
I checked it out from the library because I didn't think there would be enough practical info here to make it worth buying. I was wrong. Not only are there chapters that are broken down into steps and reasoned arguments for purging excess, but those steps and reasoned arguments are both pithy and substantial enough that I remember them and find them compelling even when away from the book.
As I walked through the house, the biggest thing I had to remember was that if I had a treasure, was I displaying it and treating it with the great respect it deserves? If not, then maybe it isn't as big of a treasure as I think it is, and maybe I could take a photo of it and get rid of it.
I also had to ask myself, am I holding on to things because other people gave me their treasure? Lots of people give me things, but if it isn't truly meaningful to me and useful to me, then I can either ask them if they'd like it back or get rid of it myself. If it were truly a treasure to them, then why is it taking up space in MY house?
There are a few exceptions to there rules of thumb, but overall he hits the nail on the head with his advice, and made me feel downright invigorated about getting rid of extra "stuff". After all, having craft supplies is meaningless if my craft table is so overstuffed that I can't actually do crafts on it, and the same goes for the other areas of my home.
This book is inspirational, practical, and worth more than one read. Thumbs up!
I love Peter Walsh!.......2007-10-04
Very good book for people who want to not only 'clear clutter', but change their lives. It helps you look at what you want to create - to have - in your life - not what you're 'giving up' by getting rid of stuff that you think so 'dear' to you. The idea that 'everything in your home is there with your consent', made me think twice - and make some changes!
Great (if dogmatic) help for an overwhelmed clutterer.......2007-09-29
I purchased this book as an audio CD. Peter Walsh has a nice, soft supportive voice and is an easy listen. My house was in chaos, partly due to my working, family illnesses, my tendency to collect more than enough of everything, and a bout of severe depression. I finally quit my job and tackled the overwhelming mess. It was not only exhausting and depressing but also boring!!!! Peter became part of my support system. I played his CD's over and over as I cleaned. It kept me focused on how bad things can get (and had gotten for me) as well as how to escape and hope to have a new life.
More than just "how to organize what you have"..........2007-09-23
My wife and I have been struggling lately with the "too much stuff" syndrome... too many clothes, too much clutter, etc. The book It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh caught my eye on one of the personal improvement blogs I follow. I think Sue and I now have a handle on how we need to approach our clutter situation, and it's not a matter of organizing the junk we have... :)
Contents:
Part 1 - The Clutter Problem: This Is Not My Beautiful House; Excuses, Excuses; Imagine the Life You Want to Live
Part 2 - Putting Clutter in Its Place: Step 1 - Kick Start - Tackling the Surface Clutter; Step 2 - Hash It Out!; Step 3 - Conquer Your Home; Room 1 - Master Bedroom; Room 2 - Kids' Room; Room 3 - Family and Living Rooms; Room 4 - Home Office; Room 5 - Kitchen; Room 6 - Dining Room; Room 7 - Bathroom; Room 8 - Garage, Basement, and Other Storerooms; Step 4 - Maintenance; Step 5 - Cleanup Checkup; Step 6 - New Rituals
Afterword: Take What You've Learned into the World; Acknowledgements
Walsh is a professional organizer who is part of the show Clean Sweep. So this isn't just a hobby with him. It's his life. Many of the people he works with have significant issues with hoarding, to the extent that it affects their day-to-day existence in the house. Rather than just going in and throwing stuff out for them (which would just mean they have more room to hoard with), he works with their emotional issues that put them in this predicament in the first place. By imagining the life you want to lead, you can start to figure out the way your space needs to be laid out. Then dealing with the emotional attachment behind why certain things are compulsively saved, you can begin to discard stuff without suffering from major trauma as the trash man hauls it away. :) I liked his progression from clearing surface clutter to looking at what you actually use (rather than what you think you might use one of these days). Once you get things down to a workable level, then you can practice the "something comes in, something goes out" philosophy. Bottom line, by using these techniques and dealing with the underlying causes, you *can* have a life that's less cluttered and more peaceful.
Fortunately, my wife and I are not at the stage of many of Walsh's clients. But we could be doing so much better, and be so much happier. After we get back from our vacation, I think that the trashman is going to start getting a major workout. I already started today by going through all my clothes and culling out half of what I owned. Given the entertaining style of writing and practical advice dished out here, I think we're well on our way.
More of a philosophy of organization and reduction........2007-09-21
Some people are looking for a detailed step by step book- maybe how to cram more stuff into the same space. That isn't this book. I was struck by the example of the young mother who wanted to scrapbook to preserve memories. Unfortunately the clutter from her hobby was interfering with day to day living and enjoyment of the family home. Like his clients, I find it hard to dispose of things that cost me a money. Somehow it isn't waste if you keep it and pretend that eventually you will use it. Certainly he recommends reducing the buying of "stuff" in the maintenance phase of the program but the initial part requires clearing out the clutter. Unfortunately much of the stuff that we think of as so valuable is unsalable and potentially not desired by charities. I think that facing the hard reality of getting rid of unused kitchen gadgets will make me more resistant to buying in the future.
Product Description
MAGIC LANTERN GUIDES: NIKON D80, Simon Stafford, A Lark Photography Book Simon Stafford's photographs have been used widely in newspapers, books, calendars, and magazines. Completely self-taught, he has built up a wealth of experience over the past twenty years with both film and digital cameras. Throughout his photographic career he has used the Nikon system extensively, and is now the Technical Editor to the Nikon Owners' Club International's Nikon Owner magazine. The new, mid-priced Nikon D80 replaces the Nikon D70s/D70 which was the subject of the best-selling Magic Lantern Guide ever! This model features a 10 megapixelsensor, up-sized 2.5" LCD monitor, and 4.5 fps capability.
Customer Reviews:
I should have known.......2007-10-10
Bought new, the book comes wrapped in clear plastic. I should have known why, or at least suspected why. Except for the cover, none of the accompanying photographs in the book are in color. The descriptions of some of the features tell you how they work, but don't say how to do them. In other words, there's no reference to the camera or its menus. For example; Exposure Delay mode (CS-31) gives a good description of the feature but leave you guessing how to actually do it. The pull-out quick reference card included with the book is a handy feature. A much better book for the D80 novice is; Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide by David Busch. By the way the D80 is a great camera.
Nikon d80 Guide.......2007-10-03
This book is worth the price. I looked at a number of guides for the D80 and found this to be the best for me. More info than is contained in user manual. Easy to understand, contents set up easy for uses.
WOW!.......2007-09-13
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Nikon D80 is in there! This book definitely helps you learn about all the advantages of using your dslr. If you own any camera, get the accompanying book and you will improve your shots dramatically!
Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80.......2007-08-01
Good, clearly written & understandable manual for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR camera body. I was very disatisfied with the manual provided by the manufacturer,(Nikon). Internet manuals are too laced with author's personal opinions & bias's. The Magic Lantern Guide is presented in a manner that genuinely helps the reader master the multiple settings required to sucessfully use this camera body. A digital SLR has many more adjustments for the user to master than does the equivalent film camera making fairly frequent referral to an understandable reference mandatory. This Guide definitely fills that need.
Great info.......2007-07-24
This book has a lot of extra info from the user manual. The book gives a lot of depth to all of many features of this camera and also gives some interesting back stories.
The author does not like auto features at all, but I found that the auto features work rather good on this camera. But he goes into the manual setting in great detail.
The index is rather poor but it is laid out so that you can find stuff okay.
I learned three or four solid things from the book so it was worth it.
Amazon.com
This may be the best comprehensive guide for home buyers. Home Buying for Dummies is coauthored by Eric Tyson, author of several other books in the For Dummies series, and Ray Brown, a long-time real estate professional. Like other books in the series, this one is an easy and even entertaining read. But it does not gloss over details in pursuit of simplicity. Home Buying for Dummies covers all the bases, providing clear explanations and reasonable judgments on how to select a mortgage, hire a real estate agent, find the right house, and negotiate a good deal. The book goes further than most in providing helpful, specific information. For example, in discussing ways to save money for a future down payment, Home Buying for Dummies even includes the phone numbers for various mutual funds appropriate to different investment time frames. --Barry Mitzman
Book Description
Though fun and exciting, buying a home can also be complicated and confusing—and most people learn the hard way that a wrong move can cost dearly. In order to find the perfect home at the best price, you must have skill, foresight, and a little guidance from experienced professionals.
Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition provides just that! Packed with invaluable advice in an objective, down-to-earth style that will have you sitting in your dream home in no time, this friendly guide contains everything you need to know to play the home buying game. It has the tools you need to:
- Improve your credit score and select a mortgage
- Choose a time and place to buy
- Determine the price you want to pay
- Assemble an all-star real estate team
- Make use of the wonderful world of the Internet
- Negotiate your best deal
- Inspect and protect your home
- Handle and become responsible for the title
- Cope with buyer’s remorse
Featured in this guide are tips and tricks on things you should do after you seal the deal, as well as things you ought to know about real estate investing. Also included is advice on how to sell your house, as well as a sample real estate purchase contract and a good inspection report. Don’t get chewed up by the real estate market—Home Buying for Dummies, Third Edition will lead you to the home you want!
Customer Reviews:
Obvious Find for Practical Advice.......2007-09-27
This text is an excellent primer for those of us who are novices in the terminology and techniques involved in what could possibly be the most important financial decisions of our lives. And aren't afraid to admit it.
Slow delivery.......2007-09-21
Still have not received this product as of today 9/21. Item was needed to give as gift for 9/22.
Informative and Useful Book..........2007-08-14
This book fully explains the process of deciding when and how to buy a home. I plan to purchase a home within the next three years, and feel that I will well-prepared.
Very helpful.......2007-08-06
We picked this up when we were going to buy our first home. It helped us to make the right decision and not feel stupid by asking questions.
Informative.......2007-07-13
I was hoping that by reading this book I would be able to buy a home on my own without a realtor, however, although truly informative, I doubt that it provided me with enough information to be that independent. Definitely a good book, but needs to be back up with other sources.
Amazon.com
Got a problem with grout? Open The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair (to page 98) and watch your tiling worries dissolve before the simple beauty of photography. Black & Decker has anticipated your every question and problem with interior, exterior, and home systems repairs, and detailed the solutions in just over 500 pages. In no other human endeavor is a visual guide so important as home repair (well, maybe brain surgery), so this is a crucial aid to the handyperson. Easy-to-find sections on floors, insulation, roofing, chimneys, water heaters, wall switches, air conditioning, and much more are well-designed, brilliantly illustrated, and carefully outlined with step-by-step instructions from masters. The photos in particular are extremely valuable, offering many different views (sometimes even exploded) of the operation in question, and always showing just enough to communicate without overwhelming the reader with too much detail. These alone would be worth the price of the book, but the written explanations and instructions are also very helpful, offering tools, materials lists, and hints that wouldn't occur to the amateur. The book finishes with a maintenance schedule to help you keep repairs from becoming serious, and the end papers have conversion charts and tables that you'll use time and again. If you can't have Norm the master carpenter over to help you fix your old house, The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is the next best thing. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
The new edition of the best-selling home repair classic. The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is the most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. - Now 600 pages! - 500 more photographs! - 100 new and updated projects! - Still only $34.95! Now expanded to 600 pages, The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair includes these new chapters: - Choosing Using Tools - Workshop Reference - Home Health, Safety Security
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding guide.......2007-09-13
I'm in the process of looking for my first home, and I bought this book knowing that I'd need to do repairs as a homeowner. I got more than I had asked for. The text is very clear, and the pictures are precise and thorough.
Not only do I feel more prepared to make my own home repairs after this book, but it has also helped me to spot problem areas within the homes I've looked at. If you're looking for one book that's got it all, BUY THIS BOOK!
Great Book.......2007-07-22
Absolutely wonderful book with endless projects. I have yet to do a project that was not in this book. It is like an unabridged dictionary for home repair.
Never Received.......2007-05-28
This product was never delivered so I am very upset. I was charged for it but it was never delivered so I have to say I am very, very angry at Amazon for this inconvenience - especially since it was ordered as a gift for a very special person.
Home Repair.......2007-05-07
This is a good book for those do-it-yourselfers that like photos with their instructions. It covers a wide variety of general repairs and would be good for a novice to home repair
Good book.......2007-05-02
Its a great book to give you ideas for how to fix things or how to make general home improvements.
Book Description
Written with humor and insight, 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me provides hands on advice that will help agents start, or maintain, a sucessful career in real estate. This has real life stories from dozens of sucessful, top producing, real estate professionals will help new agents know what to expect and how to succeed.
Customer Reviews:
FIne book, Easy read--.......2007-09-21
This book is ok. It's nothing really new that most people with some common sense don't already know....If you can get it in a library or borrow it, go that route. Not worth it.
Brass Tactics.......2007-07-30
Excellent book! I have been taking classes online and this book has kept me interested in real estate. It gives you plenty of tips on how to gain the edge in real estate.
Must have for new agents.......2007-06-14
If you are new to real estate, this is a must read... I still have mine 3 years later and although I haven't gone back to read it again - I won't get rid of it!
Great for a new agent!.......2007-06-12
Not knowing what to expect as a brand new agent, I found this book to be a really excellent training resource. It was a great way to get a glimpse of what to do and not to do. I highly recommend it! Also, it's a very easy read.
21 THINGS I WISH MY BROKER TOLD ME.......2007-05-16
Great book! if you go with a smaller, less pressure brokerage house that has bare bones training, this is perfect. it reminds you of all your responsibilities to yourself and your clients. it gives you direction in finding clients. i highly recommend this book.
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Martha Stewart
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Good Things for Organizing (Good Things with Martha Stewart Living)
Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
You: On a Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management
Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again
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