Customer Reviews:
Good enough to read twice.......2002-03-04
I borrowed this book from a co-worker and have read it with great interest. I'm here to purchase it because the information is so clear and appropriate. Tips for making a deck last and how to repair and maintain a deck. This book will help you make it right the first time. Every home owner should have this in their library!
OK if you only want to build a square or rectangular deck..........2000-06-04
After finding that deck builders are getting $25-$35 per sq ft in MI I decided to design my own deck. If you only care about a square or rectangular deck then this book is pretty good. "The Complete Guide to Decks" from Black & Decker (available at Amazon.com also) covers the basics plus gives detailed information on including angles, circular portions, steep slope construction and multi-level construction.
The best deck building guide by far........1999-08-13
I work for a lumber dealer and one of our areas of expertise is decks and deck estimates. When customers ask for a book or something to help them through the project I always suggest "The Complete Deck Book". I have reviewed many books for my company and this was the only one that stood out.
If you are planning a deck project, this is a must have.
Everything you need.......1999-04-13
I built my deck almost entirely from this book. It's especially good at the structural engineering detail. Some other books try to steer you away from doing your own design. A nice photo selection, but no plans for any of the fancy extras.
Customer Reviews:
Down to earth, practical methodology book.......1999-01-22
From a number of books I have been reading on passive energy topics, Mazria's small book is the most concrete, understandable and organized. I designed my home using the book and the forecasted energy compsumption matched the calculations!
Excellent reference!.......1998-12-04
When I designed our first house this book was invaluable. We are now designing our second home and looked to see if there is an update. Unfortunately it has not been revised but then little has changed with the sun and mass and the book will once again be a valued resource.
absolutely indispensable!.......1998-06-08
A seminal reference on the fundamentals of solar design. Easily used, yet thorough and quantitative. Should be required reading for everyone in the architecture & building design fields. Sunfall info given here is relevant to every structure ever designed -- and if you actually use it, the info *will* improve your design!!
Book Description
No matter how beautifully decorated a room is, it doesn't matter if no one can see it. Interior designers know the importance of good lighting placement, because it is the key that can literally transform a home. Although correct lighting placement is this book's central theme, it goes much further to discuss everything from basic lighting principles and practices to new technologies, issues of energy efficiency, and new trends in computer automation, followed by a practical guide for analysis and planning, execution, and installation, offering creative solutions to a wide range of illumination issues.
While the information is oriented to a professional design audience, the practical information and advice is just as useful to do-it-yourselfers and homeowners who take on their own lighting projects.
Each topic includes a visual guide and the author even includes room-by-room lighting strategies. Full-color photographs of interiors and drawings illustrate detail and specifics of placements and design features.
Customer Reviews:
Basic Principles... Advanced Application.......2007-01-15
While this book is less How-To and more Inspiration, it is a great book for both the home owner and the home planner. It focuses on basic lighting principles (which are useful for anyone trying to properly light their home) illustrated through advanced lighting applications (architectural elements and features incorporated during the planning, building, or renovating of a home).
It illustrates lighting techniques for each room in the home with emphasis on different areas of the room that require different kinds of lighting. Lighting for both day and night, and a special section on exteriors, are explored.
The examples and illustrations in this book are from homes where lighting design was considered in the initial construction, and money and resources were apparently not an object. While unattainable, they are inspirational.
For those of us who don't own our home, or cannot remodel (due to financial, zoning or other restrictions) this book provides some basic lighting principles that are still useful and applicable when lighting a home. In general, there are three levels of lighting to complete any room:
1. Ambient lighting-an indirect light that provides overall illumination
2. Task Lighting-focused light for work spaces (ie-kitchen counters, desk-tops, bedsides, reading chairs, etc.)
3. Accent lighting-any light used to draw attention to a featured object (art, sculpture, architectural elements)
Thought the examples are not really anything you could achieve in your own home, it gives you ideas on how to incorporate these types of lighting for both day and night, and interior and exterior.
The book title really says it all.......2007-01-06
With this book, there is truth in advertising. I'm an architect and I do a lot of resdential design. I've found this book to be quite useful and would recommend it to archtects and contractors that build on spec.
Book Description
n A lavish collection of plans in full-color, sure to spark the imagination and add beauty to any home. n From peaceful garden retreats to expansive landscapes designed to create outdoor living and entertainment spaces, whatever your paradise, you'll find it here. n Instant gratification - get immediate results with six easy-to-use garden plans. nGet helpful advice on reading your blueprints, adjusting the plan to fit your home site, planting tips and much more with our special Help section. n Blueprints are available for all designs, as well as a regionalized plant list to install a landscape appropriate to your area.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2005-07-17
This book is great for garden ideas. Plenty of interesting designs shown in graphic form, plus an artist's illustration. Lists of plant material have to be ordered. Some may find this a shortcoming. In our case, it's great as most of those lists contain plant material that is inappropriate for our region.
Some good ideas.......2005-05-31
While this book does not have comprehensive information on each plan, it still provides some interesting ideas. Additional information such as comprehensive blueprints as well as plant and material lists customized to your region is available for purchase, but I found this useful without having to order the additional material. The different plans provide a wealth of ideas and act as a catalyst in designing your own landscape. You won't get substantial information on the plant life itself, in fact in most cases you don't get anything but a picture, but this allows you to substitute a more appropriate item suited to your tastes and region. This is by no means a "how-to design a landscape" book, but if you are looking for some ideas and basic landscape plans then this book delivers.
This book is a rip-off!.......2004-06-22
I bought this book expecting the 50+ garden design plans they promised. Well, they had 50+ garden designs, all right. You got six for free and you had to pay at least $10.00 apiece for the remaining plans. It is essentially a catalog of plans and you buy the ones you want.
Not worth the money!!!!
Book Description
This comprehensive, feature-packed book shows how you can create more beauty around your home, grow delicious healthful produce, and save money and natural resources all at the same time - by landscaping with edible plants. It includes a 160-page "Encyclopedia of Edibles" with detailed horticultural information, landscaping and culinary uses, seed sources, and recipes, as well as an abundance of how-to illustrations and landscape diagrams.
Of special interest to all gardeners, this unique guide incorporates energy-, water-, and soil-saving techniques with specific designs for all geographic/climatic regions of the country.
Customer Reviews:
Integrate beauty and function into your self-sustaining garden..........2006-04-28
Being in a rural area and living on a small family farm, we aren't overly concerned with decorative landscaping. We try to make every inch of our property productive and useful. Apart from the fields and pastures in use for livestock, we have allotted a small area for produce on our property.
Within the 1.5 acres surrounding our farmhouse, we have made allowance of space for a vegetable garden (based upon the concepts of Edward C. Smith in his book titled "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible" and an orchard that adheres to the philosophy found in Patrick Whitefield's book titled "How to Make a Forest Garden".
With the ideas found in this book, "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping", we are now planning to landscape with a conscience and purpose aside from simple aesthetics. We are delighted with the information provided to serve as a foundation for our planning.
We have given the 4 star review based upon the fact that this book hasn't been revised for nearly 25 years and could certainly benefit from more current data. And, we would always like to see more color photographs and illustrations to complement the text.
sure would love a new edition.......2005-06-11
I just wanted to add my voice, if the authors are listening, that this book is a great resource and a new edition would be so welcome. Some of the info doesn't go out of date, of course, but there are so many new cultivars and plants that are more easily obtained than they were 20 years ago that would fit well into the home landscape and the permaculture view of gardening. I got this book at the library and i may buy a used copy, but I would jump at the chance of an updated edition!
Good Introduction to Landscaping, good reference.......2003-03-29
I have a couple of minor criticisms about this book, so let me begin with those. Firstly, it is showing its age. It makes frequent reference in the early chapters to the water shortages and environmental disasters that were widely expected to occur by the end of the century. As you know by now, those never really materialised. There is still plenty of reason to be concerned about the way American society (mis)uses resources, but the threat is neither as immediate or as dire as the author makes out.
Secondly, in the suggestions on building planters, and retaining walls, the author fails to note the potential dangers of CCA treated lumber (now being phased out) and railroad ties treated with creosote.
Lastly, more color illustrations would have been nice. Those that are there are very good. The b&w drawings are nice, but not as good as photos.
Those criticisms out of the way, the book is excellent. The first few chapters provide the rationale for edible landscaping, then introduces the principles of landscaping, giving numerous examples of applying different themes to different climates. The chapters on techniques, especially in relation to trees (the basics of pruning, and plenty of advice on espaliering) are particularly good. An entire chapter is devoted to identifying insects and dealing with the undesirables.
The second half of the book is a plant encylopedia. Handy to have in one volume, but if you already have a good plant encyclopedia, it is probably redundant.
Excellent book !.......2002-08-09
I grew up in a garden designed using this book, and now I am working on designing my own. It is a teriffic book with a lot of information about different edible plants and how to design an edible landscape. The only drawbacks are (1) it's a bit dated (new smaller rootstalks let you have smaller trees than you could in '82) and (2) it's a little bit california-centric.
Easy to read, thorough, and inspiring........2000-02-13
I love this book. I'm not a professional gardener, just a homeowner with a passion for gardening, and an interest in more sustainable and environmentally inclined gardening ideas and techniques. I believe this book has information that would be of benefit to almost any level of gardener. The author covers every aspect of gardening and landscape design in a very in thorough manner that is as informative as it is easy to read. For those who want to delve into related subjects she makes suggestions for additional reading that I found very helpful. Her encyclopedia of plants is extensive. The astounding list of plant and seed suppliers she has compiled is a great benefit. If there be any fault in the book, it is that it is somewhat dated with the most recent edition being 1982. Her coverage of drip irrigation reflects this. Otherwise it is superb book!
Book Description
Combining basic-to-advanced instruction and exciting projects, this complete guide shows how to build paths, patios, and walls using all manner of masonry, including brick, stone, tile, and concrete. It helps readers plan structures, choose materials, and select the right tools for the job. Projects include building an outdoor barbecue, casting stepping-stones, and using updated concrete decorating techniques such as acid staining, resurfacing, stamping, and tinting. Step-by-step instructions take readers through every phase of the building process with clear, easy-to-understand text and 200 how-to photos. Includes complete materials lists and information on maintenance and repair. Even more comprehensive than the ultra-successful Walks, Walls & Patio Floors!
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-03-12
This is a very well done book, and I enjoyed it very much. It has nice projetcs that you really can do by yourself. The pictures are wonderfull, and full of great ideas and details. The instructions are so clear, so anybody can understand easly.
book.......2007-01-16
I was looking for a book on how to build a brick mailbox. This did'nt help much. Thanks anyway.
Good book for the home improvement weekender.......2005-04-21
I bought Sunset's "Complete Masonry" because I am thinking about using concrete for my next kitchen counter top. I had heard on a radio home improvement program that concrete kitchen counters are popular in some other countries. Complete Masonry has one chapter on concrete counter tops, but the example they give is an outdoor barbecue, not a kitchen. The techniques can be adapted to a kitchen, but it's not the same as having illustrations of specifically what I want to do.
Other than that, Complete Masonry has lots of information for the home gardener or handy person. You get pictures and details for laying out and construction of walks, stairs, patios, walls, ponds, rock gardens and all kinds of decorative and imaginative masonry work around the home. It's aimed at the home improvement market, not for the professional mason, although a professional might get some creative ideas from it's illustrations. Complete Masonry starts with very basic teaching such as "what is a shovel" and works up to include all the details you would need to construct the projects in the book. Like a lot of Sunset books it's full of ideas and examples of very elaborate projects, though the projects appear to have been done by skilled professionals. Even so, with a little practice you could probably finish any of the projects if you have a little construction skill and are willing to do the work. It's a good idea book, and a practical how-to home improvement book.
Loved this book!.......2004-02-16
Sunset has published several books on this subject, 3 of them called "Complete Masonry" with different subtitles and a basic one, possibly others. This is the only one that I've actually gone through cover to cover and it is superb. I have the Black and Decker flavor of Complete Masonry too and this one is far better at 1/2 the price.
The projects described are quite a bit more appealing than the B&D's plain cookie cutter boring wall and walkway offerings. More importantly this book offers better techniques of design that can be applied to your own unique design.
Another of my favorites on the subject of concrete that is also applicable to walls, walkways, flooring or whatever else you wish to conjure is a book called "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" It actually offers much more than what the title leads you to believe and suggests concrete as a very versitle replacement for standard brick and tile uses of the past.
Book Description
If you own a home, condo, townhouse, rental or vacation home, then you will love this book. As much journal as it is organizer, this time-saving book features entries and fill-in-the-blank space for all the notes you ought to keep about what you've done to your home, what you've bought, where everything is stored, what color paint you used, when repairs were done, and by whom, etc.
Features a chapter for every room and each section of the house, inside and out. It even offers space to record the details of your swimming pool, deck, landscaping, and more!
Use the book to record the details of what was done, how it was done, what was used, how much it cost, when it was done, and where it was from. Handy Preventive Maintenance Checklists and a section on "How Long Things Last" will serve as reminders to help you keep the various components of your home in top condition. In a special section on interior design you will find basic space-enhancing principles to make any home look superior.
Practical for every home owner, but unique enough to make the perfect gift for housewarmings, goodwill gestures, weekend visits with friends or relatives, Christmas, new employees moving into town, and friends moving out of town.
Customer Reviews:
Good Home Improvement Book.......2005-04-12
This book is really great. It has alot of space to write details about every room. It also includes appliance information for warranties. It gives you a checklist of items to look at before you move in your house, a monthly checklist and a six month checklist. It is good to write in the deminsions of rooms, windows, etc to take to the stores when you need to buy supplies. I love the spiral bound because it is so much easier to deal with. Excellent Book!
Good organizing tool for the home. Very professional looking.......2004-10-14
I just got this book as a gift and it's exactly what I was looking for. I think the negative reviews here are referring to the first edition which must have been three-ring and photocopied, I don't know why they show here.
Anyway, this revised edition is awesome: professionally designed and printed, and chock-fill of good stuff. And, it's spiral bound and lays flat, not three-ring bound. Files perfectly with my house paperwork. I think it will keep me organized in the new home
Organizational Heaven.......2004-10-01
I was so excited to finally have a way to keep all of my dimensions, colors, and pertinent information about our home in one place. Now when my husband calls and needs me to pick up a part for the sink, stove etc. I simply take the book and the sales rep does all the rest. No more double trips to get the right item. I also am amazed at how much easier this book makes decorating my home. It's great to be able to pull out the book to see if something will fit in a particular room.
Good book.......2004-09-30
Getting this book was a real pleasant surprise. I'm very disorganized and it's frustrating because I can't seem to stay on top of things. I was kind of skeptical when I ordered the book because too many books are hyped, but I really have found this one helpful. One immediate benefit is that i now have a way to keep track of changes I'm making to my kitchen. I now have a way to remember the precise paints and tiles I used. I also liked the worksheets for furniture, the garage and that kind of stuff. It never occurred to me that keeping track of this stuff would make my life a whole lot easier.
Not as good as others.......2003-06-22
Unable to decide between this and a few books similar to it, I purchased them all so I could compare them side by side. I must agree with one of the other reviews that the pages are just photocopies that are spiral bound together...very cheaply made. And the information to record in this book isn't as nice as in others (2 for example sold here also...Our House Journal: The Story of Our Home, which is good for sentimental things like photos, and Welcome Home: A Home Improvement and Decorating Organizer, which handles the facts and sample information). I definately would not recommend this book to others.
Book Description
When it's time to deck out your house, you're smart to check in first with the patio pundits at the corner of Sunset and Lowe's. That's where you'll find stylish outdoor solutions that fit every size, style, and budget. Lowe's Complete Patio & Deck Book takes you through the entire process—designing your ideal space; selecting materials; construction and installation; adding decorative or functional elements; plus maintenance and repair. An extensive photo gallery and comprehensive planning guide put you on the path toward expanding the outdoor living spaces of your home.
Key Features:
- More than 300 step-by-step photos
- 30 projects to build, from a simple gravel patio and a basic deck to benches and shade structures
- Inspiring ideas and helpful tips
Book Description
Decorating can be foolproof, when it's done the House Beautiful way! With practical, down-to-earth guidance, and the magazine's photos as inspiration, even true beginners will find out how to get it right the first time…and every time.
Go from clueless to faultless! Home decorators who long for a contemporary loft-style apartment, chic Colonial living room, or cozy beach hut bathroom can make their dreams come true…effortlessly. With House Beautiful's straightforward, no-nonsense approach to everything from painting and wallpapering to lighting and window treatments, reviving a home is as easy as Ready, Set, Decorate! The segment “Ready!” explains the many wonderful options to choose from--colors, patterns, surface treatments, or hardware--and offers confidence-building tricks. “Set!” leads you through all the preparatory stages that spell the difference between success and failure. And “Decorate!” shows how to do the job yourself or brief a professional--and how to avoid the pitfalls, whichever route you take. Plus, there's practical guidance on quick, fun-to-do projects that add value and beauty to any home.
A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful illustrations give great ideas!.......2007-08-09
This book is more for the beginner than advanced BUT it does have great ideas for every room in your home. It covers a wide variety of styles that are sure to please everyone. The book goes room by room, each covered in three sections; ready, set and decorate.
The getting "ready" section covers the different styles and materials used in decorating (i.e. fabric and window shapes in the window section) - this section clearly defines where to begin and what can be used to change it. The "set" section explains in further detail what needs to be gathered and decided before you decorate. The last section, "decorate" explains techniques used.
If you are interested in ANY of the techniques in this book, you must get additional resources for the "how to" instructions. This book is shy on that BUT it has lots of decorating tips and outlines that will really help any begining decorator.
Don't Waste Your Money.......2006-10-26
Even if you've never read a decorating book before, this book isn't one on which to waste your time and money. It's elementary (do we really need yet another explanation of the color wheel)and glib (don't even think about doing a faux finish based solely on the information in this book). I bought it used for about $2.50 and still think I overpaid.
Good ideas.......2006-06-29
This book has some good ideas to decorate. It is easy to understand. Unique plans for rooms.
Books:
- Concise Rules of APA Style (Concise Rules of the American Psychological Association (APA) Style)
- Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath
- Country Living Decorating Vintage Style: Using Romantic Fabrics and Flea Market Finds
- Country Living Decorating Vintage Style: Using Romantic Fabrics and Flea Market Finds
- Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More
- Dreaming of Tuscany: Where to Find the Best There Is: Perfect Hilltowns; Splendid Palazzos; Rustic Farmhouses; Glorious Gardens; Authentic Cuisine; Great Wines; Intriguing Shops;
- Eminent Georgians: The Lives of King George V, Elizabeth Bowen, St. John Philby, and Lady Astor
- Essential Oils Desk Reference (3rd Edition)
- Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things: 2,317 Ways to Save Money and Time
- Fast Feng Shui: 9 Simple Principles for Transforming Your Life by Energizing Your Home
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Successful Manager's Handbook: Develop Yourself, Coach Others
- Guess How Much I Love You
- We All Go Traveling by
- Adventure Classics : Graphic Classics Volume Twelve
- Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning
- God Save the Child
- Graveyards of Chicago: The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
- Wiley Not-For-Profit Gaap 1998: Interpretation and Application of Generally Accepted Accounting Prin
- All Connected Now: Life in the First Global Civilization
- Murder A la Mode
Outdoor & Recreational Areas
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Design Ideas for Decks (Design Ideas Series)
Decks: Plan, Design, Build (Ultimate Guide To...)
Deck Planner: 120 Outstanding Decks You Can Build
Complete Deck Book
Building a Deck (Build Like A Pro)
![Create an Oasis With Greywater: Your Complete Guide to Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems [superseded by new edition]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0964343304.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
