Almost 10 years after The Not So Big House came out, it's reassuring to see that houses really are starting to get smaller. Over the past year I've been interviewed time and again for articles describing a growing backlash against the mega-houses that have been built across the country in recent decades.
Houses aren't only getting smaller, they're also becoming less formal, a trend picked up by my good friend and coauthor (of Inside the Not So Big House) Marc Vassallo in his new book, The Barefoot Home. Marc hits the nail on the head when he says that we no longer need formal living and dining rooms--it just doesn't fit the way we live anymore. And we're spending just as much time enjoying the outside of our homes as we are the inside. In a barefoot home, you can feel like you're on vacation 365 days a year, a lifestyle that's much more in tune with the way we REALLY live today--at least when we're not at work.
I was lucky enough to be one of the very first readers to receive a copy of The Barefoot Home and as I leafed through it, I could almost feel the sand between my toes. Marc has assembled and described, in his inimitable style, 20 excellent examples of houses that are both Not So Big in form, and decidedly Not So Formal in function. As Marc recommends in his "barefoot manifesto," it's time to kick off your shoes, open up, embrace the sun, live outside as well as in, and adopt a barefoot state of mind. The lessons these homes have to offer are much needed by all who are disenchanted with "too bigness" in house design; and best of all, they're easy to implement, and often less expensive to boot. Anyone who is a fan of the Not So Big House series will almost certainly enjoy this book as well.
Book Description
As our personal and professional lives become more demanding and hectic, people have reacted with a more casual, relaxed, and open way of living at home. Kitchens are no longer just for cooking but serve as entertainment hubs; barbeques on the grill have replaced formal dinners. As our lives at home have become increasingly informal, the “barefoot living” lifestyle has emerged and there is increased demand to carry this attitude over into home design.
Relaxed, open, filled with light, and intimately connected to the outdoors, barefoot houses make living at home feel like being on vacation 365 days a year. The 24 houses featured in The Barefoot Home reflect today’s barefoot times. From a long, low house on the Kansas prairie to an adobe home in New Mexico and a New England cottage by the sea, these homes capture the essence of barefoot living.
Customer Reviews:
Surprised and delighted.......2007-09-27
We live in temperate Australia and hesitated long before buying this book. We have shelves of excellent architecture reference books from around the world and have been owner builders. Was it going to be just glam coffee table eye candy? The architect has worked with Sarah Susanka (Not So Big House etc), so we decided to take the plunge. This is a very good book. There is so much to look at, contemplate, re-visit. Brilliant resolution of details, houses that flow, small exquisite spaces, sound materials. We have had hours of enjoyment from this book and have been happy to share it with others to extend their knowledge of good architecture. Enjoy!
Barefoot -- informal style, for an informal life........2007-05-16
On first glance I agreed with many of the other reviewers: 'the book was slick', 'it was disingenuous', 'sure, if you live in a sunny climate, most, if not all, of the time'.
Then I went back and looked at the book again, and read the opening passage: he does not strive to be disingenuous, he tells us he himself doesn't live in a barefoot home, nor a barefoot neighborhood, but he is trying and the manifesto of the book is to entreat all of us to be more informal in our primary living space -- our homes.
Open the house up as soon as you can, get rid of all the stuff you don't need, make your home as casual as you can, and then enjoy it.
Think informal thoughts, and live in all the spaces available to you: the patio, the deck and never forget how good it feels to have sand between your toes!
He provides blue prints to the homes and he even lists the architects. Enjoy and live well!
Great Book!.......2007-03-26
This book is great for conversation and ideas. I leave mine on the coffee table for periodic inspiration...that of myself..and of others!
Barefoot, if it's summertime.......2007-03-11
I don't exactly get the barefoot concept. If the author had seen these homes in the wintertime, would he still consider them barefoot homes? Barefoot seems far-fetched and contrived in this book.
This book is a nice compilation of casual homes mostly in the country or at the beach. It's similar to other books on getaway homes. Beyond that, I didn't see anything particularly new or inspiring. It almost seems like the author (or Taunton?) was more interested in pushing the barefoot concept than providing new ideas.
Designed for wilder, more remote locations.......2007-02-15
This book is beautiful, the writing lyric and inviting.
But in looking for ideas for building our coastal home, I found that the windows and outdoor living areas were meant for homes in secluded or tree-sheltered locations, not on a city lot as our will be.
I highly recommend this book for those with more remote building sites.
Average customer rating:
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Furniture 2000: Modern Classics and New Designs in Production (Schiffer Design Book)
Leslie A. Pina
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Furniture Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
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ASIN: 0764304968 |
Book Description
Many of the great modern classic furniture designs of the twentieth century are still in production and available to the public in America and abroad. There are also many recent designs destined to become classics, because they share many of the same qualities of modern furniture already in museum collections and sought after by collectors. This volume, with 600 color photographs and detailed captions of a representative sample of the best modern furniture available, is the first source book to focus only on designs that are currently in production, and to present them in full color. It is both a history of modern design and an international shopping catalog. The indexes of 250 designers and companies and the list of sources will enable the reader to locate each item for purchase or for additional information. This book will serve as an indispensable and handy reference for decorators, interior designers, architects, and collectors, plus acquaint the general public with extraordinary designs that are generally only known to the trade.
Book Description
A comprehensive and in-depth guide for amateur and professional ceramic tile setters. TILE YOUR WORLD takes the reader from the early history of the craft, all the way through to advanced residential tiling techniques. Projects range from kitchen and bathroom floors to custom tile shower installations. Kitchen counters and back splashes are also covered. TILE YOUR WORLD contains over 300 black and white photos and line drawings and 6 four-page color inserts. Eight appendices and a full index are included.
Customer Reviews:
A most.......2007-08-31
I rebuilt my bathroom and completely renovated the shower. This book was my bible. Of course I had other references and ideas to use, but pretty much kept to this book. I had it there by my side while constructing everything from the shower pan, shower walls and tiling it all. Sure I could have done it without this book and my wife would have made me hire a professional to redo my job.
Not to brag, but with the advice from this book people think that a professional DID remodel my bathroom. There is so much satisfaction in doing it yourself and to get a the results as good (and sometimes better) as a pro...
An excellent overview.......2007-06-22
John Bridge has put together an excellent reference for the experienced and novice tile setter alike, and if you're looking to learn the basics to put together a project for the first time, this book is a must read. John's light, conversational style makes the book a quick read, and as mentioned in another review, the online forum on the author's website is also an invaluable reference.
Highly recommended to those who need a to learn the ABCs of tile.
Tile Your World.......2007-05-13
I bought the bookas a gift for a friend who is quite interested in home renovation technique. She was thrilled by it and judging by her reaction, it must be an informative and well written book.
Everything you need to know!.......2007-02-13
This is the ultimate book for tile setters and for those who want to be tile setters. John focuse on all of the little things that the amateurs don't. focus on. The actual tiling itself is the last thing he focuse on. He will teach you the science of laying different types of tiles. You will learn everyting from floor deflection to room layout to determing the square footage and much more. I even learned of a new underlayment product made by Schluter that does not transfer cracks to the tiles due to structural movement and also a waterproofing membrane to use in shower tile installations! I have learned so much Thank you.
Great book for me - Novice/JOAT.......2007-02-06
We recently built our new home & I used this book & Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding) to do all the tile work. One of our best & proudest features is the masterbath I built with lg garden tub and oversized corner dual head shower with dual niche all tiled together - We love it. I can't believe I was able to do it all with friends & family and alot of sweat/work.
Saved thousands over best few estimates. I see why the labor is so pricy now....
Recommend both books.
Book Description
With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is packed with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen.
In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of inspiration.......2007-09-22
Love the way the book shows apartments of varying small sizes and multiple solutions for small-space dilemmas (like little room for sleeping, tiny kitchens). I was able to brainstorm a solution for my own apartment after one look through this book.
My only complaint is that there are no product resources listed--just designers' names and contact information.
Fabulousity on a budget.......2007-06-01
Well, I guess I'll add my voice to the chorus of reviewers for this book:
This is a jewel of a book. Lots of fabulous examples of small spaces with a lot of character. People who love art, collect books and appreciate unexpected decorating ideas will enjoy this book."
A lovely book that could use a bit of fine-tuning to best serve its intended readership.......2007-04-06
I really liked this book, but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because I think the definition of "small spaces" is too broad. This book would be better if it showcased twice as many spaces from 100-600sqf, rather than going all the way up to 1000. Maybe for people who don't live in cities, 1000sqf is tiny, but I think a lot of the book's target audience would find that amount of space to be truly palatial. Many of the larger spaces had yards or terraces, sometimes doubling the real amount of living space, so that feels like a "cheat" to me. I got the most ideas out of the first half of the book, and the rest of the book was enjoyable as a general interior design book rather than a "small spaces" design book. Many of the featured homes' remodels involve knocking out walls and really re-working a space, so if you're a renter looking for what you can do with a small space you don't own, you might be disappointed. All in all, a very nice book with wonderful photographs, I just wish there was a greater focus on spaces under 600sqf, and more creative rentals being showcased for readers who are renters.
Really small spaces!.......2007-03-26
A small but pretty coffee table book with great content and some good ideas for living in tiny, tiny spaces.
1) 16 of the 33 profiled spaces were 500 sq ft or less! The other 17 were 600 - 1000 sq ft in size. I haven't seen many books on small space living that focus on this size range. Most books seem to present 2000 sqft houses as tiny.
2) The owners of these spaces didn't all have an unlimited budget. Many were in rentals so gut renovations, moving walls, etc was not an option. Many did have expensive or design worthy furniture and art but quite a few were heavily furnished with IKEA and thrift store finds.
3) Most of the owners had to be very carefull with clutter and picking pieces that would work in the space and that they really loved. Some of the other Amazon reviews found this to be somewhat unrealistic but I think that when you live in such small spaces, you are going to have to keep things very neat and tidy.
4) Part of the title is "expressing personal style". There is plenty of that in the book mostly clustered around what I'll call "modern" (eams etc), "drama" (red, red everywhere), "eclectic" (high design items mixed with garage sale items) and "standard" (danish). Many of the owners have extensive collections that are well presented and show off their unique personal style.
5) Most of these places are inhabited by: architects, artists, interior decorators, makeup artists, writers, curators, floral designers, etc. Essentially those who are in the "profession". I got the impression that hiring someone is de rigur if you are an accountant or fireman.
6) I liked the organization of the book by size of the space, architectural diagram of the space, lots of well shot photos, a narrative of who the residents are and how the space came to be and a picture of the residents.
7) One of my favorites were Francisco Parod and Ximena Orozco, the couple from Mexico living in a 450sqft NY apartment...with a baby! Not only did it look comfortable and open, they furnished almost everything at IKEA. My other favorite was Karen Meyer. She had translucent screens that could slide between the living room and dining room. This provided flexibility to the spaces by making it more expansive or more private, as needed. A murphy bed that was behind a shelf unit in the dining room could be opened up to create a guest room. A nice example of rooms doing double duty.
All in all, the best book I've found for realistic ideas for very small spaces.
Living Large in Small Spaces.......2007-03-19
Although I was not overwhelmed with inspiration, I liked the set-up of this book. The spaces are grouped by square footage complete with pictures of all areas of the space and a floor plan so that you can visualize how the spaces fit together. I also liked the fact that there were various design styles. However, I could not visualize myself living in the majority of the spaces displayed in this book. The majority of the homes displayed were homes of designers and artists. Since I myself am not a designer or an artist, I could and would not begin to design like what was displayed in this book.
Book Description
With its unforgettable images of oceanfront vistas and creative decorating details,
Family Houses by the Sea invites us to sample the gracious possibilities of living within reach of a gentle offshore breeze. The book's beautiful photographs capture the varied but always engaging personalities of seaside homes around the world.
Illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Sumptuous and inspiring.......2000-12-22
I received this book for my birthday last year and still enjoy looking at it. In fact, I was getting ready to order it for a friend for the holidays when I saw an earlier review of this book that also mentioned another vacation home book called Second Home, I bought it, too. I highly recommend both books. This is wonderful dream book, as is Second Home. Second Home also includes pointers (throughout the book) on deciding where you might want to have a second home, real estate shopping tips, and ideas on building and decorating, too. Second Home is as inspiring as Family Houses by the Sea, but it offers the bonus of being practical and talking directly to me about what I can do to actually realize my dream of having a weekend house.
One of our favorites.......2000-11-17
We are accumulating a wonderful little stack of books related to second homes as we plan a getaway of our own. This one is a favorite because of its dreamy photography. I also highly recommend SECOND HOME: Finding Your Place In The Fun, which is a new book that mixes dreamy photos of real homes with some helpful tips on finding a location as well as buying, building, remodeling, or decorating a second home. Like Family Houses, Second Home is a larger hardback book. Gorgeous.
Family houses - eclectically by the sea.......2000-10-07
And therein lies the beauty of this book. Yes, some of the homes are older & some are rustic-but there's the sleek & contemporary too. In other words, something for everyone who loves to live by the water (or wishes they did). Buy this book to appreciate the different ways to express loving the natural light & atmosphere in a home that is reflective of the sea. You may not get Decorating Lessons 1-100 - but thats not the point. You can escape thru this book, dream thru it, share it, admire those who have created beautiful spaces in beautiful places - without displaying every obvious "seaside" nic-nac but with much good taste & class. Buy it for those pleasures & of knowing that kind of life does exist & can be lived by those to whom it means the most. To the authors - a beautiful volumn - thank you for seeking these places out & creating an arm chair trip to some incredibly beautiful spots by the water.
A Classic.......2000-09-08
A beautiful book that captures what it feels, smells and looks like to live by the sea. If you want glitzy resort style houses then this book is not for you. The houses shown are not show cases for a glossy magazine but places filled with memories and life. It's my favourite beach house book.
Seaside Fantasies Brought to Life.......2000-06-30
This book was my inspiration for a beach house I just finished completely cosmetically rehabilitating. The book took me all the way through the process by stimulating me with the beautiful visuals of its photos. I would look through it repeatedly, looking one time at flooring, another at windows, and so on, depending on where I was in my rehab process. I can't imagine it not being a superb stimulus for anyone.
Average customer rating:
- Glad to Have This Book
- Furniture is the Focus
- Moderately interesting
- FABULOUS!
- Caribbean Elegance
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Caribbean Elegance
Michael Connors
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Island Life: Inspirational Interiors
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French Island Elegance
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Caribbean Style
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Tropical Houses: Living in Nature in Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Java, Bali, and the Coasts of Mexico and Belize
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Tropical Interiors
ASIN: 0810910098 |
Book Description
Here is an exotic interior-design book for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping to a different way of life. The elegant lifestyle, magnificent homes, and varied furniture and decor of the French, Dutch, Spanish, English, and Danish islands of the Caribbean from the late 18th century to the early 20th century are revealed as never before in this sumptuous volume.
With some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth as a backdrop, dazzling photographs reveal the homes of the sugar barons who made their fortunes there. Tables and beds from St. Thomas and Ste. Croix, armoires and chairs from Martinique, cupboards and chests from the Spanish Antilles, settees and cabinets from the English islands; all are works that combine the grace and opulence of European and North American styles with the vernacular island forms and decorative motifs. These gorgeous examples give the reader a unique view of the casual refinement of aristocratic Caribbean living.
Customer Reviews:
Glad to Have This Book.......2007-04-28
Not so long ago I saw Caribbean Elegance at a friend's house. My friend was gracious enough to lend it to me to read. After reading it, I felt I should have my own copy, so I ordered a copy from amazon.com.
Not only is Dr. Connors' narrative comprehensively informative and enjoyable, but Bruce Buck's photographs are absolutely beautiful.
Together they have introduced me to a heretofore, to me at least, world of fascinating furniture and decorative arts. Kudos to Dr. Connors and Mr. Buck.
I look forward to acquiring the rest of their work.
Furniture is the Focus.......2006-01-25
This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.
Moderately interesting.......2005-08-15
This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.
FABULOUS!.......2005-04-10
I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style". This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
The text gives a detailed history of the settlers and islands, really giving you an understanding of how the various styles of West Indies architecture and furnishings came into being. It also distingushes the furnishings by their various European influences, such as Spanish, English or Dutch, among others. As an interior designer I found this book fascinating and educational. But even for someone who just has a love of the islands, the photography alone is worth the price of the book.
Caribbean Elegance.......2004-06-17
This book was exactly what I was searching for. Not only is it visually stunning, but it provides a wealth of historical information on Caribbean style and furnishing. A wonderful resource if you want to understand how this very unique style of interior design came to be.
Book Description
A practical guide to using color successfully.
The power of color is its ability to influence mood, create atmosphere, and enhance perception. As a result, one of the most effective ways to transform any room is by changing its color. Which colors to use is the challenge.
The Color Scheme Bible is a practical, yet inspiring reference for those who want to take advantage of different colors without clashing. It contains 150 color scheme ideas for home decorators and interior designers.
The book explains how to choose colors that will complement each other for a subdued effect, and which colors and combinations will energize the room.
Topics covered include:
- How color creates ambiance and atmosphere
- Using color to give a small room the illusion of space and depth
- How to create the feeling of warmth and light with color
- Distinctive color schemes inspired by nature, art, travel and even a favorite possession.
The book also includes a variety of color combination palettes that can be used with different materials for refreshingly original color schemes.
The Color Scheme Bible is an essential handbook for home decorators and interior designers.
Customer Reviews:
My New Home Decorating Bible.......2007-08-22
I bought several books trying to help me get my home decorated in my style, but not really knowing my style. I have never really had enough money to decorate a home before so after 10 + years of marriage, I wanted this home to show a bit of my personality. This was the key ingredient I needed to spark my imagination. The color combinations really do have emotions that are triggered and helped me to find the right colors for the moods I want in my home.
One fair warning, after reading this, you may end up wanting to go with colored trim. We are learning quick, changing your trim color is either time consuming (if you are a diy) or expensive (if you hire it done). But so far it has been worth it; the colors really play off each other. Even one of the painters I had give me a bid wants a copy of Color Scheme Bible.
The other decorating books will end up more of coffee table items for looking, but not very helpful. You can't copy someone else's style when you know you have your own. It just helps to have something to spark that style, and since I didn't have a treasured fabric or plate or something that designers like to use, I had to use this Bible.
My English written book came with several pages in German, though. Hopefully, they have resolved that problem. But I wasn't willing to part with it long enough to return it and wait for a new one to be sent, it has been a well used resource for my new home.
Great Inspiration.......2007-06-14
This book has a lot of ideas and inspiration about colours. Some schemes are daring, but all of them seems an professional work!
Colour combination chart in spiral book form with hard cover.......2007-06-08
A book that is more for carrying around when colour schemes are being planned. It is small in size. Each page has an imaginative and inspiring title that distinguishes one combination of colour from another. It does not have many interior design photographic examples of the combinations suggested. It is like a palette with suggestions.
just one little thing I didn't like.......2007-04-13
The color combinations are nice, but the photographs do not represent
all different kinds of design styles, only one, simple and sparse. Most people don't live in homes that are so plain, so it is impossible to know how these colors would look in more expensive "designer" spaces.
Just what I needed!.......2007-03-01
I love color and I was always working to try to find color schemes for rooms in our home and often ended up finding that I'd picked something that felt lifeless or didn't fit us. This book is just exactly what I was looking for! I stumbled across it in the library when we moved to our most recent residence. What a find! The authors include dozens of potential palettes along with information about the mood, potential executions and inspirations behind the choices they offer. This is now my secret decorating weapon. For the first time, I feel like a grown-up when I set up a home!
Average customer rating:
- FRENCH BY DESIGN
- Should you buy French By Design?
- Beautifully presented.
- Brilliant, Great Sense of Design, a Visual Delight
- France, American Style
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French by Design
Betty Lou Phillips
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Unmistakably French
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Provencal Interiors: French Country Style in America
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French Influences
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Villa Decor: Decidedly French and Italian Style
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Secrets of French Design
ASIN: 0879059729 |
Book Description
The enduring appeal of French-country style spans the centuries, a gracious mingling of elegance and ease. After years of largely echoing the furniture, fabrics, and accessories linked with the region of Provence, these days French country is often far removed from the primitive images that hearken back to the early seventeenth century. Room by room, FRENCH BY DESIGN reveals the secrets to creating a contemporary French-country look, including textiles, furniture, floor coverings, window treatments, color palettes, wall treatments and lighting, thus allowing anyone to bring the look home.
Customer Reviews:
FRENCH BY DESIGN.......2007-01-12
I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THIS BOOK BY MISTAKE AS I THOUGHT I HAD ORDERED "UNMISTAKENLY FRENCH" BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
Should you buy French By Design?.......2005-08-13
I just did. The homes & rooms featured in this book indicate that money is no object and these homeowners want you to know it. Subtlety is non-existant. Rooms are very "we had a decorator & we spent a LOT". Most items looks too new, too ruffled, smocked, tucked and otherwise adorned. HOWEVER, if you can get past the pictures & READ THE TEXT- Phillips has a lot to say that is excellent. She lists sources & frequently shares fascinating comments on everyday details of French style (who knew about brass hardware vs brushed nickel?). If you read; buy it. If you look only at photos, don't! Charles Faudree is much better in the genre in my opinion.
Beautifully presented........2005-01-20
Another of Philips' beautiful French decorating books. Homes presented in this book, as with her other books are high end showing us the sumptuous fabrics, and lovely French furniture she specializes in. Homes shown are mostly mansions, not the average house. Good coffee table book.
Brilliant, Great Sense of Design, a Visual Delight.......2004-04-22
Not unlike all of Phillips' books, this book is a masterpiece of European syle and design. No detail is left unnoticed. The furniture, fabrics, antiques, architecture, artwork, and carved stone are each carefully considered and beautifully photographed. Every page is a visual delight. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
France, American Style.......2003-04-03
Beautiful photos and interesting commentary on French social customs. However, the featured residences are not French, but American homes decorated "in the French style," which is somewhat disappointing.
Book Description
More artists make necklaces than any other form of jewelry—and these pieces are among the most exquisite ever created. Selected from over 5,000 entries, they range from unique chokers to artful collars. Some showcase precious metals and gems, while others use more unusual materials, including plastic, wood, paper, and glass. They’re forged, cast, and woven, and have surface embellishments that run the gamut from inlay to enameling. And the variety is simply astonishing: Classic bejeweled chains appear next to avant-garde felted wool constructions. Some of the eye-catching, full-color images feature enlightening quotes from the creators themselves. Jewelers, students, collectors, and anyone who loves beautiful objects will treasure this extensive collection—the largest of its kind.
Customer Reviews:
A Good Selection Of Ideas And Applications.......2007-09-19
I bought this book to help me think about my own designs for jewelry and products. The wide variety of shapes, materials and techniques is exactly what I wanted to see. Recommended to beginning and intermediate students.
Not traditional .......2007-01-15
This was a gift for my daughter - a jewelry major. This is NOT for those who are making "beaded jewelry". The pieces shown are pieces of art - some wearable and others simple art. Some are elegant, some very unique. Do not buy this book if you are looking for traditional necklaces. It is a great book for those who appreciate jewelry as an art form.
Not the best in the series .......2007-01-07
As an avid collector of jewellery books, jewellery designer, maufacturer and teacher, I was waiting with baited breath for this to arrive. I am unfortunately disappointed with it. ( Having loved brooches, rings and Polymer ). This book heavily focused on Sterling Silver, ( where was Precious Metal Clay - not one example - appalling!, I hope this was not bias by the esteemed juror??). Not enough examples of mixed media and many of the photos contained in other publications. Some were truly beautiful and inspirational, whilst others were an insult, they should be in a 500 garments, they were shawls!(Carol Fishers Canvas), or Christoph Freier's wonderful granite bolders with two gold bolders, placed as a necklace on lawn were fabulous but they were sculpture. Taking the title "Interpretation" to the extreme you see 20kg rocks on grass, yes they are a representation of a necklace but it does not belong in this book, I am looking for jewellery. In fact, I was sorely disappointed as at least 50% of the items were so over the top or shaped so that they could not ever be worn. Perhaps they should have made this book two - 500 Wearable and 500 Non Wearable! I wait for 500 Earrings with concern now. I just hope Lark can bring back the original high standard of this series, together with a wider diversity of media and certainly not leaving out important media such as Precious Metal Clay. Paper, wood and glass-lampwork, felt, were either non existent or poorly represented. Borrow from the Library, save your pennies and purchase the spectacular Art Jewelry Today by Dona Meilach.
amazing necklaces.......2006-12-20
The work in this book, as with the others in the series of books from Lark, is truly amazing. Forget your preconceptions of the necklace. This is art, some of which is wearable and some isn't. The pieces are beautiful and a testament to the creativity of jewelry artists around the world. I am in awe of the other artists.
Absolutely Brilliant.......2006-11-23
Absolutely brilliant. There's nothing more to say. The above comment is ridiculous and probably was written by someone who was planning on using the 'ideas' in the book to copy in a beaded fashion. Sorry, some of us actually appreciate art in different forms and through different medium. Not all 'necklaces' are made of plastic beads and nylon string.
Books:
- Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
- Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book
- To Live's to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt
- Trilogia sucia de La Habana (Narrativas Hispanicas) (Narrativas Hispanicas)
- Unwrapped
- Viking Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
- Visual Grammar (Design Briefs)
- Wallpaper
- Whoosh Boom Splat: The Garage Warrior's Guide to Building Projectile Shooters
- Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- 2006 Writers Market
- Proceso Contable 1
- The Pathology of the U.S. Economy Revisited: The Intractable Contradictions of Economic Policy
- Just Plain Pickled to Death
The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living
Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design
Let's Get Comfortable
The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory
Hmmm?.......2007-05-12
