Softcover, 272 pages
Customer Reviews:
Well worth the money........2006-07-12
The techniques in this book are so painstakingly explained with text and photos that it's almost as if the authors are looking over your shoulder as you work. The reader will notice many extra tips and suggestions along the way in margins, charts, stylized boxes or picture captions. One feature called "Masterstroke" contains ideas for one a bit more advanced or ambitious.
Mastering Fine Decorative Paint Techniques might be a bit overwhelming for someone who's never tried any of the techniques. It's probably better suited for someone who's done some experimentation with these techniques previously. This is not a book for someone who just wants to sponge a jewelry box or closet wall. At the other end of the spectrum, even an advanced painter should find things of interest here to help him/her fine-tune some techniques.
great for all skill levels!.......2006-02-04
I bought this book as a just in case my other book didn't have all the information I needed but I ended up using this book as my main book to do my house. Great illustrations and explanations.
A Great Resource!.......2001-08-02
I bought this book in preparation for painting rooms in our first home. Having always rented, I didn't know what all was required in preparing your surface or how to choose the proper application tools. This book started from the beginning and included these topics. The examples throughout the book are marvelous and the directions for achieving such great effects, as stenciling, colorwashing, stippling, sponging, ragging, etc. are easy to understand. The instructions also include applying the these techniques to not only walls, but objects like picture frames, candlesticks and furniture if appropriate. A must have for anyone who is redocorating their home and wants to stretch their budget a little further by using paint techniques.
Great book for any skill level!.......2001-01-12
I am a professional faux finisher/muralist, and I really enjoyed this book. I have literally dozens of books on decorative painting techniques, and this is one of my favorites. It's like an encyclopedia- lots of different techniques explained very clearly, with good general info. If you're not sure what type of finish you're looking for, this would be a good book to invest in. Also has a good color reference for help on mixing your own paint colors. Another nice feature is that there are finishes in both water and oil based paints. Some Faux books only deal with oils, which i personally don't like to work with because of the smell and clean-up, etc... If you're looking for a more advanced book, I'd suggest "The Art of Faux" by Pierre Finkelstein.
An excellant start for a beginner or a expert..........2000-03-29
I am currently reading this book as I prepare to redecorate my home using painting techiques. This book is excellant in the volume of information it contains from a discussion of colors, paints, glazes, brushes, and tools to specific techniques such as sponging, ragging, stippling, color washing, etc. I found the contents to be very specific yet simple enough for a beginner like me. The best feature however is the variety of color pictures that accompany each topic. Once I have mastered the simpler techniques, this book will allow me to move on to the more advanced techniques which are also included. Happy painting!
Customer Reviews:
Not instructional.......2006-07-03
This is a great book to see what someone else has done using trompe l'oeil, however it is not instructional.
Oh The Possibilities.......2006-01-13
The murals in this book are beautiful, fantastical, grand and WAY above my abilities. :-) I enjoyed this book because of the possibilities and the ideas it fostered versus my ability (or inability) to mimic the designs. I've been looking for a book that addresses how to incorporate doors into murals and this is the first one that I've come across that showed some ideas.
Obviously, this author and muralist is a VERY experienced painter (note his mural interpretation of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe nursery rhyme - pg 82). Many of the murals depicted would be something expected in a museum, hotel or grandiose mansion. In fact, if you look in the back of the book you will notice that many of them are from private collections and the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford.
The Painted House does not contain much info on techniques or step-by-step instructions. It is more of an idea book to open your mind to possibilities. I do think some of the less complex designs could be adapted to smaller spaces with some creative thinking.
If you want inspiring mural designs to paint, this book is probably only for the very experienced or talented artist. If you are a creative beginner, it's a good resource for ideas to stimulate projects on your own artistic level.
Not useful.......2005-10-01
Although the work depicted in the photos is incredible, none of it is very useful. Nice to look at - not at all practical for everyday painters.
good reference, not for beginners.......2005-07-20
I am a decorative artist, and I found this book to be really helpful when looking for inspiration,or looking up some new themes, fresh ideas.If You are a beginner looking for a step by step guide, don't bother,it won't help.However, it WILL make You want to paint, because it is just so beautiful, it makes You want to grab Your brush and paint all over the place. I also found this useful to show it to clients who want a mural, but are not sure about a theme.
Gorgeous works, terrific for inspiration.......2003-01-13
This book is full of beautiful paintings and ideas. The author gives you layout examples so you could literally paint your whole house, or at the very least all 4 walls of a room. Some of the examples are things like: being in an Arabian tent with one flap rolled back to reveal a beautiful desertscape; an indoor swimming pool circled with mythological creatures; draped fabric on all the walls, etc. There are many more, and they're simply breathtaking. The author has painted murals inside museums in Europe, so you know the quality is there. There are oodles of color photos here, and while this isn't a full blown step-by-step book, with 1,2,3 pictures, it gets 4 stars because of it's incredible diversity of mural use, from small to large, and the inspiration that comes from it. I wish it were a little less costly, but it is a nice book with quality paper stock and binding. I know I will refer to it when I start my mural project. If it had more of a beginner's feel, I'd have given it 5 stars.
Book Description
For a fresh collection of stylish color schemes, look no further than 1001 Ideas for Color Paint. Featured ideas range from contemporary treatments to traditional looks, in everything from bold colors to pretty pastels. Readers will also find professional advice for choosing paint and color, descriptions of numerous popular paint techniques, and variations on color themes on a room-by-room basis presented in sketchbook-style illustrations. Over 1,000 color palettes, photographs, and illustrations provide inspiration and tips for success. With 1001 Ideas for Color Paint readers can give every room in their home a brand new look.
Customer Reviews:
Better books out there but this has lots of photos.......2006-05-29
I've read a lot of decor books about color. I consider this book barely average. This book is filled with photos of rooms with color swatches used in the room. I often found myself trying to find the color of the swatch in the room. Many times I was not successful. For example, on page 116, the bottom left photo has a lilac color swatch but I did not see any lilac in the room. The sofa, the focal point in the room is a salmon color. There is no salmon color in the swatch.
The book DOES have lots of photos, which is always nice. There are some good-sized photos of some rooms, then renderings (not photos) of the same room elements in various color schemes. Sometimes the renderings work better than at other times. For example, page 30-31 shows a stair and entry/hall area. The renderings are a good representation for possible color choices. Less effective were pages like 62-63 and 130-131, maybe because there were too many elements in the rooms.
There are color swatches pages with only 6 swatches per page. This means sample colors are an adequate size (page 120-21). There is a section on faux, paint and textural techniques. This section included info about the suitability, materials needed to create the look, cost (low, high), time required to create (moderate, high) and a short paragraph on tips of how to do it yourself. There are no step-by-step instructions, just tips.
It seems to me that the publishers may have thought more was good, but even more was better, but for me there was just TOO much in this book. It was as if it was trying to be too many things at once and not doing any of them well.
If you are looking for help in selecting colors for rooms, I would recommend: Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Garden) by Shelley Stewart (one of my favorites),
Color Harmony by Hideako Chijiiwa (Warning: sample colors are very small but nice book), Color Your Home Beautiful by Martha Gill (gorgeous vibrant colors, fantastic photos) and Color Solutions by BH&G (Several solutions in this Q & A format. Lots of great solutions and information for your color projects). There are even more books on paint and paint techniques but these are just books on color. See my reviews for details about each of these books.
Book Description
Without a doubt, Americans are increasingly aware of the dangers of toxins and pollution in our environment. To many of us, that simply means the outside world. But studies have shown that our indoor environment can be up to 10 times more polluted than our external one. Some of the biggest contaminants are toxic molds, chemicals released from carpeting, gasses released by manufacturing building materials, and conventional paints. Enter The Natural Paint Book, a comprehensive guide to making 100% organic, all-natural paints and finishes at home. The ingredients required, like gelatin, clay, and linseed oil, are readily available around the home or from your local home improvement store. Step-by-step instructions and detailed full-color photographs throughout show readers how to prepare the paints in their own color palette. There are also decorating tips on how to apply the paints to create a variety of rich, stylish-and health-conscious-finishes. Bonus material offers readers design advice for transforming their home into a personal sanctuary, and there is a full product directory at the end of the book.
Customer Reviews:
wall paining for starts.......2005-07-20
This book was very much what I thought it would be, clear and direct and most useful.
Book Description
In this eagerly anticipated guide, America's favorite decorative painter show how to use her renowned one-stroke method to create colorful borders that give character and style to any home. Readers will find:
-Borders for every room in the house, from the laundry room to playrooms -Coordinating borders accompanying each project--perfect for home accessories -Projects easy enough for beginners and inspiring enough to attract experienced one-stroke painters and Donna Dewberry fans
With photos showing the borders in actual homes, readers will find the inspiration they need to create masterpieces for every wall in the house and to decorate furniture.
Customer Reviews:
Great vendor and wonderful book for painting.......2006-11-03
The book is very detailed and with practice it should be very easy to learn to paint with onestroke. I have not yet had the opportunity to practice my painting, but it looks like anyone should be able to master it.
Book Description
With Donna Dewberry's help, even inexperienced do-it-yourself home decorators can turn any wall into a masterpiece! Donna has completed more than 1,200 custom decorative paint jobs for homes and businesses, perfecting a variety of surefire techniques along the way. In this book, she shares some of her favorite tricks and techniques for creating:
- trompe l'oeil murals
- floral designs and leafy garlands
- faux wood, marble and other finishes
- popular theme designs, including gardens, animals and European scenes
- and other grand ideas for painting foyers, doors, windows, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms ... practically every room in your home!
Just follow the illustrated, step-by-step directions for great, professional-looking results. The hardest part will be deciding which gorgeous effect you want to paint first. Donna helps there, too, offering expert advice on choosing the right effects and colors, along with answers to all your questions on surface preparation, tools, paints and more!
Customer Reviews:
Not an Artist.......2006-06-22
Had I not obtained a copy of this book for free, I never would have come to own a copy. I was going to toss it in the trash when we moved, but my children begged me to keep it for comic relief. I am a trained working artist and in my opinion, Ms. Dewberry needs some serious lessons in perspective, depth of field, tonal values, and drawing before she undertakes a book about mural painting. Even my kids could pick out numerous blunders. The cover shows a mural on an exquisite floating staircase in a bazillion dollar home....with edges slopped with paint because they were not even taped off. If I was the new owner of that house, even if I knew nothing about art, my first investment would be some wall paint and a roller.
something better.......2006-04-21
Although this book was visually nice to look at I found it lacked in teaching me how to paint murals. I have stumbled across a great site that has free tutorials on it. I hope you find this helpful. The site is [...]
Only for fans of Donna Dewberry.......2005-07-20
As a decorative artist I found this book somewhat revolting.Then again, I didn't know Donna Dewberry's work before.Well,she is great at the one stroke painting tecnique if that's what You like, You'll find some of that, but She can't draw at all.Wherever any basic drawing skills are required ,she just doesn't cut it.Her colors are in place though,and the book fills You in on the basics,here and there, but it's not detailed enough for a complete beginner, or would mislead him/her, and just useless for a pro.I keep it as a reference for clients, who like this folksy style,but I find it rather primitive.
Not typically Donna!.......2002-03-22
Donna Dewberry consistently produces fine detailed instructional books.........this book on murals is not much more than a "see what Donna did" book, the photographer did a brilliant job......... No patterns, no detail, I could care less what part of a house has these painted walls ,(content is divided by rooms). I bought the book to learn HOW she did it. Lot of pictures, beginners beware, you admire her, you wish to paint her technique, this book will tell you next to ZIP!
Splendid Ideas Photographed Perfectly.......2001-07-29
Being a huge Donna Dewberry fan, I was not at all surprised when I opened this book. The pictures are fabulous and Donna's murals provide the reader with a plethora of ideas for many aspects of home decorating. Donna's books seem to have a magical quality about them making even the novice painter feel as though he/she could paint anything!
However, after I was mesmorized by the artwork, I felt disappointed with the lack of directions for each project. All of the other Dewberry books give explicit instructions, worksheets and patterns, this one does not. After studying this book intensely, I was left with the feeling one gets while looking at an Art book, like " gosh, what a talented artist, I wish I could create like that." In otherwords, instead of inspiring me and building my confidence as her other books have done so consistently, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my budding talent. I think I'll stick to her other books and just use this not for reference, but as an addition to my coffee table.
Book Description
Now parents can create their children's dream rooms without breaking into the college fund. With no painting skills or special materials required, Creative Kids' Murals You Can Paint includes:
-Fun and whimsical designs adaptable for any room--everything from nursery and magical themes to animals, flowers, and sports
-35 step-by-step demonstrations for simple painted elements readers can mix and match
-Ideas for boys and girls of every age group, from babies through tweens and teens
Complete with professional tips and tricks, this book makes it easier than ever to turn blank walls into inspiring works of art!
Customer Reviews:
Highly Recommended!!.......2007-09-25
I bought this about a year ago because of the airplane on the cover...I decorated my son's room in airplanes and was looking for a mural. I was so impressed with how easy it was to do the airplane, and I was enchanted with the author's other characters, that I also did some of the pond characters over my garden tub, for my son as well! When I get more time, I plan on using other chapters to create murals for my daughter. My mother was so impressed, I am buying her the book as a surprise gift. I highly recommend this book! If you can draw, you can paint these murals!
Wow!.......2007-06-08
What a great book! I haven't done any murals yet, but plan to within the month. I imagine it will be relatively easy to do with the guidance of this book. It has great mural ideas, detailed supply lists and recommendations, and it shows how to do some of the smallers elements of each mural step by step. I feel much more confident going into mural painting with this book.
Very nice!.......2007-03-08
Lots of great ideas in here, with step-by-step instructions about how they are accomplished. I think one still has to have a little skill beforehand, but it is a great guide.
Interesting and inspiring.......2007-01-11
I liked the way this book gave me lots of ideas and how-to tips, and also left it open to add my own adaptions. I will definitely use some of the projects in my granddaughter's rooms when we redecorate them.
Helpful.......2006-11-06
This book did give us some ideas on what to have painted in our daughter's room. We actually took a few ideas from this book and came up with our own mural.
Book Description
Painting the exterior of a home is a large and costly project-yet homeowners have long been forced to decide on a color scheme based on only a tiny swatch or a paint brochure.
Now, nationally recognized color consultant Bonnie Rosser Krims shares a foolproof method for selecting and combining exterior paint colors. This unique guidebook presents more than twenty-five distinct color schemes- complete with color reference numbers from the major paint manufacturers-along with beautiful, full-color photographs, and ideas and inspiration for painting trim, accent colors, and more. Specific information about working with roof color, plantings, and features such as walkways and porches is also included.
From tips on avoiding common and costly pitfalls to a step-by-step plan for getting the results you want, this is every homeowner's key to exquisite color balance for the home exterior.
-Save time and avoid weeding through hundreds of tiny paint palette chips.
-Get the look you want, with foolproof paint recipes and color combinations.
-Save money. This guidebook covers every phase of exterior painting, from choosing colors to estimating time, materials, and costs.
Customer Reviews:
No Help for my needs.......2007-09-26
Unfortunately "Perfectly Painted House: A Foolproof Guide for Choosing Exterior Colors for Your Home". (1) It wasn't any help in choosing the perfect color(s) for our home. We have a bungalow style home built in 1925 - there was only one color choice in the book for similar home(red) personally did not care for color. I was looking for siding color w/trim & door color choices i.e. 3 colors. (2) We do not plan on painting our house ourselves (many hints for doing same). Very disappointed in this particular book.
BEST EXTERIOR COLOR BOOK.......2004-03-11
This is a great book for anyone serious about choosing paint colors for their house with professional results. A wide range of house styles and color combinations are presented. The book starts out with a brief step by step for choosing exterior paint color. It provides instructions for actually painting the house yourself. This is followed with page after page of gorgeous photos of painted houses, and it includes the paint color used for each house. There are very few resources available on the subject of choosing color for the exterior of the house. The book is truly the best I've seen.
Great Book! Great Help!.......2004-01-17
I have two of Ms. Krims' books, The Perfectly Painted House and The Perfect Palette. We bought a Federal Style home built in 1820 in downtown Fitchburg, MA for my husband's psychology practice last year. We consulted the book and decided on the Phelps Putty color, but kept the shutters black (although your choice of gray was stunning and I may do that in the future). The color suggestions along with the pointers on painting cedar shingles in the appropriate way yielded great results and we have gotten many compliments. Our next project is our own home and I chose the Glastonbury combo for my main floor and the Marblehead for our downstairs. Clearly Ms. Krims' books have been used and enjoyed. Thank you very much!
Disappointing.......2003-09-24
Anyone using this book as a means by which to choose paint colours, is making a huge mistake. Like most books of this genre, it is candy for the eye - you may be inspired, but to go out and use the same colours as in the book is foolish.
The homes featured in this book are mostly country, or traditional. Any paint colour you choose is dramatically influenced by the architecture of your home, the climate in which you live, whether it faces north or south, etc. The homes in this book seem to exist in isolation on snowy plains or country acreage unobstructed by neighbours, power-lines, garages, etc. She does not talk about size at all. For example: a tall skinny home, with little architectural detail, painted fire engine red will not look nearly as charming as a cosy cottage with heavy moldings and shutters. There is little mention of accent, or trim colours. It is a flimsy read - if you love the idea of a yellow home (as I do) you will only find ONE yellow house. There is only ONE red house. A better book would have shown pictures of 4 or 5 homes, in different styles, painted red, yellow, blue, etc. We're talking about photographs here - why not include more? A better option for house paint ideas is to drive around your neighbourhood, which shares the same light, climate, etc. as your own. Find a few houses you really like, then ask the owners what colour they used.
GOOD NEWS!!.......2003-03-11
I am going to have my house painted this spring and have been dreading getting the color right. Then I found this book. Here's the good news: the paint colors are right there in the book with pictures of the painted houses. It's got the answers I was looking for. I think this book could be used by anyone with any style of house.
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Painting Secrets
Paint your home
Perfect Palettes for Painting Rooms: Plus Complete Decorating Guidelines
Perfectly Painted House: A Foolproof Guide for Choosing Exterior Colors for Your Home
Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home
