Book Description
For people who want to bring the outdoors in.
Information on the best way to improve or add a sunroom or porch.
Dozens of inspirational photos show a broad range of options.
Construction basics including how to choose and work with professionals.
Customer Reviews:
little or no help.......2005-09-09
The Guide would be useful to an interior decorator. I was looking for help in estimating cost and materials needed to build a porch.
unusually helpful.......2001-03-09
I could not find any other books like this that showed me all the possibilities and helped me decide what kind of room was right for our house, where to put the room, and even how to decorate it.This isn't a book about building it yourself but about getting your own goals and ideas straight before you call in the builder or the architect or the seller of sunroom additions,
Book Description
Organized in three sections: Nourishing the Senses, Feathering Your Nest, and Delighting in Details.
Filled with decorating ideas to turn any home into an oasis.
16 doable decorating projects plus 10 soothing recipes that make the most of presentation, setting, color, and texture.
Handy shopping guide shows where to find bed, bath, and aromatherapy products as well as decorative accessories to create a relaxed, nurturing environment.
Customer Reviews:
I like it :).......2005-05-06
This is a great coffee table book to look at and get inspiration on decorating and giving your home some added touches for a comferting feeling.
Nice pictures, but.......2004-04-14
Nothing else! For a decorating book you would assume it would have more to tell you how to decorate, but it's very simply a few scanty pictures, and little else. There are much better books out there, and this is disappointing seeing that it comes from better homes and gardens.
Book Description
Highlights 21 homes of product designers, interior designers, photostylists, and shopkeepers.
This inspirational book is filled with the newest ideas and pro tips to create personal style using color, furniture, accessories, and fabrics.
Ideas for styles, from clean contemporary to relaxed Tuscan and more.
Shows quick ways to get ready for guests plus 12 weekend ideas to freshen homes.
Includes source lists to get "the look" with must-have fabrics, antiques, and accessories.
Customer Reviews:
Read it in a day.......2006-05-18
I loved this book so much that I read it in a day. It profiles entrepreneurs and takes you inside their homes and explains their different styles, techniques and inspirations. Those profliled range from product designers to shopkeepers, photo stylists and interior designers. Great source of inspiration and ideas from a variety of perspectives.
settle in for a good read.......2005-07-02
I am now half way through Trade Secrets and am loving it. It has the perfect balance of photos and text and tons of useful tips for how to replicate the styles you love in the book. As with a fabulous novel, I am taking each section very slowly, savoring the text, studying the details, and trying to figure out how to make everything work for my new house.
The other reviewer is right--it is very much like a magazine, rather than an interior design text book, and this is a good thing. It's an entree into the homes of some of the most creatively minded people out there. What's best is that a lot of different styles are represented, it's not all the starkly metal modern of Metropolitan Home or the flouncy romantic cottage style of Country Living. If you're bored w/ the Pottery Barn cookie-cutter look and are after fresh ideas, look no further!
This is the best decorating book I've bought.......2004-05-19
Of the three decorating books I've bought this year, this one is the very best. It is stylish, "newsy" (if that's a word), current, packed with ideas, and wide ranging in the looks and ideas it contains. It's also a lot of fun. I don't know when I have seen a decorating book that's as fresh, current, and sort of magaziney as this. It's topical and trendy but I know I'll be using it as inspiration for a long time.
Very cool yet full of ideas.......2004-05-18
This book is very cool yet full of ideas on how "insiders" decorate. You get to tour the homes of designers and even magazine stylists but the focus is on how you can create your own look. I liked reading about where they get their ideas and their "stuff." This book is unique. It's stylish and fun and practical too.
Book Description
The first book of its kind for second home owners and buyers.
Book-of-the-Month Club Feature Selection.
Second-home options, from lake houses to cabins in the woods.
Guides readers on selecting house site suited to their needs.
Remodeling and decorating ideas to make home functional.
Furnishings and home plan source list.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous Idea Book for a Second Home.......2007-04-05
What a visual feast this is! The summer porches, the relaxed living rooms, the arched windows featuring an ocean view or framing the forest. I wanted to move right into one of these second homes now.
Although it makes an effort at helping you with decision making (what's your style, crowds vs solitude, how near/how far?), it's strength is showing samples of individual homes. These vignettes tell how it's used, challenges they faced and show off the home's spaces and views in large colorful photos.
Great browsing if you just want to dream or inspiring ideas to copy in your own second home (or even the first one). Most of the decorating styles featured lean more to relaxed contemporary or touches of country and shabby chic.
Wow!!!! This is my favorite book!.......2006-07-19
I read every book about Interior Design, second homes, country homes and cottages. I have read and reread this beautiful book. It is absolutly wonderful! Enjoy!
Simple, Ordinary Decorating.......2006-04-28
The homes and interiors all look ordinary, in simple, few decorations. I didn't get any interesting new ideas from most of these photos. I mainly saw different building styles and wood colors. At least 50% of them look just like first homes, I just couldn't tell any difference.
For interiors (furniture) Not Interiors (space).......2003-05-12
This book is a decent resource for a person furnishing their first or second home, but it's not a good manual for creating your second home. The photograph angles capture walls, windows, and furnishings, but fail to show the quality of the living space. There are very few exterior photographs and many of them appear to be from the 3/4 angle. There are no floor plans or building details. If you're looking for interior decorating ideas, this is a decent reference. If you're looking for creative planning ideas for building your first or second home, you'll want a more comprehensive reference.
Like a little vacation.......2003-01-07
Getting this book for Christmas was a blessing. Just opening it is like taking a vacation. Sumptuous photos are a delight. Practical information is included as well.
Book Description
Decorating ideas and projects organized by season.
Whole-house tours that convey seasonal palettes—pinks and greens and creams for spring, bright tropical colors for summer, etc.
Chapters include at a glance, tip-style, and step-by-step projects.
Multiple room arrangement ideas and tips with floor plans.
Ideas to change rooms with color, furniture placement, and accessories to reflect the mood of the season.
Resource directory for materials and furnishings pictured.
Shopping sources for decorating materials cited.
Customer Reviews:
This book complements the other BETTER HOMES BOOK called..........2007-07-26
Yes, this book complements the other BETTER HOMES & GARDEN book called: "STYLE BY NATURE".
At least, I think so.
I bought both books together and I have enjoyed reading both "Nature" books (by BETTER HOMES) very much.
Example, both are hardback books, with gorgeous photos.
The colors in the homes used throughout this book are just as soothing as the photos in the other BETTER HOMES book mentioned above.
If you are the type of decorator that likes to look at pictures , in order to be inspired, then this is a very nice book to own in your library.
Thoroughly enjoyable!.......2005-05-22
This book is more practical than some decorating books I've seen. It goes beyond just photos of beautiful rooms with commentary. The pages inside explode with colorful decor and practical ideas.
One of the nice things I noticed is that there are sections where the author points out different components in the room (and there is literally a line drawn from that piece in the photo to the commentary about that design element). Sometimes I find it hard to think about what makes a room warm and friendly. I know it when I see it, but I couldn't really tell you off the top of my head. Since this book points those things out, it really draws your attention to those important details.
The author also does a great job of demonstrating how small touches can transform a room as there are photos of the same room with a few things changed (perhaps a different duvet in the bedroom or adding some flowers during the summer). These subtle changes can really change the look of the room, especially if you want your home to reflect the different seasons. There are photos that show how you can bring the outdoors in and change the feel of the room throughout the year. What a wonderful idea to keep your room fresh!
This book also contains information and ideas of how to make your own decorating touches - perhaps a picture gallery or a mirrored door that fools the eye. How about ideas on stenciling a room? The book goes beyond showing the idea, but also contains a materials list and instructions on how to complete the project.
This book is a wonderful and practical resource for decorating ideas. And if you want to change up your rooms periodically without doing a complete makeover, you'll find this book very handy!
A treat.......2002-11-01
I figured this book would be full of ideas, and it is. I love it, and I know I'll use it for a long time to come. What surprised me a little was how absolutely beautiful the book was just to flip through. I felt like my blood pressure went down as I flipped from page to page. This is a sumptuous book with such lovely pictures and such practical ideas. I really like the fact that the book has so many little and non-crafty ideas I can do quickly .
Don't let the title fool you!.......2002-10-02
I thought this book would show me ways to change the same room throughout the seasons. It does that only about five times in the book. The rest of book shows different rooms and houses for each of the four seasons. I live in the same house year round and could use more tips about changing my basic look. The craft ideas are not appealing to my style either. I gave it three stars because it does have three or four good pieces of information.
Book Description
These days, the yard is a palette for personal expression. And decorating in the garden is as mainstream as entertaining outdoors. Garden Decorating demonstrates how to translate interior style and design to exterior spaces.
Ahead-of-the-crowd ideas satisfy creative urges:
New approaches appeal to gardeners and decorators alike:
Feature furnishings and art
Design with garden objects
Emphasize livability
Prioritize low maintenance
Outdoor decor to make the yard look and feel even more like home:
Personal style
Structural elements
Ornamentation
Functional embellishments
Book Description
Helps readers identify their “natural-style” personality—spring, summer, autumn, or winter—and use it as a guide to create comfortable living spaces
Shows readers how to draw inspiration from the four seasons to select colors, patterns, and textures for home decorating
Offers quick tips for accents and accessories as well as whole-house and room-by-room decorating ideas
Includes a special section on creative window treatments that capture each seasonÂ's style
Customer Reviews:
Decorating with the SEASONS in mind..........2007-07-26
This BETTER HOMES book is photographed beautifully, as are all the Better Homes books.
This is a hardback book that will hold-up for years to come. The author has the reader take a quick test to see which SEASON the reader is closest to. Then the author shows photos of how each Season-personality decorator can enhance their favorite style. Also, since many people are a combination of two styles, the author gives ideas on how to blend two styles at once---in harmony.
This book is mostly photos that will inspire. It is easy to follow & read. It incorporated some modern styles and some more classic cottage styles.
Book Description
Friendly decorating guide with broad appeal
Decorating ideas and tips for real people—whatever their lifestyles, life stages, and budgets.
Tours 10 real-life homes coast to coast and offers practical advice from homeowners.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource.......2005-11-15
There are so many decorating books out there that you can spend a fortune buying them. My mode of operatus is to check the book out of the library and if it is a "keeper" I purchase it. I am ordering this book today. Even though not all the styles are like mine, the glorious pictures and variety of decorating options represented definitely provide a great jumping off point. I would actually have given this book a 4.5 stars if that option was available, but felt it was better than 4 stars.
The book addresses several "styles" of decor and includes the actual homeowners and their comments about their decorating tastes. The pictures are beautiful and each section includes "real life lessons." These "lessons" are tips and secrets for incorporating each type of style into your decor. My one complaint - I do think there was often too much of the homeowner's "stories" and would prefer more tips and lessons. One great things included is the Sources & Resources section in the back of the book.
Limited in style, but has useful tips.......2002-12-13
Here are what I think are the pluses and minuses of this book:
Pluses: The "style primer" section gives tips on color and paint, proportion and scale, furniture and floor plans, art and arranging, patterns and fabric, accessories and collections, lighting and lamps, storage and display, and sources and resources. This section alone will probably be worth the cost of the book to most people. Most of these tips can be generalized to different styles. Also the tips at the end of each case study can be useful to many people.
Minuses: However, the case studies themselves leave something to be desired. Even though the book supposedly shows the homes of a cross section of people, the style is the same through out the book. What I call "modern country." It has a country feel, but more choices of color than traditional country and some unusual eye catching design-elements.
If your style is modern country, or if you like a wide variety of styles and want a book representative of this type of style for your book colletion, like I did, then you will enjoy this book. Everyone else might want to pass.
Accessible.......2000-10-02
I found this book to be fun and completely accessible. I enjoyed the stories about the 10 Real Life Decorators in the book and how their styles evolved. I found Real Life Decorating to be practical, creative and filled with timeless ideas and tips from people who actually "live" in the houses they decorate. This is a great book for all and I have already recommended it to many friends as a "must have" for the home design library.
Accessible.......2000-10-02
I found this book to be fun, accessible and full of great ideas for people in all stages of life. I have already recommended it to many friends and suggest it as a "must have" for the home design library. The ideas are timeless and creative and the sources given are practical and fit the average homeowners budget.
Average customer rating:
|
Home Offices: Your Guide to Planning and Furnishing (Better Homes & Gardens)
John Riha
Manufacturer: Meredith Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Design & Construction
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Remodeling & Renovation
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
At Work At Home: Design Ideas for Your Home Workplace
ASIN: 0696207281 |
Customer Reviews:
Attractive & Useful.......2000-05-14
Don't let the attractiveness of this Better Homes and Garden book fool you. It's useful as well. The many photographs present a full range of options for furnishing an office and the sections give lots of ideas for locating it anywhere in the home. My favorite parts of the book included the chapter on practical matters, such as planning for electrical needs for modern offices, and the section on room design that even included a full page blank graph for making an outline drawing.
Books:
- Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds
- Pro InfoPath 2007 (Expert's Voice)
- Provencal Interiors: French Country Style in America
- Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't
- Remaking the Urban Waterfront
- Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide
- Rustic Garden Projects: 28 Decorative Accents You Can Build
- Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Teenagers
- Special Forces in the Desert War 1940-1943 (Public Record Office War Histories)
- Strength Training Anatomy: `
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful Evaluations
- The Private Life of Chairman Mao: The Memoirs of Mao's Personal Physician Dr. Li Zhisui
- Litigation Services Handbook: The Role of the Financial Expert, 2005 Cumulative Supplement
- Scenic Spots: Chinese Tourism, the State, And Cultural Authority
- Schaum's Outline of Probability, Random Variables, and Random Processes
- The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain
- The Morning Star 3-Volume Boxed Set
- Gordon, Gaffney and Graham's Questions in Company Accounting
- Salto De Mantarraya Y Otros Dos
- Biosynthesis of Acetate Derived Compounds
Porch & Sunroom Planner (Better Homes & Gardens)
Building Screened Rooms
100 Sunrooms: A Hands-on Design Guide and Sourcebook
Porches and Sunrooms: Planning and Remodeling Ideas
Inviting Porches: 210 Home Plans With Perfect Porches
