Antique Decorating

Prac Gde Dec Antique

Product Review
Suddenly I found myself foraging through the garage to find that trunk I have been holding onto for years. I guess I was waiting for the right book. Once you find the effect you want, it is easily achieved with the instructions given in this book. A great excuse for rising early and hitting the garage sales next weekend.

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide

Product Review
By now most readers even marginally interested in home decorating are familiar with the democratic principles of decorating elaborated in Rachel Ashwell's first book, Shabby Chic: namely, that well-made vintage furniture and home accessories can add a cozy grandeur to your home, even if the paint's a little thin or the fabric a bit faded. In her second book, Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide, Ashwell shares her processes, from a stall-by-stall description of a flea market trip to pictures of her design boards scattered with photos, fabric swatches, and paint chips. Ashwell doesn't skimp on details: she tells how to decide on a fair bargaining price at flea markets, how to clean old items without harming them, and (step by step) how one ugly glass-fronted cabinet topped with old linoleum and mismatched shelf paper became an attractive, roomy storage piece that houses her daughter's books, dolls, and bedding. This is a friendly, intimate book in which Ashwell shares pictures of her own home and those of her friends--some of whom live in roomy beach houses and some of whom live in 450-square-foot cottages, and all of whom use the main Shabby Chic concepts of comfort, function, and beauty in deciding which objects to share their space with. Fans of the original Shabby Chic will find this follow-up every bit as useful, attractive, and accessible.

From Booklist
Who is Rachel Ashwell--and why should we care? Not really a Martha Stewart clone, she is the owner and quasioriginator of a line of home furnishings that recalls the aesthetic sensibilities of genteel nobility, the kind of clean but slightly neglected homes and interiors associated with a decline in income. In an intensely personal narrative, she invites readers to flea markets, to examine the old and unusual, and to tour her home (and those of four others), and all photographic wanderings are accompanied by gentle, almost subconscious instructions. An oversize round table, whitewashed and with cutoff legs, becomes a comfortable coffee table in a seaside cottage. Carefully scrubbed and washed, old Christmas mercury ornaments shine like silver in garden settings. Even a stained linen cloth and a pink sari have new lives. Barbara Jacobs

Really Big Origami

Product Description
Duy Nguyen—the popular author of Dinosaur Origami, Origami Holidays, Origami USA, and many others—has devised something really BIG for kids. These gloriously large-size projects simply tower above other origami creations. And best of all, they don’t require special paper: practically anything that takes a fold without ripping—newspaper, brown wrapping, gift wrap—will work beautifully. So kids can start experimenting right away with what’s available around the house. Among the exciting ideas to craft, play with, or just display: school supplies (including a ruler), a kimono, green and blue samurai hats, masks, a shiny red phoenix rising, a newspaper elephant, and white, brown, and gold bears. As always, instructions for every fold are right up front.

Recycled Elegance: Decorating with Second-Hand Treasures

Product Description
The authors tell you where to find the furnishings and give thorough instructions for cleaning and repairing each treasure.

About The Author
Don Bingham is a freelance writer and antique dealer.

Joan Bingham has numerous books such as Buying and Selling Antiques and Collectibles for Fun and Profit.

Romance of the Mission: Decorating in the Mission Style

From Library Journal
Baca (Rio Grande High Style: Furniture Craftsmen, Gibbs Smith, 1995) gives an overview of the Mission Style of architecture and interior design in the United States, from its roots in Moorish Spain through the classic missions of New Mexico and California to the contemporary style of Neo-Mission. The book focuses on examples of the Mission style in residential interiors and concludes with sources for furniture, accessories, and the like. Though a more detailed explanation of the turn-of-the-century styles of Mission Revival, Peublo Revival, and the more elaborate Spanish Colonial Revival is needed to distinguish one from the other, this is a good resource for large and regional interior design collections and a colorful companion to Karen J. Weitze's California Mission Revival (Hennessey & Ingalls, 1984).
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Thank such celebrities as Barbra Streisand, who, almost single-handedly, has simultaneously popularized and increased prices for original Mission furniture. Then thank such authors as Baca, who is intent upon preserving and distinguishing between the varieties of Mission style--Prairie, Craftsman, neo-Mission, and so on--for the sheer love of its design. This homage to a linear, somewhat austere (and occasionally uncomfortable) style concentrates on western U.S. contributions: Spanish missions, Texas and California architecture, and Frank Lloyd Wright and his disciples' interior and exterior forays into Southern California. From there he explores the reproductions, so necessary for those who can't afford a Stickley or Wright original, and how to accessorize. Long on pictures, short on scintillating prose. Barbara Jacobs

Romantic Wedding Cakes (Merehurst Cake Decorating)

Elegant Bride
"Renowned sugar artist Kerry Vincent shares not only her breathtaking cakes, but the how-toÕs on these signature recipes."

The Oregonian
“Kerry Vincents not a cake decoratorunless you call Michelangelo a church painter. Shes an artist.”

Room Redux: The Home Decorating Workbook

Product Review
Room Redux can be used in several ways: as an introduction to basic design concepts, as a problem solver, and as a workbook. The book starts off with the premise that most rooms are not perfect to begin with, and if you're going to decorate or redecorate a room you'll have to make the most of its shortcomings.

Questionnaires help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of each room and how and where to begin. Authors Joann Eckstut and Sheran James provide workable solutions for problem areas common to many homes. Are the windows in your living room too low? Hang the curtain valance higher or mount a shelf above the window and place sculptures or pictures above it. Want to spruce up some boring built-in bookcases? Add new face moldings, baseboards, and cornices, or hang pictures along the edges.

The authors' solutions are often refreshingly quick fixes that don't require a major amount of remodeling--just a bit of time and ingenuity. Suggested projects are marked "quick-fix," "moderate," or "major" so that decorators can know ahead of time what they're getting into.

The book contains pockets for collecting fabric swatches, pictures, and article clippings. And if you've ever moved a roomful of furniture only to discover its new layout doesn't work, you'll be inspired to use the enclosed graph paper and to-scale punch-out furniture to preplan your room to your liking. Color drawings present a variety of fabrics and furniture styles, and handy charts provide tips on lighting placement and dimensions for spaces between furniture. Infinitely practical, Room Redux picks up where the coffee-table decorator books fall short. --Kris Law

From Library Journal
A number of books published recently, including Home Decorating for Dummies and Sharon Hanby-Roby's My Name Isn't Martha, but I Can Decorate My Home (whose new book is reviewed below), provide amateur decorators with advice on decorating their homes. Eckstut's book is the best to come out combining theory, solutions, and how-to advice. Divided into chapters that discuss color, fabrics, furniture, lighting, window treatments, walls, and flooring, this book provides detailed information about the choices available. The best feature is the focus on evaluating one's own style and living spaces. The sources listed give a variety of choices, with toll-free numbers and web sites. Although this book is highly recommended for public libraries, it is still a workbook (with cutouts of furniture to use on floorplans), so the pages will need to be protected. Pretty's book gives examples of floorplans for each room of the house, with suggestions on how to create a particular look. Purchase where interior decorating is popular.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Room Rescues: Decorating Solutions For awkward spaces

Product Description
If you're like most of us, you have at least one room in your house that's too dark, small, or narrow or whose style seems bland or dated. "Room Rescues" offers simple and effective ways to make the most of every room regardless of its imperfecton. In each chapter, Jane Burdon tackles a different type of challenge in the same practical way. Start by studying the Golden Rules about decorating choices and use of space and then review the fully-illustrated solutions pages to see numerous creative decorating remedies from real homes. Next, consult the Decorations Palettes for suggestions for colour schemes, patterns, and styles and the Combinations section to see how to mix and match solutions when dealing with a room that has more than one trouble spot.

About The Author
Jane Burdon is a stylist and interiors writer who has worked in New York as a sylist for "'Martha Stewart Living"', "'Baby"', and "'Kids"' magazines, and as a Home Editor for "'Real Simple"' magazine. She has also contributed to "'Ideal Home"', "'BBC Good Homes"', "'Inspirations"', "'Red"', and other magazines.

Scandinavian Painted Decor

From Publishers Weekly
A breathtaking book, this merger of stunning photographs and sparkling text provides a wonderful introduction to Scandinavia's heritage of painted wood decor. In page after page, Innes ( Paint Magic ) and London photographer George reveal a tradition whose cheery embrace of color and simple patterns is almost irresistibly charming. Offering much more than a classic coffee-table roundup of interiors, Innes strives to convey design within the context of the region's history and culture. From a detailed evaluation of the popular paint formulas used in a range of Scandinavian interiors--Prussian blues, ocher--she goes on to chart the causes contributing to their enduring popularity, as well as to point out their many manifestations. (Light and color, as she explains, have long been viewed as "spiritual fuel" by the Scandinavians.) For those long familiar with the topic as well as for newcomers to the field, this text will both instruct and delight with an intriguing feast of color and comment.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Schroeders Antiques Price Guide (Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide)

Book Description
No other book on the market houses as much information for a bargain price. Once again over 50,000 listings from reliable sources are included and carefully checked by an authority on the subject. More than 400 expert advisors make sure only the best and most accurate data remains. Hundreds of sharp photographs accompany the 500+ categories: glass and porcelain, match holders, purses, cookie jars, jewelry, advertising, furniture, dolls, records and more. History and other pertinent facts complement the descriptive listings, which reflect the current market and developing trends. 2005 values. AUTHORBIO: After writing their first book, The Story of Fiesta, published in 1974, the Huxfords became pottery editors for Collector Books and in that capacity wrote several other books on various Ohio potteries: Roseville Pottery, McCoy Pottery, Brush-McCoy Pottery, Weller Pottery, and Roseville Pottery, Volume II. Since 1982 they have been editors of Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide; Schroeder's Collectible Toys; Antique to Modern; Garage Sale Flea Market Annual; and Wanted to Buy.

Schroeder's Collectible Toys Antique to Modern Price Guide (Schroeder's Collectible Toys)

Book Description
This book contains values for over 20,000 toys in every category imaginable action figures, cast-iron and paper lithographed toys, wind-ups, Barbie dolls, model kits, diecast banks, games, playsets, character toys, and many other categories of children's playthings dating from the nineteenth century to the twenty-first. Backing the editors is a fantastic team of researchers and advisors who carefully check every line for up-to-the-minute accuracy. Though primarily a price guide, the book also contains coded dealer listings devised to help the reader track down and purchase those hard-to-find items. 2004 values. AUTHORBIO: After writing their first book, The Story of Fiesta, published in 1974, the Huxfords became pottery editors for Collector Books and in that capacity wrote several other books on various Ohio potteries: Roseville Pottery, McCoy Pottery, Brush-McCoy Pottery, Weller Pottery, and Roseville Pottery, Volume II. Since 1982 they have been editors of Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide; Schroeder's Collectible Toys; Antique to Modern; Garage Sale Flea Market Annual; and Wanted to Buy. REVIEW: This book is the #1 toy guide the field has to offer. Of the many toy books on the market today, only one tackles this enormous and varied field head-on - Schroeder's Collectible Toys, Antique to Modern. The book contains values for 20,000 toys in every category imaginable. It's easy to use and is compiled by the editors of the #1 antiques collectibles price guide in the country. Their team of advisors carefully checks each category for accuracy.

Sci-Fi Movies Facts, Figures and Fun (Facts Figures and Fun)

Product Description
Sci-fi films are pure gold at the box office—think Star Wars and Spider-Man—with an exceptionally devoted fan base. And Paul Barnett, an award-winning author of many nonfiction books on science fiction and fantasy, as well as some 50 novels, has created a great guide for them. It expertly surveys the genre’s best and worst, charting the cinematic changes from the low-budget, cheesy 50’s flicks to today’s high-budget, high-tech blockbusters with their mind-blowing special effects. Separate sections cover remakes, sequels, award-winners, and even sci-fi erotica! Mavens will enjoy all the in-depth information and memorable quotes—as well as the smart, knowledgeable writing.