Antique Decorating

The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture: Chests, Cupboards, Desks and Other...

Product Description
The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture is an indispensable reference and collecting tool for novice and experienced collectors alike. Expertly researched, each of the 334 representative examples of chests, cupboards, desks, racks, stands and other pieces-from Federal to Colonial Revival to Mission to modern-are photographed in full color and accompanied by an authoritative description of the variations, materials, origin, and (if known) maker. Price listings and tips help both casual and serious collectors find great buys and identify valuable pieces. An extensive reference section includes a checklist for identifying styles, a discussion on construction and types of woods, an illustrated glossary, a list of public collections, tips for buying at auction and much, much more.

Back Cover Copy
This handy, authoritative guide contains over 300 premier examples of American case furniture-chests, cupboards, and desks-built from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth. From Federal, Chippendale and Empire styles to country, Mission and mid-century modern, this splendid array of furniture has been photographed, appraised, and categorized specifically for the collector. Each photograph is accompanied by an extensive caption that examines the maker, year of manufacture, materials of the piece, and hints for collectors such as the scarcity of the piece, demand, condition, and points to check before buying. An up-to-date price guide rounds out this indispensable guidebook.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture: Tables, Chairs, Sofas, and Beds

Product Description
The history, price range, manufacturer background accompanied by a photograph of each piece of furniture allows both first-time collectors and experienced connoisseurs to identify and appraise American antique tables, chairs, sofas and beds whether they have been found in the basement, at a garage sale, consignment shop or flea market.

From Shaker to Mission to mid-century Modern, these antiques from the seventeenth century to the 1950s -- 347 in all -- are described by an in-depth text. An index, upholstery guide and list of public collections help readers evaluate antiques like pros.

Publisher Description
Also available in this series: THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN POTTERY & PORCELAIN, THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN FURNITURE: CHEST CUPBOARDS, DESKS & OTHER PIECES, and The ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN SILVER & PEWTER

The Art of John Berkey (Paper Tiger)

From Booklist
His art is no less realistic than most sf illustrators' work, but John Berkey, one of the most admired sf artists, differs markedly from most of the artists on view in Grant and Humphrey's Chesley Awards for Science Fiction and Fantasy Art [BKL D 1 03]. For he is, as Frank lucidly contends in her appreciative text, a forthright impressionist. Light is his primary concern; asked by young artists how he starts a painting, he tells them, "With the light--that is, the light sources within the picture." He lets brushwork show chiefly for its suggestion of movement but also because he knows that the eye makes sense out of daubs of pigment, and he wants his paintings to engage viewers' imaginations. Hence, he renders one brilliantly convincing spaceship after another, which in their details, however, resemble nothing that yet exists. They are extrapolations from the human, animal, and machine shapes he limns so well in his pre-sf and contemporary non-sf art, examples of which also distinguish this dazzling album. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Jane Frank examines all aspects of BerkeyÂs work, with more than 100 color illustrations drawn from all periods of his career-including personal illustrations painted for his own artistic satisfaction. Berkey himself contributes an autobiographical introduction. “His wonderfully facile style is the perfect balance between painterly impressionism and hard-edged realism.”ÂVincent Di Fate, Infinite Worlds.

The Awesome 3-D Puzzle Challenge

Product Description
It's an awesome display of 3-D mind challenges. Pop-ups and puzzles and lots of elements to move around and play with: that's what makes these 25 delightfully original games so amazing. Every bright and appealing page offers a 3-D surprise designed to challenge the brain, test logic and perception, and provide loads of fun. The amusement begins as soon as you open the book: four hands, belonging to two card players and connected by string, pop right out at you. Try to figure out how to release them without untying or cutting the knots that bind. See double with a folding jigsaw: at first an image of the Mona Lisa smiles out, but by folding twelve strips in the right order, the squares will transform into a picture of Marilyn Monroe. Walk into the Magic Room, a super optical illusion with viewing holes, figures to move, and tricky patterns. No matter which puzzle you choose, by solving it, you'll discover the power of your own mind.

The Big Book of Halloween: Creative and Creepy Projects for Revellers of All Ages

Product Review
Make your home come alive with ghoulish spirit by plucking clever Halloween ideas from Laura Dover Doran's The Big Book of Halloween. From indoor décor to yard trimming, eerie edibles to easy costumes, Doran supplies a pleasantly spooky assortment of decorating and party-making ideas. Greet trick-or-treaters with authentic-looking gravestones and a procession of paper-bag luminaries, set the table with a bat runner and a pumpkin-spoon centerpiece, then serve up haunted-house cake or graveyard pudding washed down with spicy witch's brew (cider punch). Lots of color photos supplement good directions, and as an added bonus Doran throws in eight ghost stories to tell at your next Halloween party--illuminated by ghostly gourd lights, of course. --Amy Handy

From School Library Journal
YA-Beginning with a short historical overview and background, Doran focuses on festivities for a contemporary celebration of the occasion. Each separate section covers a main theme perfect for a delightfully frightful time. Ideas and detailed instructions, with photographs, for Devilish Decorations, Spooky Lighting, Eerie Edibles, Clever Costumes, and Frightening Fun are included. The projects range from easily constructed with minimal time required to projects that call for substantially more in the way of the investment of supplies and effort. Instructions are clearly written and the finished products appear on the same page, a bonus for those who like to see what the end result will be without flipping from one end of the book to the other. Tidbits of Halloween trivia are featured throughout. Several stories of reported hauntings, as well as some spooky folktale-type stories, are also included. YAs looking for additional ideas for seasonal fun can find a wealth of information; projects to make or easily adapt; and a variety of foods, costumes, and things to do.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Big Book of Sauces: 365 Quick and Easy Sauces, Salsas, Dressings, and Dips

Product Description
A sauce can enhance, enliven, and even transform a dish. So why rely on processed, ready-made, and bottled versions—which are probably low in taste and high in unnecessary salt, sugar, and preservatives—when it’s so easy to make one from scratch? This lavishly illustrated and spiral-bound collection assembles a mouth-watering collection of recipes that anyone can prepare. From everyday Quick Tomato Sauce to sensational specialties such as Hollandaise, rustic Italian Hazelnut Pesto, and exotic Apricot and Ginger Salsa, there’s an enormous variety of tastes, textures, and culinary influences gathered here. Each recipe features creative serving suggestions, and many also include ingredient variations and invaluable cook's tips.

The Binary Revolution: The History and Development of The Computer

Product Description
Today, as more and more people are introduced to the computer—and as more and more computers are built into our cars, our phones, and our appliances—the need for a book like this couldn’t be greater. Here, in terms anyone can understand, is a lively, comprehensive history and practical overview of computers and computing, from Leonardo da Vinci’s design for a calculating machine to the creation of the World Wide Web; from the simple binary circuits inside all digital computers to the complex programs that beat the greatest human chess players; from the countless uses of the Internet to its hidden pitfalls. Newbies and nerds alike will find answers here to all the questions they’d care to ask.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography

From Library Journal
This is both a valuable addition to existing American biographical dictionaries and a summary of individuals currently deemed important to the development of American society. Over 40 scholars contributed informative entries on 9000 individuals from political, military, social, cultural, and economic realms as well as from popular culture. Entries include living and deceased figures, figures active in illegal careers such as robbery and gambling, and a large number of women and representatives from minority groups. Name and occupation indexes help readers find entries for all individuals named in the book as well as those in the same professions. This work compares quite favorably with such single-volume titles as The Concise Dictionary of American Biography: Complete to 1970 (LJ 3/15/91) and the more expansive Cambridge Biographical Dictionary (LJ 1/91), while updating Webster's Biographical Dictionary (1976) and The Encyclopedia of American Biography (1974). Based on overall coverage and quality, this work is recommended for all libraries.?Stephen L. Hupp, Capital Univ. Lib., Columbus, Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
This massive work of 9,000 entries attempts to bring together in one place all important as well as not quite so important figures in American life. Addressing all periods of American history and all fields of endeavor, it takes care to include a large number of women and members of minority groups.

More than 40 scholars helped select the biographees. In addition to politics and the military, people are included from the fields of science, academia, the arts and humanities, education, sports, popular culture, and even the underworld, such as John Dillinger. While coverage begins in colonial times, more than 25 percent of the biographees are still living. The brief entries are clear and easy to read, beginning with birth and death information. Entries vary in length according to the person's importance. Pianist John Browning gets three lines, FDR gets a half a page. Entries are similar to those in the Concise Dictionary of American Biography (4th ed., Scribner, 1990), which covers 18,000 Americans who died by the end of 1970. Like the Concise DAB, entries in Cambridge are indexed by occupation. A name index in Cambridge lists persons mentioned in a biography of someone else. As is always the case with books of this sort, one can question coverage. Why is Louise Erdrich included and not Michael Dorris? Why Barbara Tuchman and not Garry Wills?

An informative introduction provides insight into the overall makeup of the book. Those libraries already owning the Concise Dictionary of American Biography will still want to add this work to their collections based on its inclusiveness and currency.

The Collector's Eye: Decorating With the Objects You Love

From Library Journal
Churchill takes readers into the homes of collectors who have successfully enhanced their home d‚cor by displaying their collections, which are primarily small objects: glass, pottery, clocks, etc. Churchill also provides a history of some of the items shown and the companies that created them, which adds to the usefulness of this book. Designed to inspire collecting vintage things, this book should be purchased for large interior design collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The 12 residences spotlighted by former magazine editor Churchill concentrate more on the owners' antiques and collectibles than on actual style and furnishings. Photographs and text focus on 18 "hot" vintage items, from Josiah Wedgwood's streamlined creamware to the brilliant colors of Blenko glass, and they showcase how groupings enlighten spaces on the East and West Coasts. For collectors, this is a treasure trove of information highlighting eye-catching "smalls" that, by now, are most likely to be astronomically priced. For would-be designers, this book provides enough tips to inspire decor knockoffs or even new decorating schemes that capitalize on old and new styles. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors

From Booklist
What a cool idea for the color challenged among us. Design expert Starmer claims to have sifted through 16 million color possibilities to produce 200 combinations fit for a king and queen and their royal family. The up-front introductions simply whet the appetite, from an abbreviated discourse on the color wheel to two all-too-short ideas on gathering inspiration by creating scrapbooks or a mood board. Then come the palette choices, separated into nine hues. Each individual palette features eight hues: one main with three variations, along with an overview and mood; room applications (e.g., living room or kitchen); ideas for accents; and highlights, whether for balance or contrast. The only issue? Too many selections--and too few ways to cross-index and cross-reference. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Shelley Fralic, CanWest News Service 03/26/2005
A sophisticated mix-and-match system a useful self-consulting tool for the typical homeowner seeking adventure in a can of paint.

The Company of Cats: 20 Contemporary Stories of Family Cats

From Publishers Weekly
Cats don't have an easy time in this collection, the companion volume to Rosen's The Company of Dogs. Serving as furry metaphors for loss and isolation, felines here are usually strays or unwanted to begin with, and often end up dead or missing. Responding as a reader rather than a protective cat lover isn't always easy; fortunately, consistently masterful storytelling assuages most of the guilt of enjoyment. Both Penelope Lively and Wright Morris contribute sly revenge tales with unfortunate cats as the vendetta vehicles. In Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's riveting "Chicago and the Cat," a scientist discovers the emptiness in his own heart only after he allows a cat named Figaro to slowly die before his eyes. The late Roald Dahl is up to his customary wickedness in "Edward the Conqueror," a tale of a dotty woman, a cat who may or may not be Liszt reincarnated, and an ominously burning bonfire. But the collection is not entirely without lighter themes: Phillip Lopate writes of a man who is gradually seduced by the imperious destructiveness of a marmalade; Merrill Joan Gerber has a flea-ridden kitten unexpectedly reinvigorate the sex life of a suburban couple. Photos, by Tony Mendoza, not seen by PW .
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
“The Company of Cats is the perfect gift for anyone suffering from shredded sofa, hairball carpet, and eau de catbox potpourri. These stories are irresistible. Curl up and enjoy.”—Amy Tan

Anyone who has ever been in awe of, in love with, fascinated by, or frustrated with the fabulous feline will treasure this small, elegant, and illustrated volume of cat tales. Twenty writers, including Alice Adams, Roald Dahl, Amy Hempel, Doris Lessing, Phillip Lopate, and Bobbie Ann Mason, capture the endless charm of these proud and graceful creatures, while photographs by Tony Mendoza and an album of cartoons by Roz Chast provide visual delight. Every story expresses the unique relationship between humans and the cats who own them.

The Complete Guide to Painting and Decorating : Using Paint, Stain and Wallpaper in Home...

Product Review
A good choice for those who want to add a little flair, depth, and sophistication to their interior painting and decorating efforts, Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Painting and Decorating will encourage you to do more than just slap on some paint. After flipping through the pages and seeing more than 700 color photos, you will want to play with paint, experiment with it, and control it. The first section of the book--Color & Decorating Principles--explains color theory as well as the use of colors and patterns to create moods in a room. (Warm colors, for example, help make north-facing rooms more inviting, and the people in them warmer.) The second section of the book--Basic Painting & Wallcovering --explains the process of preparing surfaces for finish paint, choosing the right materials, and estimating quantities. (This portion also notes how small patterns help make close spaces seem larger and more open, while large patterns are stimulating and look best in active areas such as a child's room or a large kitchen.) The book's final section--Advanced Painting & Decorating--looks at how to embellish walls and floors with faux designs and decorative accents, and how to add elegant touches with wallcovering cutouts, cornices, and wall frame moldings. Specialty painting tools are also discussed, including paint gloves for contoured surfaces such as pipe and wrought-iron, bendable paint pads for window shutters and cast-iron radiators, and mixer bits. Knowing that some of the designs and color combinations may spur people to wilder-than-normal decisions, the authors wisely advise that people first get samples of their preferred wallcoverings or paints, and then take them home and subject them to the 24-hour test, checking from time to time over the course of a full day to see how the colors change under varying lighting situations. --John Russell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Painting & Decorating is a comprehensive source of information on all do-it-yourself techniques for home decor: interior painting, wallpapering and staining. In addition, it provides a practical introduction to the basics of home decor design and color theory.

This major revision of an all-time home decor best seller updates all the tried and true techniques from the original book. These classic projects have now been revised to feature the latest tools, today's most popular patterns and colors, and new, in-demand techniques.

Expanded from 256 to 288 pages, this revised edition of Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Painting & Decorating also adds 20 all-new projects, showing do-it-yourselfers how to achieve popular new painting and decorating effects. New projects include: Plaster Skim-Coating, Geometric Paint Effects, Trompe l'eil Wallpaper Installation, Antique Staining, Rub-on Stencils, Wall-lettering, and more.