Books

How to Use This Book: An Excerpt

When the first issue of Martha Stewart Living was published in 1990, I could not have begun to anticipate how wide-ranging our readers' homekeeping concerns would be. Since then, we have discovered new solutions to age-old problems, brought in experts to advise us on very specific questions about very specific?c concerns, and experimented with all the new (and not so new) home-care products. Over the years, I've brought these lessons home with me, too, which has made me more organized and made my homes better cared for and maintained.

Households are busy places, works in progress where there is always something needing immediate attention and always something more that can be done. With that in mind, I have organized this book to address the tasks at hand and also to address the "more that can be done" for when you have the time and the inclination go beyond the essentials.

It starts with the big picture--an examination of every room and everything you will find within each. The eleven chapters in the "Room by Room" section take you on a tour through the house, focusing on the surfaces and furnishings you might find in any room, and offering strategies for their care and maintenance. Starting with the kitchen, the central staging area in any home, these chapters open with practical space-planning advice, followed by the golden rules of organizing. This information is intended to help contain your belongings and make each room clutter-free and functional. Relevant homekeeping concerns particular to each room are explored in depth--so stain-removal basics appear in "Laundry Room," the best way to clean grout in "Bathroom," and easy sewing repairs in "Utility Spaces." The equipment essential to each room is also addressed, so if you are considering what kind of bathtub to install during a bathroom renovation or whether a gas or electric range would best suit your style of cooking, you will have the information necessary to make such an investment with confidence.

Organize Your Kitchen: Martha's Golden Rules

Book Description

Whether your home is small or large, an apartment in the city or a country cottage, it is a space that should be at once beautiful and livable. The key to that is managing the upkeep without feeling flustered. Until now, there has never been a comprehensive resource that not only tells how to care for your home and everything in it, but that also simplifies the process by explaining just when. With secrets from Martha Stewart for accomplishing the most challenging homekeeping tasks with ease, this detailed and comprehensive book is the only one you will need to help you keep your home looking its best, floor to ceiling, room by room.

In Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook, Martha shares her unparalleled expertise in home maintenance and care. Readable and practical–and graced with charts, sidebars, illustrated techniques, and personal
anecdotes from Martha’s decades of experience caring for her homes–this is far more than just a compendium of ways to keep your house clean. It covers everything from properly executing a living room floor plan to setting a formal table; from choosing HEPA filters to sealing soapstone countertops; from organizing your home office to polishing your silver and caring for family heirlooms.

Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is organized for clarity and maximum practicality:

Room by Room covers the upkeep of the appliances, tools, furnishings, and surfaces found in each room, from the entryway to the kitchen, from the attic to the laundry room.

Throughout the House instructs the reader on the proper ways to routinely clean and periodically maintain everything in the home, including dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, polishing, scrubbing, waxing and much more.

Comfort and Safety focuses on techniques to ensure your home is running properly and safely, such as recognizing when to clean vents, fixing a leaky faucet, and eradicating pests.

A-to-Z Materials Guide provides an invaluable resource that explains the unusual materials that many favorite objects are made of–from abalone to zinc–
and how to care for them so they last.

Encyclopedic yet friendly, Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is a seminal work–a must-have for everyone who wants a well-cared-for home that will endure for generations.

Customer Reviews:

Both Basic and Surprising Information for the Home.......2007-06-27

I'm really enjoying all the information of basic homekeeping methods, and I keep finding little "surprising facts" or techniques that don't require unusual supplies or materials. This is a very "hands-on," user-friendly book of ideas and methods.
I've given several books as gifts, and everyone has been delighted to have this large volume of information for all kinds of usual or rather obscure questions of "how do I do . . ." and "what are the benefits of . . ." I am impressed with the many informational charts that compare diffent materials so thoroughly. This is a packed handbook!

Not what I was hoping for, but..........2007-06-19

It's still a good book. I have used this book to look up several household questions lately and have not found the answer ONCE. Among other things, I believe I wanted to look up what you can use to clean up a certain type of spill (can't remember which, now) and what is the best way to defrost frozen chicken, and there was nothing on either topic. I scoured the glossary, index, chapter info, paged through the humongous book (which just is not practical) and came up with nothing.
With that said, there is a LOT of useful info in this book. I do like it and I'm sure I will get some use out of it eventually. I would highly recommend taking a gander for yourself at a bookstore to see if this is for you. It does cost a lot of money, so you really need to be sure this is going to be of use to you! I don't think this is necessarily a book for everyone.

Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home.......2007-06-11

This book is a must for new brides. It has everything you need to know to take care of the home. This woman is a genius in covering everything.

Many useful tips........2007-06-08

I am only 1/2 way through the book and so far so good. I need all the help I can get being efficient with housework and organizing. I highly rec. this book.

Must Read for All iMommies!.......2007-06-01

This book has amazing household tips and makes a great gift! I recommend it for every home, and specifically for the following:
*Wedding Gift
*Housewarming Gift
*Book Club Gift
*College Graduation Gift
*Christmas Gift for Grown Kids
*All iMommies!!

Average customer rating: Basic The essential guide works Nice with great directions the very best I have found Seductive!

The Essential Guide to Making Handmade Books: Gabrielle Fox Gabrielle Fox Manufacturer: North Light Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Desktop Publishing | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books | Adobe Framemaker | Adobe InDesign | Adobe Pagemaker | Electronic Documents | General | Macintosh | Microsoft Publisher | QuarkXPress | Ventura Publisher Success | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Book Making & Binding | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Buildings & Construction | Carpentry | Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | Decks & Patios | Decorating | Design & Construction | Do-It-Yourself | Electrical | Estimating | Furniture | Green Housecleaning | Hand Tools | Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning | Home Repair | Household Hints | Masonry | Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Plumbing & Household Automation | Power Tools | Reference | Remodeling & Renovation | Roofing | Security | Small Appliance Repair | Swimming Pools | Woodworking General | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books General | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books Bookworks: Books, Memory and Photo Albums, Journals and Diaries Made by Hand More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objects Making Books by Hand: A Step-by-Step Guide Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction ASIN: 1581800193

Customer Reviews:

Basic.......2004-11-04

The projects in this book are more basic than in other books I've seen. There aren't any unique or remarkable designs and those that were interesting, I have seen done much better in other books. Also, I'm the type of person who likes to look at a project, figure out how to do each step, and do it my own way(feels more fulfilling at the end when you do succeed!). Hence, I found that this book was much too hand-held and at times the steps were so minutely set out, that I lost track of the 'bigger picture'. However, I would highly recommend this book to beginners.

The essential guide works.......2002-11-08

This book is really good to follow instructions and to figure out what supplies you will need and shows you how to create something but giving you basic instructions which are good. It's isn't too wordy and you can follow unlike other books I've purchased. If you are a beginner you will enjoy looking through the pages and creating projects.

Nice with great directions.......2002-07-02

This books is full of visuak instructions that show each and every step for each type of book covered. There are some very interesting styles in here that are possible for any level of bookmaking.

the very best I have found.......2002-03-16

I have a few other books on this subject, but this by far is the most thorough and in-depth one. The pictures are amazing - step by step. I recomed it highly for beginers and even experienced users.
There are some unique ideas in it! I can't say enough...BUY THIS BOOK!

Seductive!.......2001-10-24

This book makes even a defiantly non-crafty person like me want to plunge right in. I love books and intriguing treatments. This book offers the support needed to turn wishes into finished projects. The range of possibilities covered is broad enough to appeal to many different tastes. The Jacob's Ladder book is lots of fun, as the star book. The accordion album is a very attractive and manageable project and one of the most useful. This book covers basics like pamphlet binding, portfolios and slipcases. The instructions are clearly written and are supported by excellent photographs that really make it easy to understand what's supposed to be happening. And the Gallery of Ideas -- photos and descriptions of additional, more elaborate variations of each project -- get your mind cranking with the possibilities. Yummy. An excellent book -- not just for the bookmaking crowd, but useful for teachers also. This summer, my daughter attended a camp where they wrote poetry in the afternoon and learned bookmaking (much of it based on this book) in the afternoons, and the kids loved it.

Average customer rating: Expensive, but worth every penny Amazingly detailed information Out of date, elementary information

The Essential Kitchen Design Guide National Kitchen and Bath Association Manufacturer: Wiley ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Residential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books General | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Professional Reference | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Kitchens | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Professional Reference | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Cookbooks | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books Similar Items: The Essential Bathroom Design Guide Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen Great Kitchens: At Home With America's Top Chefs Joan Kohn's It's Your Kitchen: Over 100 Inspirational Kitchens Professional Practice for Interior Designers, 3rd Edition ASIN: 0471126721

Book Description

The kitchen is the heart of the home, the ideal place to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, an informal gathering, or an intimate conversation. It is also a complex organism in which numerous independent systems must work in harmony to minimize the energy required to prepare meals and clean up afterwards. Few rooms see so much activity; fewer still challenge designers with such an array of practical, technological, and esthetic considerations. The successful kitchen designer creates a warm, pleasant atmosphere while solving problems of storage capacity, accessibility, functionality, ventilation, lighting, safety, and durability.

For many years the National Kitchen & Bath Association has conducted a prestigious education program for kitchen designers. The Essential Kitchen Design Guide, condensed from the NKBA's own six-volume manual, is an invaluable sourcebook and technical guide for kitchen planning and design. It offers an established set of kitchen-planning guidelines—accepted as the norm for the industry—and provides authoritative presentations on every kitchen mechanical system, design issue, and planning principle, as well as appliances, fixtures, and other equipment.

Hundreds of design details, descriptive technical photos, and useful checklists help you make the most of all the information provided. Reliable data, proven techniques, and helpful tips prepare you to tackle every aspect of kitchen design, including

• Electrical systems, lighting, and plumbing
• Fixtures and appliances
• Cabinetry, floor coverings, counter tops, and other equipment and materials
• Drawing and presentation standards for the kitchen professional
• Cost estimating
• Space planning
• Kitchen-related building codes
• And more

The Essential Kitchen Design Guide is an indispensable tool and an essential addition to the professional libraries of architects, interior designers, and anyone interested in pursuing the finest in kitchen design.

From the organization whose name is synonymous with the highest standards in kitchen and bath design-the kitchen design guide no professional should be without!

Customer Reviews:

Expensive, but worth every penny.......2007-01-12

Three years ago, we did a major redesign/renovation of our kitchen, right back to the studs, including moving appliances and cabinets and changing the flow -- almost exclusively based on the information and advice in this book. Having lived with the results for awhile now, there's not a thing I would change or do differently. Whether doing the work and making the selections yourself or working with a kitchen designer, you will find this resource invaluable. Anyone can walk into a kitchen design center and pick out pretty cabinets and appliances; this book will force you to think about the layout of your kitchen so all the elements work together without interfering with each other.

I also disagree with the reviewer below who found the pictures outdated. This is not a place to get inspiration for colors or cabinet styles. This is a resource that will help you figure out whether you actually have enough space for that kitchen island you've always wanted, or making sure you will be able to reach your main storage cabinet when the dishwasher door is open, or where the electrical outlets should go.

Expensive book, but I think it saved us from making more costly mistakes.

Amazingly detailed information.......2006-10-10

An excellent reference for designing from scratch or for remodelling your kitchen. This book is written for the interior designer, not really for the do-it-yourself-er. It goes into extensive detail about everything you can imagine will be in a kitchen, how to lay it out, how to select everything in it, how everything operates, pros and cons of different materials and designs (and that's everything even down to how electricity works, what the characteristics of different woods are, and so much more). I'm building my retirement home and am working with a skilled architect. Even so, I found this book extremely useful and I especially liked the sections on ergonomics, pathway clearances, how to design your counterspace and cabinets so they don't conflict with each other. If you read this book, you're not going to make a costly mistake in designing your kitchen - it's got it all, and it even emphasizes what not to do. Need to consider elderly or handicapped? They cover that also. For those who can't find this book or who prefer not such a large tome, the Home Depot Kitchen Design and Planning 1-2-3 (ISBN: 0696217449) has an excellent summary of the more applicable portions of this book. The reviewer before my review who complained about the photos - well, appliances are going to be outdated even in just a few years. If you're looking to recreate a kitchen via a photo, stick with kitchen oriented magazines. The basics of layout are going to be the same, and the way this book is written and the diagrams (most are diagrams, not photos) are still applicable, since it addresses our current lifestyles where the kitchen is the hub of our homes, and it helps you understand the different layouts and how they can be modified and how they can work for you.

Out of date, elementary information.......2005-04-10

Poor quality photography make this book completely out of date with today's kitchen design trends. Yes there is some basic, stress basic, information about how to draft, and the elementary concept of the kitchen work triangle, but no new ideas here. It is disappointing that the NKBA would put their name on such a book. It is not the definitive guide on kitchen design and not worth the large price.

Average customer rating: valuable information starts the gears turning Great place to start! Architecture in a nutshell Attention all architecture buffs!!

Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design Max Jacobson , Murray Silverstein , and Barbara Winslow Manufacturer: Taunton ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books General | Drawing & Modelling | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Decorating | Decoration & Ornament | Floors | General | Lighting | Painting & Wallpapering | Professional Reference | Style | Upholstery & Fabrics | Windows General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Similar Items: Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka) Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home (American Institute Architects) Good House Parts: Creating a Great Home Piece by Piece Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka) A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series) ASIN: 156158696X Release Date: 2005-10-04

Book Description

The key to creating a house that is memorable, satisfying, and enduring is to apply a group of design concepts—or patterns—that focus on the experience of being in a home. In this groundbreaking work, internationally respected architects Max Jacobson, Murray Silverstein, and Barbara Winslow present the ten essential patterns that shape and define a well-crafted home. Patterns explore the presence of light, the relationship between indoors and out, the flow through rooms, and the feel of one space as you are sitting in another.
Clearly written and profusely illustrated with houses from all over the country, Patterns of Home, brings the timeless lessons of residential design to anyone seeking inspiration and direction in the design or remodel of a home. The patterns described in the book can make the difference between a home that satisfies only the material needs of the owners and one that captures the essence of home.

Customer Reviews:

valuable information .......2007-05-07

This book provides valuable informaion for those who want to pursue the perfectly built and positioned home. The concepts are fasinating and could be somewhat easy to put into pratice, however, the author uses large, VERY expensivly built homes leaving the impression that only the very wealthy can afford such superior design. This is unfortunate. I do believe that some the most basic concepts can be put into play in most homes it would just take some imagination and determination.

starts the gears turning.......2007-01-09

A good browsing book to get in the mindset of looking at homes with a keen eye. Not overwhelming in details (which is what I wanted at the moment,) it gave me a good basic set of tools to begin thinking about why I liked or disliked the places where i've lived, practical functionality, and alternative design. If you really want to delve headfirst into the subject of patterns of space, the book that this was based off of would be best. If it's just a little nudge towards inspiration, this is a good bet.

Great place to start!.......2007-01-09

This is a great overview for learning the basic principles of home design. We were able to look back at the various places we lived and understand why we loved or hated certain elements which gives us a better understanding of what to aim for in our next house.

Architecture in a nutshell.......2007-01-05

I bought this book while shopping for a house. It contains beautifuly distilled information, and illustrative photographs. There is so much information that it takes some dedication to read the whole book. I don't know if a textbook-educated architect would agree with the info, but it all makes great sense to me. Many of the examples describe homes on very large lots. Living in Los Angeles, I don't know many people with such large lots. I'm sure that in other parts of the country, the examples are more pertinent.

Attention all architecture buffs!!.......2006-11-05

If you're thinking of building a house and engaging the services of an architectural firm, this is a fabulous overview of the ten elements essential to creating an appealing single-family home. The text is clear and engaging and the accompanying photographs support the authors' point. I wish I'd read this book sooner, but I can assure you I'll read it again. This book should be first on your list if you're educating yourself about design principles.

Average customer rating: Excellent book Excellent with lots of great information Wonderful, Must-Have Book Best Book for Beginner to Intermediate Woodworkers! Very b&w

Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking: A step-by-step guidebook to essential woodworking techniques (Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking) Tage Frid Manufacturer: Taunton ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Projects | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Manufacturing | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology The Impractical Cabinetmaker Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship A Cabinetmaker's Notebook (Woodworker's Library (Fresno, Calif.).) The Complete Manual of Woodworking ASIN: 1561580686 Release Date: 1994-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-02-28

To the point with great explanations. Black and white photos are just fine for contrast clarity. This book is a great cover to cover read. Each page has an illustration. He explains the advantages and disadvantage of different type of joinery (for example) and how to accomplish each task by hand or machine and various machines (eg. dovetails on a band saw, by hand, by table saw.) Best woodworking book I have ever purchased and I have purchased dozens.

This Tage Frid fellow knows a thing or two about wood. :-)

Excellent with lots of great information.......2005-12-02

I haven't always been as much of a fan of Frid as others but no one can question his command of woodworking. I think that his stools are some of the nicest designs anywhere. His technical knowledge of woodworking shines here in this book. He is an obvious master of his craft. His books are much more oriented toward 'doing' than James Krenov's books and many people will find it much more useful. There is a wealth of information here, not only in brute technique, but in tips and hints that make shop life a little more pleasant. I learn a bit more each time I read it. Good book.

Wonderful, Must-Have Book.......2005-03-16

This is, quite simply put, a fantastic book that every woodworker should own. I highly recommend this book for many of the reasons that others have already written about. Trust their impression...this is a great book!

Best Book for Beginner to Intermediate Woodworkers!.......2003-12-16

Tage Frid presents a book that is well organized and insightful. I thought I had a good working knowledge of wood movement and joinery, but Frid offers some points that will help you make furniture that will last generations. The text does contain black and white pictures that can be hard to see, however, if you follow along in the text it will be clear what is being depicted. To address an earlier comment, this is an instruction manual for people interested in the finer points of woodworking and IS NOT a book for "crafty" people who think it would be chic to have a book about woodworking. Frid has been working wood for more than 50 years and his experience and expertise show through in this well written text. If you are interested in making fine pieces of furniture, then this book is a must read!

Very b&w.......2003-05-17

In view of all these rave reviews just a cautionary note. This is a reprint of two c 1980 books when b&w pictures were still acceptable, and the book uses very many. Maybe this will grow on the reader after a while, and there are also some illuminating line-drawings but the initial effect of this volume on the unprepared reader is depressing: all those hard to make out greyish b&w pictures. This is not helped by the fact that many feature an elderly, out of shape gentleman. Definitely not a coffee-table book!

Average customer rating: Good resource

The Bathroom Book: The Ultimate Design Resource for the Home's Most Essential Space Editors of Woman's Day Manufacturer: Filipacchi Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Bathrooms | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Design Ideas for Bathrooms (Design Ideas Series) Complete Bathroom Design: 30 Floor Plans, Plus Fixtures, Surfaces, and Storage Ideas The Bathroom Idea Book (Idea Books) Kitchen Book: The Essential Resource for Creating the Room of Your Dreams Ultimate Bathroom Design ASIN: 1933231025

Book Description

At once a fount of ideas and a practical resource, The Bathroom Book provides a peek into some of the most attractive, functional, and original bathrooms across the country, along with guidance on how anyone can create a useful yet aesthetically pleasing space. Home design professionals from Woman's Day and the National Kitchen and Bath Association — the leading source of information and education for consumers and professionals — help readers figure out which elements of design and functionality are the most important to them and how they can be implemented. There's also expert discussion of the newest hardware, appliances, and materials available today. For anyone looking to remake a bathroom — from the tiny guest restroom to the luxurious master bath — The Bathroom Book provides both inspiring examples and the necessary know-how to maximize space and create a beautiful oasis in the home.

Customer Reviews:

Good resource.......2006-11-18

I am about to totally gut my master bathroom and increase the size by incorporating two adjacent closets. It will still be on the small side but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book covers the very small to the grandiose in size and style. The author discusses practical considerations when choosing each component of the bathroom and highlights common mistakes and misconceptions. There are lots of ideas and a selection of floor plans and whilst you cannot expect any of them to be tailor made for your house, they are a valuable resource to build upon. I would recommend this book if you are thinking of redesigning your bathroom.

Average customer rating: If you only buy one book on upholstering, Make It This One The Essential Guide to Upholstery

The Essential Guide to Upholstery Dorothy L. Gates Manufacturer: Whitecap Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Furniture | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Upholstery & Fabrics | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Upholstery Basics (Singer Sewing Reference Library) (Singer Sewing Reference Library) Complete Upholsterer Theory of Superconductivity (Advanced Book Classics) Complete Step-by-Step Upholstery Simply Upholstery (Simply) ASIN: 1552850811

Customer Reviews:

If you only buy one book on upholstering, Make It This One.......2007-06-22

I took an upholstery class a few years ago and this book is by far the best in taking you through the steps of how to properly upholster furniture! If you only buy one book on upholstering, make it this one. I am now buying another copy of this book for a relative who'll be doing her own re-upholstering.

The Essential Guide to Upholstery.......2001-01-25

I received this book yesterday and cannot put it down. The pictures, drawings and advice are fantastic. I am very interested in upholstery projects for my home and am ready to move from a "beginning Intermediate" level to "Intermediate". This book is just what I needed for more guidance. I have an extensive collection of upholstery books, and except for "Simply Upholstery" and the "Singer Upholstery Basics" books, I have been mostly disappointed with the books I have received as they were not helpful or showed unrealistic projects. This book is like being in an upholstery class with a smart, interesting teacher. I hope Dorothy Gates writes more books on this subject. I would certainly buy it!!

Average customer rating:

Essentials of Home Inspection: Home Reference Book (Essentials of Home Inspection) Carson Dunlop & Associates Manufacturer: Dearborn Home Inspection Education ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Buying & Selling Homes | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books Buildings & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Do-It-Yourself | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Construction | Civil | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books Similar Items: The Illustrated Home (Book only) Home Inspection Exam Prep 21 Things Every Home Inspector Should Know Principles of Home Inspection: Communication & Professional Practice (Principles of Home Inspection) Inspecting a House (For Pros by Pros) ASIN: 0793180937 Release Date: 2003-03-25

Average customer rating: Too much Good book, but be careful with plans!

The Essential Guide to Woodwork Chris Simpson Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Home Improvement | Home & Garden | Bargain Books | Stores | Books Home Improvement | Home & Garden | Bargain Books Outlet | Categories | Amazon.com Outlet | Amazon.com Stores | us-stores Similar Items: The Complete Manual of Woodworking The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery ASIN: 1571458190

Book Description

With a unique blend of accessible practical advice and original exciting projects, Essential Guide to Woodwork is the definitive reference for all woodwork enthusiasts. Twenty-nine projects are included, fully illustrated with informative text that will enable you to furnish your house with a host of well-crafted timber pieces. Design and Construction explores issues of design to consider before taking on a project and Tools and Techniques shows the basic skills and techniques that are needed.

Customer Reviews:

Too much.......2007-01-22

This book is written in a clear and concise style. It is illustrated by very nice color pictures.
The book contains usefull information but try to cover too many topics so at the end none of them is covered in enough details.
I would not recommend this book as the first book for a novice woodworker.

Good book, but be careful with plans!.......2006-06-29

This is a book that tries to accomplish a lot -- maybe too much. It covers many areas but often in a limited way. Nevertheless, it is good as a woodworking "survey" book and the material is attractively presented. There are a number of plans in the back of the book, and they are quite varied and different from what one often sees. Be careful, though! The author is not very careful with measurements and if you follow his plans blindly you may find that things don't come together as they should. If you spend some time with the plans first, you should be o.k.

Average customer rating: A Good Read

This Old House Essential Hand Tools: 26 Tools to Renovate and Repair Your Home (Essential (This Old House Books)) Manufacturer: This Old House Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Norm Abram | Expert Advice | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Remodeling & Renovation | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Hand Tools | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books Building Construction | Construction | Civil | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lessons from a Master Carpenter This Old House Essential Power Tools (Essential (This Old House Books)) Complete Remodeling (This Old House) This Old House: Ask Norm This Old House Essential Home Repair (Essential (This Old House Books)) ASIN: 0966675304

Amazon.com

The function of power tools is to enhance the speed and force of those tasks originally performed by hand tools, but as useful as power tools are, there are still many tasks which simply cannot be done with a power tool. Mastering basic hand tool use is crucial to any renovation or repair around the house, and this book lays out the basic collection of important hand tools needed by any do-it-yourselfer, explains their purpose and proper use, and will give any beginner the practical information necessary to get started. It is generously illustrated with color photographs of new and historic tools. --Mark A. Hetts

Book Description

Whether you're a home repair novice or a veteran renovator searching for new tricks of the trade - you'll find invaluable advice and expert knowledge about hand tools straight from master carpenter Norm Abram and contractor Tom Silva in this full-color tool book from the editors of This Old House Magazine.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read.......2000-07-22

This book is a good read and a practical reference.

Although I am not a professional craftsperson, or even "seasoned" by most standards, I am a tool nut and have been using them for nearly fifty years in a variety of situations and know my way around a toolbox. However, the book showed me some common tools in a new perspective and has even given me an excuse to pick up a few more unusual tools for my collection. An example would be the cat's-paw. I was not familiar with this device before, but have now learned how superior one is to the claw of a hammer or a flat pry bar for pulling nails.

The book is more a discussion of the philosophy and theory of tools than it is an instruction manual. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it to anyone trying to get a handle on how to start putting a kit together and those who are curious about what two famous carpenters have to say about a tool you may have been using seemingly all your life.

Books:

1. Gazebos (Quick Guide S.)
2. Home Astrology: Creating the Perfect Home for Your Star Sign (Hamlyn Home & Crafts S.)
3. First Home with Style: Decorating on a Budget, Great Buys, Simple Projects ("Better Homes & Gardens" S.)
4. Do-it-yourself Essentials
5. Homestyling: Contrasts in Design
6. Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir Faire
7. Swags (Creative Touches S.)
8. My 100 Secrets of Interior Design
9. The Housewives Embezzlement Guide
10. Estilos En Pintura Sobre Madera

Books