The Complete Book of Flooring is an essential guide for anyone planning a new floor or floor covering. It looks at the complete process through a complex and rapidly changing construction plan to the finished article. Factors such as insulation, noise pollution and health are increasingly important. Accordingly, flooring products have now reached a high level of integrity and longevity, and can be made of wood from sustainable sources, natural fibres, a totally renewable material or the luxury of 100 per cent pure wool carpet.

This is your best guide to prepare for a career in professional interior design.

Discover the field of interior design, how to choose the correct school, the tools to achieve that perfect job and how to expand yourself in the profession.

This book has been prepared for those who want to enter or begin the job search process. Those currently in the field may also find this book helpful. The material enclosed is compiled from support agencies and leaders in the field of interior design. This book will help you every step of the way; hopefully you will use it as a tool and keep it for future reference.

Lou Manfredini, aka Mr. Fix-It, is the trusted friend every homeowner wishes he or she had--someone who "knows" houses. In his fun, friendly, fully illustrated guide for both inexperienced and seasoned homeowners, he takes you through your entire house and around the yard, showing you how it all works and what to do when it doesn't. The result: You'll have a clear understanding of the systems that make up your house and gain the expert knowledge to proceed with any job, big or small--whether you're hiring a contractor or doing it yourself. Discover
- How your house works: an anatomy lesson
- The wonders of water--where it comes from and where it goes
- Getting wired--the magic of electricity
- Windows--ways to bring in the sunshine and keep out the drafts
- The joys of being floored--good floor construction and maintenance
- Wall power--it's not what's "on" them but what's "in" them that counts
- Decorating secrets the pros don't like to share
"Plus" Lou Manfredini's sixty-minute home inspection, an essential tool list, and an ABC glossary of terms: from "air duct" to "weather stripping"

Trompe L Oeil Today offers a fascinating overview of the range of styles and techniques of illusionistic painting for private residences and public spaces, restaurants and other commercial interiors, and even indoor swimming pools. It covers unusual techniques, such as anamorphism, and bold geometric patterns, as well as more traditional Trompe L oeil subjects, including Pompeian-style wall paintings, classical arches and colonnades, landscapes, statues and reliefs, and elaborate ceiling treatments. The book defines the categories of illusionistic painting: material imitation, or faux finishes, ranging from marble and wood finishes to snake and crocodile skin; grisaille, including imaginary moldings, reliefs, and statuary; small-format trompe l oeils, such as those painted in niches and on doors; and large panoramic murals. Experienced professionals, the authors address practical questions and offer helpful tips and tricks for choosing the right materials, technique, and style. They examine the use of perspective and the psychology of visual perception, presenting a visually beguiling array of painting possibilities. Trompe L Oeil Today is an essential reference for artists and designers working in trompe l oeil and in search of suggestions or inspiration, interior architects and decorators looking for an outline of what can be done to create new and different ambiances, and clients who plan to commission a work. Over 150 four-color photographs illustrate the architectural and aesthetic impact of professional illusionistic work. Trompe L Oeil Today is an invaluable survey of an impressive, popular art form."

Features: Brian brings a bright new perspective to the principles of colour, helping consumers to make confident decisions; Unlike other paint books, the process of painting is emphasised; Clever 'Wall Wizard' tips make painting simple and fun. For example, mix 1 gallon of warm water and cup of fabric softener to clean brushes in 10 seconds; Decorative techniques for ragging, sponging, glazing, and using unusual tools for designer effects; Detailed coverage of tools and supplies, including varnishes, stains, and glazes.

It's fun, it's fanciful, "it's kitsch"! Celebrate the art of cool imitation, fantastic escapism, and nostalgia for late 20th-century populist culture that lies at the heart of this lighthearted and contemporary design style. These 18 fabulous spaces are aimed at those who want to create a feeling of irreverence and fantasy in their homes while still maintaining a semblance of style and glamour--and the extraordinary and exuberant interiors include those of Zandra Rhodes in London and Pierre et Gilles in Paris. A riot of a book, packed with vivid colour, humor, extravagantly themed decor, and inventive low-budget ideas, "Kitsch Deluxe" is an essential read for devotees of the wacky, weird, and wonderful.

Moving or redecorating? Use this handy furniture layout kit to design your rooms before you purchase or reposition a single item. Includes 215 furniture shapes, graph paper and complete instructions.

It is often within the home, one's personal space, that an individual's identity and personal style can be truly expressed or revealed. The Times Book of Innovative Interiors gives a unique opportunity to see behind doors that are seldom or never opened to the public. A specially edited selection of 40 features from the multi-award winning Saturday Times magazine. Innovative Interiors gives intimate insights into real homes and lifestyles, from designer apartments to rural idylls and from seaside retreats to city-centre penthouses. The focus is on the links between people, their personalities, their daily lives and the spaces in which they choose to live.

Here is a truly unique and exciting folk art that makes people want to call Aunt Mary in Des Moines and tell her how easy it is. You can almost learn it over the phone. Created and named by Mary Lou Cook, pastecraft is simple and fun for the ?veriest? beginner, as the author says. Using paste, fabric and shellac to cover solid objects, PASTECRAFT is practical, creative and absolutely no-fail. It can transform throw-aways into something of beauty for gifts and home decorating. One can cover old trunks, suitcases, books, the refrigerator, frames, coffee tables, trays, file cabinets, and on and on and on. This book is a ?must? for every home, classroom and therapist?s office. It brings ideas, inspiration, self-esteem, and joy to the maker, and it even convinces the so-called ?non-creative? person that he or she can truly do wonders with simple ingredients. And, included in this book is almost forty pages devoted to calligraphy, including instructions, ideas, quotes, and broadsides that can be reproduced for framing. MARY LOU COOK, a.k.a. MLC, is a true Renaissance woman, a master teacher, author, calligrapher, nuclear waste activist, inspirational speaker, Bishop of the Cloth, peace advocate, philosopher, bookbinder, needlewoman, counselor, and designer. And, to top it off, she has been named a Santa Fe Living Treasure. MLC has received many national and international honors and awards, and is often featured in book and the media. She calls herself an octogeranium. A rare flower indeed!

For courses in History of Furniture, History of Interiors, Decorative Arts, History of Architecture and Interiors.

Innovatively combining coverage of early periods and later periods in one comprehensive, well-illustrated, authoritative volume. This fresh exploration of the history of furniture focuses on innovation and change—the key moments and connections in the evolution of style. The first 5 chapters explore the origins of the traditional styles of Western furniture, from ancient times through the Eighteenth Century; the next five survey the Nineteenth Century, with its complex array of historic revivals, reform, and concurrent attempts toward modernism, into the Twentieth Century; and the final five chapters consider many of the innovations and developments of the Twentieth Century, with photographs of modern classics, many of which are still in production. This familiarity with both traditional material and previously “overlooked” modern contributions and contributors will help students make more educated choices today for better design tomorrow.

Is the kitchen a workspace or a living space? Most people would surely answer that it is both. The average family spends more time in the kitchen than in any other room in the home. Yet in many houses and apartments the kitchen is at best a purely functional area to be clothed in efficient-looking fitted cupboards, units and surface, or cluttered with unattractive tables and stools. In this book, a kitchen architect shows that a kitchen can be efficient and contemporary yet at the same time offer the traditional comforts and style of an elegant living space. It shows 'unfitted' kitchens solutions working in every type of kitchen space - from large and lofty to small and awkward. As well as presenting case studies, it is full of ideas that will interest not only anyone planning a new kitchen but also designers, architects, decorators and craft enthusiasts.

Do gentlemen wear shorts? What are the rules regarding interior decor in a high-security prison? Is it ever acceptable to send Valentine's cards to one's pets? The twenty-first century is an age of innumerable social conundrums. Around every corner lies a potential faux pas waiting to happen. But if you've ever struggled for the right response to an unwelcome gift or floundered for conversation at the dinner party from hell, fear not: help is at hand. In Rules for Modern Life, Sir David Tang, resident agony uncle at the Financial Times, delivers a satirical masterclass in navigating the social niceties of modern life. Whether you're unsure of the etiquette of doggy bags or wondering whether a massage room in your second home would be de trop, Sir David has the answer to all your social anxieties - and much more besides.

Important Note about PRINT ON DEMAND Editions: You are purchasing a print on demand edition of this book. This book is printed individually on uncoated (non-glossy) paper with the best quality printers available. The printing quality of this copy will vary from the original offset printing edition and may look more saturated. The information presented in this version is the same as the latest edition. Any pattern pullouts have been separated and presented as single pages. If the pullout patterns are missing, please contact c&t publishing.

Ideas originales bellamente ilustradas con las que convertir una terraza urbana, una azotea, un rincon del jardin, un pequeno patio, etc., en una agradable prolongacion del hogar.

All year-round, create lush beauty and quiet graces for home and family (without breaking your budget)

Tracey McBride's first book, Frugal Luxuries, elevated frugal but elegant living to an art form. Now in this companion volume she shares all new ways to embellish cherished holidays and the timeless rhythms of the seasons. Here she shows how to use joined efforts, loving hands, and exciting ideas to create gracious touches and sumptuous celebrations, delicious meals and wonderful seasonal treats. Learn how you can enrich your home with timeless pleasures and lighten the spirits of those you hold most dear--without exhausting your bank account. Enjoy:
Emblems of spring: aromatic Irish linen sachets, warm scones drenched in jam and butter...and mysterious bunny tracks you can make to delight your children
Enchanted summers: floral wreaths as party favors, an Italian feast with homemade pasta...and bountiful gifts from the garden
Autumnal offerings: scented cinnamon pinecones as fire starters, fresh challah for Rosh Hashana...and a house warmed with fall bouquets and cozy paisley throws
Winter wonders: mood-enhancing music, illuminating with lights, inside and out...and a Christmas gift pantry--begun in January--to create stress-free giving
Plus an abundance of seasonal blessings, imaginative uses for yard-sale treasures, an appreciation of things old and marvelous...and creation of a life of beauty and simplicity.

A centuries-old Chinese practice, feng shui has captured the Western imagination as a tool for design and well-being. In this classic book, complete with helpful drawings and photographs, Sarah Rossbach shows how anyone can apply its principles to enhance their careers, family life, health, and prosperity. Rossbach interprets the teachings of feng shui master Lin Yun for contemporary Westerners, offering practical methods for achieving harmony with one's environment. Focusing on common problems in business and residential settings, she discusses everything from the site of a building to furniture arrangement to wall decoration. In a chapter new to this edition, she explains how to choose colors that satisfy individual needs and preferences. Rossbach's easy-to-execute advice includes such simple steps as moving a microwave oven, repositioning a desk, and hanging mirrors to alleviate negative influences.

Tracy Kidder takes readers to the heart of the American Dream: the building of a family's first house with all its day-to-day frustrations, crises, tensions, challenges, and triumphs.

"Joa Studholme is the brains behind many of the distinctive Farrow & Ball shades that colour our lives. Joa's second Farrow & Ball book is a wonderfully instructive toolkit for understanding how the different paint colours, and their combinations and finishes can be used to conjure mood and atmosphere. It can be used either as a practical reference guide, to help you navigate your way to the style that you are seeking to emanate, or turned to as a beautifully rich source of inspiration." - House & Garden "Say goodbye to drab and dingy: Farrow & Ball's colour guru, Joa Studholme, tells you what paints to choose in every room." - Sunday Times "Farrow & Ball's design expert shows how to use colour to manipulate the size, shape and mood of your home." - Sunday Times Style Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating offers winning colour combinations created by the experts at Farrow & Ball for every room in your home. At the heart of the book are 13 case studies of inspirational homes, from city apartments to country cottages, explored in turn to reveal how selecting the right range of colours can create a harmonious whole. For each case study there is a detailed colour palette recipe and a menu of ideas to copy. Colour is then considered room by room, showing how to combine colour with light and space to get the most of every area of the house, be it a large kitchen or a compact study. "Joa Studholme knows a thing or two about what paint works where. As Farrow & Ball's colour consultant, she is perfectly placed to tell me how the right hues can create a house that has heart and soul." - i paper "The new book from paint masters Farrow & Ball, Recipes for Decorating, encourages you to bring heart to your home with the clever use of colour." - Psychologies magazine "Joa Studholme is the font of all wisdom when it comes to creating a scheme for your home." - Red magazine

Give your favorite furniture a new look! Patricia Hoskins, co-author of the best-selling One-Yard Wonders, offers simple, step-by-step, illustrated instructions for making your own slipcovers for dining chairs, easy chairs, ottomans, and sofas with either loose back pillows or fixed cushions. She explains exactly how to complete every step of the process, from choosing the best fabrics to calculating yardage, sewing curved seams, creating mitered corners, applying trims, and finishing with zippers, envelope backs, or ties.

This lavish book from Veranda--the magazine that knows the art of luxurious living--offers a wealth of ideas for creating exceptional outdoor rooms and spaces. You're invited to enjoy abundant gardens, elegant porches, stunning courtyards, and magnificent pools--all of which grace homes designed by the world's best, most influential designers. Covering elements of outdoor style like lush landscapes, verdant escapes, and evocative views, Veranda Escapes: Alluring Outdoor Style provides insider access to dozens of breathtaking designs from around the world and in many different styles. They include a resplendent Connecticut "garden of Eden," artfully framed by clipped hedges and swathes of green; a sensual, spiritual, and rose-filled coastal enclave in Montecito; a Moroccan-inspired dream house in Dallas; and a glamorous oceanfront estate in Palm Beach with a courtyard and a set of loggias. They will inspire you to create your own gracious, exquisite outdoor spaces.

Discover a luxurious wine château and private residence in the south of France designed by the innovative architecture firm OITOEMPONTO.

Near the glittering coast of the French Riviera, surrounded by a luscious cru classé vineyard, OITOEMPONTO architects oversaw the renaissance of Château Saint-Maur de Cogolin through an assiduous, four-year renovation. Using refined materials, they created a sumptuous and relaxing oasis that combines art, signature design pieces, and a sense of harmony both inside and outside the château.

This volume traces the renovation, from initial watercolor sketches and photographs--reproduced here on offset paper--through to the finished private family residence. This exquisitely illustrated volume takes readers on an intimate tour of the immense reception rooms, bedrooms and suites, entertainment areas, and secret chambers in the vast 17,000-square-foot château. This reinvention into a splendid reception space of incomparable charm is the residence's most luxurious incarnation to date.