Mountains, oceans, cliffs, rivers -- don't many of us want to live above the treetops? Aside from soaring views and dramatic vistas, these hillside homes designs offer practical and attractive solutions to the increasing demand for and scarcity of level land. Here are over 50 stunning hillside homes located across the United States, from Alaska to Cape Cod. Over 450 color photographs highlight unique design details of homes built on the edges of cliffs and peering through treetops. This insider's tour of cliffhanger living derives from 30 notable architects and designers who describe their work, its challenges, and rewards. The foreword, by Joseph Henry Wythe, describes his belief in the principles of organic architecture and architect Kathy Shaffer gives us her viewpoint on building a hillside house. You may find your dream house here or the inspiration to build a dream of your own.

In this collection of works by more than 25 contemporary ice artists, discover a fascinating art medium defined by its ephemeral nature. Merging creativity and engineering, today's ice artist can create incredibly complex artwork, featured here in more than 150 photos. Ice sculpting's history and impact are described by champion sculptor James Stugart, including events such as the ice festival in Harbin, China. Sculpting firm owner Justin Gordon explains the tools and techniques, and Dick Brickley, former chair of the BP World Ice Arts Championships held in Fairbanks, Alaska, relates the history of this largest international competition. As sculptor Ben Firth says, "Carving ice is a good reminder that no art lasts forever; that, in the end, art is not about creating a permanent object, but about changing people."

The first in a two-volume survey, readers are invited to reexamine the history of the West and its art through a multifaceted modern lens. More than 40 artists are included who reflect the tremendous diversity, depth, and breadth of a field steeped in history. While some follow the traditions established by Remington and Russell, others seek to break from tradition, busting myths and bringing new insights and artistic styles to the genre. They come from both sides of the Mississippi and have pedigrees that range from bona fide cowboy or Native American credentials to careers in commercial illustration. The unifying theme is a common concern for and commitment to their art and the West itself. In this volume, contemporary artists are featured whose work revolves around the American cowboy. Within these pages, many different artists, some of whom have been cowboys themselves, exhibit their rendition of the wonderful world of the West.

Scotland is one of the most haunted countries in the world. With centuries of battles, seers, curses, and illicit romances, it is no surprise that Scotland has more than its share of ghost stories and legends. Learn about the many haunted castles with their creepy dungeons, secret tunnels, and winding passageways; and see a Green, White, or even an occasional Grey Lady. Follow the ambitious clans, the family feuds, and the constant troubles with the English. Reflect on the rich blend of Celtic myths and legends, and the fairy world. Scotland abounds with stories of kelpies, selkies, and mermaids, and tales of shape-shifting witches, ghosts, and family curses - not to mention its famous lake monster. Spend some time in historic, haunted Scotland - if you dare!

Through 349 images, celebrate America in all her glory. Whether it's a piece to hang on a wall, to be worn, or for marketing propaganda, see how sixty-four artists have represented the American flag and other patriotic symbols in their work. The American flag is an iconic image that inspires many, but it has also become a complex and controversial symbol since Congress first adopted it on June 14, 1777. These artists share not only their work but also the inspiration behind the pieces. Whether it's paying homage to a lost generation, remembering 9/11, or simply celebrating American pride, the various cultural and political viewpoints that define the country today are expressed through a variety of art forms-from watercolor paintings to crazy quilts, from oils to matchboxes, and from mixed media to digital. Let these images inspire you.

The works of 106 contemporary artists provide a fresh look at the artistic vibrancy of the Rocky Mountain West region of the United States. More than 600 photos of these artists' works--in sculpture, mixed media, paint, photography, and other contemporary mediums--show us a stunning variety. Each artist also offers a personal description of his or her art. A perfect gift or reference, this resource changes the way we perceive the Rocky Mountain West region and the world. A foreword by Rose Fredrick, curator of the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, contributes insights on "Contemporary West: Myth, Truth, and What Lies Between."

This book takes you through 53 homes that reflect the growing trend for environmentally friendly houses. Resource- and energy-efficient residences are designed to be healthy, comfortable, and easy to live in, and construction of a sustainable home includes using less energy, fewer natural resources, and fewer toxic chemicals. The homes featured here meet a variety of guidelines: LEED, a point-based system with specific certification criteria; green, a construction standard based on reduction of energy use; Passive House, a design standard that can result in a super-insulated, airtight home; and natural, a type of construction using natural resources without technological intervention. More than 300 images show a wide variety of designs and styles, including cottages and beach houses, prairie and vineyard residences, prefabricated and renovated homes, and much more.

Massachusett's Harvard Square is one of the busiest and most exciting spots in New England. The heart of it is Harvard University with all its history, tradition, and ivy-covered, red brick walls. \nOver 250 vintage postcards display the growth of Harvard Square - from a sleepy village, where General George Washington took command of the colonial troops, to a contemporary city. Harvard Square, and the city of Cambridge by extension, still retains many historic buildings and churches and its student population with all its associated, diverse, cosmopolitan attractions.

Homes that sit on the water's edge offer tranquility and tradition that have long been part of the American dream. For those looking to pursue that dream as a vacation home, a vacation to retirement home, or primary residence, this image-driven decor book presents more than 50 waterfront homes in the continental United States. From multi-million-dollar castles to Mediterranean-style villas to rustic cottages and contemporary condos, they provide inspiration through nearly 350 color photographs. See design choices professional interior designers made to decorate these homes in settings along oceans, lakes, and ponds. An ideal book for the dreamer, planner, and designer in you; use the resources section to turn your vision for a waterfront lifestyle into reality.

The works of 100 contemporary artists interpret and provide a fresh look at the artistic vibrancy of the Northwest region of the United States. The states of Oregon and Washington are rich with artists, having become vital art scenes in the past several decades. Using sculpture, glass, oil, clay, wood, and other contemporary mediums, as well as paint, these 21st century artists combine, redesign, and transform their materials into pieces of works that change the way we perceive both the regions of the Northwest and the world. With a guide to galleries, sculpture parks, museums, and schools, this book is a wonderful resource for lovers of all art mediums.

There's no clear-cut beginning or end between the conclusion of paganism and the beginning of Christianity in Ireland. The old gods lingered, but the Celtic Church was established, thanks to St. Patrick, by the fifth century in Ireland. Stirring Irish tales of demons and banshees, restless dead, and magical beasts were written down by Christian scribes centuries later. Christianity did not lead to happiness on this island, however. Its history has been dominated by its striving for independence from Great Britain. Its beautiful, but bleak, landscape of ruined castles, devastated abbeys, prehistoric stone circles, and foggy bogs contain many vengeful ghosts. Follow the ambitious Irish chiefs and the English kings, the family feuds, and the constant troubles with the English in over 30 spine-tingling tales. Reflect on the rich blend of Celtic myths and legends, and the worlds of fairies and leprechauns. When you read these stories, you will soon appreciate why the Irish have such a belief in the forces of the unknown.

The stark beauty of the Southwest mountains and deserts have attracted numerous artists working in many media. Painters, sculptors, potters, jewelers, and photographers study and work in this region, which is steeped in rich heritage and natural beauty. This eye-catching book contains a thoughtfully written foreword by Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tucson Museum of Art, and over 600 compelling photos of the contemporary artwork from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The materials used are varied, ranging from stoneware to steel and everything in between. The subject matter includes the natural landscape, wildlife, and human life, historical scenes, and whimsical imagery, in forms both realistic and abstract. Each artist provides valuable insight into their work. The author states that the book's intent is to take a fresh look at the magical and insightful ways the area's artists have interpreted life in this region. That it does.

A long-overdue book documenting a state with a growing population, this richly illustrated collection of homes displays the work of 34 Texas architects whose buildings embrace their region and place. These award-winning residences vary in style, scale, budget, and site, but they are all positioned to incorporate the Texas light, landscape, and local materials. More important, they are designed and constructed to deal with the prospect of climate change, including Texas-size hurricanes, tornadoes, heat, and drought. Readers will appreciate the regional rigor of these buildings sited on the Hill Country's arid escarpments, deep in the piney woods of East Texas, and in the insufferable heat of the southern coastal plain. Being Texas proud means being place proud, yet all of the projects showcase principles that are surprisingly universal.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, is haunted by history, from the eternally fanatic Puritans and Royalists to the clever specters of Harvard and MIT. Explore many ghosts and legends of the area. Thrill to a game of Hide and Seek with a ghost dressed in red velvet. Consider a British prisoner who blows out candles in Christ Church. Be amazed at the ability of the Irish to leave their land on "coffin ships" to make their way to Massachusetts. Marvel at the ambition of East Apthorp, who haunted Harvard students through the twentieth century, the generosity of Harry Widener, who still haunts his library, and the birth of forensic science at one of the great criminal trials of the nineteenth century. Chuckle at great pranks pulled by Harvard and MIT students. These stories are part of history; now you can learn them, tooif you dare...

The first in a two-volume survey, readers are invited to reexamine the history of the West and its art through a multifaceted modern lens. More than 40 artists are included who reflect the tremendous diversity, depth, and breadth of a field steeped in history. While some follow the traditions established by Remington and Russell, others seek to break from tradition, busting myths and bringing new insights and artistic styles to the genre. They come from both sides of the Mississippi and have pedigrees that range from bona fide cowboy or Native American credentials to careers in commercial illustration. The unifying theme is a common concern for and commitment to their art and the West itself. In this volume, contemporary artists are featured whose work revolves around the American cowboy. Within these pages, many different artists, some of whom have been cowboys themselves, exhibit their rendition of the wonderful world of the West.

One hundred artists have come together to share the distinctiveness of New England. Oil paintings, glass and metal sculptures, and works in wood offer a fresh look at this region's long, rolling hills and famous autumn colors. Learn histories of the art colonies, including Rockport-Gloucester and Provincetown, Massachusetts; Monhegan Island and Ogunquit, Maine; Old Lyme and Cos Cob, Connecticut; and North Conway, Cornish Colony, and MacDowell Colony, New Hampshire. A great resource for artists, collectors, and art dealers, as well as art historians.

Statues, fountains, sundials, and obelisks--don't most of us want to live with beauty in a garden? Garden ornaments can breathe life into a garden, no matter its size. When art is placed in a garden, we are invited to explore and enjoy the experience. Abstract silhouettes, playful images, and forms in perfect balance bring discoveries with each new view. This new book presents nearly 500 color photographs of over 350 garden ornaments: animals, maidens, children, miniature trains, urns, gates, pavilions, topiary, birdhouses, and many more. Experience an insider's tour of garden ornaments and learn from five notable artists as they describe their philosophies of art. Elizabeth Schumacher suggests how to select the perfect garden ornament and Hugh Collins, Jr. describes the magical journey you embark upon in integrating garden ornament, within your landscape. You may find a favorite garden ornament here, or find the inspiration to create a setting and display your own collection.

The reptiles and amphibians surrounding us are more than 17,000 species of fascinating and beautiful wildlife that many of us usually ignore. In this colorfully illustrated book, 20 artists have taken those cold-blooded animals as inspiration and transformed them into pieces of art that change the way we perceive our world. The unusual shapes, glittering colors, and perfectly adapted bodies of chameleons, turtles, snakes, frogs, and even dinosaurs offer us new ways to see and be inspired, in media ranging from fiber to glass and from paper to gold.

260 beautiful color photographs capture the beauty and charm of historic and recently designed boathouses at private residences, rowing clubs, preparatory schools, and colleges. Together they provide an historical appreciation and architectural inspiration of this classic building form.In the United States, boathouses belonged with straw hats, parasols, and lovely picnic lunches as part of the Gilded Age, when some people had the wherewithal to build housing for their boats and time to enjoy the rivers and lakes. Many of the boathouses shown are unique, using local resources and materials in their construction. For vacationers in rural New England or upstate New York, boathouses were a part of their summer vacation. Today, many old ones are disappearing through weather, neglect, fire, and vandalism. However, increasingly, schools are building and restoring boathouses on their campuses. Jeff Peterson, a rower and an award-winning architect, wrote the foreword. His Cambridge, Massachusetts, firm has designed boathouses and rowing tanks from Florida to Washington state, and in several foreign countries.

New York State harbors blood and death, haunted houses, and many ghosts. Read a colorful and horrific history of Peter Stuyvesant, the French and Indian War, and 9/11. Meet pre-Revolutionary ghost Jane McRea, the headless soldier of Fort Niagara, the spirit of Grace Brown of Big Moose Lake, and those who haunt Boldt Castle, Kings Park State Hospital, and West Point. Meet a few monsters, too: Champ, Bigfoot, and, of course, the Headless Horseman. Pull up a chair and delight to fascinating tales of New York.

We all know how to set tables, but do we know how to make them beautiful? With this book, you can realize the magic of table decor. With over 300 color illustrations and many practical and inventive solutions, this book covers the table, from soup to nuts or gardens to dining rooms, and many places in between. This book acquaints you with the charm of table dA (c)cor, whether it is traditional, romantic, modern, or simple. The decorators featured are both professional and gifted, from many diverse backgrounds, and working in dozens of styles. There are ideas for every occasion and taste. By keeping the focus on texture, color, simple containers, and lots of ordinary household items, you can turn a simple meal into something fabulous by varying the items you use together. Here you will find the inspiration to create table settings with style, using your own china and silverware. See how designers and decorators mix, experiment, and create table dA (c)cor with modern accouterments or pair antiques with new, ornate, or simple.

In the history of art, animals were the very first subject, as evidenced by the nearly 20,000 year old cave paintings at Lascaux. The human impulse to depict and capture the essence of animals underscores the importance of animals to human lives. For some artists, the evolutionary link between humans and other mammals is most compelling, and their choice of mammals as subject speaks to each artist's personal concerns. From traditional works to the fantastical, from sporting art to kitsch, the nearly 100 U.S. and international artists included hope to combine their own magic with the natural spirit of animals in their work. Over 500 of their pieces are represented here in stunning, full-color photographs. This elegant collection honors the artistic connection and age-old totemic relationship between animal and human. Herein lies the conversation between the spirit of the animal and the mind of the maker.

With oil, glass, multi-media, metal, and other materials, 100 contemporary artists explore the rich imagery created by the culture, society, history, and environment of the American Mid-Atlantic region. 480+ images display strong, exciting, and passionate works by artists in this region with a long tradition of American artistry. Like the trailblazers before them, these diverse artists draw on the region's seashore, its forests and mountain, economic progress, voluminous history, and ethnic diversity to interpret life in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Through their paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and statements, you will find voices that preserve and promote the vision and legacy of art in the Mid-Atlantic states.

With over 300 years of battles, witches, haunted inns, and curses, it is no surprise that New England has more than its share of eerie events and spooky happenings. Here find 50 campfire tales that are part of New England's heritage. Feel the cold fingers of fear as a ghostly black dog chases after people in a park in Connecticut and don't lose your head over a dress code at a funeral parlor in Maine. Cringe as Goody Hallett's ghost appears on cold windy nights in Massachusetts, screaming curses into the storm against pirate Captain Sam Bellamy. Ride with the devil when a river freezes in New Hampshire. Meet the ghosts in a haunted naval hospital in Rhode Island and the Pigman in Vermont. These stories, and many more, will send chills down your spine...so don't let your campfire go out!

Traditional Asian design is having an impact upon the way ever increasing numbers of Western people choose to build and furnish their homes to create stunning spaces. Over 340 striking color photos reveal the many new ways to combine Asian harmony with modernism. Top designers and architects use dynamic Asian designs and materials, including cypress, silk, and stone. In the engaging text, architect Barney Maier and designer Charlene Keogh discuss Asian design traditions for Western culture. For building, renovating, and landscaping in the Asian style, this useful reference will assist builders and homeowners to build homes that have a natural, simple, minimalist look. To add a sense of serenity and tranquility to your home and your life, this book is for you.