Furniture Books

Jeff Jewitt (and Susan) have written the most comprehensive and complete finishing book for woodworkers, professional or amateur.

This is a great book to use for reference when refinishing. Contains many tricks that make your project much easier.

This is a FABULOUS book. BUY THIS BOOK.

Excellent Index. Fantastic WRITING ! The paper and binding are great.

The CONTENTS are worth twice the list price.

There are nine hundred and forty-six ( 946 ) gorgeous pictures.
Lemme say that again. There are 946 pictures in this book. They all show IMPORTANT STUFF.

This book has helped me create really good finishes just like the factory.

BUY THIS BOOK !

One of the better Taunton books. Buy equipment and other finishing products from Jeff Jewitt at homesteadfinishing.com--first rate.

Tiene una explicación sencilla y muy gráfica, los libros de Taunton tienen un gran nivel, sólo echo de menos una versión en español para asimilar más rápidaente los conceptos.
está muy bien explicado para la parte más complicada del woodworking puesto que un buen acabado marca la diferencia de un trabajo.
lo recomiendo como casi todo lo de Taunton.

This book came quickly and was in excellent shape when it arrived. I suggest anyone wanting to make any concrete sculptures get this book it is packed full of ideas and information.

I've already made about 10 projects from this book. If you are a gardener, or like to 'ornament' your yard with tasteful items, this may be your book.

As soon as this book came, I had to go through it cover to cover. I love the projects, and the way everything is explained step by step. You are also given advice on using different mixes and techniques. I feel that the author not only teaches you how to do the projects in her book, but gives you the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to go beyond that. And that is exciting!

This is an excellent resource for learning concrete sculpture! Start with this one, then get her other book, "Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making pots, birdbaths..." for more advanced projects that reinforce your skill leves.

This is a good book for learning how to make your own hypertufa and concrete ornaments, including how to make the molds or reinforcements. Some of the projects are of overwhelming size for a person who is interested in small things for their garden. I like the planters, but some of the other things in this book are way too modern and gaudy for me.

If you want to learn to do concrete ornaments for your yard, there is an incredible book still in print since 1904 called Concrete Pottery and Garden Furniture by Ralph C. Davison, which shows how to make garden ornaments such as columns, table, benches, planters in the Victorian and Greek styles--more my taste. This little book is packed with valuable photos and diagrams of how it's done.

I would recommend Davison's book over this one, but Warner's book still has some great recipes for hypertufa and unique ways to construct molds for concrete statuary.

I was happy to find this book. It is something that I needed for my businesss.

Not so long ago I saw Caribbean Elegance at a friend's house. My friend was gracious enough to lend it to me to read. After reading it, I felt I should have my own copy, so I ordered a copy from amazon.com.

Not only is Dr. Connors' narrative comprehensively informative and enjoyable, but Bruce Buck's photographs are absolutely beautiful.

Together they have introduced me to a heretofore, to me at least, world of fascinating furniture and decorative arts. Kudos to Dr. Connors and Mr. Buck.

I look forward to acquiring the rest of their work.

I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style". This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
The text gives a detailed history of the settlers and islands, really giving you an understanding of how the various styles of West Indies architecture and furnishings came into being. It also distingushes the furnishings by their various European influences, such as Spanish, English or Dutch, among others. As an interior designer I found this book fascinating and educational. But even for someone who just has a love of the islands, the photography alone is worth the price of the book.

This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.

This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.

This book was completely vital in sifting through the hundreds of manufacturers and stores. If we did not have this book we would have had no clue what stores carried what manufacturers and which stores were worth going to. This had very nice reviews of the stores and even told you which ones to avoid.

This book saved us thousands. We could shop for the furniture we wanted, then call a few of the distributors listed in this book. It doesn't take any longer to get shipped from NC distributors than it did to order specific items from a retailer. I just ordered the 2006 edition and look forward to saving much more!

Good book, if your looking for furniture deals. Some of the information is not as updated especially websites addresses but there is a lot of great sources in the book.

With this guide, we were able to save 40% over the price at a local Flexsteel dealer for some custom ordered furniture. We wouldn't have known where to order from without the guide. We saved several hundred dollars, offsetting the investment in the book many times over.

I've bought this book twice - it's a must have before you shop for furniture. You save so much money the book really doesn't cost you anything. It will make you an informed shopper when buying furniture. Kimberly tells you what brands are sold where, and the discount you can expect. Information on stores to visit, stores to just call in your order, or stores to avoid are given - saving both time and money. Four years ago I wanted a sofa from a not so well known manufacturer and this book gave the info on the one place that carried that brand. I saved so much time and money, and knew what to expect when buying.

She also has a website referenced in the book that provides the lastest updates to the book, as well as comparing some prices, and lots of other great information. There is also very helpful information regarding purchasing fabrics for decorating.

Don't shop without it!

The Art of Segmented Wood Turning by Malcolm Tibbetts.Good book-very helpful-fast delivery. Will use often.

This is a great book on segmented wood turning covering all aspects from design and form to making tools to help facilitate assembly. Much better than others I have read.

This book was purchesed for help on segmenting pepper-mill blanks.
The book focuses on bowls amd vases. However I did learn about many general issues related to segmenting; wood selection, glues, orientation of wood, etc.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in any form of segmenting. The author has done a great job of communicating his skills.

This is by far, the bible for segmented turning. I constantly refer to it to get ideas for new projects and hone my techniques. Even after several years of creating segmented bowls, I keep coming back to it for sound advice. Through experimentation, I developed a number of techniques for producing segmented bowls. But surprisingly, every single one of those techniques are described in this book. If I were to start over, this would be my single reference. Worth every penny.

I was totally ignorant of segmented wood turning until I read this book. Now I am ready to give it a try. I would recommend this book to any serious wood turner.

Exactly what I was looking for. This book is full of information. You would not be disappointed.

Excellent book with great, user friendly ideas to improve the quality of your life and your home. Recipes for cleaners are excellent. Some of the rituals described are a little far out there but are thought provoking and are worth exploring.

I use this book as a home reference all the time and it has been extremely helpful and chock full of wonderful ideas for your life, home, body..inside and out.

What an absolute miracle! Thank you, Annie for a great book! Buy it, everything you need to know is in here.

I do not have a lot of time to read with four kids and this book was a easy fast book to get through. Lots of information that was displayed easily. Not the big words either. And in the back it a huge wonderful list of resources I could look up on the internet. Wealth of information. I gave this book to our school hoping when they remodel they consider what was written.

This book helps you take better care of yourself and your love ones. We are concerned about what we eat and if it's safe. We also need to be concerned about what we use to clean our homes with and what we use on our skin. In this book there is lots of good, practical receipes for a toxin-free home. This book will be on that I will use often.

Has fundamental ideas and suggestions for implementation, however I thought this book was a giant advertisement for the author's other services and books. I probably would not consider another of Ms. Jennings
books...

I found this book to be extremely informative and helpful. The author clearly loves the business of redesign and is devoted to helping others achieve their goals and dreams. Her style is personable, direct and practical. I appreciate the links to other resources, including her own, as I know one can never have enough ways to promote one's business and it's foolhardy to reinvent the wheel. Anyone seriously wanting to make their business as profitable as possible should greatly appreciate access to all the resources they can get. I have purchased other books she has written and recommend all of them very highly.

This book is easy to read and has very helpful information that you can use. It contains things that you may not think about. I think if just about covers all items you would use in starting a business or just doing for yourself or helping friends with their home.

Any library strong in either interior decoration or business titles simply must have REARRANGE IT! The author's been professionally rearranging homes in California since 1986: her home-based designer tips lend perfectly to those who would operate and foster home-based work while her case studies of clients, tips on what to charge and how to rearrange, assessments of what homeowners need most, and how to turn a chaotic home feel into a design masterpiece makes for clear, specific suggestions. While those selling homes and real estate agents will find this of key interest, so will both those seeking to make a business of home arranging and homeowners just seeking a more logical arrangement, making for a wide-ranging recommendation suitable for any public lending library.

I am not a designer nor will I ever have a design business; however, I am doing some home remodeling and thought that this book might give me ideas on how to "redesign" some rooms using the furniture I have. After reading through the book, I realized that it's geared more towards the design professional -- so I gave it to my sister-in-law, who is in the home design business, and she was absolutely thrilled. She was so excited, that she's now helping me "redesign" my rooms for free ... so the book was well worth the price I paid ;-)

A must read for all new woodworkers before accumulating all the power tools they think they need.
More than a great instructional book; it is also a philosophy.

Some people just call it furniture - author and craftsman James Krenov, however, believes it be an art form. "The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking" is a guide to turn what's nothing more than storage space to some into a work of art that can be appreciated for something far more than just a place to put things. Going over everything readers need to make a masterpiece of a cabinet, such as wood quality, good hinges, and more, "The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking" leaves nothing to guesswork, making it highly recommended to any woodworking enthusiast and community library woodworking shelves.

Mr. Krenov's work speaks for itself. What is great about this book is he shares with us his feel for wood , and it's spirit. He is a wood fanatic. He is excited by its touch, look and feel. How long should I keep a piece of wood before I use it? Moisture content? Integrating the wood and the piece I am making?

Each persons experience of wood and woodworking is different. I have technical books, written well, and some poorly.

This could be called "Zen and the art of woodworking."

When I need inspiration I look to the masters. Mr. Kenov connects me to the wood.

James Krenov is one of woodworking's treasures - an acknowledged master craftsman who is open about both his aesthetics and his techniques. For many of us he is a role model who started out on a shoe string in Sweden and has gone on to create a whole style all his own. He is as devoted to teaching as he is to his work and has a gift for inspiration and straightforward exposition.

Unlike A Cabinet Maker's Notebook, The Fine Art of Cabinet Making spends most of its time talking about technique. The first 50 pages is a vast, rambling essay on wood and how to relate to it. His point, an important on, is that the process of selecting and using wood is every bit as important and any other creative process. If you pay attention you will get a deep dive into the way Krenov's designs come to be - a whole new level beyond buying some dimensioned lumber and whipping up a cabinet.

Then he introduces you to his workshop and tools. Krenov actually does use power tools, but sparingly. Many of us have been taught to value the clean, sharp edged work that a modern power woodshop can produce. Krenov is just the opposite, to him the marks of craftsmanship are part of the harmony of the work. Krenov makes his own planes, and spends a great deal of time explaining how to do the same yourself. I have to admit I'm quite happy with my Lie-Nielson's, but one has to admire the intensity of a man who wants everything 'just so.'

The remainder of the book covers details of Krenov's cabinetmaking, and it is here that you discover the extent of his quality. Whether it be dovetails, delicately curved doors, or cabinet backs, Krenov never settles for less than the best he can do. I admit to a few moments of extreme jealousy when he explains that he never clamps dovetail joints, but, as his discussion demonstrates, his attention to detail is such that he shouldn't have to use clamps. I just wonder how many years of practive it will take to accomplish the same thing.

For all that this is a technically focused book, it is also an inspiring one. A book that will have you eyeing potential lumber completely differently, and making yourself take the time to get things right.

I love all of Krenov's books. It's easy to find better books on tools or techniques but nowhere will you find books that breathe a love for wood and craft more than Krenov's (Nakashima's "The Soul of a Tree" comes closest.) I've read through each of his books several times and always pick up on something new. "The Fine Art of Cabinet Making" is a bit more advanced than his earlier works in that he covers coopered doors and frame-and-panel work but his philosophy is always evident. Krevnov's love for wood is infectious. After reading his books you find yourself `playing' more with wood. Wondering how things will work if you move this one way and that another. Instead of churning out furniture I instead start to think about the piece I want to make: what wood would look nice? What kind of pulls will fit? How will it sound when the door closes? Somehow all of this combines to make the journey (the making) as nice as the end product. Frankly I think most furniture makers will go broke trying to work like this unless you have a whole lot of cash behind you or can charge very expensively for your work. I really think, though, that these books should be on every woodworker's shelf.

The thing that I love about not only this, but but both of Taylors books is that he has a great sense of humor. I tend to think that in real life, Taylor and I would clash rather strongly on some issues, but that's OK. I will buy every book he comes out with (and here is hoping it isn't just these two) simply because the man has a gift for telling stories. I have read tools of the trade probably 25 times since I bought it years ago at a B&N, and I anticipate reading it another 25 times!

I was given this years ago, read it in a week and loved it, then forgot the title when trying to describe it to a friend. It is a shame it is out of print.

Everyone should read this book, and anyone you know who likes to build things should get this for Christmas.

I picked up this book about 6 years ago at a B&N store...and finished reading it in one sitting in my yard. Trust me when I tell you that it is not often when I feel overwhelmed by anything. But this book, with its simple prose, made me gulp several times. Keep in mind that it is not a depressing read. On the contrary, it can be funny as heck at times!

I saw this book when I was visiting a relative and was caught up in it because it was so well written and taught me so much about the common tools and their less common relatives that I had to buy one to savor and then share with a friend who enjoys his woodwork.

It's a shame that this book is now out of print and likely to become scarce, as I have given it on several occasions and have always received many thanks in return.

The author fills the reader, even a reader with minimal knowledge or interest in carpentry, with a true respect for the tools, their usage, and the history behind them. Not just the history in a greater sense, but also the history these tools have in the author's life.

An excellent overview of different types of chair designs and production of each. Not over the top for anyone that would like a guide to building chairs.

Chad

Excellent and clear book with very good detail on the techniques for the more unusual shapes and angles. A good series of projects starting with basic disigns and progressing onwards.
Chairmaking & Design

This is a well written book. It does an excellent job of starting off with basic chair designs and moving on to more advanced designs. A lot of good photographs show the process of chairmaking. The gallery of chairs from other woodworkers is great - inspiring.

Jeff Miller starts you out with the most basic chair ever and then leads you along to more and more complicated designs step by step. By the end of the book, you feel confident in starting to build an arm chair. Great book.

I looked all over the Internet for this book a while back and couldn't find it. Used sellers are charging way too much (over $100), so I finally just checked it out of the library (very available and no cost).

This is a good book, and is the only one I know of with general chairmaking info that covers different chair types. The other chairmaking books I've seen seem to be specific to Windsor chairs. I would like to see more books like this ... until then get this one from the library.