Furniture Books

This is a beautiful book with gorgeous photos of Cuban architecture and furniture of the Cuba I left behind many, many years ago. I gave it to all of my siblings for Christmas and it was an instant hit! Its ovely pictures bring both smiles and tears. A must for those of us who want to keep a collection of what once was our life in Cuba before our exile.

Cuban Elegance is a great book, has wonderful photography and dipicts the elegant decore of Cuba and its architecture as well.

This is a great coffee table book of good quality. The colour photographs are excellent, accompanied by descriptive text. I bought it out of a sense of curiosity of how the more affluent Cubans might live. Unfortunately, as it turns out, I don't generally share their taste in design or dark furniture, but don't let that put you off an excellent and informative book.

THIS IS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK. THE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL, THE TEXT REGARDING EACH ONE IS VERY CLEAR. IT HAS A GOOD FLOW AND MAY I DARE SAY IT IS A SEXY BOOK? IF THERE IS SUCH A THING. I WOULD RECOMMEND EVERYONE AND ANYONE TO GET IT. WHEATHER YOU'RE CUBAN OR NOT.

IT HELPS POINT OUT ALL THE BEATY THAT ONCE USED TO BE AS WELL AS THE ONE LEFT NOW AMIDST ALL THE DECAY AND ABANDONEMENT CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE ISLAND COUNTRY. I LOVED IT.

I recently bought this book and despite that I had never being in Cuba before this is better than the real thing. Cuba was one the biggest economies in the region and such growth gave the possibility to create one of the most selected elites in the Caribbean islands. That prestige and class is all what you can find in this book full of excellent pictures. The reading of the book is pleasant, accurate and, full of details. I was amaze by the work around Cuban furniture which reflects the passion of the author in the topic. It's worth 5 out 5 starts with any doubts.

In all my experience with fine woodworking I haven't had the pleasure to read a book that so well written that it is as exquisite as the pieces within. This book is a must for every serious furniture maker or perhaps collector who wants to learn and appreciate this magnificent craft. How did I miss this one?

Norman is obviously as incredibly talented an author as he is a cabinetmaker. I couldn't say enough about how great a job he did with the content of this book and drawings. I only wish he would write another one for each of the 18th century styles( Federal, Chipendale, etc) This is definately the bible for 18th century reproduction cabinetmakers. Please write another one Norman!

In all my experience with fine woodworking I haven't had the pleasure to read a book that is as exquisitly written as the pieces within it. This book is a must for the serious furniture maker or collector, or anyone who wants to learn more and appreciate this magnificent craft. How did I miss this one?

I agree with all the other reviews and can't really add much, except to say the photos are many in magnificent full colour, and he even has photos of incomplete pieces which is great for seeing how they are put together (I am specifically thinking of the easy chair). He does not stick to strict Queen Anne but covers the subtle variations such as the Gaines chair (one of my favourites) ... this book is a true gem and since receiving it I can hardly put it down. A great resource and would make a fantastic present for someone interested in woodwork. Queen Anne furniture would have to be near the pinnacle of woodworking but with this book it seems reachable.

Truly excellent.

Wish that author would write some more on other periods (ie ALL other periods from early medieval to modern). I would not hesitate to collect them all.

Recognizing that Queen Anne furniture is one of the timeless and most beautiful designs, I realized, on starting my first project, that I hadn't the foggiest idea of the history, the elements, or the construction techniques of Queen Anne furniture. This book has it all. The sections on history and the making of the cabriole legs in themselves make this book a "must have," both for the collector and for the cabinetmaker. To top it off, there are scaled plans for several projects, and some time-saving techiques for construction. If you get only one book on Queen Anne furniture, this is the one.

I've been woodworking for a a little over a year and had read about Sam Maloof in articles here and there. A few months ago I got to visit the Sam Maloof foundation and I fell in love with the way he shapes his pieces of furniture. As part of the tour we got to sit on one of his rockers and not only do they look beautiful but they are amazingly comfortable. That's when I decided to buy this book to learn more about him and his art.
This book includes Sam Maloof's story from when he first began and his experience as he grew into his woodworking career. It is inspiring to read and to see how he persevered even though it was not easy at the beginning. The book is full of pictures of his work, more than was available at the Maloof foundation. It includes a high-level description of how he makes his famous rockers too.

As you most likely know, Sam Maloof is an icon in the world of woodworking. This book does a great job of both highlighting his many creations as well as to tell the story of the man who would define an entire style and change the face of fine furniture. Written by Sam himself, the book gives you an insight into his genius and humility that you can't get anywhere else other than from the man. And it's clear he had creative input into the design of the book itself, as it's beautifully illustrated and elegantly laid out. I'm relatively new to woodworking and the brilliance of Sam Maloof, but I'm so glad I'm able to have discovered him while we're still blessed with his presence on the earth. Get this book.

IF YOU ARE INTO WOOD OR WOODWORKING AS MUCH AS I AM, OR EVEN IF IF YOU ARE ONLY INTO READING ABOUT GREAT ARTISTS/CRAFTSMEN, THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR YOU !! IT DETAILS WITH GREAT CLARITY SAM'S LIFE & WORK THROUGH BOTH PHOTOS & REMARKABLE WRITING. I FOUND IT INFORMATIVE & INSIGHTFUL!! DO NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THIS BOOK !!!

BILL

Sam Maloof is a world treasure. His book reflects his passion and skill as a master. Sam's book is not written in a pompous manor but in a matter of fact point of view. Sam shares his life with us and puts it on paper. I have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Maloof and his lovely and gracious wife, Alfreda before her passing. Sam's love and passion for his craft is second only to his devotion to God and his love for his beautiful wife. His book reflects that in a way that is educational, thought provoking and simple. His warm and friendly demeanor in person is very evident in this book! Sam beleives there are no secrets in woodworking. He shares his finish and techniques in this book, although this is NOT a "how to" book. Reading this book, you will learn something about philosophy, Spirituality and some woodworking along the way.

Keith Kidd Vice-President Cerritos Student's Woodworking Association (CSWA)

I bought this book when I was a student of woodworking/cabinetmaking in college, after hearing and seeing and studing some of Mr.Maloof's work in class. I found his command and respect for his craft, and the material that he works with to be second to none. His work is a insperation in it's self but once you find out the story behind this unbeliveable man it is all the more fasanating. his simple thoughts and down to earth style are a insperation to all. after reading this book I was amazed and inspired by this man and will remember and re-read this book may times.he will always be a insperation to myself and all woodworkers for years to come

This book is very easy to understand, the directions are written clearly and the photographs of the afghans themselves are absolutely beautiful. It has inspired me to make all of the afghans featured in the book. I also like this book because there are some very cool afghans to crochet and I would not be embarrased to show them off to any of my friends who are still in the 22-28 yrs old range. This is a lot of fun just to look at. I would also recommend any of the other Vanna White crocheting books as well. They are all put together very well.

This book has some nice afghans. It also has some nostalgic patterns in it. It's probably the best from Vanna White that I have seen the reason I gave it a 4 star rating. To be honest I have not been that impressed with Vanna's books. I have yet to see them all though.

I do not recommend this book if you are just beginning to crochet. While the instructions are fairly clear, the patterns are a bit more difficult and appear to be geared to the intermediatte crocheter. Also, if you are like me and do not enjoy(or have time for)much assembly of your afghans, I would suggest trying another book as the majority of the patterns in this book require whip-stitching and such to complete the afghan.

If you are past the beginning stages of crocheting, this book has several beautiful and fun patterns for both practical and display use. I have made two of the afghans and while they took time, they were beautiful once completed. A good book to add to your collection once you feel you are ready for a challenge.

What I didn't expect from this book was the quality of the afghans that I found. I truly thought this would be a fluff-type, I'm-so-popular-so-buy-my-book crochet book. I was greatly surprised and found it a delightful and interesting book filled with lots of crochet designs that will either stump you and make you want to throw the book across the room (guilty as charged) or it will make you go across the room, pick up the book and challenge yourself to make some really great afghans that your family will pat you on the back for and make them say great things about you! (I like that part!). This book is not a disappointment!

I really didn't expect to find many patterns I would want to make in this book, but there are a ton of great ideas! One thing I love is that there is such a variety. There are some for babies, some are great for kids, some are feminine, and there are a lot that are very neutral or even perfect for a man. There is also a nice variety in skill levels which is great, because that way you never get bored. The yarns are easy to find or to substitute. Most are either worsted wt or chunky and there are several sport wt. The ghans are photographed nicely too, so that you can get an idea of how different color schemes look with different decor styles.

Not a practical cabinet making how to book, but not intended to be. This is a wonderful book of philosophy and idealism designed to inspire artistry in wood. It is easy to see and catch Krenov's passion for producing beauty.

I just read the book. It is a personal statement, and an inspiration to those who wish to do fine woodworking, and learn attitudes that will help you excel at whatever you do. Just as weightlifting helps your strength overall, this book helps you improve your outlook on life, your work ethic, and most importantly, how to deal with the struggles of frustration and finishing long difficult projects. I was surprised to read that he was plagued by self-doubt regarding his ability for many yrs. He talks here about his childhood, parents, and how he met his wife, so it's more personal. His cabinet work is astounding in its attention to detail, and he can literally work with thousandths of an inch by hand...as well as design beautiful pieces, work with wood grain, types of wood, etc. This book covers the personal, emotional, ethical, environmental, and even spiritual aspects of fine craftsmanship and personal fulfillment. Does it have all the answers? No, he himself says he can't tell you whether or not to "sell out" and do fast, cheap, commercial work. But his insights, intelligence, and experience can go a long way to help you work out these issues for yourself, as we all must do at one time or another. Read this book, then "The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking" which discusses details of how to sharpen planes, chisels, select wood, etc. A must-read for any thoughtful craftsman....

The most influential modern book on cabinetmaking, July 9, 1998
Reviewer: A reader
First published in 1975, The Cabinetmaker's Notebook is a modern classic for those who wish to pursue cabinetmaking as a mode of sensitive self-expression. That may seem like a mouthful, but you either build cabinets because you need to store things, or for some less practical reason. As Red Green says "If your wife doesn't find you handsome, she should at least find you handy". That is one reason beyond the practical, A kind of I want to impress people stage. But when you get beyond that; the house is full of furniture, and your wife actually wishes you would come in from the shop once in a while, what keeps you out there? If it is a desire to do your best work, with the best tools and wood you can find then this book may be for you.
Why do I call it the most influential book of its kind? Well partly because it influenced me, but it also struck a cord when it first came out in the seventies and the woodworking revival was underway. It is pretty much as valid today as then. Krenov, who grew up in the U.S., wrote these books while living in Sweden. They proved so popular that a school was created stateside at which he still teaches. Krenov's insights are of some use to people who pursue other crafts.

The most likely volumes to share shelf space with this and other Krenov books are; George Nakashima The Soul of a Tree (worth it for the pictures alone) and Sam Maloof Woodworker (ditto)

As woodworking books go, James Krenov's "A Cabinet Maker's Notebook" is an anomaly. What you won't find is any detailed plan on how to build Krenov cabinets. On fact, what you will find is the reason why you won't find step-by-step instructions. This is as close as woodworking comes to a philosophy book. Krenov is sharing the inside of his head, and his head doesn't quite work like anyone else's. It is a chance to look at the why's, not the how.

Krenov's life has been a serendipitous one, living in Siberia, Alaska, Sweden, and parts in between. And holding a number of jobs while he was at it. The result is a woodworker who has had so many influences that his style has become unique and often imitated. But imitating James Krenov is a lost task unless you are willing to work and think the way he does. And, as truth would have it, if you would do that you would be a fine craftsman, but your work would be different from Krenov's, and that would be the point.

Krenov the woodworker is a careful meticulous man who does much of his work with hand tools. One who accumulates wood and makes it part of the family, waiting patiently until idea and material gel in his mind. Then, with a few rough sketches in hand, produced another of his pieces that he will be quick to tell you are unobtrusive, soft, and friendly. They are also unmistakably Krenov's in their subtlety and total commitment to craftsmanship.

This book is about many aspects of Krenov's like - his love for wood and cats, his personal history, and his philosophy. There is one sizeable section where he talks about several of his pieces - quick tours that may very well leave you stunned when you realize the completeness of his vision. If I just once accomplish something as beautiful as a Krenov cabinet what a proud wood shaper I will be.

Another of the essential books for woodworkers. Even if you don't like the style of Krenov's work you can't help but be touched by his philosophy and be a better woodworker because of it. This is the authors most philosophical work but don't let that scare you - there's noting dry or academic here - just good advice on loving what you do. Another classic.

This is a great book for anyone who wants creative ways to use and display their antiques, family heirlooms, and flea market finds. The photos are inspirational and the instructions are easy to understand. I've bought two additional copies for relatives who saw my book and loved it.

This is the most fun.. creative book I have seen in awhile. I love this book! Wonderful ideas..great pictures.. absolutely..beautiful ! Fun~ Delightful book! If you like art, quilting, sewing, crafts, home decorating.. and Mary Engelbreit to Martha Stewart Livng and Laura Ashley decorating.. you will like this book! Totally cool!

This very personable book offers a novice or an accomplished crafter wonderfully interesting ideas to make with very practical items found at garage sales, flea markets, antique shops. I am now ordering books for other members of my family who have seen my book. The instructions are very easily to follow. I have already begun 3 different projects one of which is a teacup wreath that is breathtaking especially for a teapot and cup collector like myself. There so many ideas for the reasonable price of this book. It is beautifully photographed, and the authors are shown as real as the rest of us who haunt flea markets, etc.

You will love this book. It contains a variety of projects with easy to understand instructions. Highly recommended for anyone who loves doing crafts.

Let me start by saying I am NOT a "crafty person." BUT, the pictures, illustrations & directions seem simple to follow! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this book!!!!!!! When I looked through it, I immediatedly thought about different friends I wanted to get one for. If you like crafts & flea markets, buy this book! You won't be disappointed!!!!!!

Finishing the Figure: Doll Costuming, Embellishments, Accessories Book in good shape. Smooth transaction!

This was the 4th book in series of high quality and comprehensive books about doll making. I finally got around to buying the last one. I highly recommend getting these books before there are no more. The other three are Fantastic Figures, Anatomy of a Doll and Designing the Doll. Susanna was a great doll artist and long time member of NIADA. She was active with her local UFDC and other doll activities. She was a successful teacher and a supporter of promoting all things creative with doll art. She encouraged and gave inspiration to all learning to make original dolls and those that are successful doll artists. She was a prolific contributor to articles in many doll magazines. She was proficient in a variety of media, including polymer clay, paperclay, and cloth. This particular book features many well known doll artists work along with her own. This book has a large variety of styles and techniques depicted. Many of the doll artists were happy to support and show their work in her books because they also believed in promoting original doll art and also recognized the fact that many doll artists can use the same type of technique but each doll will be different in some way. Most doll artists share the fundamental belief that creativity in the hands is the window to the soul, mind and imagination. No two are alike! Mine will be different then yours! If you have never seen a doll challenge, do a search on line, you will be amazed. They may feature one or two doll patterns, a set of rules and parameters, but look at how many different and wonderful creative interpretations are produced! Susanna has done the doll artist world a great favor by publishing so may techniques and styles in her books. Making these public they helped discourage any one artist claiming a certain technique all to them selves or hopefully trying to patent a technique. Her books have wonderful details, tips, examples and fantastic photos. Very high quality, a joy to have and worthy to be in any collector or doll artist's library. This book has a nice index of the artists featured in it along with a contact list. These are "forever keep books"! You will not be disappointed. I was ecstatic reading mine and I very much enjoyed viewing my "Doll Buddies" work! Susanna was a top notch award winning artist, her book "Anatomy of the Doll" was honored by the Scientific American magazine as "Best Technical Book for Youth" in 1997. She also received the award for "Best Dollmaker" of the year for teaching and publication from the National Association of Cloth Doll Makers in 1995. Susanna will be ever so missed and we were all sad to see cancer take such a wonderful person from our doll world. Her legacy of creativity and inspiration will continue to encourage us all. Susanna Oroyan 1942 - 2007.

Heavily illustrated with excellent diagrams and color photos, this book is not only for anyone learning the art of art-doll making but will also appeal to anyone who enjoys seeing what the creative, human imagination can devise. Just a joy to read from cover to cover and the beautiful photos will provide inspiration for many different types of artist.
Susanna Oroyan gives us the best contemporary information available from the art doll world while also providing the historical bones of costume design.

Susan Oroyan has done an excellent work. I bought both of her books "Designing the Doll" and "Finishing the Figure" If you own one of the books, you have to own the other one, they go together. The books have a great deal of information and details on doll making. The book is good for beginners or professional doll makers.You will love it.

I just picked this book up in a local bookstore and immediately got the itch to pick up some clay. I did not have time to read much, the photographs were what enthralled me. Oroyan picked some fine dolls to illustrate her book and it offers a wealth of imagination to the doll artist. The detail in some of the cosuming is fabulous and the characters of some of the dolls unforgetable!

I absolutely love this book! Indigo Mood is such a perfect title for this book. The deep dark rich colors used to decorate the rooms are fabulous. The photograhs in the book are absolutely beautiful. Even though the colors are dark the rooms still all appear to be light and airy. It's a great resource book on how to use intense colors to design and decorate with. I am really pleased I purchased this book, it's a great book to add to your design reference library. I highly recommend it.

Mood Indigo, like the song of the same name, is smoky, sensuous, and quite beautiful.

If you love rich colors, you'll love this book.

If you're afraid strong color won't work in your spaces, one look at these rooms will change your mind.

Showcasing interiors using browns, blacks and grays, purples and reds, blues and greens `Mood Indigo' works with all shades from the strongest, darkest of the hues to the lightest.

There are tips on how to use strong colors, discussions about rooms size, light needs, finishes, textures, a short history of paint, pigments, and color trends.

Color is used not only on walls but in accessories, on fabric, floor coverings, lampshades ... well, just about anything you can think of.

Room designs run the gamut from country to traditional to eclectic to rustic. You'll see color used in hallways and kitchens as well as the more usual bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms.

Inspiration abounds. Add the fact that this is a great coffee table book, if nothing else, and you'll be happy you bought it. Everything about this book is quality.

This is a beautiful interior design coffee table book. It is packed with large photos of exquisite interiors that use strong colors including blues, greens, reds, purples, browns, grays and blacks. The wonderful photos are printed on high-quality glossy paper making them appear even more vivid.

In additional to the gorgeous pictures there is also advice on color, texture and light. Color scheme basics are covered with a discussion of tone, shade, balance and the moods each color creates. There are also suggestions for sources of inspiration for each color in nature, history and various cultures.

The interiors shown are simply fantastic and filled with rich, dark colors. There are no large rooms of empty white here. I loved a relaxing bathroom with shades of plum and a cabinet decorated with multiple hues of green, blue and yellow. I also enjoyed a Japanese style bedroom with red walls, a wood chest and a huge hanging white kimono. A dark blue living room with nude outlines on the wall and an artistic cozy brown couch is another of my favorites.

I really appreciated a great list of suppliers and helpful index included in the back. This is a great book of useful ideas as well as being a wonderful display piece or gift.

This book was exactly what I've been looking for. Lots of color without being garish. If you want some ideas on home decorating, and you are weary of the tried and tired neutral schemes, but don't want to feel like you are living in a day-glo home or a Fisher Price retail outlet, I definitly recomend this book. It's also not just about paint, but also mentions flooring, trim, wallpapering, accesories and furniture.

I had been looking at design books for months now and was bored out of my mind seeing page after page of white-on-white color schemes (most of which were heralded as 'fantastically innovative' -- how innovative can they be when they're filling every single book?!) I knew that wasn't what I wanted, but I needed some ideas to spark my creativity.

And then I found this book! It's big, it's beautiful, and as other reviewers have pointed out, it does an excellent job of showing different styles of rooms. (Yes, dark colors don't have to be baroque or ultra-modern! Although those are pictured here too.)

Nakashima, a woodworker in the classic sense. Only wanted the tree to live on longer by working with and creating with it. This book is a great example of the love one can have for both nature and woodwork.
Any woodworker should have this book not on the shelf, but closer, to the workspace at all times.

i'm an electrician, but i really like wood... george nakashima on the other hand loved wood... his views make his work even more valuable and amazing...

Able to tug at you in so many ways. A privilege to be able to buy his product.

Like the books of James Krenov, "The Soul of a Tree" is as much a book about philosophy as it is about wood. And it's a good philosophy: slow down, take your time, play with the wood, and enjoy it. The book is really about the soul of Nakashima. He outlines some of his own personal history and how he developed his ideas about craft. There's not really much on technique here - you can certainly find better books for that - but you won't find many more inspiring.

On a personal note I had a lady call me years ago to fix up `some old furniture' she and her husband had bought years ago (in the `50's I believe.) Seems when they were young college professors they found this young oriental guy down the road who made furniture in his garage. When I looked at the furniture I told her that her young oriental friend had become quite famous and showed her this book. She was flabbergasted. What she wanted me to do was to nail up some chairs that had worked loose over time. I refused, of course, and explained to her that these were valuable pieces that should be cared for properly. I also encouraged her to contact Nakashima's Conoid Studio (if it still existed) to let them catalogue the pieces. Even after years of use by a family with kids living in the sticks the pieces were obviously crafted with meticulous care and held up surprisingly well. It was a real joy to bring them back to daily use.

Alot of philosphy, mostly biographical, has a few quotes that stick:
"Man has the audacity to try to improve the tree...."

This is a MUST read for a woodworker.

This book filled my burning desire to know everything about dollhouses & furniture from the last 50 years. There are no gaps of missing information or omitions of important items in this detailed and comprehensive book. Quite a relief after seeing an army of inadequate collector books flood the market. I'll have hours of fun reading this. My only complaint is some of the photos are dark or of poor color quality. I want to view these things in their full glory.

Informative, well written, well illustrated. If you're a collector, this book is a great reference.

This book is jam-packed with useful info, great pictures, and a very enjoyable writing style. I found myself constantly saying "I had that -- I remember that -- my friend had that one!" The book has been my constant companion ever since it arrived. What's more, it has sparked a new interest in collecting the old tin litho houses from the 50s and 60s -- items I had all but forgotten when I moved on to 1" scale wood miniatures. Thank you for a truly remarkable book, one which many of my friends will be enjoying, too.

After searching for a reference book of this type for many months, I finally discovered this book through the internet. I have over 50 collectible reference books in my library and this one I would rate at the very top. A comprehensive, beautifully photographed, helpful reference guide.

Zillner has actually answered burning questions I've had on dollhouses and their furnishings. This is by far the BEST reference I've seen in 25 years of collecting. I highly recommend the book.