Expert Advice Books - Page 11

Martha Stewart's Gardening: Month by Month

Martha Stewart

Amazon Price: $31.50 List Price: $50.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 112 new & used starting at $0.17

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Actually attainable ideas for the "average" gardener! 4 out of 5 stars.
22 of 23 people found this review helpful.

I know, I know, this is Martha's stuff, the woman we all love to hate! However, the book is arranged in a friendly fashion, giving a month-by-month tour of her gardens, with information on typical chores she will expect from her gardeners that month!

As with everything else Martha does, her gardens are on a grand scale and ambitious. What I like about this book are several things: she gardens in a similar climate zone to mine; her gardens are generally unpretentious, and her English-inspired style is one I enjoy. Each month, she lays out the work needing to be done for the various flower and vegetable gardens, then focuses on a seasonal aspect of her garden. The book is lavishly illustrated, and for those of us who are visual people--what gardener isn't?--the ideas are inspiring.

The information is fairly basic, but actually useful to those who are beginning to garden on a more serious scale. She does not seem to depend heavily on chemical warfare and emphasizes such basics as good soil preparation and the other down and dirty aspects of good gardening. If your gardening budget can afford it and you find inspiration from good garden design photos, this book is worth your time and money.

Editorial Review:

Having helped her readers to enjoy to the fullest their kitchens, homes, and friends, Martha Stewart now goes outdoors to teach them about creating and managing a garden that is both beautiful and bountiful. Martha Stewart's Gardening is the perfect book for longtime gardeners, new gardeners--and everyone looking for a thoughtful and useful gift. Illustrations.

Classic Crafts and Recipes Inspired by the Songs of Christmas

Martha Stewart

List Price: $19.95 By: Oxmoor House Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $2.19

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Expert Advice -> Martha Stewart

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

You'll never fake your way through carols again!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Though the piano music is not useful for me (don't have a piano), I like seeing the acutal words to the Christmas songs, and believe their presentation in the book, with burnished corners and pretty fonts, greatly enhances the product. As for the crafts that go with these traditional songs, they are a joy to behold, and not all that difficult or time consuming to make.

Martha's books are by far better a product than her "By Mail" or "Catalogue for Living" kits, so if you're interested in putting out some money to have beautifully elegant Christmas decorations like her own, go with the book and assemble your own materials.

Editorial Review:

Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the words and tunes of Christmas carols run through our heads, cheering us on and reminding us of the joys of celebrating with friends and family. These beloved songs are the theme for this book, a wonderful collection of craft, cooking, and decorating ideas. The fun starts with “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” a project based on the memorable gifts presented in the song. “Deck the Halls” focuses on using holly in unusual centerpieces and decorations. And whether they listen to Bing Crosby crooning in the background or create their own chorus, families will enjoy preparing a classic “White Christmas” aglow with white decorations and featuring white foods. As always, color photographs and clear directions make every project a joy to create.

Decorating Details: Projects and Ideas for a More Comfortable, More Beautiful Home : The Best of Martha Stewart Living

Celia Barbour

List Price: $20.00 By: Oxmoor House Amazon Marketplace: 65 new & used starting at $0.20

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Interior Design -> Decoration & Ornament

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

When you look past the cover of Martha Stewart's latest effort, you find it's not all about framing your fern collection. (Whew!) It is, however, about defining your home's style using accessories that look expensive but (generally) aren't. There's some very practical and budget-conscious advice here in the chapters about pictures, tables and stools, lamps and shades, shelves, screens and mirrors, and pillows and throws. You can disguise the humble origins of inexpensive adjustable shelving by adding wood trim around the edges and painting everything, including the metal standards and braces, to match the wall color. You can break up or conceal space with screens you make yourself from plain wood panels or old windows. You can update small outdoor tables with do-it-yourself mosaic tile that goes on in one piece. You can, of course, make a large framed entryway mirror from an $800 slab of mirror glass, as Martha does-- but really, no one will check your bank statement to see how much you spent, and it will reflect just as clearly with inexpensive hardware-store mirror glass. Some of the best projects are for sofa pillows, bed and table linens, and lampshades. Though Martha's voice isn't much in evidence in the text, her concepts are definitely here: the instructions are simple and straightforward and the look clean, comfortable and unfussy. --Barrie Trinkle

Jessica McClintock's Simply Romantic Decorating: Creating Elegance and Intimacy Throughout Your Home

Jessica McClintock, Karen Kelly

Amazon Price: $21.45 List Price: $32.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rodale Books Amazon Marketplace: 53 new & used starting at $9.74

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Award-winning designer Jessica McClintock, whose name is synonymous with romance, shows readers how to cultivate lush, delicate beauty and warmth in their own living spaces

From special-occasion wear and perfume to home accessories and furnishings, Jessica McClintock has created a lifestyle brand dedicated to romance and femininity—one that resonates with generations of women all over the world. Her San Francisco Victorian house is the epitome of intimacy and grace and has been featured on television programs and in such magazines as Victoria, Architectural Digest, Redbook, and Home Design. Now she invites readers into her home and shows them how to incorporate romantic elements into their own homes, without sacrificing their individual style or spending a great deal of time or money.

The book’s special features include:

• chapters devoted to each room in the house with innovative ideas for bringing romance and comfort into every corner, including outdoor spaces

• illustrated do-it-yourself projects inspired by Jessica’s décor using simple design principles, basic sewing and crafting skills, and a little imagination

• a private tour of the author’s showplace home—inside and out—through 100 gorgeous, full-color photographs, shot exclusively for this book

Jessica McClintock’s Simply Romantic Decorating is a blueprint for readers on how to indulge their romantic decorating fantasies with timeless style and personal flair.

Sell, Keep, or Toss?: How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate, and Appraise Personal Property

Harry L. Rinker

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: House of Collectibles Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $9.75

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Really informative book, great job! 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful.

This book will help you cut the stress of downsizing your life or settling an estate in half or more with its no-nonsense, clearly defined step-by-step suggestions for organizing, evaluating and dispensing property. Legal, tax and other tips highlighted throughout, as well as useful anecdotes of mistakes made and how to avoid them. Learn how, when and where to sell everything, and explore options for what's left. (Who knew you could sell natural fiber to scrapyards?)

I love that he provides questions to qualify the many professionals you may need to hire to ensure that they're working for you. Also his advice on how to navigate the sea of outstretched hands that suddenly appear is most helpful, especially for those who tend to cave to guilt. Estate sales, auctions, swap meets, consignment shops, garage sales and much more are discussed by an obviously discerning insider.

I never saw Inspector Collector on HGTV, so am not familiar with Rinker beyond this book, but I am from the PA Dutch country near where he's located and do appreciate getting what I pay for. I would recommend Sell, Keep or Toss to anyone who whether by choice or circumstance is facing a transition that requires unloading personal property.

Editorial Review:

Sell, Keep, or Toss is a unique guide to dealing with personal property during life's transitions. Whether downsizing to a smaller home or dispersing the contents of a loved one’s estate, collectibles expert and professional appraiser Harry Rinker helps to simplify the complicated personal, familial, and financial decisions involved in clearing out a house. With practical, down-to-earth advice, Rinker shows how to determine what to Sell, Keep or Toss, and guides you through the intricacies of how to do it, including how to:

• Pass treasured mementos to future generations
• Recognize valuable collections
• Find reputable appraisers and auctioneers
• Get a tax benefit from donating unwanted items
• Maximize the profit on items sold

The Bibendum Cookbook

Terence Conran, Simon Hopkinson

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Conran Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $8.99

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Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Special Occasions -> Seasonal
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Editorial Review:

Housed in the historic Michelin building, Bibendum restaurant has been an iconic part of the London restaurant scene for 25 years. Celebrated head chef Simon Hopkinson takes the ethos of Bibendum cooking—fine seasonal ingredients prepared simply—and brings it to the home with this unique volume. More than simply a classic cookbook, these 40 superb recipes are a gastronomic testament to an iconic landmark. Try the spiced artichoke salad, Piedmontese peppers, roast mallard with spiced quince compote, or even the infamous Sussex pond pudding. This is stripped-down, stylish food at its best: easy to prepare, generous in flavor, and great to share with others. With stunning color photography throughout, this is a culinary journey worth savoring.

Tricia Guild Flower Sense: The Art of Decorating with Flowers

Tricia Guild, Elspeth Thompson

Amazon Price: $29.20 List Price: $40.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rizzoli Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $22.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

.... what can I say.... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

.... well... ANOTHER AMAZING BOOK FROM TRICIA GUILD!!! Priceless under my eyes! LOVE LOOOVE IT! The use of paper, layout and photography are stunning!!!! Thnx Tricia!!!!!!!

Editorial Review:

Tricia Guild is known for her bold and original fabric and wallpaper collections. Following the success of her many books on color and pattern, she shares her long-standing fascination with using flowers in interior design—taking inspiration from her own garden as well as from all over the world to create stylish, sophisticated interiors. She draws on examples from her own designs where flowers have an enormous impact on the energy and mood of a room—whether it is a series of maroons and purples to amplify the sense of luxury in a dark and cozy boudoir or a collection of single stemmed red dahlias in vintage 1950s vases to inject urban drama and whimsy into a neutral minimalist living room. Included are hints and tips on designing a room with flora along with Tricia’s own flower care guide. With stunning, original photography and a text rich in insights from her own experience, this is a must-have compendium for anyone interested in contemporary interior design.

Home Sweet Home: A Journey Through Mary's Dream Home

Mary Engelbreit

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $15.68

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Mary Englebreit has "visited" readers' homes for years. Her charming and homey illustrations have graced millions of cookbooks, calendars, journals, home accents, and greeting cards. Home Sweet Home offers readers the chance to peek at the prolific artist's inspiration-her own home in St. Louis, Mo. Home Sweet Home is a beautifully photographed and lovingly narrated tour of the cozy home Mary was meant to live in.The tour offers a rare glimpse at Mary's vibrant kitchen (classic Mary: black and white and red all over) with its warm, rich hardwood floors, and the soft, buttery tones of her living room, which opens suddenly and dramatically into an airy space that almost seems to be outdoors.Countless nooks and crannies are peppered with Mary's many favorite collections-clearly the inspiration for her art.In addition to the hundreds of sumptuous photographs and plentiful practical decorating advice, Home Sweet Home explains the method behind Mary's decorating genius, dispels common decorating myths, and gives insight into Mary's fairy-tale world.Home Sweet Home will inspire even a novice decorator to create a home that is distinctly her own.

How to Decorate: The Best of Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Amazon Price: $13.60 List Price: $20.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 114 new & used starting at $0.24

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Serenity Now! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

In this collection of ideas from Martha's "Living" magazine, nature and serenity is the order of the day.

Her colors choices are serene and are plucked right out of nature...with soothing blues, brilliant greens and soft, sandy tones that contrast with earthy browns..her monochomatic color schemes are a welcome rest for the eye. Her articles on color are well written and the photographs are absolutely beautiful. You achieve a restful home with contrast that pops and sparks not only your interest, but that of the guests who enter your home. Her tips have proved invaluable over time.

This informative and fun book walks you through the art of texture, contrast, accessory and furniture placement as well as lighting. It is a recipe for designing a soothing home that lifts your spirits while remaining practical. Martha is often accused of being impractical, but as any true Martha fan knows, those impracticalities rarely extend over from her entertainment suggestions into her home design.

This book never looses site of the importance of a home being a haven. If primary colors and mish-mashed furniture placement with harsh lighting is your game...pass on this book. If you love a New England, traditional, modern or country flair then this book should be a welcome addition to your decorating collection. Unlike some decorating books, this is a great READ as well as a feast for the eyes.

Editorial Review:

The editors of Martha Stewart Living, one of America's most successful home living magazines, have gathered in one convenient place the stories and projects that have defined their approach to decorating the home. The book is organized in a fresh and sensible way, looking at how the rooms are actually used, not at what they are called. Step-by-step instructions for each project are included, plus an extensive resource section. 200 color illustrations.

Jerry Baker's Bug Off!: 2,193 Super Secrets for Battling Bad Bugs, Outfoxing Crafty Critters, Evicting Voracious Varmints and Much More! (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)

Jerry Baker

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: American Master Products, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $7.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Jerry Baker's Bug Off 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We love the book, as we love all Jerry Baker's books! Extremely easy to follow, and his advice works!

Editorial Review:

In this all new collection of cures and controls for unsavory yard invaders, Jerry Baker shares simple tips and tricks to banish bugs and other critters from lawns and gardens—and almost all the ingredients can be found in the average cabinet. With homemade mixes, common products, and "old-fashioned grow-how," gardeners learn how to eliminate virtually any pest problem. Fixes are arranged by yard area afflicted, so a solution can be found as soon as symptoms are seen. Other features include "This is Their Life" pest profiles, "Grandma Knew Best" folk remedies, and "Ask Jerry" answers for common troubleshooting. Whether the uninvited guests are insects, rodents, or even larger mammals such as deer, these safe, natural, do-it-yourself tonics leave yards garden-party ready.