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By Hand, The Use of ...
Man. I am very impressed with this book. I'm embarrassed to say I've had it for close to a year, and only now have I sat down and read through it. I won't bore you with details, but I will say that these are the artists that stand out: Karen Reimer (her Chicago Tribune September 29, 2002 (0%) is shown bottom right, I absolutely love all of her pieces), Margarita Cabrera (Pink Blender shown top right- and, yes, it looks similar to Claes Oldenburg's work, but she deals with current issues of immigration and factory workers to sum it up…
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30,000 Years of Art
Despite the intimidating title, this book sounds like it would be an excellent resource for anyone looking to understand art in a global sense. Now, I know not many people aspire to be art historians, but it doesn't hurt to know enough to be able to have a decent conversation without sounding like an idiot. Plus, what would it hurt to broaden your horizons a bit? "1000 great works of art from all periods and regions in the world. * Follow-up to Phaidon’s phenomenally successful The Art Book * An accessible, fun and informative compendium of world art, that offers…
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Modern House 2 by Cl...
Even though this was published seven years ago, it's still got enough oomph as far as pictures of modern homes are concerned. It's one of the books I purchased inside unseen, just to see more about the house on the cover. "This is an illustrated study of the world's most interesting and innovative contemporary houses. Organized into thematic sections, it features detailed appraisals of 30 contemporary houses by the world's leading architects, ...The book examines issues such as ecological concerns, changing patterns of living, building with sensitivity in ever-increasingly populated cities, and respecting the environment when building in isolated rural…
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And Fork: 100 Design...
A follow up to Spoon, this book has over 1000 color illustrations of items considered notable in today's product design world. "AND FORK is a comprehensive global overview of new industrial design today.This generously illustrated volume presents 100 of the most exceptional product designers that have recently emerged on the international scene...A wide range of objects (including chairs, lighting, footwear,kitchen accessories and electronics) provide an up-to-date snapshot of the newest developments in the design world.The book will be an indispensable reference for students, designers, architects and the general public interested in learning about contemporary design in everyday life." [posted by…
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Vitamin Ph: New Pers...
Art is, to me, a necessary component of a home. I've been wanting to add some photography to the mix of art we currently have, and this book has definitely given me some ideas as to what artists we might further investigate (whether we can afford them is another matter). This rather large book offers brief descriptions and examples of each artist's work, so that you are privy to recent developments and theories within photography. "VITAMIN Ph is a global survey of new developments in the medium of photography, featuring 121 living artists who have made a contribution to the…
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Tom Kundig: Houses
This book has some amazing pictures, and actually covers each home in depth by dedicating more than three pages to each one. I absolutely love the huge windows. [posted by katie]
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ReadyMade: How to Ma...
I received this as a gift last year, and it's worth a flip-through, if not a proper read. It's got a few projects that are really quite doable, and a few that are worth a chuckle. "Each section begins with a history of the "raw" material, designed to make readers more aware of the environment and the uses of these materials...the authors also offer how-to advice, both silly (how to write a love note) and useful (how to self-publish). The playfulness extends to noncraft instruction on what to do with plastic ("how to start a business on credit cards") and…
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Blueprint Magazine
Sure, you'd expect any Martha Stewart magazine to be, well, a little too soccer-mom-ish to be considered a "Design" magazine (I hope I'm not offending anyone with this statement, I just mean in comparison to others in the genre). Yet I actually enjoy reading this one*- it's got a good mix of do-it-yourself projects and inspiring photos of homes, plus the font they use makes me want to take up calligraphy. (*We also are quite fond of them because they listed us in one of their first magazines as a top website for home furnishings, so that means they have…
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Art Invention House ...
This will definitely give you some ideas (or dreams) on future homes for you and your family. "The houses shown here are understated or audacious, but never conventional. Each of these cutting-edge projects, whether built in town or country, represents a world apart from its surroundings. Some have only trees for neighbors; others are shoehorned into tight urban sites, perch on precipitous slopes, or cling like limpets to the coastline. But every house is one of a kind, the product of dialogue between demanding clients and creative designers around the globe."[posted by katie]
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The Lazy Environment...
Just in case you haven't been hit over the head enough about sustainability and the environment, here's another book that's perfect for guiding us all towards greener choices. "In The Lazy Environmentalist, Josh Dorfman—host of the Sirius Satellite Radio program of the same name—provides comprehensive guidance to fashion-forward consumers who are as concerned about the long-term health of our planet as they are about the design of their bathroom fixtures. Covering topics that range from clothing to electronic gadgetry, home decor to recreation, and gardening to financial investment, Dorfman lets us know which trends to watch and which eco-conscious products—cars,…
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The Nature of Dwelli...
"Hovey has made a name for himself as the torchbearer for modern residential design, a designation he shares with a growing number of architects who've returned to pure modernism. His houses merge into the landscapes in which they're situated, and with names like Cloud Chaser and Rain Maker, their ties to the land and climate are made clear. Hovey picks up where Frank Lloyd Wright left off, forging ahead with explorations of simple materials, rectilinear geometries, and structural innovation all in the service of free-flowing floor plans that merge indoor and outdoor into a cohesive whole."[posted by katie]
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The Green House: New...
This is such a beautiful book. There's over thirty-five homes in fifteen different countries featured as well as six different climactic zones- so if you're even a tiny bit interested in sustainable design, it's worth a look. by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne. [posted by katie]
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Wallpaper* Retail Di...
Wallpaper* Magazine is launching an extensive retail directory, which can be seen in both the November issue of Wallpaper*, and online later today. The directory will not only feature fashion and home furnishing must-sees, but other retail categories as well and will no doubt be a indispensable resource for travelers and shoppers alike. [shown here, moss in LA]
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Sample: 100 Fashion ...
We're obviously not here to feature all sorts of fashion books, but they occasionally might qualify for your 'coffee table' book stack update, and since I'm a sucker for cool covers, this one is a must (Phaidon Press, of course). "Ten of the fashion world's most respected figures...have chosen 100 international young designers of clothing and accessories to show off their work."
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Compact Houses: Arch...
"In an age of "McMansions," this international survey of the latest in residential architecture proves that small is beautiful-and responsible. The houses profiled are designed to make maximum use of the smallest possible footprint in order to protect the environment. The houses profiled here prove that efficiency as well as beautiful, thoughtful design can be had in a tiny setting. Each project includes a case history describing its design challenges and how the architect overcame them, a detailed blueprint for each house, full-color photos of the interior and the exterior, and plans of the layout. This book will be an…