Showing posts with label kitchen design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen design. Show all posts

The Kitchen Consultant: a common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling Review

The Kitchen Consultant: a common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Over the past two years, my wife has purchased about every kitchen remodeling book there is (at least a dozen) and I've read every one. "The Kitchen Consultant" is clearly the best of the bunch if you're looking for practical, useful information about the many options and decisions that come with kitchen remodeling.
This book is NOT a kitchen design book and it is NOT loaded with beautiful kitchen photos (there are some drawings), and it is NOT a do-it-yourself remodeling manual, but it does what none of those kinds of books (at least that I've seen) do---it clearly explains how to find and work with a good kitchen designer, how to find, evaluate and work with a professional remodeler, and how to make informed choices about things like lighting, ventilation, cabinets, countertops, sinks, flooring, and appliances (there are chapters on each of those categories).
This book is obviously written by someone who knows his subject intimately (the author is a professional kitchen remodeler with 20 years of experience) and is able to present all the information it in a clear, organized, and easy to read manner.
Reading this book is like having a friend who is an experienced contractor come over and help you not only sort out all your options, but also give you his professional opinion and point out some things you may not have considered, but should.
The Kitchen Consultant helped us to make a lot of decisions. For example, it settled a long standing dispute my wife and I have had about the kind of refridgerator we should buy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Kitchen Consultant: a common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling

Readers will find an expert guide through the kitchen remodeling jungle in The Kitchen Consultant. This book contains the wisdom of seasoned kitchen remodeling contractor Herrick Kimball and the input of more than two dozen kitchen consultants from across the U.S. Readers will find advice on design, products, prices, suppliers, contractors and work specifications. Written in an engaging, conversational style with friendly, rendered drawings, this book makes the kitchen remodeling process flow smoothly. Helps readers:-- Decide how much remodeling they can do for themselves and what to leave to the professionals.-- Determine the cost vs. payback of a kitchen remodel in home resale value.-- Save money by avoiding common kitchen remodeling pitfalls.-- Choose the best appliances for a budget and compare common kitchen materials.-- An informative resource for the homeowner and a valuable reference for the professional.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Kitchen Consultant: a common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling

Read More...

Kitchen Idea File (Better Homes & Gardens) Review

Kitchen Idea File (Better Homes and Gardens)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this book to start getting ideas about remodeling a kitchen. I think the book is fantastic because it helped me figure out the types of things that I like and the types of things that I don't like. It's a great starter book for someone looking to remodel their kitchen. It becomes additionally helpful when you hire a contractor because you can point out specific likes and dislikes and let their expertise take care of the rest! (Provided you have a good contractor who has remodeled many kitchens.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kitchen Idea File (Better Homes & Gardens)


The all-new edition of Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen Idea File offers ideas and insight to make your dream kitchen a reality, without the costly mistakes.

Updated photography, inspiring case studies and tips and side bars tackle all aspects of kitchen design, planning and decorating.


Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kitchen Idea File (Better Homes & Gardens)

Read More...

Big Designs for Small Kitchens Review

Big Designs for Small Kitchens
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Photos from different angles of a few kitchen never used to prepare a dinner for more than two people [if that].
Very,very little copy on the photos.
No layouts.
Somewhere in the past some ideas shown may have been good as Epcot Center displays but not even applicable to a single person's basic loft needs today.
Somebody got carried away with themselves when this book was published.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Big Designs for Small Kitchens


The book proposes straightforward, efficient and attractive solutions for kitchens in small spaces. One of the chapters could feature the manufacturers and even include kitchens not only from homes but also from caravans, sailboats, restaurants, mobile homes, home studios...a truly practical book offering solutions.


Buy Now

Click here for more information about Big Designs for Small Kitchens

Read More...

European Style Kitchen Designs Review

European Style Kitchen Designs
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this book hoping it would provide some design ideas - I am a Cajun cook who is rebuilding the kitchen in my post-Katrina flooded house in New Orleans. The book resembles nothing like the kitchens I've used in France. Rather, the effect is California chic, with very traditionally American cabinetry, marble and granite countertops, "islands" in the middle, and so forth. The sources given in the back of the book are nothing more than a list of American companies in the business of selling high-end domestic kitchen cabinetry and so forth. The words "inspired by" are the dead giveaway that this is not the real thing, and has no value in actual planning for a traditional cook. The photography is very nice. If you enjoy flipping through contemporary design magazines, and you have no interest in really cooking but want a domestic-only kitchen "showplace," maybe you will enjoy this book. Past that, don't bother.

Click Here to see more reviews about: European Style Kitchen Designs

Explore the rich heritage Old Europe has offered for designers of today's high-end kitchens. Enjoy rooms replete with details carefully drawn from stately homes in the Mediterranean hill towns of Provence and Tuscany, the Moorish influences of Spanish Haciendas, the elegance and extravagances of Parisian apartments, and the time-honored traditions of panelled estates of Britain. The appliances may be professional grade stainless steel, yet the hand-carved wooden corbels, wrought-iron fixtures, and the stone-cobbled floors evoke a heritage hundreds of years in the making. This luscious collection of nearly 200 images takes designers and homeowners on an inspiring tour of over 100 kitchens that will inspire your journey to import the old world's long-lasting charms and elegance into your own home.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about European Style Kitchen Designs

Read More...

The Best of Signature Kitchens Review

The Best of Signature Kitchens
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I didn't notice before ordering, but the copywright is 2004. Most of this book is outdated.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Best of Signature Kitchens

As a showcase of Signature Kitchens & Baths magazine's top kitchens, The Best of Signature Kitchens provides a glimpse of 110 modern, state-of-the-art kitchens from leading designers around the country. With numerous possibilities, it is no wonder why this cornerstone space is one of the most commonly updated and renovated rooms for new and existing homeowners. Over 250 beautiful, full-color photographs and illustrated floor plans show readers how to turn any kitchen into a warm, inviting heart of the home.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Best of Signature Kitchens

Read More...

Complete Kitchens: Plan & Build Your Dream Kitchen (Better Homes & Gardens (Paperback)) Review

Complete Kitchens: Plan and Build Your Dream Kitchen (Better Homes and Gardens (Paperback))
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
+s:
The tips in the book are both substantive and informative. The book covers all areas of remodeling from designing a floorplan to selecting and installing cabinets.
-s:
This book has very few photos.
recommendation:
A MUST HAVE for anyone remodeling or redecorating their kitchen and a good addition to the book collection of any decorating junkie.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Complete Kitchens: Plan & Build Your Dream Kitchen (Better Homes & Gardens (Paperback))

Readable, reliable information to plan, design, and build a dream kitchen—all in one package.
Guides homeowners through the process, regardless of how much hands-on work they plan to do.
Features a wide range of kitchen designs, sizes, and configurations to accommodate a variety of lifestyles.
Presents readers with dozens of aspects in kitchen design to help them thoroughly consider projects.
Must-have guide gives step-by-step instructions to install wiring, plumbing, cabinetry, surfaces.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Complete Kitchens: Plan & Build Your Dream Kitchen (Better Homes & Gardens (Paperback))

Read More...

Architect's Pocket Book of Kitchen Design Review

Architect's Pocket Book of Kitchen Design
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is a great little book with lots of useful information packed into a clear and concise format. Note to American buyers: The book is published in Britain and contains metric units, EU energy efficiency ratings, and a bit of regional information about the UK.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Architect's Pocket Book of Kitchen Design



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Architect's Pocket Book of Kitchen Design

Read More...

The Art of Kitchen Design Review

The Art of Kitchen Design
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Nephew of Elizabeth David (the doyenne of English Food writing), and an architect by trade, Grey writes lucidly and cogently about all aspects of kitchen design. The first section of the book is a history of kitchen design through the ages with a good critique of the good and bad aspects of such kitchens. He includes lots of pictures of kitchens he has designed for various types of houses - including those for Elizabeth David (a winter kitchen and a summer kitchen no less) and for these insights alone the book is worth the price. Grey is scathing about built-in kitchens as he feels that, although they help avoid clutter, they are also devoid of humanity and warmth. Grey's kitchen's focus on the Kitchen as the centre of any house - as a place for cooking, entertaining, homework, socialising and generally enjoying your home. Kitchens should for example have lots of places to perch to encourage conversation to develop. The book contains lots of diagrams and pictures as well as some architectural style drawings to illustrate the points made in the text. Most everything you would like to know about kitchens is contained in this book which is well designed and presented. Highly recommended for foodies and home owners everywhere.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Art of Kitchen Design

"Included in the dozen or so kitchens illustrated and written about are the use of inlays, pane decorations, plate and hanging racks, and freestanding dressers and cupboards.A true dream and wish book from a man [honored] as the world's best kitchen designer."—Booklist."Mr. Grey has built dozens of kitchens, some for celebrities like Sting.He is a kitchen design detective and problem-solver, first and foremost."—The New York Times.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Art of Kitchen Design

Read More...

Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself) Review

Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is a collection of specific ideas for a kitchen "makeover". For each, some general steps or how-to's are provided. If you've done any repairs around a house, you'd find all but a few to be very very basic instructions. I'd hoped this was a comprehensive book with detail on how to remodel a kitchen from ceiling to floor. This is not that book. It's fine for what it is, but don't expect this to walk you through a complete renovation (or anything close to it).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself)

Kitchen Makeovers gives DIY-ers the inspiration and information they need to complete a wide range of affordable kitchen upgrade projects from start to finish, using tools and supplies available at home centers. The design options that accompany every project make it surprisingly easy to personalize results by selecting different finishes, fixtures, and other elements.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kitchen Makeovers (Do It Yourself)

Read More...

Kitchens: A Design Source Book Review

Kitchens: A Design Source Book
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I checked this out from the library hoping to find some good ideas for a kitchen remodel. This book is full of showy kitchens that no real cook would tolerate. If you want you kitchen to look pretty, modern, or authentic, this may help you. If you want to use your kitchen instead of just dressing it up to look nice, buy another book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kitchens: A Design Source Book

The kitchen is increasingly recognized as the heart of the home. No longer simply a place for cooking and storing food, the kitchen is also where meals are served and family and friends congregate, so there is every reason that it should be as stylish, comfortable, and functional as any other room. Vinny Lee opens with a chapter on planning, to help you identify your own needs and priorities, and then provides a survey of the four principal styles--Traditional, Simple Country, Simple Modern, and New Professional. She then takes a comprehensive look at the elements, such as lighting, countertops, sinks, appliances, and storage, with a multitude of creative ideas for decorating and adding colour. "Kitchens: A Design Source Book" is the one book you'll need to achieve a great-looking kitchen in which you can comfortably cook, eat, live, and work.*Revised and updated edition of this bestselling title.*Whether you are remodeling an existing room or starting from scratch, this invaluable guide will help you create your ideal kitchen.*With stylish photography by James Merrell.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kitchens: A Design Source Book

Read More...

Kitchens for Cooks: Planning Your Perfect Kitchen Review

Kitchens for Cooks: Planning Your Perfect Kitchen
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is truly a book tailored to individuals. Deborah Kraser throws out the convential 36" counter height and magic work triangle and has written a book that is truly for people who cook! The book is divided into two sections, detailed tips on how to plan a kitchen just for you, and examples of kitchens that have used this type of method, including Chefs, Cookbook Authors, Caterers and Avid Cooks. I do not claim to be any of the above, yet I have read this book many times and am still learning from it each time.
To quote from the introduction, "This is not a how-to book. Rather it is a 'how-to-think-about' book designed to provide ideas for creating well-planned and comfortable kitchens. Such personal, well-fitting, and idiosyncratic spaces can only enhance our ability to work well within them."
Since purchasing this book several months ago, I have designed and built my dream kitchen, which functions beautifully and looks great too! "Kitchens for Cooks" is a great book for anyone who spends time in a kitchen, not just cooks!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kitchens for Cooks: Planning Your Perfect Kitchen

Offers detailed instructions and plans on how to replace an obsolete kitchen with a functional and professional work area that suits the needs and cooking habits of the individual chef. Reprint. 20,000 first printing. $15,000 ad/promo.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kitchens for Cooks: Planning Your Perfect Kitchen

Read More...

Country Living The Perfect Kitchen Review

Country Living The Perfect Kitchen
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
When I purchased this book I had hoped for a lot of pictures to inspire our new kitchen. Unfortunately it was an odd collection of Country style kitchens that didn't do much for us. However the text was very informative in discussing what makes up a country style kitchen so overall we were pleased with the purchase.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Country Living The Perfect Kitchen

For the perfect country kitchen, go to the experts at Country Living: with their smart advice and beautiful color photos, they can help make your dream room take shape. Whether you're designing a brand-new kitchen, remodeling an old one, or sprucing up selected areas, see how to achieve a balance of comfort, efficiency, and good looks. Even the most old-fashioned farmhouse kitchen can be modernized with underfloor heating, state-of-the-art ventilation and refrigeration, and industrial-grade efficiency. All the information on planning is wonderfully organized, with details on work sequence, ventilation, countertops, cabinets, walls, floor, appliances, food storage, and more. Tempting pictures showcase different design styles, from Shaker to Retro to Rustic, and offer ideas for making the kitchen the heart and hub of the home.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Country Living The Perfect Kitchen

Read More...

Old World Kitchens and Bathrooms: A Design Guide Review

Old World Kitchens and Bathrooms: A Design Guide
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is the biggest rip off book of all time. Basically a collection of Kraftmaid and other cabinet manufacturers brochures put together into a book. These are the materials that you can get for free at any home remodel center or from the manufacturers directly when you are planning a remodel. As most of those brochures tend to be, the book is uninspiring and completely unoriginal. All the layouts are too "staged" and don't look real probably because most of them are showroom designs with zero real life feel.Pompous designs without real charm ,in other words.
Worse I purchased it becaused it mentioned bathrooms, my area of interst at the moment - turns out the book only has 15 out of 110 pages covering bathrooms.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Old World Kitchens and Bathrooms: A Design Guide

This book captures today's hottest design trend for the home - textures, design, colors, and craftsmanship that evoke European ideals of a bygone era. Explore kitchens and baths rich in the fine details that characterize Provencal, Tuscan, and English country designs. Massive range hoods and brick hearths, faux finishes, rich natural stone, and tile provide polish and posh to up-to-the-minute home environments. Enjoy hand-carved wood, wrought-iron, and fine crystal chandeliers in spaces filled with the latest appliances and an abundance of workspace. The atmosphere is timeless, and these designs are certain to endure. This is an indispensable design guide for professional designers and discerning homeowners.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Old World Kitchens and Bathrooms: A Design Guide

Read More...

Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past Review

Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Traditional kitchen styles blend modern amenities with historic elements to feature both practical cooking arrangements and stylish décor - and what better place to integrate the two purposes than with a look at Melissa Cordona's Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past. From artifacts and decorations to built-ins popular in past eras and blends of antique design touches to modern settings, color photos and plenty of completed designs provide homeowners with many new options.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past

Traditional style kitchens blend convenient modern amenities with details that invoke a sense of history, craftsmanship, permanence, and warmth -- including painted and distressed finishes, furniture-grade cabinetry, natural textures, and concealed appliances. Early American, Colonial, Victorian, Shaker, and Arts & Crafts, in addition to Traditional Country and Farmhouse kitchens are shown in over 150 gorgeous color photos. Hundreds of ideas in cabinetry, hardware, light fixtures, appliances, and flooring are featured. Whether you're restoring or renovating a historical home, or want to add nostalgic charm to your contemporary kitchen, this book will provide inspiration with so many Traditional style kitchen designs right at your fingertips.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past

Read More...

Plan Your Kitchen: hundreds of design combinations at-a-glance (At a Glance S.) Review

Plan Your Kitchen: hundreds of design combinations at-a-glance (At a Glance S.)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been looking through books for the last year and a half because we're remodeling our kitchen this fall. This book falls in the bottom 20% of all the books I've poured through. By page 150 I found exactly one idea that I found interesting enough to flag.
The book is laid out with the idea that there are four types of kitchens: traditional, country, shaker and contemporary. They offer pictures of cabinets, sinks, etc. and indicate which category they fall into. I have found many, many examples of cabinet pulls and counter top choices, etc. that are repeated over and over again - perhaps a way to fill space in the book? I'm not sure. I do know that most, if not all, the useful information in this book could be found by picking up some current kitchen ideas magazines at your local discount store OR by picking up some information flyers at your local home improvement store (i.e. Lowe's, Home Depot).
Advantages: It is spiral bound and lays flat when opened. And, this book's sections are tabbed for easy access. Also, in the back there is a layout grid and design template (however, these are not rare in kitchen design books)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Plan Your Kitchen: hundreds of design combinations at-a-glance (At a Glance S.)


Renovating your kitchen can be an exciting but overwhelming experience. From deciding cabinets and countertops to hardware and appliances, the options available to homeowners today can create an endless number of possibilities. Plan Your Kitchen takes the anxiety out of kitchen design by bringing together the most popular options into one handy guide that makes designing your ultimate kitchen easier.

Plan Your Kitchen features:


An easy flipbook format that uses the most popular flooring, walls, and cabinetry options to create hundreds of kitchen combinations


A wide variety of popular kitchen styles including country, traditional, Shaker, and contemporary


A gallery of appliances in different sizes, styles, and colors that will fit your lifestyle and needs



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Plan Your Kitchen: hundreds of design combinations at-a-glance (At a Glance S.)

Read More...

A Complete Guide to Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind Review

A Complete Guide to Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Don Silver's book was a well anticipated arrival, but alas much of a disappointment. As one who is designing a kitchen at present for a house to be built in the next few months, I was a let down by the book's content.
Let's start with the good stuff. The first chapter on design basics is great, though Silver's makes a big deal about "breaking free of the kitchen triangle". As one who has lived for the past seven years with an island in the way of the refrigerator, I would have welcomed the "kitchen triangle"! While there are other workable solutions--and he introduces them--the old triangle has survived for a good reason and it is not as bad as he indicates, and is certainly necessary in some cases particularly where kitchen size is an issue or limitation.
Silver introduces some great concepts such as the 30" deep counter, two sinks, etc. but spends far too much time on silly mundane issues like a cursory review of cabinets (visit a Home Depot and or pick up a few cabinet catalogs and you'll get much better and more detailed info) and a tired review of pots and pans (!) which should be very old hat for anyone going so far as to buy this book.
More annoyingly, Silver consciously avoids mention of any brand names! It would be worthwhile to review some, particularly when he has such a penchant for separate "char-grills" (which I have yet to see in ANY appliance store). For example, I'd like to see a review of issues like flame spread and cleanability. My own homework revealed that while a Dacor gas cooktop looked great, the flame spread was too big for normal pots and pans; Viking's non-sealed burners looked "cheap", made out of stamped stainless and would be difficult to clean.
Lastly, the illustrations for the most part looked amateur.

Click Here to see more reviews about: A Complete Guide to Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind

This book is the first guide to kitchen design from a cooking perspective.As the only book for the homeowner who wants a kitchen that is beautiful and that cooks beautifully, it takes the most complex room in the home and addresses its function as well as its form. With forty years of experience in the design and cooking fields, Don Silvers has discovered that most people have no idea of the pleasure that can be added to cooking in the right kitchen. This book will add new joy to cooking for every reader, even those who have previously disliked cooking.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about A Complete Guide to Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind

Read More...

Open Kitchens: Inspired Designs for Modern and Loft Living Review

Open Kitchens: Inspired Designs for Modern and Loft Living
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this book as I am planning a major kitchen renovation and wanted some innovative ideas and design. It was an interesting book to flcik thrugh though low on details and the photographs were lovely but did not show the kitchens to advantage. For me, a disappointment.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Open Kitchens: Inspired Designs for Modern and Loft Living

Shows ideas and inspiration for modern kitchen design with 40 project profiles.Reflection of the house and its inhabitants, modern kitchens still incorporate the genuine soul of a living space. Open Kitchens features a selection of some of the best kitchen designs produced over the last years all over the world. Almost forty projects and more than 200 images illustrate the multiplicity of trends that can be incorporated to a common basic concept, regarding diversity of materials and lighting, surface or presence within a space in fluent communication with the house to which it belongs.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Open Kitchens: Inspired Designs for Modern and Loft Living

Read More...