A handsome and practical source of inspiration for designing, building or remodeling. There are thousands of new styles and components in house construction. Homeowners enjoy an unprecedented number of options thanks to the availability of products originating in other modes of architecture. While these are certainly exciting, such a wide variety brings challenging choices at every step in project management.

200 Outstanding House Ideas is packed with ideas for creating the dream house. Illustrated with more than 750 color photographs and over 200 floor plans, the book is rich with examples of houses and their interiors constructed and finished with a great range of traditional and innovative materials. The houses have been chosen from a pool of the world’s most interesting residential architecture. Together, they create a valuable catalog of exciting designs. Read the rest of this entry »

If you have ever considered building your dream home, here is a step-by-step guidebook that will take you through the design process. Designing Your Perfect House: Lessons from an Architect concerns the thought process of planning and creating a house, the methodology of the design, and how to get everything right.

Reading this book, you will gain insights about how to:

• Gain control of the design and building process
• Choose a perfect site for your house
• Avoid costly mistakes
• Unify an architectural design
• Not just design a house, but how to design a home
• Budget in a realistic manner

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Decorating Without Fear is the step by step, how-to book that will allow even the least gifted person to create their perfect home environment. Everyone wants a beautiful home that reflects their personality and is a true sanctuary and retreat for their family. While some people have an innate understanding as to how they can create a beautiful room and others have the cash to hire a decorator, many more are intimidated and unable to seek help.

This book takes the fear out of decorating and allows you to achieve a beautiful home that is right for you. It addresses the big questions to determine what type of environment best fits your personality through a trademarked color test and provides step-by-step instructions that will allow you to achieve just that. Read the rest of this entry »

What a cool idea for the color challenged among us. Design expert Starmer claims to have sifted through 16 million color possibilities to produce 200 combinations fit for a king and queen and their royal family.

The up-front introductions simply whet the appetite, from an abbreviated discourse on the color wheel to two all-too-short ideas on gathering inspiration by creating scrapbooks or a mood board. Then come the palette choices, separated into nine hues. Each individual palette features eight hues: one main with three variations, along with an overview and mood; room applications (e.g., living room or kitchen); ideas for accents; and highlights, whether for balance or contrast. Read the rest of this entry »

There are ten new features in this all-new, updated book. Sure, it’s even simpler than it was before. Of course, you don’t have to worry about fertilizer or poor soil ever again because you’ll be growing above the ground.

But, the best feature is that “anyone”, “anywhere” can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results.

But, let’s get back to the ten improvements:

New Location: Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. Square Foot Garden needs just “twenty percent” of the space of a traditional garden.

New Direction: Locate your garden “on top” of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or the never-ending soil improvements. Read the rest of this entry »

The Smart Approach to Home Decorating, 3rd Edition is a complete introduction into the subject of interior design. In words and pictures, it explains everything a homeowner needs to know to design and decorate a house with professional results.

Topics covered in the book include explanations and examples of the basic principles of design, space planning, layout, and arrangement; furniture; color, pattern, and fabric; window treatments; accessories; and decorating room by room. Read the rest of this entry »

What to Do When You Worry Too Much is an interactive self-help book designed to guide 6-12 year olds and their parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of generalized anxiety.

Metaphors and humorous illustrations make difficult concepts easy to understand, while prompts to draw and write help children to master new skills related to reducing anxiety. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, this book educates, motivates, and empowers children to work towards change. Includes a note to parents by psychologist and author Dawn Huebner, Ph.D. Read the rest of this entry »

This comprehensive guide for new parents finding themselves overwhelmed dealing with the reality of parenting provides “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice to allay their fears. Written in a compassionate yet authoritative tone by two moms who are also pediatricians, this guide covers a wealth of topics that often prove daunting in the first eight weeks of a child’s life.

Starting with “Into the Mouths of Babes” (the trials of breastfeeding) and “What Comes in Must Come Out” (a discussion of “pee and poop”) and moving on through “Fever: Trial by Fire” and “Seeing Yellow: Jaundice”, this guide offers sound advice that will enable parents to feel confident about their parenting skills. Hints on daily living, sleep patterns, crying, the art and science of diapering, and traveling with a newborn are also provided. Read the rest of this entry »

Gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and fresh-looking 8th edition of the “bible of Western gardening.” With a new, easy-to-read design, more plant photography, larger illustrations, and more than 8,000 plant listings–500 of them new–it’s THE essential book for gardeners in the Western states. What plants to grow, how to nurture them, and where they do the very best–it’s all here. You’ll also find updated information on the Western climate zones, 30 Plant Selection Guides, plus a Practical Guide to Gardening with basic advice on plant care and essential gardening techniques.

New plant lists reflect current trends, such as Mediterranean gardening and easy-care plants for beginners. For more than 70 years, Sunset has been the source for no-nonsense gardening advice, easy-to-follow diagrams, and encyclopedic knowledge of plant varieties. In this edition, introduce an exciting new feature: gardening tips from well-known plant experts throughout the West. The Western Garden Book has never been better. Features:

* 8th Edition of this perennial bestseller.
* More than 8,000 plant listings, 500 new, keyed to climate zones.
* 30 Plant Selection Guides to find the perfect plant for every situation.
* Special contributions from 40 eminent Western garden experts. Read the rest of this entry »

End your worries about garden problems with safe, effective solutions from The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control.
* Easy-to-use problem-solving encyclopedia covers more than 200 vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, trees, and shrubs
* Complete directions on how, when, and where to use preventive methods, insect traps and barriers, biocontrols, homemade remedies, botanical insecticides, and more.

* More than 350 color photos for quick identification of insect pests, beneficial insects, and plant diseases.
Newly revised with the latest, safest organic controls. A New York Times Best Gardening Book. This book is most helpful resource on pest control. It’s the first book turn to for solutions. Read the rest of this entry »