Home Improvement

 

The Complete Guide to Home Wiring- A Comprehensive Manual- from Basic Repairs to Advanced Projects

5 stars (Excellent book!) - Very pleased! This book is clear and invaluable for teaching you all about wiring - especially if you've never done it before! 5 stars (I did it!) - I compared this book to many others (including the Home Depot book mentioned in another review) before I bought it, and this one seemed to be the most comprehensive, clear and concise for my purposes. I used this book to help guide me through wiring portion in the process of ripping out my entire basement (all the way to the block walls) and rebuilding it. This is a fifty year old house with old "ragwire" wiring, which I replaced as I did the new work. I used the information in the book to do my electrical permit drawings which flew through the permit office with no comments from the reviewer. I installed multiple remote controlled recessed and surface-mounted lighting fixtures and networked the house for computer, video, audio and telephone by following the well-illustrated and clearly written directions in the book. The circuit diagrams proved especially helpful in wiring the multiple-switched and zoned lighting fixtures. All of the work passed the rough-in and final inspections by the electrical inspector without a single comment or change, and not once did I need to call in a professional electrician. I have several more projects on the agenda, including wiring my large shed, some low-voltage landscape lighting and a complete remodeling of the 50 year old kitchen and bathrooms, and this book includes all of the required information. I know I won't need to buy any other DIY books on the subject of wiring in order to finish the projects. Based on the quality and ease-of-use of this book, I went out and bought the Black & Decker book on plumbing. If you are remodeling (or just installing a ceiling fan) and want to save a ton of cash by doing your own electrical work, I highly recommend this book. 2 stars (OK, but not very advanced) - This book is fine for basic electrical work. But there a...
Creative Publishing International :: United States :: Home Improvement :: Maintenance and repair :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Electric wiring :: Interior :: Electric equipment :: :: The Complete Guide to Home Wiring- A Comprehensive Manual- from Basic Repairs to Advanced Projects (

 

The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions

4 stars (Encyclopedia of Window Fashions) - This book has great ideas and beautiful pictures and drawings. It is, however a little outdated in my opinion. Would like to see a revised edition by this author with more up to date styles. 5 stars (EASY TO GRASP!) - I often see beautiful decorating books but as soon as i put it down I realize I did not absorb anything No so with this book!One page has tie backs One page has cornices. You see them all together and get an idea of what you like You come away with it all sorted out mentally! 5 stars (Over 1000 decorating ideas) - Blending current, popular styles with extraordinary new approaches, the fifth edition of The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions is a must have for designers, from beginner to expert.With more full-color illustrations than ever before, this book presents myriad window treatments for any room in any home from the most simple to the most challenging. Throughout its more than 200 pages, which include detailed sketchings, cost-saving ideas, yardage and fullness charts and the sketchfile method, you will quickly see why this book has become the industry standard for window decor inspiration. ...
Randall International :: Window shades :: Reference :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Draperies in interior decoration :: Draperies in interior decorati :: Decorating - Windows :: Dec :: The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions

 

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle

4 stars (My first referance in my Q8 - EV) - This book is very useful for EV projects and contains a lot of theoretical and practical information. My EV was the first one in my country (Kuwait) because of this book and (Convert it). It is really dependable assuming that you have mechanical skills. Good Luck!!!! 2 stars (Want to build an electric car ? Not real easy.) - I think Bob Brant really wants to help you build an electric vehicle. I feel, however that his engineering background causes him to "talk down" to the reader, who thinks " It can't be really as complex as all this ! All these formulas , etc ! " How do we know the "flux level" for a motor we buy at a garage sale ? I am too old to get an engineering degree ! Lots of "shade tree" mechanics ( like me ) will have to look further for more practical information.Such as - a 10 HP motor in a Geo Metro will be fine for trips to the grocery store but no good for highway use. Also errors have crept in, and the schematic diagrams are incomplete and puzzling. Of course, the book was published nine years ago, and technology has advanced in the EV industry, as in everything else 4 stars (Add this to your library) - Usefull information about EV. This give you some wide idea about electric cars. It's a good book for your technical library specially if you'r going to build one EV and are a beginer. ...
McGraw-Hill-TAB Electronics :: Crafts & Hobbies & General :: Reference :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Hobbies&Crafts :: Handbooks :: manuals :: etc :: General :: Electric vehicles :: Electric :: Build Your Own Electric Vehicle

 

Hamptons Havens - The Best of Hamptons Cottages and Gardens

Hamptons Havens : The Best of Hamptons Cottages and Gardens...
Bulfinch :: Architecture & Domestic :: U S Architecture - General :: New York (State) :: Interior decoration :: Interior Design - General :: Home Improvement & Constructio :: Hamptons Havens - The Best of Hamptons Cottages and Gardens

 

Home by Design- Transforming Your House Into Home

5 stars (An Excellent and very useful book - don't believe the negative reviews) - After reading the negative reviews, I got the book from the library instead of buying it. The negative reviews are really unfounded. It is worth buying. I was able to easily see all of the pictures, even the smallest ones, so the reviewer who complained about the small pictures needs glasses. I get more information from five small pictures on a page than one picture filling the entire page, so I appreciate the denser content. While many of the houses are luxury houses, the design principles can definitely be adapted to more modest houses. One of the houses used granite bathroom tile on the counter - clearly they had budgetary constraints. Many of the unique design features could be added to a modest house with considerable impact. The design principles are simplified into 27 types and illustrated better than any architecture book I have ever seen. In many cases, a second photo is modifed to remove the one isolated design feature being illustrated and it is easy to see the effect that the feature creates when it is missing. Regarding the lack of scale in the floor plans: I am glad there *are* floor plans - most books don't have them at all. It is very easy to create a scale knowing that a kitchen or bathroom counter is 2 feet wide, or that a entry door is 3 feet wide and go from there. A trained designer does this automatically in their head. Many projects are profusely illustrated from multiple angles and each one demonstrates several design principles. This is a very useful resource and an excellent primer on basic design principles. Although the principles explained are very basic, the examples shown are very sophisticated. This book is useful to the novice, and even more so to a trained designer who will see much more than what the text explains. The best design cannot be contained by mere words. All of the projects illustrated are top-notch designs. If you want this kind o...
Taunton :: House & Home & General :: United States :: Residential Interior Design :: Residential Buildings Architecture :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: :: Home by Design- Transforming Your House Into Home

 

Concrete at Home - Innovative Forms and Finishes- Countertops- Floors- Walls- and Fireplaces

5 stars (An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home) - Fu-Tung Cheng and Eric Olsen's Concrete At Home may sound like an unlikely mix for a home environment, but when used property, concrete can look and feel soft and warm while retaining extra durability. Cheng demonstrates how to mix colors and textures for this effect, from achieving a translucent effect to using thermal foam insulation to provide insulation to concrete, which typically has no insulating qualities to speak of. An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home. 5 stars (An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home) - Fu-Tung Cheng and Eric Olsen's Concrete At Home may sound like an unlikely mix for a home environment, but when used property, concrete can look and feel soft and warm while retaining extra durability. Cheng demonstrates how to mix colors and textures for this effect, from achieving a translucent effect to using thermal foam insulation to provide insulation to concrete, which typically has no insulating qualities to speak of. An excellent guide to incorporating concrete's positive qualities into a home. 5 stars (Mr. Cheng inspires) - Fu-Tung Cheng's latest book "Concrete At Home" is a wonderful journey to what is possible in home design using concrete as the expressive medium. It is full of wonderful photographs illustrating projects underway and in their finished appearance. I believe it's intent was mostly to excite and inspire and not be a step-by-step guide. With so many preconceptions out there about how things "should" look and be constructed, Fu-Tung Cheng has had the patience and inspiration to bring a whole new aesthetic to the discerning homeowner. While many projects showcased in "Concrete At Home" were for those with deeper pockets, I believe Mr. Cheng offers this timeless body of work as a place from which those of more modest means will be inspired to have the b...
The Taunton Press :: House & Home & Design & Construction :: Methods & Materials :: Materials :: House & Home :: Home Maintenance And Repair :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Dwel :: Concrete at Home - Innovative Forms and Finishes- Countertops- Floors- Walls- and Fireplaces

 

Move Your Stuff- Change Your Life - How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love- Money- Respect and Happiness

5 stars (GOOD CONDITION & ON TIME) - THE BOOK WAS NEW & THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. I WILL CERTAINLY BUY FROM THEM AGAIN. 5 stars (My second favorite FS book so far) - With Handbook of FS by Lam Kam Chuen and Lillian Too's Irresestible FS Magic makes a trio I want to come back to again and again. And the trio I can actually use! I lent it to several friends and they all loved it, understood it and could put it to use immediately. I recommend. 5 stars (Learn how to feng shui) - This is easy to read and understand and most things are covered. A couple of things are not quite covered, like staircases, but for the most part this book is fun, useful, and very easy to implement. ...
Fireside :: Architecture & Interior Design :: Self-Help :: Personal Growth - Success :: Interior Design - General :: Home Improvement & Construction :: General :: Feng Shui :: :: Move Your Stuff- Change Your Life - How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love- Money- Respect and Happiness

 

Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui

5 stars (Very Motivating!) - This is the best book ever about clutter! It gets you excited and motivated. You can't wait to clear out your life of clutter! I have shared it with several friends and family. Kingston is the best! 5 stars (The only book you'll need about space clearing) - I'm not one into "new age psychobabble" but Karen Kingston's advice in this book did alot for me ... and the dividends continue paying off to this day. I read this book at a down time in my life and, indeed, I never realized why I was holding onto old letters, graduation caps and gowns from schools that held nothing but bad memories for me, and magazines from nearly 10 years prior. I admit that I'm not as bad as other people but I cluttered up the little space that I had and I felt it. Once I started questioning why I was keeping stuff, I had the strength to let it go and not feel bad about it. I haven't looked back since. After re-reading this book, it strengthened my resolve to keep clutter out of my life as best I can. Her reasoning is based on common sense, really, not "real" Feng Shui: If your friends do nothing but drag you down, time to move on. If those letters from an old flame hold nothing but bad memories, what's the point in torturing yourself by keeping them? If you haven't worn that outfit yet, what makes you think you'll wear it sometime this year (even though you've been promising yourself you're going to lose weight to get back into those jeans for years)? Karen also gives advice on how to reduce the chance of re-introducing clutter into your life by questioning the purpose of every single piece of paper you have. Through reading her book, I have become conscientious of clearing out every so often and I find myself, indeed, questioning every paper that I intend to keep (and many papers hit the recycle bin because of that!). Same thing for clothes: If they don't fit, bundle them up and give them to people who can use them. Her book also enabled me to let ...
Broadway :: Self-Help & General :: Self-Help :: Miscellanea :: House cleaning :: Home Improvement & Construction :: General :: Feng Shui :: Divination - General :: Conduct of lif :: Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui

 

Inside Today-s Home

5 stars (Great book for anyone seriously interested in interior desig) - I have used this book as a reference for many years. It is a great book. Anyone who is remodeling their kitchen or building a new home should read this book. Ms. Nissen has explored many areas of the field and written a terrific book. ...
Wadsworth Publishing :: Art & General :: Interior decoration :: Interior Design - General :: Interior Design :: Home Improvement & Construction :: General :: Decoration & Ornament :: Decor :: Inside Today-s Home

 

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction - Details for Builders and Designers

5 stars (Framing) - This is a wonderful addition to any collection of carpentry books. Good clear explanations, precise drawings, and a great resource for experts and novice alike. 5 stars (EXCELLENT RESOURCE BOOK) - i am a 3rd year arch. student with some minimal understanding of general wood construction.Coming from a design oriented school they dont really teach any practical knowledge of the field but i personally think that i need to know some of it to get myself prepared, even before i graduate.This book helps a lot.It has a lot of information regarding the common practices we find outside with adequate amount of details to make you understand.Picture is worth a thousand words and this book is all about that.You do need to have some basic knowledge though to fully understand.The only con i would consider is that scope is only limited to typical residential wood construction.For project details of bigger size and greater complexity you need to look further. 3 stars (It's Ok, There are Better Books) - It is all about graphics in this book, a method of presenting that I enjoy but it needs some text and why behind those graphs. There are much better references out there on the subject than this book. ...
Taunton :: House & Home & Reference :: Wooden-frame buildings :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Framing (Building) :: Drawings :: Do-It-Yourself - Carpen :: Graphic Guide to Frame Construction - Details for Builders and Designers

 

The Real Wood Bible- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Choosing And Using 100 Decorative Woods

2 stars (What Bible) - A seventh grader doing a report on woods, with access to a few picture could do a better job! ...
Firefly Books Ltd :: Woodwork - General :: Interior Design - General :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Decorating - General :: Decorating :: Nick Gibbs :: :: The Real Wood Bible- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Choosing And Using 100 Decorative Woods

 

Bungalow Kitchens

4 stars (Cool Kitchens) - This book contains an excellent collection of photos of Arts & Crafts period kitchens. It discusses the philosophy of design Gustav Stickley and others advocated and shows you the results, which are still beautiful, even after all these years. It is a little short on detail, if you wanted to reproduce the look of the Arts & Crafts kitchen, but it does spark the imagination. The examples of various kitchens is broken down by designer, so it is easy to pick out their specific design influence. I found this book an inspiration for some of the designs I would like incorporate in my own home, and combined with some other books of design details, it is excellent. 5 stars (A Great Source of Ideas for Remodeling a Bungalow Kitchen) - I bought this book to get ideas on renovating my 1930 bungalow kitchen. Although the book focuses more on restoration than renovation, I still found it a wonderful source of ideas. Filled with lots of full color pictures of restored and well-preserved kitchens, the book is worth its price for the pictures alone. The text covers both historic and current issues and is a wealth of information. Each section of the book has a chapter called "Obsessive Restoration" for those serious about historic integrity, but also offers a "Compromise Solution" for those of us who need to balance 21st century demands. We found the book extremely valuable in picking layout, hardware, appliances, cabinets, and flooring. It really helped us to design a kitchen that meets the needs of a modern family, yet which blends in with the historic values of our home. 4 stars (The Real Deal) - This book is great encouragement for those homeowners who know they want authentic vintage, but have to deal with current day construction fellas who just don't get it. The authors give many tips on how and where to get what you are looking for. The only drawback is that I was looking for a 1950's looking style, and this book very much focuses on an era...
Gibbs Smith Publishers :: United States :: Remodeling & Renovation - Kitchens :: Reference :: Kitchens :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: History :: Architecture :: 20th cen :: Bungalow Kitchens

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement

5 stars (An essential tool for the home owner) - This book is a great tool for the home owner. The skill level assumed by the authors is relatively low, though not zero. Like all useful books, you are assumed to have a basic understandig of basic tools and how to use them. However, special tools and techniques are explained in enough detail to be useful to the relative novice. The projects detailed are of the most popular varieties. There is something there for you and many ideas you may not have had. Making improvements to your property and keeping it up-to-date is the best way to protect your investment. Being able to do it yourself is the best way to -maximize- your investment. The photos provided explain most of the things you might otherwise have found mysterious. Finally, though some of the things detailed are outside of the average homeowners skill (mine at least), there are so many things in the book, that you'll find many things you can and want to do. 5 stars (Nice book on Home improvement) - Just like the other books in this series, the information provided is concise and helpful. The pictures are nice and the text is written in a clear manner. 5 stars (Great for the clueless home owner) - I was looking to sound proof an outdoor shed so I could bang away on my drums without my neighbors threatening to kill me. It showed me step-by-step on how to create another wall with a 6" baseboard with staggered 2x4's, weaving the insulation through the studs, applying sound board, then applying dry wall. It also walked me through using the wall compound and tape to cover up the seams and drywall screws. This was only one project out of many. Well worth the price. I highly recommend this book. ...
Creative Publishing International :: home improvement :: Remodeling & Renovation - General :: Remodeling :: Pictorial works :: Houses :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Handbooks :: ma :: The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement

 

Haley-s Hints

5 stars (real time savers) - Valuable hints and tricks for the novice as well as the veteran. 5 stars (Haley's Hints) - I was very well pleased with this book but was disappointed in not receiving the Natural Cures, They Don't Want You to Know About. It is the 16 of September and I still have not received it even tho it has been charged to my credit card. 4 stars (Haley's Hints) - Very informative and gives cleaning instructions that probably wouldn't be found in many places. ...
New American Library :: House & Home :: Home economics :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Do-It-Yourself - General :: Do-It-Yourself :: Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints :: Davi :: Haley-s Hints

 

Tile Your World- John Bridge-s New Tile Setting Book

5 stars (Excellent resource, great confidence builder) - This book is more than just a how-to book. Between this book and the author's web-site full of friendly people and helpful advice, the average DIYer will find the knowledge and confidence to tackle nearly any tile project. If funds aren't an issue or you are a book junkie like me, I'd recommend you own this book and "Setting Tile" by Michael Byrne as both books cover different subjects to different depths, but if you only buy one book, "Tile Your World" by John Bridge is the one to own. 5 stars (Wonderful resource that keeps on giving) - As a dedicated DIYer with no tiling experience, I needed a book that would provide a good overview as well as the details to actually get the job done. This book presents the necessary information in a manner that benefits novices and pros alike. I was able to read the book cover to cover without losing interest. I then dug back into the book to re-read material to gain a more thorough understanding. When I've not been able to figure something out, I've posted questions directly to an active web-based forum hosted by the author (great resource and the book makes a pointer to it--that's the "keeps on giving" reference in the review title and it was worth the price of the book alone!). The only ding I'd give the book is that a good portion of the images are printed too small. As a newbie, I'd appreciated larger images throughout and would have been glad to pay a little more for it. 4 stars (Good Information from a Pro) - This book is a good resource for tile setting. Worth getting. Don't let the second class publishing format and unprofessional way of writing put you off, this isn't an essay on political science. It is obviously written by someone with many years of field experience. ...
Mistflower Press :: Tiles :: Tile laying :: Technology :: Pottery & Ceramics :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Hobbies&Crafts :: Do-It-Yourself - Masonry :: Decoratin :: Tile Your World- John Bridge-s New Tile Setting Book

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair- With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos Black - Decker

5 stars (Invaluable Resource) - We recently purchased an old home with lots of "problems". I borrowed this book from my local library (along with Black & Decker's Home Improvement) and was amazed at how clear and detailed it was. I think the best part is how they use real photos of everything, and not sketches. There are well over 2000 photos. Within days, I was dealing with and solving basement issues, plumbing problems, electrical outlets, and many more things that I did not even thing of. The books helped so much that I decided to go ahead and purchase them here on Amazon. There are countless home improvement books out there and some rank better than others. From what I've seen, the Black & Decker series ranks at the top and are an invaluable resource. It literally pays for itself with all the money saving tips and instructions. I recommend this book, along with Black & Decker's Home Improvement and Outdoor to anyone looking to save money on home repairs. 5 stars (My new favorite home repair guide) - A good home repair guide is an absolute requirement for those of us who know very little about home repair but feel the urge on occasion to tackle some of those odd jobs around the house. While there are many guides on the market today the best ones have an abundance of photographs or detailed illustrations to help the reader see what they are supposed to be doing. With over 2,300 photos Black and Decker's The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is the epitome of this class of books. Processes and techniques are described step by step in detail with no prior knowledge assumed. Everything is so well done anyone can complete any of the projects if they can read and follow directions. I've had several home repair books, but this one just became my top choice for the one I want to have around as my primary reference. The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair is a very highly recommended book for every homeowner or handyman. ...
Creative Publishing International :: Repair :: Remodeling & Renovation - General :: Maintenance and repair :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Dwellings :: Do-It-Yourself - General :: :: The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair- With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos (Black - Decker)

 

Not So Big Solutions for Your Home

5 stars (Very helpful) - I found this book to be very insightful for me as a new homebuilder. While the book is a collection of magazine articles that Susanka has written in the past, they contain ideas that are refreshing and useful. I have a new direction in the way I think about the design of my house, and I can appreciate the value of maximising space, as well as building the house to suit my particular lifestyle. i would recommend this for any potential homebuilder, or renovator. 5 stars (Bigger is not always better...quality counts!) - Our guiding philosophy and inspiration. An engaging and intelligent defense of building (and renovating) smarter, not bigger. Sarah Susanke has made a career of promoting traditional design principles in a way that speaks to modern situations (many of us can't afford new, huge houses) and responds to the "McMansions" craze that continues to sweep the US. She has a wonderful sense of how to maximize space for personal use. She advocates for built-in furniture, design built around daily activities, and open light-filled design. She had us at "Most architects are afraid to say...'You don't need an addition, you need a cleaning service." She doesn't want to clean out your bank account. She wants you to make the most of what you have...and if you follow her ideas, you will. 5 stars (Useful Information from a Pioneering Voice) - Within a very short time, Sarah Susanka has had a profound impact on the way families approach the design of their home. Eschewing the "bigger is better" model that drives the profits of developers and mass production builders, Sarah Susanka has introduced a new vocablary of user-centered design that focuses on the details that make for a pleaant living experience. Her "smaller is better" philosophy is based on often overlooked details like window size, providing built-in spaces for daily activities, creating "comfort zones" by varying ceiling heights and room lighting, and a myriad of other simple-in-...
Taunton :: House & Home & General :: Interior architecture :: House construction :: House Plans :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Domestic architecture :: :: Not So Big Solutions for Your Home

 

Bungalow Bathrooms Bungalow Basics

4 stars (Waterproof your book and take a bath!) - Considering the fact that the bathroom was still an area being perfected when bungalows were built, this book displays an insightful history into bathroom technology, both at the time and throughout history. As well, it gives reality-based examples for a bungalow-phile to follow in order to mould their bathroom after those of the era, allowing for the advancement modernity. A well-researched, well-done book. 5 stars (Bathroom Inspiration) - This book saved my life. I had no idea what to do with the bathroom of my new/old 1910 apartment until I read it. The text educated me (despite the numerous bad puns), the pictures inspired me, and the authors' upbeat attitude (not to mention their extensive list of resources) kept me from losing heart while looking for appropriate tile and fixtures. If you have a house built anywhere between 1899 and 1950 and you need to restore or renovate the bathroom, this is the book for you. It is not, however, a how-to book. It is a what-to book. And it's worth every penny. 5 stars (A Great Source of Design Ideas for a Bungalow Remodel) - I bought this book to get ideas on renovating my 1930 bungalow bathroom. Although the book focuses more on restoration than renovation, I still found it a wonderful source of ideas. Filled with lots of full color pictures of restored and well-preserved bathrooms, the book is worth its price for the pictures alone. The text covers both historic and current issues and is a wealth of information. Each section of the book has a chapter called "Obsessive Restoration" for those serious about historic integrity, but also offers a "Compromise Solution" for those of us who need to balance 21st century demands. We found the book extremely valuable in picking layout, hardware, fixtures, walls, and flooring. It really helped us to design a bathroom that meets the needs of a modern family, yet which blends in with the historic values of our home. ...
Gibbs Smith Publishers :: Remodeling & Renovation - Bathrooms :: Remodeling :: Interior decoration :: Interior Design - General :: Home Improvement & Construction :: History - Specific S :: Bungalow Bathrooms (Bungalow Basics)

 

Mediterranean Inspiration- 125 Home Plans Inspired by Southern European Style Inspiration Homeplan

Mediterranean Inspiration: 125 Home Plans Inspired by Southern European Style (Inspiration (Homeplanners))...
Home Planners :: Interior Design - Style Books :: House Plans :: House & Home :: Home Improvement & Construction :: General :: Do-It-Yourself :: Design & Construction :: Hanley Wood :: Mediterranean Inspiration- 125 Home Plans Inspired by Southern European Style (Inspiration (Homeplan

 

Home Comforts - The Art and Science of Keeping House

5 stars (Domestic Goddess of Domestic Tranquility) - Thoroughly up-to-date, this handbook of household management addresses all the issues of keeping the modern house, including the "why" of keeping house. We keep house because there is a basic need to be clean and well-ordered in our homes. Our health and safety depend on knowing how to keep the foodstuffs safe, how to clean our living areas, and how to help keep our homes safe from outsiders. There is also great mental comfort in doing these tasks. The role of Goddess of Domestic Tranquility is a worthy one, and one might as well be a well-informed GDT. The topics are well-researched and the advice on how to keep one's goods in good condition is superior. Besides the material condition of the house, the paperwork condition is also addressed, with thorough explanations of the hows and whys of various insurances, contracts, and employing others to assist in household maintenance. I keep this book where I can reach it easily as it gets as much use as my Yellow Pages and favorite cook book. 5 stars (From 'cleaning' to 'housekeeping'.) - I'm a messy person. My mother would tell you this. My mother is, like her mother, an obsessive-compulsive cleaner, but not especially organized. I rebelled against the cleaning, which left me with nothing. No, this book isn't a miracle worker. It didn't magically turn me into Martha Stewart. However, I'm not atypical. I was born in 1981. My mother never taught me how to make hospital corners and make up the bed so that I was comfortable, fold clothing so that it actually fit well in the drawers, how to do laundry other than 'wash light stuff and dark stuff separate' and her idea of the hardiness of leftover food is still very optimistic. Home Comforts can't replace learning from a loved family member. For the many of us who didn't have that option, it's invaluable. It's not just the how, but the why; not just about being immaculate but about being comfortable at home....
Scribner :: House & Home & Repair :: Repair :: House & Home :: Home economics :: Home Improvement & Construction :: Do-It-Yourself :: Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints :: :: Home Comforts - The Art and Science of Keeping House