Books about Architecture from Amazon.com

Product Description

“Nature’s quintessential color combination of blue and white never ceases to amaze me. The look of pristine snow against deep blue Aspen skies; spires of blue and white delphinium in a garden; Connecticut’s spring mornings where the apple blossoms and nodding heads of white narcissus are in contrast to soft blue skies and vibrant green grass—these and many more images found in nature have informed my work for the last thirty-five years. From fashion to interiors, and tabletop to gardens, the presence of blue and white is a constant in my past collections as well as throughout my previous eight books. It seems natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination.” —from the Introduction

This private tour of the dazzling homes of legendary style-setter Carolyne Roehm showcases her favorite color combination in more than three hundred glorious photographs.

From the time designer Carolyne Roehm rented her first small apartment in New York in her twenties, she has loved blue and white. In that one-bedroom flat, she draped the walls, chairs, sofa, and a canopy bed in an inexpensive blue and white sheeting fabric designed by her boss, Oscar de la Renta, and began collecting blue-and-white porcelain from around the world—initially bargain reproductions and eventually museum-quality pieces—from China, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.

Today, Carolyne Roehm presides over a magnificent duplex in Manhattan, an antique-filled stone house in Connecticut, and a chic yet rustic home in Aspen, all of which contain rooms decorated in blue and white, featuring accents from her collections of china, ceramics, glassware, linens, furniture, and decorative pieces. These rooms employ the whole spectrum of blues, from delicate sky to the deepest, boldest navy, evoking moods ranging from tranquil to vibrant.

In A Passion for Blue and White, Carolyne Roehm takes us inside her homes (including her former pied-à-terre in Paris) in never-before-seen photographs of these stunning rooms. She also reveals how she has used blue and white to magnificent effect outdoors in Connecticut around her pool and in her gardens—and even how she used the combination in designing a wedding for a friend.

She provides inspiration for tabletop design, flower arranging, and gift-wrapping, suitable for all budgets. Her ceramic, textile, and glass collections (endless sources of her creativity) can be emulated by anyone with trips to flea markets, thrift shops, and inexpensive import stores as well as antique stores and galleries.

A swatch of French fabric began Carolyne Roehm’s lifetime love affair with blue and white. In this book, she demonstrates through her own decorating and designs, how this combination works its magic on everything from upholstery and drapes to napkins and tablecloths, wrapping paper and ribbons. For anyone with a passion for blue and white, here is the ultimate style guide and Carolyne Roehm’s most gorgeous book yet.

Amazon.com Exclusive: An Interview with Carolyne Roehm

Q: Reviewers are calling your new book “gorgeous” and your “most self-expressive book”. What inspired you to write A Passion for Blue and White?
CR: Blue and white has always been a big part of my world, and this passion is reflected in the books I’ve done, whether the subject matter was flowers, entertaining, or creating beautifully wrapped gifts. It seemed natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination. Blue and White gives me a design focus – one that’s endlessly rewarding.

Q: What will the reader find in the book?
CR: Blue and white has been a constant in my interior design work. The book is filled with photos of interiors and outdoor spaces enhanced by collections of ceramics, textiles, porcelain, dishes and linens. I’ve always been inspired by nature and no other combination is as omnipresent as glorious blue and white so I’ve included an endless assortment of ideas for arranging flowers, gardens and bouquets for every season. This is really a book about creating a beautiful environment with style and ease. I’ve also included wonderful ideas for wrapping paper and ribbons, napkins, drapes and linens. Of course I didn’t feel this book would be complete without including a plethora of information on the meaning and history of blue and white, and its use in all of the decorative arts.

Q: Since the holidays are upon us, do you include suggestions that may be useful for the upcoming season?
CR: Yes. During the holiday season, I sometimes stray away from a red-and-green theme and use a blue and white color scheme that works surprisingly well with a green wreath or urns filled with narcissus.

At Christmas, blue and white pieces can show off the traditional deep red flowers of the season including amaryllis, berries and roses.

Q: Do you have other holiday ideas that don’t involve flowers?
CR: Yes, I’ve included photos of holiday cards, invitations, gift tags, menu cards and gift wrap that is beautiful when created in a blue & white color scheme. Elegant card stock is a luxury but it’s incredibly simple and satisfying to use the computer to make invitations, menu cards or holiday gift tags. Guests feel you’ve taken the time to create something special when it’s made by hand.

Q: Any suggestions for those on a budget?
CR: Absolutely. The best thing about blue & white is the ability to collect and display so inexpensively. Chinese porcelain is readily available and inexpensive fabrics can always be purchased at discount outlets. A few of my favorite table setting ideas include mixing white porcelain with a blue and white tablecloth and using white carnations in the centerpiece. It creates a dramatic table inexpensively.

The right flower arrangements can be made inexpensively any time of the year. One of my favorite combinations is mixing white cosmos from the cutting garden with frilly Queen Anne’s lace to create a fresh and simple bouquet. Simple daisies in a cobalt blue glass create a dramatic effect and nothing is more cheerful than bright yellow sunflowers in deep blue glass.

Q: Any final comments?
CR: This book is my personal story of designing and living with this magical color combination. I hope in some small way it will inspire others.

A Look Inside A Passion for Blue and White
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

For the Living Room	For the Bedroom
In the Garden	Interior Arrangements
Floral Arrangements	Tablescapes
For the Holidays	Decorative Arrangements

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CHILDRENS BOOKS & MUSIC. Childrens Books. Language Arts.
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2008 Silver Award Winner, Architecture Category, Independent Publisher Book Awards. and Winning entry, General Trade Illustrated Category, in the 2008 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston.

This is a book that students of architecture will want to keep in the studio and in their backpacks. It is also a book they may want to keep out of view of their professors, for it expresses in clear and simple language things that tend to be murky and abstruse in the classroom. These 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation—from the basics of "How to Draw a Line" to the complexities of color theory—provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy, making concrete what too often is left nebulous or open-ended in the architecture curriculum. Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, with a brief explanation and an illustration that can range from diagrammatic to whimsical. The lesson on "How to Draw a Line" is illustrated by examples of good and bad lines; a lesson on the dangers of awkward floor level changes shows the television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall; a discussion of the proportional differences between traditional and modern buildings features a drawing of a building split neatly in half between the two. Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum. Architecture graduates—from young designers to experienced practitioners—will turn to the book as well, for inspiration and a guide back to basics when solving a complex design problem..
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The organization of letters on a blank sheet -- or screen -- is the most basic challenge facing anyone who practices design. What type of font to use? How big? How should those letters, words, and paragraphs be aligned, spaced, ordered, shaped, and otherwise manipulated? In this groundbreaking new primer, leading design educator and historian Ellen Lupton provides clear and concise guidance for anyone learning or brushing up on their typographic skills.
Thinking with Type is divided into three sections: letter, text, and grid. Each section begins with an easy-to-grasp essay that reviews historical, technological, and theoretical concepts, and is then followed by a set of practical exercises that bring the material covered to life. Sections conclude with examples of work by leading practitioners that demonstrate creative possibilities (along with some classic no-no's to avoid)..
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Celebrate what’s beautiful about traditional style while breaking some of its rules: Take a page out of a designer’s book and add your own sense of relaxed whimsy and exuberant personality to create spaces that are versatile, original, and truly livable

That’s designer Celerie Kemble’s philosophy in a nutshell. It’s all about blending a classic sensibility with a dose of irreverence and a dollop of humor to achieve a home that’s tasteful, eclectic, always evolving, and always welcoming.

Celerie takes you by the hand, gives you a detailed look at many of her signature interiors, and enthusiastically reassures you that, with the right information and attitude, you can overcome challenges and artfully achieve the ultimate design goal—a perfect blend of beauty and comfort.

From finding inspiration in childhood memories, current trends, and favorite belongings to working around real-life design dilemmas (such as a lack of space or light, or awkward floor plans) to selecting just the right furnishings (including rugs, lamps, and accessories), Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste infectiously proves that when making a beautiful home, the process is the best part..
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The classic visual guide to the basics of building construction, now with the most current information

For nearly three decades, Building Construction Illustrated has offered an outstanding introduction to the principles of building construction. This new edition of the revered classic remains as relevant as ever-providing the latest information in Francis D.K. Ching's signature style. Its rich and comprehensive approach clearly presents all of the basic concepts underlying building construction and equips readers with useful guidelines for approaching virtually any new materials or techniques they may encounter.

Laying out the material and structural choices available, it provides a full under-standing of how these choices affect a building's form and dimensions. Complete with more than 1,000 illustrations, the book moves through each of the key stages of the design process, from site selection to building components, mechanical systems, and finishes.
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Illustrated throughout with clear and accurate drawings that present the state of the art in construction processes and materials
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Updated and revised to include the latest knowledge on sustainability, incorporation of building systems, and use of new materials
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Archetypal drawings offer clear inspiration for designers and drafters
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Reflects the most current building codes and CSI Master Format numbering scheme

With its comprehensive and lucid presentation of everything from foundations and floor systems to finish work, Building Construction Illustrated, Fourth Edition equips students and professionals in all areas of architecture and construction with useful guidelines for approaching virtually any new materials or techniques they may encounter in building planning, design, and construction..
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