BOOK REVIEW: ART & SOLE

Even though this book was published last year, I wanted to give to review it - so one of my contacts sent this copy my way. Art & Sole is probably one of the prettiest books I've reviewed. With it's bright red cover & gold edged pages, it's a must-have coffee table book. The book introduces us to Jane Weitzman, wife of shoe designer Stuart Weitzman.  This 208 page book features 150 fantasy art shoes made of interestingly unique materials she has discovered and commissioned by artists over the last years for the Stuart Weitzman display windows. Each shoe is featured with it's own caption and impeccable design. You are also able to find more in depth description as well as a bio of the artist that created the shoe. Pretty genius idea! The ideal book for shoe lovers

Here's an IDEA:  This is a great book for shoe lovers and makes a nice gift to a best friend, but also makes a great gift to brides maids at weddings!

pick up your copy of this gorgeous book here.

-images by jen ramos

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Book Review: Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas

Good morning everyone! Thanks to Amy Atlas for this lovely book which came in the mail yesterday! 

I'm so delighted to finally receive Sweet Designs after hearing so much about it! Amy Atlas is a former lawyer who is now a sweets stylist - creating all kinds of gorgeous dessert tables displayed to perfection! Her dessert tables are always so colorful & eye-popping which make her a favorite in the dessert styling world! The tables are ideal for weddings, special events, baby showers & more! No matter what party you plan, this girl can get it together!

My favorite parts of the book are the 'custom candy bar wrappers' - fantastic idea.... which I'll be trying pretty soon! I also loved both the 'chipper chocolate cupcakes' & the 'chocolate beehive cupcakes' (all pictured below). 
 

Don't they all look tasty? 
 

Ahhh I'm such a sucker for sweets, if only my waistline wouldn't expand in the process! 

Get your copy of Amy's book here.

Thank you Amy!

-images by jen ramos

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Book Review: Exotic Taste

After a few days of being sick, I'm back! Those who follow me on Twitter I'm sure know what I've been dealing with - and thank God the worst is over, crossing fingers!
 

So...today I'm reviewing Exotic Taste, Oriental Interiors by Emmanuelle Gaillard and Marc Walter. The book was sent as a gift to me by one of my contacts at Vendome Press & I thought I'd share it with you. 
 
Though there's NOT a lot of Oriental styling in my home, I've always admired how a well design room with Oriental fixtures meshes together.  With a lot of intricate detailing, Asian-influenced interiors can truly bring a different feel to a room, as this book shows you.
 

This hardbound book has 236 pages of rich, colorful photos and retails for $75.  The photos show everything from entire rooms to furniture to details.


 One of my favorite features is how it's broken up into regions - China & Japan, India, & Near Eastern.

 

You'll be particularly impressed with the scale of the rooms - several from palaces & grand residences where massive rooms are still detailed with intricate tapestry, carvings & vases!
 

You can buy your copy of this great book here.

-images of book taken by jen ramos

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Book Review: The Elements of Graphic Design

My new friends at Skyhorse publishing sent over this book: The Elements of Graphic Design - and it's so appropriate for me because as a designer, I'm constantly wanting to learn more! 

This book is actually a second edition by Alex W. White & even though I have yet to read the entire thing (lack of time) - I'm loving what I've read so far!  The book is definitely thought provoking & has a bit over 200 pages of full color. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone thinking of getting into the Graphic Design field. You'll learn about how you can apply design components, color, similarity & contrast, unity & space, type & much more!

I love how Alex manages to describe a unique approach to successful graphic design & inspires us to create better work.....brilliant!

You can pick up your copy here.

-images by jen ramos

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Peter Pennoyer Architects, Book Review... (Via Made By Girl)

Looking for a book about apartments, townhomes and country houses? Well, I received this book from Vendome Press yesterday and was pretty impressed. The book is titled,  "Peter Pennoyer Architects" and has 244 pages of colorful, detailed architecture. Peter Pennoyer is an American architect whose home designs seem to have existed forever....meaning they are unique & classical....a TIMELESS design.

 I will NOW add this book to MY growing COLLECTION of design books where it will fit perfectly....

(click on pics for larger images)

The book is by Anne Walker and it explores 20 of the firm's projects. All impressively diverse, ranging from a triplex on NEW YORK'S fifth avenue, to a farmhouse in the Virgina countryside. While looking through the book, I found that MY absolute FAVORITE was the Park Avenue apartment. (pictured above & below)

images of book by jen ramos

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Room For Children....Book Review (Via Made By Girl)

Room For Children published by Rizzoli is such a cool & inspiring book for those of you who have KIDS.  I swear, I instantly fell in LOVE with this book while flipping through it's 240 PAGES of full color!


I don't have any kids yet, but I wanted to share it with those of you who do! I'm sure it's a CHALLENGE coming up with IDEAS to decorate a nursery etc., but whether for a newborn, toddler, or teenager, the rooms shown here enrich the experience of childhood while inspiring with their imaginative design.  

You'll see rooms decorated by top designers like, Kelly Wearstler, Charlotte Moss, Alessandra Branca, Amanda Nisbet, and Thomas Jayne, among many others. How's that for INSPIRATION?

You can pick up your copy here.

It definitely makes for a great coffee table book with it's perfect size! Kids are so lucky these days to be exposed to such creativity. Don't you think? I DEFINITELY recommend this book!!

below: my all time favorite KIDS room from Jenna Lyon's home

You can pick up your copy here.

author of room for children susanna salk

foreword by kelly wearstler

images of book by jen ramos

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Lars Bolander's Scandinavian Design....(Book Review)

Thanks to The Vendome Press for mailing this gorgeous book out to me! I received it today & I'm so excited to share it with you.  Lars Bolander's Scandinavian Design by author Heather Smith MacIsaac, is a book dedicated to the global influence that Scandinavian aesthetic has on interior design. Lars Bolander, one of Sweden's most SUCCESSFUL interior designers has been creating the Scandinavian look in homes all over the world for decades! 

While you flip through it's 192 pages, you'll find he creates both classic and new looks, as well as bringing the traditional pieces into the 20th century, (which I love)!  He also offers guidance on how to achieve the Scandinavian look by incorporating the trademark elements into any decor. Highly recommended! 

You can pick up your copy of the book here.

For those of you interested in seeing more, Lars has a few stores in the USA. One is located in New York City and the other in palm Beach. The stores offer a sophisticated mix of traditional Swedish, French, and British antiques a modern pieces.

images by jen ramos

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House Beautiful Fabrics For Your Home .....

Remember when I blogged about the "Colors For Your Home" book here?  Well, I was sent this book (House Beautiful Fabrics For Your Home) by Sterling Publishing and I have to say....it's just as helpful & informative! It talks about how to pull the look of a room together by selecting specific fabrics while providing a mix of practical information & INSPIRATION for the home decorator (like me)!  


It also includes insider advice on how to THINK about color, pattern & palette. This, I admit I have trouble with...selecting the best pattern combos. They also have a great searchable swatch index you can flip through (very handy)....and lots more! I highly recommend this book! You can purchase copy here.

Do any of you own this book?? How do you like it?

images by jen ramos 

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The Design Entrepreneur Book

The Design Entrepreneur - "Turning Graphic Design Into Goods That Sell" book was always an attractive read for me. This book by Steven Heller & Lita Talarico, was published in late 2008 & I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! Of course, another book would always come up & I'd skip buying this one! But I finally purchased it from Amazon & I'm so glad I did! This red softcover, 240 page book comes housed in a black die-cut cardboard case. Fancy....

Anyhow, this book is ideal for graphic designers who are trying to turn their designs into profit. Is that you??? Selling your work/designs online is no easy task, there's a lot of work involved. Designers may be be natural entrepreneurs at heart, but very few will actually take the BIG step to become successful & make money doing so.

Within the 240 pages, you'll find interviews with design entrepreneurs as well as a great resource section. In the end, this book will provide Graphic Designers with inspiration. It's up to you, to take that inspiration & move forward with it.

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