Cabin Kitchens & Baths [Hardcover]

Esther And Franklin Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2004

A cabin isn't just a home in the woods, it's an architecturally and aesthetically unique structure that deserves special attention with regard to decoration and organization of rooms and living space. Cabin Kitchens and Baths is the first book to look specifically at the challenges that can come with decorating or remodeling bathrooms and kitchens in log homes and cabins-small spaces, unusually shaped rooms, lighting issues, and more. Cabin Kitchens and Baths offers tips from professionals in the log home building industry on cabinetry, appliances, architectural details, color, and floor plans that will help make a dream kitchen or bathroom a reality. From floor to ceiling, these rooms are the most complex in a home, and are even more so in a cabin or old log home. Franklin and Esther Schmidt focus on the architectural elements, furnishings, appliances, design and decor, and include inspiring kitchen floor plans and expert sidebars as well as beautiful photography. This book is a must-have for anyone considering a remodel or redecorating project on a cabin or log home. Esther and Franklin Schmidt are a photography, styling, and writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds of log and timber frame cabins. They have traveled to nearly every state, producing articles and photo features for all the major log and timber frame magazines. Their work is featured in a variety of books on cabin living as well as such national magazines as Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors, Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home, and Country Living. As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, D.C. correspondents for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as it relates to architecture and lifestyle.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Introduction I. Architecture & Architectural Elements The Kitchen Footprint Tips from a Professional (Chong) Windows & Skylights Tips from a Professional (Meyer) Doors and Entranceways Tips from a Professional (Meyer) Flooring Tips from a Professional (Wood) Ceilings: What's Up? Tips from a Professional (Mitchell) Fireplaces and Other Elements II. Furnishings Cabinetry Tips from a Professional (O'Connor) Countertops Islands Freestanding Furniture Upholstered Furniture & Textiles Tips from a Professional (Moffei-Toolan) III. Appliances IV. Design & Decor Wall Colors & Coverings AQ: Please change, next section title is too similar. Tips from a Professional (Buchanan) Window & Wall Coverings Displaying Art & Collectibles Tips from a Professional (Finkelstein/Montana) Kitchen Journals Tips from a Professional (Mahaffee) Tips from a Professional (Warner) V. Bathrooms Tips from a Professional (Tommy) What to Incorporate How Many, How Big Rustic Retreat or Contemporary Spa Tips from a Professional (Bracht) Enjoying the Process as Well as the Product VI. Resources

About the Author

Franklin and Esther Schmidt are a photography, styling, and writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds of homes. Their articles and features have appeared in a variety of magazines including Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors, Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home and Country Living. As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, DC, correspondents for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as it relates to architecture and lifestyle. Franklin and Esther are also the authors and photographers of Cabin Kitchens & Baths. They live in Virginia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Publisher (April 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586853015
• ISBN-13: 978-1586853013
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #944,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation > Bathrooms
  • #65 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation > Kitchens

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a good one, May 19, 2004

By 

Henrietta Tobias (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabin Kitchens & Baths (Hardcover)

I've been looking for a book like this for ages. There are lots of great looking design books, very few offer real help. I found this book to be excellently organized with in-depth information on every aspect of kitchen and bathroom design. The writing is intelligent, without being overly technical, and good-humored while also giving practical solutions to a variety of design and structural challenges.
The photography, which as another reviewer pointed out, could stand alone as being quite beautiful, is very specific in terms of what is depicted as referencing the subject matter in the respective chapters and sections.
Another reviewer pointed out that the photography is redundant to what appears in the log magazines on the newsstands. I think that is untrue. I'm an avid reader of log magazines, and have been for a good number of years, and do not see any repetition at all. These photographs are certainly new to my eyes and are of the highest quality.
I find it remarkable that with so many books on kitchens and myriad publications on cabins, this is the first time that the two subjects have been combined in one volume. And, what an effective volume it is.
On a personal point of view, as a lover of great interiors and with a nice little library of good design books, this one has great pipe dream potential and one of these days I might even use some of the ideas in re-doing my own kitchen and bathroom.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cabins...and more, April 24, 2004

By 

Peter P. Cecere (Woodville, Va USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabin Kitchens & Baths (Hardcover)

Book Review
CABIN KITCHENS AND BATHS by Franklin and Esther Schmidt (Gibbs Smith, Salt Lake City, 2004)

This book delivers far more than it promises. First and foremost, it is a chatty but practical and lavishly - illustrated guide designed to lead a cabin or homeowner through the process of designing what most of us would consider the two most difficult and important rooms in our residence. The Schmidts do this by a readable text, made more useful by including opinions from numerous professionals involved in cabin design from soup to nuts. The book...which obviously could be used to design kitchens and baths in any kind of residence...includes helpful check lists to prepare one thoroughly from design to installation.

CABIN KITCHENS AND BATHS is also a wonderful "coffee table" book for post and beam and log residences. My library holdings include numerous volumes of books whose last name is "STYLE"......"Greek Style"," Japanese Style", etc, and I often reread them for the simple pleasure of it. The lavish color photography makes this book infinitely more attractive.

Finally, the Schmidts give us a tantalizing look into myriad design choices for decorating kitchens, baths and the rest of the cabin. Collections, individual pieces, the old and the new populate most of the photographs and add yet another dimension to this book. After the kitchen and bath are finally finished, one can easily find pleasure for many years in the other things that this book so richly illustrates.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream Cabins, December 10, 2004

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cabin Kitchens & Baths (Hardcover)

Everyone dreams of a getaway cabin - a place of rest and refuge. ~pg. 1

If you have your own log cabin dreams, the best ways to get ideas is to look through wonderful log cabin books written by photographers who have written about hundreds of log cabins. The authors of this gorgeous book live in a farmhouse deep in the rural Virginia countryside.

They are frequently on the road and spend time in New York City at their studio space. Franklin and Esther Schmidt have captured some of the most beautiful kitchens and baths I've ever seen. They are romantic, inspiring and very cozy.

This book is filled with ideas for remodeling or new homes. This book explores architectural elements, furnishings, appliances, bathrooms, design and décor. Many of the cabins are surprisingly modern and quite interesting. The curtains and lighting stand out as highlights against the warm wood interiors.

After reading this book you may find yourself adding heart bundt pans, candles and new pots and pans to your wish list or dreaming about lace curtains. Many of the kitchens have a special shelf for cookbooks and all the kitchens look like dream kitchens. Pots and pans hang from the ceilings along with baskets and dried flowers.

There are many creative ideas in the pictures, like a wagon as a coffee table. Baskets are definitely a decorative element in the kitchens.

While most of this book is about kitchens, there is a section about creating soothing spaces filled with candles, fluffy towels and deep baths. Here are all the bathtubs we dream about, complete with big windows, plants and candles everywhere.

If you love claw-foot tubs, there are many examples in various settings. I had never seen a lavender colored tub so that was interesting. There are ideas for stenciling and one bath tub has a waterfall.

The resources will be very helpful for home builders and almost every source has a website for immediate access to ideas and inspiration.

~The Rebecca Review