Contemporary Details (Whitney Library of Design) [Hardcover]

Nonie Niesewand (Author)

Book Description

Series: Whitney Library of Design | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

This international guide to contemporary architectural fixtures and fittings is a sourcebook to the best products available for modern domestic interiors. More than 800 photographs are included to illustrate the fixtures, fittings and surface finishes for floors, doors, windows, stairs, walls, ceilings, heating, lighting, storage, kitchens and bathrooms.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823009343
• ISBN-13: 978-0823009343
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Style
  • #35 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Decoration & Ornament

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not what I expected., August 14, 2000

By 

Aisha Densmore-Bey "archidiva" (Hartford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contemporary Details (Whitney Library of Design) (Hardcover)

This book is a valuable resource like a previous reader stated if you are redoing a home, or if you want some ideas on innovative installations of materials, but being that I was thinking with a mind of an architect, when I first read this title I thought I would literally see some construction details of some of the more innovative ideas (what materials were used, what thought went behind the design, etc.). Instead, I got some pretty pictures and lots and lots of names of manufactuers, businesses, and architects. A bit disappointing, but a good book to have either way.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, July 7, 2005

By 

Langley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Details (Whitney Library of Design) (Hardcover)

The reason I purchased this book is because it billed itself as a great reference/sourcebook. In my mind, that meant a place to get ideas for contemporary home improvements, as well as a means to make them actually happen. I envisioned a book that showed a photo of a (kitchen, floor, bathroom, some tile, etc.), discuss the actual materials used in EACH setting, and where possible, where they can be found. While there are a few basic references of this type, the bulk of the book gives the name of whatever architect contributed to each setting and then describes the shot in great detail, yet with hardly any information about what's IN it. In addition, many of the pictures are too small/shot too close up/at odd angles to get a lot out of them. I'm sorry, but I did not find this book helpful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Expectation vs product, August 23, 2005

By 

pH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Details (Whitney Library of Design) (Hardcover)

The book is more of a catalogue than an architectural publication. It certainly contains lots of contemporary details, but these are often displayed lacking context. I believe this book was published to help architects in their everyday practice, but don't we have enough commercial material these days?
What I was looking for was an album showing contemporary interior design case studies, focusing on details. What I found was another market offer, except published in a hardcover. However, there are some interesting photos in a book, and if you are looking for a tool that could improve communication between designers and their customers it is worth the money.