Customer Reviews

Turf

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book has a lot of ideas. Being a designer, artist, and a person who generally likes to build things I bought this book as well as the Readymade, DIY, and Todd Oldham books. I also own many other more technical books. This book, as well as the others is good for people who like to make things but arent comfortable deisgning. It is also good for people with very little money and a lot of time. However, I did not like this book personally for a few reasons. This is not to say this is a bad book, because it isnt. I am female and as much as I value my already pretty masculine minimalist asthetic, the designs in this book are extremely male. Very "Home Depot" and not for me. There were some cool ideas that I would embellish on though and that is great. The problem I have with all of this generation of D.I.Y. books is the look is very slipshod, and sometimes very junky. I think this book does a good job over some of the others of making pieces that are actually structural and can be used, but a few are hardly practical. The designs for seating seem horribly rigid even the models in the photos look uncomfortable. So in summation, this book is not a bad, or poorly written book, but a book really intented for a college aged group of dudes that want some cheap furniture they can have fun and throw together that will give them a "Steal this room" look to their pad.

This book is aimed at a super specific target market, so it won't be everything to everyone. I'm a little out of the $50 or less dormroom furniture stage of my life, but I still found some things in here that are useful. I realled liked the wine rack and the palette coffee table is probably the coolest coffee table I've ever seen.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes DIY projects.

Well, maybe this is just my glass-half-full attitude shining through, but I thought that this book was very successful at doing what it set out to do. I'm not sure how someone could be disappointed in it-- no book can be all things to all people, and I thought that this one did a nice job showing how to use common, hardware store materials to put together some funky furnishings. There was nothing I really would've changed, and I'll admit to being a design junkie who gets a little cynical from time to time. Will I run out and build every project exactly as it is shown? No, but I read a lot of design books and there isn't enough time in the day to actually build everything that's out there. What I really got out of the book was some specific advice for building stuff with this kind of urban, artsy, creative edginess and I will definitely refer back to it in the future.

I think it helps to keep an open mind and view this book as general inspiration, in addition to containing instructions for specific pieces. I'm sure that a lot of people will find this to be a useful guidebook, whether they want to follow the directions step to step or just get ideas in general.

I got this one sight unseen - and I love it. I'm already redesigning (or rather, resizing) the tv stand for use as an end table, and construction will begin in the next week. As with anything, most of the projects can be adapted to your own needs by changing materials, paint, or size. It's all about ideas. Take something in this book and make it your own. The author says something to that effect in the foreword. I'm enjoying this book immensely.

First I'd like to say this is a very informational book for those on a low budget but like art deco style furniture. As a former college student, I know how hard it is to manage day to day life on a budget, and still have nice things in your home. Well if you follow this book, you will get some nice things (especially like the wine rack)!

As for those who wrote a bad review because the author had an "attitude," I don't think there is any pettiness involved in reviewing your own book. It's a great accomplishment! Before you go about giving someone's book that you haven't even read bad reviews(which isn't even fair!), write your own, come back and let us tear apart all your [years] of hard work.

Good job author! 5 stars!

I want nicer furniture. I have very little money to spend. I like to make things. This book is perfect for me.

I've been getting into DIY in the past years and have picked up Handmade Modern and ReadyMade (both excellent) as well as read various websites covering similar ground. I thumbed through this book and wanted to make at least half of the projects immediately. Everything is clean, simple, and modern. The coffee table and the headboard are amazing. The illustrations and build instructions are also very well done.

An earlier reviewer stated that the chairs looked uncomfortable. I would have to agree. I don't want to rest my arm on the end of a sheet of plywood, or my butt on a wire shelf. I also did not dig the kitchen table and bar stool designs. However, given the constraints the author had in mind (little to no budget and only a drill and jigsaw to work with), I think this book is quite an achievement. I can't wait to make this stuff.

being a poor college student, i wanted to create something inexpensive and unique. there are many ideas in this book to branch off from and assemble with a touch of your own style. aside from chairs, stools, armoire, shoji screens,coffee tables and t.v. stands (which are all really neat + easy to build), you can also create appliances! i love the way he is detailed in the tools you need and 3d illustrations to assemble the pieces.check out this book and start tinkering!

I am sorry to write a bad review but this book was less than inspirational. It did have some good assembly ideas. It was not what I had expected. I would not suggest buying this book.

Not only is the cover of this book hideously designed, but the attitude of the author is equally distasteful. He gave a 1 star review to the Ready Made book, apparently, because they have managed to put together a product that is superior to his in every respect.

If the author had any class, he would realize that many (if not all) of the page views his book gets are due to the fact that the Ready Made book links to his as a similar item. Ready Made magazine has helped create and audience for this author's product, and Mr Garay would be wise to praise their product, and hope they throw a few crumbs in his direction.

I frequently buy Amazon recommended items, and almost certainly would have purchased this book, but the thought of this petty little person getting a nickel of my money is too much to stomach.

...for an author to favorably review his own book. I don't think I'll buy it.