Banner Message
Please note that online availability does not reflect stock in store!
Please contact us via email or phone for immediate stock information.
House & Garden
Does your backyard or garden look bleak and boring? Has your spouse ever told you that you need your own work building? Are your children's toys overflowing into the neighbor's yard because you have nowhere to put them? Have you ever thought about investing in a two-car garage or a small barn? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the book for you.
We all know that hiring a contractor or builder to take care of backyard projects can be costly and aggravating. In Monte Burch's BACKYARD STRUCTURES AND HOW TO BUILD THEM, you will be shown how to undertake these projects yourself, saving time and money, and still end up with beautiful new outbuildings. More than two dozen attractive and practical building plans to improve your yard, farm, or homestead are fully presented in this book. Many of the structures are known as pole buildings, which require no foundation excavation, only limited grading, and fewer materials. They also allow for the use of sites not suitable for other types of construction, and offer excellent structural integrity and wind resistance.
Monte Burch's backyard structures include:
OSmall and Big Hay Bale Barns
ORecreational Vehicle Shelter
OMobile Home Cover
OWoodshed
OTwo-Car Garage
OWorkshop
OPlayhouses
OTreestands
OGrape Arbors
OAnd many more
From storage shed to swimming-pool deck surround, Burch's fresh ideas offer something for everyone. Better still, the simplicity and ease of construction make them ideal for the first-time builder.
We all know that hiring a contractor or builder to take care of backyard projects can be costly and aggravating. In Monte Burch's BACKYARD STRUCTURES AND HOW TO BUILD THEM, you will be shown how to undertake these projects yourself, saving time and money, and still end up with beautiful new outbuildings. More than two dozen attractive and practical building plans to improve your yard, farm, or homestead are fully presented in this book. Many of the structures are known as pole buildings, which require no foundation excavation, only limited grading, and fewer materials. They also allow for the use of sites not suitable for other types of construction, and offer excellent structural integrity and wind resistance.
Monte Burch's backyard structures include:
OSmall and Big Hay Bale Barns
ORecreational Vehicle Shelter
OMobile Home Cover
OWoodshed
OTwo-Car Garage
OWorkshop
OPlayhouses
OTreestands
OGrape Arbors
OAnd many more
From storage shed to swimming-pool deck surround, Burch's fresh ideas offer something for everyone. Better still, the simplicity and ease of construction make them ideal for the first-time builder.
A rollicking yarn about a home-improvement project that took a man and his family to hell and back. In 1993, after Chicago lost many of its residents to the suburbs, Ed Zotti and his family gambled their future by fixing up a dilapidated Victorian home in a dicey neighborhood. Where most saw a shabby façade, the Zottis saw promise?even when it dragged and drained every resource. ?The Barn House? had a collapsed ceiling, wiring that shorted, and oak floors painted red, white, and blue. Unsettling discoveries included a box of .38 caliber bullets?with five missing?and the mere fact that the house was built on a bed of sand. Alternately harrowing and hilarious, this is a classic account of one family's private urban renewal project, featuring burglars, irate neighbors, and a lively cast of workers. From its grim beginning to its unexpected outcome, The Barn House is the inspiring story of what it means to live (and totally rewire) the American Dream.
In the vernacular vocabulary of America, the barn stands proud, a hulking icon in the agricultural landscape. Unlike a house, the barn is chaste. For this is a place for work--a space rubbed by livestock and worn by labor. The repeating patterns of the posts and beams, now considered impediments to efficient farming, mask the very intricacy that gives old barns their intrinsic character. Many of these splendid spaces now lie empty, festooned with cobwebs, awaiting collapse, but there is a growing recognition that these honestly framed buildings can lend themselves to transformation and a new purpose. In the decade-plus time since BARN: The Art of a Working Building was published, there has been a remarkable growth in the different ways that barns can be preserved and reinvigorated. There are many great barns that may not survive, and many problems with others still standing that remain with their integrity intact, but action is being taken. BARN: Preservation & Adaptation chronicles and expands upon the progress being made, emphasizing the variety of imaginative uses that can revive these beloved structures. With more than 400 exciting photographs, drawings, and plans, and a lively text by the same team of expert barn restoration practitioners who brought you BARN The Art of a Working Building, here are accounts of barns as retreats, studios, shops, meeting places, inns, restaurants, galleries, and museums--even sheltering swimming pools--showing the conversion to domestic use, and barns as barns again. The story, rich in historical detail, covers the problems of reinterpretation and barn culture informatively and critically, yet with great optimism and enthusiasm. The true companion to its highly successful predecessor, this book will delight all those who love and want to explore these grand monuments.
This lavishly illustrated guide contains everything the beginner needs to know about creating useable compost--described in clear, step-by-step detail that eliminates all of the guesswork that too often creeps into how-to books. Experts share their knowledge of the proper tools and techniques the novice needs to compost successfully in rural, suburban, or urban settings. Traditional bin systems and an unconventional approach using worms are explained fully. Includes a fascinating look at the science behind the composting process, as well as clear instructions for building a variety of composting bins for the backyard.
Interesting, whimsical, & easy-to-accomplish ideas for decorating a balcony or yard, with 150 favorite plants.
For anyone looking to remake a bathroom - from the tiny guest restroom to the luxurious master bath - this work provides both inspiring examples and the necessary know-how to maximize space and create a beautiful oasis in the home.
From the publisher of the bestselling Idea Books comes a new design sourcebook series that moves beyond inspiration and provides the essential information homeowners need to make smart choices for remodeling.
Today's bathroom is more than just the most practical room in the house. It can be a place to retreat and relax, a place to multitask, and a place to show off. Add to that the fact that the return on investment for a bathroom remodel can be as high as 90% and it's no wonder homeowners are indulging themselves in the latest styles and designs to create the ultimate bathroom.
In Bathroom Ideas that Work, Scott Gibson provides design advice for bathrooms and budgets from small to large, from powder rooms to kids' bathroom to adult retreat. Throughout the book he provides design options for all components found in each of these types of bathrooms as well as how to successfully combine those components to create a great room. A wide range of styles, materials, and layouts are featured in hundreds of photos that provide fresh ideas for everything from the floor material to the wall color, lighting to heating, and fixtures to window treatments.
The number of people interested and active in keeping bees at an amateur level has continued to increase over the past few years in both rural and urban situations. This guide, aimed at beginning beekeepers and the only one to be endorsed by the BBKA, provides an authoritative text along with clear photographs and illustrations.
It introduces the reader to beekeeping, including such areas as the workings of the colony, the structure of a hive, how to acquire bees and keep them healthy, and what happens each month in a beekeeping year. Each chapter is accompanied by anecdotes, answers to frequently asked questions, and fascinating facts about bees and honey.
The new edition includes new step-by-step sequences to illustrate procedures such as containing a swarm, identifying the queen, using a smoker, and cleaning a hive as well as more information on different kinds of hives, disease management, and many other key areas.
It all starts with a penny. An indispensable omnibus for graduates sharing their first apartment, young families stretching a dollar, retirees, students, frugalistas (the fashionably frugal), career-changers, and anyone who wants to cut back and needs ideas for how to get started, Be Thrifty offers positive solutions for every facet of our lives, covering food, health, finances, entertainment, education, travel, clothing, pets, and those often costly special occasions from a big family Thanksgiving to getting married.
Be Thrifty is not about being cheap--it's about being smart and self-sufficient. Drawing on the work of experts in every field, it shows how to cut your food bills, cut your credit card debt--cut your own hair. Financial writers explain how to create a budget, and the thriftiest ways to invest in the market (thrifty people are savers, and savers need to make their money work hard). Professional chefs give step-by-step advice for shopping for the cheapest, tastiest ingredients--and offer recipes that put those ingredients to good use, from homemade Chinese "take-out" to the frugal barbecue. There are also tips on creating a home spa; why beeswax candles burn the longest; the twenty best bottles of wine for under $10; tips for building a budget music collection, including how to buy from a flea market with confidence; how to sell your home without a realtor; the adjustable-wrench guide to home plumbing repair; how to make your own fresh mozzarella for less than half the cost of an Italian deli's brand; the basics of negotiating a killer rate on a car; keeping your clothes looking great without a trip to the dry cleaner; unspooling old sweaters and repurposing the wool; the stuff you should buy in bulk and the stuff you shouldn't; how to outfit a nursery; and much, much, much more.
Thrift--the word derives from thrive. Be Thrifty--it's how to thrive, and feel good and virtuous about it, too.
Be Thrifty is not about being cheap--it's about being smart and self-sufficient. Drawing on the work of experts in every field, it shows how to cut your food bills, cut your credit card debt--cut your own hair. Financial writers explain how to create a budget, and the thriftiest ways to invest in the market (thrifty people are savers, and savers need to make their money work hard). Professional chefs give step-by-step advice for shopping for the cheapest, tastiest ingredients--and offer recipes that put those ingredients to good use, from homemade Chinese "take-out" to the frugal barbecue. There are also tips on creating a home spa; why beeswax candles burn the longest; the twenty best bottles of wine for under $10; tips for building a budget music collection, including how to buy from a flea market with confidence; how to sell your home without a realtor; the adjustable-wrench guide to home plumbing repair; how to make your own fresh mozzarella for less than half the cost of an Italian deli's brand; the basics of negotiating a killer rate on a car; keeping your clothes looking great without a trip to the dry cleaner; unspooling old sweaters and repurposing the wool; the stuff you should buy in bulk and the stuff you shouldn't; how to outfit a nursery; and much, much, much more.
Thrift--the word derives from thrive. Be Thrifty--it's how to thrive, and feel good and virtuous about it, too.
This unique book combines two catalogs in one. Bead International 2008 & Beyond Basketry represents the best of two juried exhibitions held at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. Beads have long been worn as jewelry, but in Bead International 2008 contemporary bead artists are shaking things up. From fine jewelry to loom weaving to sculpture, the sixty-eight pieces by fifty-one artists in this collection represent some of the most innovative and well-executed art in the modern beading world. Considering any pierced object to be a bead, pieces range in style from the traditional to the whimsical as they incorporate a variety of colors and materials. This vibrant collection will spark the reader's creativity and broaden his or her perspective. When the age-old art form of basketry is combined with contemporary visions and techniques, the result is the striking Beyond Basketry, a collection of sixty-five artworks created by forty-two artists from across the United States. The artworks represented in these beautiful color photographs will challenge the reader's ideas of what constitutes a basket. All artworks are vessels made of woven materials, but the pieces explore a variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and techniques
The highly anticipated debut monograph from one of today's leading designers championing playful, original interiors infused with Scandinavian flair. Swedish-born, London-based interior designer Beata Heuman founded her eponymous studio in 2013 after working for Nicky Haslam for nine years. In a short amount of time her lively interiors and custom furnishings have made her one of today's most in-demand creatives. Heuman's rooms, colorful spaces enlivened by exuberant elements and poetic inspirations, capture her signature quirkiness and Scandinavian attention to detail while staying rooted in practicality. Lauded for international residential and commercial projects, Heuman has also garnered praise for her growing collection of bespoke fabrics, wallpaper, lighting, homewares, and furniture.
This beautifully crafted volume presents Heuman's innovative approach in book form for the very first time. Organized according to design principle, each chapter offers fresh ways to think about decorating a home, finding your voice, making ordinary details extraordinary, and forging a truly unique space. Vibrant photographs showcase standout properties--including several London town houses and a Nantucket vacation residence--that are brought to life by cheerful color palettes, unexpected contrasts, and a dégagé use of bold patterns and texture. With original drawings and whimsical graphic details, this new tome is a dynamic look into the ethos and work of one of the most exciting names in interior design today.
This beautifully crafted volume presents Heuman's innovative approach in book form for the very first time. Organized according to design principle, each chapter offers fresh ways to think about decorating a home, finding your voice, making ordinary details extraordinary, and forging a truly unique space. Vibrant photographs showcase standout properties--including several London town houses and a Nantucket vacation residence--that are brought to life by cheerful color palettes, unexpected contrasts, and a dégagé use of bold patterns and texture. With original drawings and whimsical graphic details, this new tome is a dynamic look into the ethos and work of one of the most exciting names in interior design today.
A stylish, beautifully photographed guide to artfully incorporating organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs into an attractive modern garden design. We've all seen the vegetable garden overflowing with corn, tomatoes, and zucchini that looks good for a short time, but then quickly turns straggly and unattractive (usually right before friends show up for a backyard barbecue). If you want to grow food but you don't want your yard to look like a farm, what can you do? The Beautiful Edible Garden shares how to not only grow organic fruits and vegetables, but also make your garden a place of year-round beauty that is appealing, enjoyable, and fits your personal style. Written by a landscape design team that specializes in artfully blending edibles and ornamentals together, The Beautiful Edible Garden shows that it's possible for gardeners of all levels to reap the best of both worlds. Featuring a fresh approach to garden design, glorious photographs, and ideas for a range of spaces--from large yards to tiny patios--this guide is perfect for anyone who wants a gorgeous and productive garden.
Beautiful Gardens for Busy People shows how anyone can create a stunning, low-maintenance garden by working smarter-not harder-with simple, practical strategies that fit even the busiest lifestyles and limited budgets. Wish you could have a lush, beautiful garden-without giving up your weekends, your wallet, or your sanity? Ila Gross has the answer. In Beautiful Gardens for Busy People, she shares her tried-and-true secrets for creating glorious, low-maintenance gardens that thrive with minimal effort. Drawing on her experience cultivating eighteen diverse gardens--from wildflower meadows to cutting beds--Gross proves you don't need a green thumb or endless free time to enjoy a vibrant outdoor space. With humor and wisdom, she guides you to plant what wants to grow, embrace a little imperfection, and discover the magic of gardens that practically take care of themselves. Packed with practical tips for choosing the right plants, trimming just enough, and spending only minutes a week on upkeep, this book is your ticket to a fabulous, fuss-free garden. If you'd rather relax than weed, but still crave armfuls of blooms and a yard that makes you smile, this is the gardening guide you've been waiting for.
For every gardener who cares about the planet, this guide to designing a bee garden helps you create a stunningly colorful, vibrant, healthy habitat that attracts both honeybees and native bees.
In The Bee-Friendly Garden, award-winning garden designer Kate Frey and bee expert Gretchen LeBuhn provide everything you need to know to create a dazzling garden that helps both the threatened honeybee and our own native bees. No matter how small or large your space, and regardless of whether you live in the city, suburbs, or country, just a few simple changes to your garden can fight the effects of colony collapse disorder and the worldwide decline in bee population that threatens our global food chain. There are many personal benefits of having a bee garden as well! Bee gardens: - contain a gorgeous variety of flowers
- bloom continuously throughout the seasons
- are organic, pesticide-free, and ecologically sustainable
- develop healthy and fertile soil
- attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
- increase the quantity of your fruit and vegetable harvest
- improve the quality, flavor, and size of your produce Illustrated with spectacular full-color photos, The Bee-Friendly Garden debunks myths about bees, explains seasonal flower progression, and provides detailed instructions for nest boxes and water features. From "super blooming" flowers to regional plant lists and plants to avoid, The Bee-Friendly Garden is an essential tool for every gardener who cares about the planet and wants to make their yard a welcoming habitat for nature's most productive pollinator.
In The Bee-Friendly Garden, award-winning garden designer Kate Frey and bee expert Gretchen LeBuhn provide everything you need to know to create a dazzling garden that helps both the threatened honeybee and our own native bees. No matter how small or large your space, and regardless of whether you live in the city, suburbs, or country, just a few simple changes to your garden can fight the effects of colony collapse disorder and the worldwide decline in bee population that threatens our global food chain. There are many personal benefits of having a bee garden as well! Bee gardens: - contain a gorgeous variety of flowers
- bloom continuously throughout the seasons
- are organic, pesticide-free, and ecologically sustainable
- develop healthy and fertile soil
- attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
- increase the quantity of your fruit and vegetable harvest
- improve the quality, flavor, and size of your produce Illustrated with spectacular full-color photos, The Bee-Friendly Garden debunks myths about bees, explains seasonal flower progression, and provides detailed instructions for nest boxes and water features. From "super blooming" flowers to regional plant lists and plants to avoid, The Bee-Friendly Garden is an essential tool for every gardener who cares about the planet and wants to make their yard a welcoming habitat for nature's most productive pollinator.
Beekeeping is more than a hobby -- it's a craft and passion shared by people from all walks of life. Beekeeping: A Practical Guide for Considerate Beekeepers blends the first-hand knowedge of experienced beekeepers, Clare Densley and Martin Hann of Buckfast Abbey, with field-tested methods to help beekeepers better understand the complex nature of honey bee society and foster a more harmonious relationship with their colonies. It delves into the complexities of swarming, unpredictable bee behaviour, and practical solutions when things go awry. Keeping bees is an opportunity for continual learning and acquiring new skills, and this book is designed to accompany beekeepers on their journey of discovery.
This multifaceted book offers insight into everything bee-related: pollination, gardening, beekeeping and recipes. Whether you're a first-time beekeeper or looking to improve and expand your backyard beekeeping, this book is a must-have. Beekeeping might seem exotic or old-fashioned, but around the world it is becoming more and more common to find a hive or two in urban spaces and suburban backyards. Some modern beekeepers are inspired by the desire to help out the frequently beleaguered creatures, others simply enjoy fresh honey from the most local of sources--the backyard garden. This book discusses your options for setting up a hive almost anywhere, how to plant a bee-friendly garden, and how to harvest and use your very own honey. Not only is it a great hobby, you'll also be rewarded with a plentiful supply of honey that you can use in tea as well as for cooking, baking and perhaps even lip salve and skin cream. Everything the modern day beekeeper needs and more: Becoming a Beekeeper Setting Up Your Hive Getting the Right Gear Planting a Bee-Friendly Garden Trouble-Shoot Your Hive Harvest the Honey Plan for the Winter The honeybee is one of our greatest natural resources; bees work hard to pollinate our gardens and do an important job that we couldn't do without. But bees are finding it increasingly difficult in the world that they share with us. States are reporting a hive of activity in the 'backyards' of rural and urban beekeepers. In fact, many states are beginning to alter preexisting ordinances in order to encourage more individuals to start beekeeping. No other hobby can simultaneously help save the world and bring sweet treats to your table!
Are you surrounded by weeds? Is your lawn forlorn? Are your bushes diseased? Do you long to create an outdoor space you can enjoy with friends - a garden you can proudly show off? Beginner Gardening step by step shows you the basics needed to get your green space under control and keep it that way. Drawing on the world-renowned expertise of the Royal Horticultural Society, the book is packed full of creative ideas with lots of simple step-by-step instructions and clear images to help you realize your garden's potential, no matter the size and scale. Get to know your garden and choose plants that will grow well in particular soil types and conditions year after year. From planting and training decorative climbers to designing seasonal hanging basket displays and growing your own tomatoes, these are the small jobs that will make a huge difference to how your garden looks and feels. Get your gardening gloves on and dig in to discover:
-Bitesized visual content broken down into sections such as flowers, lawns, shrubs, and herbs, the book contains over 100 photographic step-by-step sequences.
-A gardening book ideal for first-time gardeners looking for guidance and inspiration as they start out on their own gardening Take the anxiety out of planting, potting, and pruning, and make the most of your precious patch of land.
-Bitesized visual content broken down into sections such as flowers, lawns, shrubs, and herbs, the book contains over 100 photographic step-by-step sequences.
-A gardening book ideal for first-time gardeners looking for guidance and inspiration as they start out on their own gardening Take the anxiety out of planting, potting, and pruning, and make the most of your precious patch of land.