Home and house maintenance Books

Book SynopsisA Cottagecore Inspired Guide for Mindful Living Anywhere“This book presents an easy entry point for readers interested in exploring mindfulness and the cottagecore lifestyle.” –Library Journal review#1 Best Seller in Small Homes & Cottages, Folkcrafts, Architectural Decoration and Ornaments, Fiber Arts & Textiles, Seasonal Crafts, Architecture, Home Design Decorating & DesignThe Cottage Fairy Companion is your accessible and beautiful guide to mindful living. It teaches the fundamentals of cottagecore style through the practices of The Cottage Fairy’s daily life.Romanticize your life anywhere. Open your eyes to the everyday magic right in front of you. Gain a new perspective through what nature teaches you about finding beauty through the good times and the bad. Everyone—from city-dwellers to country bobkins—can find delight in this book. You don’t need a cottage in the rustic countryside to achieve a cottagecore aesthetic, or to apply aspects of slow living to your daily life. Use mindfulness for healing and fulfillment. Paola Merrill, author and creator behind the popular YouTube channel The Cottage Fairy, left a hectic life in the city for the rural mountains in search of a deeper connection to herself and the world. She learned that nature is the biggest teacher of all—if we open our eyes to its wisdom. Mindful living can be applied in most walks of life, and Merrill’s writing encourages you to find healing and fulfillment, wherever you are.Inside this enchanting book on mindful living, you’ll find: Insight to creating a cozy and inspiring space, living in alignment with natural cycles and seasons, and gardening and making tea Original illustrations and breathtaking photos of the author’s cottage, crafts, and the countryside Calming, meditative prose to promote tranquility and stillness in a hectic world If you liked Cozy White Cottage, Simply Living Well, or The Little Book of Cottagecore, you’ll love The Cottage Fairy Companion.Trade Review“Merrill, who has one million subscribers, believes that a cozy cottagecore vibe can be had anywhere, not just in the country. As she writes in her debut, The Cottage Fairy Companion, … a beautiful life ‘isn’t dependent on where you live, but how.’ She organizes the projects and reflections in the book by season, under chapter headings including “A Gentle Start,” “Cultivating a Loving Space,” and “Quiet Living in Winter.” Her crafts—orange slice garlands, a terrarium, and more—are ‘very easy,’ [senior editor Natasha] Vera says, but ‘they’re no less enjoyable, even if you’re an expert. The purpose isn’t to keep busy or master it. It’s to slow down and have a moment to connect to nature and yourself and be in the present moment.’ ”—Publishers Weekly “Merrill (Cottage Fairy YouTube channel) discusses what she has learned about her cottage and herself as the seasons change. She discusses her transition from city to country living, and while the book focuses on country life, solutions for connecting to the seasons and nature are offered for city dwellers as well. The book embraces the cottagecore trend, and while the word ‘hygge‘ is never used, it is embodied in the text. Merrill’s subscribers—more than a million—will embrace this work, and readers unfamiliar with her YouTube channel may also find it enjoyable. Readers will find recipes, crafts, guided activities, and a meditation for each season. The sections also include questions to guide readers on their path to mindfulness. VERDICT: This book presents an easy entry point for readers interested in exploring mindfulness and the cottagecore lifestyle. ”—Carrie Byrd, Library Journal

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Book SynopsisImagine this: you have a hot cup of tea and a good book in front of you, the aroma of freshly baked bread in the air as sunlight streams in through the window. Daydreaming of a simpler life? Go back to the basics with Cottagecore Simplified.It might not be practical to drop everything and live out your fairytale fantasy, but it’s easy to embrace countryside comfort while coexisting with the modern world—find inspiration in the crafts, décor, and lifestyle tips in this book. This guide is designed to bring peace and relaxation to your life.Inside you’ll find: Recipes for baked breads, pies, pastries, and more Embroidery, sewing, and quilt patterns Ideas for sketches and doodles An introduction to candle and soap making Tips for maintaining your garden Pottery, flowerpressing, and other charming crafts And more! Life is all about enjoying the simple things. This idyllic aesthetic allows you to break from monotony and routine. Start off friends and family in their new home with this ideal housewarming gift, or take the plunge yourself into DIY projects and low-waste living. Unplug from the modern world and bring cottagecore to your everyday life with Cottagecore Simplified.

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Book Synopsis"When it sings, a garden will have the power to transport and to lead you to a place that is magical. It is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty."In Natural Selection, Dan Pearson draws on ten years of his Observer columns to explore the rhythms and pleasures of a year in the garden. Travelling between his city-bound plot in Peckham and twenty acres of rolling hillside in Somerset, he celebrates the beautiful skeletons of the winter garden, the joyous passage into spring, the heady smell of summer's bud break and the flaring of colour in autumn. Pearson's irresistible enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge overflow in a book teeming with tips to inspire your own space, be it a city window box or country field. Bringing you a newfound appreciation of nature, both wild and tamed, reading Natural Selection is a deeply restorative experience.

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Book SynopsisSet to become the bible of home decoration, Farrow & Ball How to Decorate provides a highly practical and inspirational guide to the successful use of paint and paper in any home, large or small, urban or country.Published on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the iconic brand, the book brings together the expertise of Joa Studholme and the Farrow & Ball creative team to demystify the nitty-gritty of transforming a home - from deciding which colours work best in a north-facing room to creating accents with paint and making the most of a feature wall.Trade ReviewFarrow & Ball How to Decorate is both inspiring and extremely practical. * Telegraph Magazine *Farrow & Ball How to Decorate aims to demystify home decoration. Featuring a host of beautiful homes, with advice on everything from which shades to use in north-facing rooms to the creative potential of floor paint, it's a practical, inspirational guide. * The Times Magazine *It's a bible from one of the defining brands of our era for anyone planning a domestic revamp. * Sunday Express S Magazine *You'll want to get pore-deep in its pictures of paint. Both lavish and liveable, it's a wash of chalky colour. * Red *For any fan of the paint and wallpaper specialist Farrow & Ball, How to Decorate will soon become a well-thumbed, go-to bible for home decoration. * Good Homes *

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Book SynopsisWe are bombarded by perfect interiors, images that aren’t attainable because they have been styled to the point where they bear no resemblance to reality. These interiors may be stunning, but they aren’t an honest reflection of how we really live. Life Unstyled is about taking inspiration from real homes that are beautiful, creative and inspiring but at the same time a little rough around the edges, with signs of everyday life evident throughout. The first section, ‘Homes Unstyled’, sets out Emily's manifesto for creating a stylish home that is beautiful but lived in. A Home is Never Done advocates allowing your space to evolve gradually so it is an ever-changing expression of your tastes and interests. Work with What You’ve Got suggests ways to make the most of the home you have rather than yearning for unattainable perfection. Signs of Life offers ideas for wrangling papers, clutter and other stuff. Creative Clutter tackles collections and displays, while Break the Rules rejects style diktats and shows how individuality can bring a home to life. The second section, ‘People Live Here’, visits real-life homes that are definitely not perfect yet display incredible style and creativity and reflect their owners’ needs, tastes and style. And throughout the book, quick fixes, DIY makes and ‘Every Home Should Have…’ boxes offer creative solutions with unique results.

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Book SynopsisThere’s never been a better time to be prepared. "This book is an indispensable basic manual for the real-life issues that await us in the decades to come. . . [A] treasure trove of practical wisdom."—James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere Matthew Stein’s comprehensive primer on sustainable living skills—from food and water to shelter and energy to first-aid and crisis-management skills—prepares you to embark on the path toward sustainability. But unlike any other book, Stein not only shows you how to live green in seemingly stable times, but to live in the face of potential disasters, lasting days or years, coming in the form of social upheaval, economic meltdown, or environmental catastrophe. When Technology Fails covers the gamut. Inside, you’ll learn: The basics of installing a renewable energy system for your home or business How to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure How to keep warm if you’ve been left temporarily homeless Practical information for dealing with water-quality issues Alternative health and first-aid techniques Each chapter describes skills for self-reliance in good times and bad. Chapters Include: A survey of the risks to the status quo Supplies and preparation for short- and long-term emergencies Emergency measures for survival Prepping water, food, shelter, and clothing First aid, low-tech medicine, and healing Securing energy, heat, and power Metalworking Utensils and storage Low-tech chemistry engineering, machines, and materials Fully revised and expanded, When Technology Fails ends on a positive, proactive note with a chapter on “Making the Shift to Sustainability,” which offers practical suggestions for changing our world on personal, community and global levels.Trade ReviewReview From John Egan, proprietor of the website SurvivalistBooks.com- Matthew Stein has written a clear, concise book on the subject of survival that, while educating, also does what few others have managed to do - entertain and engage the reader. Throughout the book you'll find personal stories accompanying the text to further illustrate or drive home a point. The use of these asides brings you into Matthew Stein's life, as he recounts personal stories of survival and tells the stories of others who have managed to overcome the odds to survive. Not just a survival book, Matthew also covers topics like alternative therapies; how to create a survival mindset; survival strategies; renewable energy; companion gardening; prophecies etc. as well as all the regular topics found in such books - edible plants; first aid; making a survival kit; growing, hunting and foraging; making tools; creating shelters; spinning/weaving/tanning etc. The book has some great illustrations that make plant identification and first aid that much easier to understand and each chapter finishes with a reference section listing books (along with a short review) and resources (with web addresses where available). "If you've been wondering about how to respond to the twin dangers of peak oil and global warming, one of your best choices would be to read this book."--Greg Pahl, author of The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions to a Global Crisis"We imagine that we live in the age of information, but this engrossing book reminds us of how comparatively little we know. Most human communities used to know how to provide water and food and energy for themselves, but most of the tips in this comprehensive account will come as news to most Americans. You may never need to put them into practice (or you may need them this winter when home heating prices soar) but at the very least they illuminate the state of our comparative ignorance."--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy "You don't need to be a survivalist to appreciate this book. If you are thoughtful. If you seek a simpler, more sustainable life or if you feel as though technology has already failed us in the ways that matter, this is a book you want in your personal library."--Kathy Harrison, author of Just In Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens "This book is an indispensable basic manual for the real-life issues that await us in the decades to come. Those who read it, and pay attention to its treasure trove of practical wisdom, will enjoy a huge advantage as the cheap oil fiesta winds down and circumstances compel us to live differently."--James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency "A fascinating collection of concepts and skills that will satisfy everyone from the casual do-it-yourself enthusiast to someone who wants to attempt self-reliance and the ultimate emergency preparedness."--Howard Backer, MD, author of Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Wilderness Locations and past president of the Wilderness Medical Society "I have no children because I read M. King Hubbert's analyses on the future of oil and other fossil fuels in 1969, and Limits to Growth shortly thereafter. It was clear to me then and in every year since that our whole economy, and all of our economic principles, were based on cheap oil that would not last. The reason that economists could get away with criticizing Hubbert and LTG as well promoting their basically absurd theories that often disregarded and even belittled natural resources was that, in fact, more oil could be pulled out of the ground to make ANY economic theory or policy work, no matter how stupid. Now that the oil spigot is sputtering the economists' theories and policies are increasingly shown to be failures. We need a whole new way to think about how we do our economies. In the spirit of the old Whole Earth Catalogues Matt Stein does a marvelous and diverse job of helping us to think about how we might go about generating an approach to our economies that can make sense. This is a great book to have on your bookshelf as we enter the post-peak second half of the age of oil."--Professor Charles A.S. Hall, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry "When Technology Fails is the roadmap that you want and need to navigate whatever may lie ahead."--John L. Chunta, PeakOilResources.com "We may all need a survival reference when technology fails. Matthew provides one--fact-filled, with useful tips on all aspects of survival, clothing, food, shelter, water, etc., including such vital subjects as grazing and the green pharmacy."--James A. Duke, economic botanist, USDA (ret.), and author of The Green Pharmacy "A marvelous guidebook for helping us through the worst of times, and even improving on the best of times."--Thom Hartmann, syndicated radio host and author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight"When the grid goes down, having this book with you could be the difference between life and death."--Matt Savinar, author of Life After the Oil Crash"Stein's excellent guide to simplifying your life, reducing your environmental impact, and pulling yourself out of a jam is sure to gather no dust on your bookshelf... This book is a personal and planetary empowerment tool."--Richard Heede, Ph.D., author, Homemade Money: How to Save Energy and Dollars in Your Home "I liked this book. It's carefully researched, comprehensive, well illustrated, and readable. It presents much needed alternate information, for, in my opinion, technology has already 'failed' ...So replacement of polluting 'high' technologies with non-polluting 'low' ones is urgent, and Matthew Stein's handbook systematically and accurately surveys a wide array of possible low-tech options. Much hard work, time, and talent went into the building of this basic reference survey of low-tech options."--Carla Emery, author, The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old-Fashioned Recipe Book "When Technology Fails is a massive project done well. First the book gives a superb presentation of WHY one should be more aware and prepared--and then HOW one should go about this. The scope of this book... is thorough. Not only is the information presented well, but a solid bibliography can carry the student as far as he desires in any particular area of interest."--John McPherson, author, Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills "Matthew Stein has done us all a tremendous favor by searching far and wide for useful knowledge. In this era of specialization, personal and social viability depend on expansive thinking. When Technology Fails is itself a powerful expression of the technology of sustainable living. It teaches more skills than I thought possible in just one book and rightly combines the immediacy of an emergency escape plan with the urgency for long-term thinking."--Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director of the Global Footprint Network "When Technology Fails is a comprehensive guide and compendium of the tools society will require as it reaches the convergence of hyper-inflation, oil depletion, and environmental limitations; in other words, at the point where technology fails."--William Kemp, author of The Renewable Energy Handbook"When Technology Fails. . . Like that's some sort of unlikely future possibility! Technology is always failing while people stand around befuddled about what to do. With Mat Stein's book, when push comes to shove, you can be your own veritable MacGyver. Not only does it provide us with the information we need to plan for, and deal with, potential emergencies and disasters, it also shows us how we can live more sustainably and self-reliantly in today's world of climate change and gas prices that are going through the ceiling. This is the sort of ingenuity for which Americans have been famous. When Technology Fails is to the mechanical world what Joy of Cooking is to the world of cooking. In other words, the encyclopedia every home should have on hand. Keep it right next to the emergency flashlight and your Swiss Army knife."--David Blume, permaculturist and author of Alcohol Can Be A Gas!"Whether you are seeking self-reliance and a simpler life or fear the collapse of social services, this compendium of practical information for sustainable living belongs on your bookshelf..."--Fred C. Walters, editor, Acres U.S.A. magazine "The depth of this book, covering everything from building materials to spiritual healing, is astounding. It is a one-stop source... to create a self-sufficient, earth-friendly lifestyle. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in preserving the health of themselves and the planet--and moving toward a sustainable, sane way of living."--Robyn Griggs Lawrence, editor-in-chief, Natural Home magazine "Matthew Stein gives us a readable, updated wake-up call for sustainability practices in the best tradition of Paul Ehrlich, Lester Brown, and Jared Diamond."--Stephen Schneider, Ph.D., Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University and coordinating lead author in IPCC summary papers on climate change "In this age of over-consumption, truth is lost in a myriad of commercialized details. Matthew Stein picks up and assembles these shattered shards, and by examining each in the meticulous manner of a crime scene investigator, offers valuable insight and practical tools to survive in a world at the brink of chaos. In doing so, he helps maintain sanity in a time of hardening denial about the state of the world--and helps throw open the door to Plato's Cave where so many of us remain uncomfortably shackled."--Peter Droege, author of The Renewable City and Urban Energy TransitionTable of ContentsForeword by Richard Heinberg. An Introduction to Self-Reliance. Present Trends, Possible Futures. Supplies and Preparations. Emergency Measures for Survival. Water. Food: Growing, Foraging, Hunting and Storing. Shelter and Buildings. First Aid. When High-Tech Medicine Fails. Clothing and Textiles. Energy, Heat and Power. Metalworking. Utensils and Storage. Better Living Through Not-So-Modern Chemistry. Engineering, Machines and Materials. Making the Shift to Sustainability.

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Book SynopsisFollow The Way of the Househusband and conquer the challenge of housekeeping with this essential guide!Everyone, from busy office workers and aspiring homemakers to the fiercest members of the yakuza, can gain important life skills from The Way of the Househusband: The Gangster’s Guide to Housekeeping! Learn the housekeeping secrets of the legendary gangster, Tatsu, with this practical and humorous book inspired by the popular manga series The Way of the Househusband. This detailed guide includes cleaning tricks to leave your home sparkling, secrets for finding cutthroat deals, schemes for mastering your territory, keys to caring for your gang, and much more. Within these pages you will also find 25 delicious recipes that will satisfy any voracious gangster. Follow these tips and apply the determination of the Immortal Dragon to cooking, cleaning, shopping, and crafting to discover the path to housekeeping success!

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Book SynopsisTrade Review”Jen Robin is not just an organizer—she is a teacher and a healer. As she helps sort our ‘stuff’ she is also sorting our values, emotions, relationships, and dreams. She is a magician and this book will work magic on your home and life.” — Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed "Robin...offers no shortage of organizational tips in her upbeat debut...full of practical ideas." — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisLearn to reconnect with plants and nature for collective healing in a world beset by environmental crisis with this herbalism and eco-activist handbook.“Breathtakingly beautiful . . . a gentle and welcoming hand offering to guide those of us seeking mindful connection and mutually nurturing paths through life in the Anthropocene.”—Whitney Leigh Morris, author of Small Space StyleAlyson Morgan, a second-generation Haitian American, grew up feeling disconnected from her roots and suffering from the trauma of racism. To heal herself, she found a connection with the natural world around her: slowing down, respecting the seasons, and growing or foraging plants in her local area. To Alyson, connection with the earth means finding a sense of place and home in an era of stress and overwhelm. Now she shares her methods of homesteading for anyone to practice in their own life. Beautifully photographed, with plant monographs, illustrations, a

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Book SynopsisFeatures color photos and the floor plans of 48 budget-minded innovative home designs by North American architects, ranging from a super-insulated eco-tech country home in the Catskills to an elegant three-story townhouse in Chicago. Five are conceptual homes yet to be built.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of beautiful photographs showcases the artistry of those who sculpt outdoor living environments with solid rock, impressed and tinted concrete, and brick in many forms. You will be both inspired and informed. This practical guidebook will help you choose a patio style suitable for your home, learn to speak your contractor''s language, pick a plan that fits your budget and style, furnish and organize outdoor areas for entertaining or intimate family dining, create containers and border areas for dynamic gardens and landscaping displays, and develop outdoor sanctuaries with artfully placed planter boxes, shrubs, and privacy screens. There are also step-by-step instructions for the successful installation of your own paver patio!

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Book SynopsisA guide to architectural details from homes from the Victorian era.

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Book SynopsisThis fabulous, step-by-step book is designed to walk you through the basic decisions that go into creating a custom-built home. Targeted toward timber frame design, the book is universal in its presentation of appealing barn style and country style homes. Any couple or family planning a custom designed home should start here. The book offers information about home essentials, such as windows, doors, and fireplaces, and illustrates the possibilities when it comes to the look and feel of a home and its living spaces. Pages and pages of photos offer gorgeous examples for couples making decisions on dimensions, configurations, and decor for everything from the powder rooms to the great room. Peruse dozens of kitchens for examples of cabinet and countertop colors, more than 30 images of fireplaces, and many more pictures of bedrooms, dining areas, loft spaces, home offices, formal living rooms, even recreational areas. Exterior shots help a homeowner choose the look that's right for them. Plus, twenty floor plans are presented to study, and there is advice for crafting your own living space.

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