News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

We have a great list of new books, our Gardening and DIY Recent Picks, for you to peruse in April 2011. Books dealing with gardening as well as decorating your house. Have a look below:

Superfoods from the garden: grow it, cook it, and achieve the best health ever.“Superfoods from the Garden is the latest—and most important—book by Michael van Straten, the bestselling author and one of the most respected names in the world of complementary medicine and natural health care. A lifelong believer that good health comes first and foremost from the food you eat, in this book Michael brings together his three passions—spreading the word on good health the natural way, organic gardening, and producing fantastic meals from freshly harvested food” (description from amazon.com).

Undecorate : the no-rules approach to interior design / Christiane Lemieux with Rumaan Alam ; photographs by Melanie Acevedo.“Undecorate profiles twenty homes from all over the country, revealing their owners’ love of imperfection and penchant for surprise and unusual juxtapositions while inspiring readers to follow their own whimsy and practicalities in their personal spaces. An anglophile creates an English manor in Hollywood, mixing British flea-market finds with midcentury furniture” (description from amazon.com).

Kitchen gardens of Australia : eighteen productive gardens for inspiration and practical advice / Kate Herd ; photography by Simon Griffiths.
” Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, save money, become more self-sufficient or just enjoy the unique taste of fresh produce, there has never been a better time to create a kitchen garden” (summary from Syndetics).

No place like home : tips & techniques for real family-friendly home design / Stephen Saint-Onge.
“Stylish and practical designs for real families From the many room makeovers he has done for magazines, newspapers, and television shows, designer Stephen Saint-Onge has a very real sense of what everyday families want and need from their homes. Unlike other decorating books on the market, his features products and projects that are accessible for everyday homeowners who are looking for stylish and practical designs — Provided by publisher” (summary from Syndetics).

The artful garden : creative inspiration for landscape design / James van Sweden and Tom Christopher.
“A revolutionary pioneer of the naturalistic New American Garden style, van Sweden (Architecture in the Garden) explains how gardeners can glean inspiration and borrow effective techniques from the arts. Whether the muse is painting or jazz, mystery novels or modern dance, van Sweden offers practical advice on how thoughtful examination can help the amateur gardener understand and control color, line, volume, light, and movement in the garden. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (summary from Syndetics)

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We have a great list of new books, our Home & Garden Recent Picks, for you to peruse in March 2011. Books dealing with gardening as well as decorating your house. Have a look below:

Organic gardener’s handbook of natural pest and disease control: a complete guide to maintaining a healthy garden and yard the Earth-friendly way
“One of the rewards of organic gardening is developing a balanced ecosystem, in which plants naturally defend themselves against pests and disease and where you’ll seldom have to intervene. But if trouble does make its way into your garden, this comprehensive handbook will help you stop insect pests in their tracks and curb plant diseases at the first sign of an outbreak. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Build your kids a treehouse : the complete guide / Philip Schmidt.
“In years to come, your kids’ fondest memories might be of the treetop retreat you created for them when they were young. This book is your complete guide to designing, planning and building a sturdy, safe treehouse that will be the background for the best of their childhood memories. Not only will you learn the basics of creating elevated platforms, adding walls and roofs and accessories; but you’ll also find detailed plans for six different treehouse designs, each of them easy to build with ordinary tools and amateur carpentry skills. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

The NZ kids’ garden : a kids’ guide to growing fruit and vegetables in New Zealand / Diana Noonan and Keith Olsen.
Provides advice on starting a garden and on plants suitable for young readers to cultivate. Includes sections on designing a garden, what tools are needed, how to protect plants from pests and diseases, as well as planting schedules and a calendar. Includes recipes, crafts, trivia and key tips. Suggested level: primary, intermediate, junior secondary.” (Syndetics summary)

Affordable architecture : great houses on a budget / Stephen Crafti.
“Showcases architecture that’s driven by a budget” (Syndetics summary)

A farmer’s life for me : how to live sustainably, Jimmy’s way / Jimmy Doherty.“Jimmy covers everything from the skills to equipment to environmentalism to marketing and even shows that you don’t necessarily need any land to live the self-sufficient lifestyle. Practical, realistic but full of good advice and encouragement, and case studies and essays to inspire you, A Farmer’s Life for Me is the ultimate guide to the business of self-sufficiency.” (Amazon.co.uk summary)

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We have a great list of new books, our Gardening and DIY Recent Picks, for you to peruse in February 2011. Books dealing with gardening as well as decorating your house. Have a look below:

Unstuff your life! : Kick the clutter habit and completely organize your life for good / Andrew J. Mellen.
“Arguably the most organized man in America, sought-after coach Andrew J. Mellen has created unique, Lasting techniques for streamlined living, bringing order out of chaos to overwhelmed people everywhere. Acknowledging that it’s often the ôstuff behind the stuffö that holds people back, Mellen offers a surprisingly simple, yet effective solution in his action-based, step-by-step plan-guaranteed to help you achieve organizational bliss, whether you’re a chronic key Loser or a hard-core hoarder. With humor, honesty, tough Love, and foolproof advice, Mellen makes it easy to finally Let go and take the steps to change your life forever.Unstuff your Life! shows us how we can distinguish ourselves from our possessions.” (Syndetics summary)

What’s a disorganized person to do? / Stacey Platt.
“How To:Sort digital photosDesign a cloches closetStore children’s toysPack a suitcaseOrganize anythingReduce book overloadKeep track of invitationsStore holiday decorationsHave a virtual garage saleCreate kid-friendly closetsKeep the car tidyFind your keysEveryone Dreams of getting rid of clutter-but what’s a disorganized person to do? This empowering handbook comes to the rescue with 317 ingenious ideas for putting your life in order. What’s the best way to organize a computer desktop? How about the fridge? What should you do with your children’s precious (but plentiful) artwork? And where did you put that darn cell phone? Illustrated with stylish, full-color photography, this highly readable guide will help you gee organized from the kitchen to the home office, the bedroom closet to the car. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life : how to live creatively with collections, clutter, work, kids, pets, art, etc.– and stop worrying about everything being perfectly in its place / written and photographed by Mary Randolph Carter.
“How to make your house a home filled with comfort, ambience, informality, personality, and a welcoming spirit– while living beautifully with all the things you love”–P. [4] of cover.

Natural swimming pools : [inspiration for harmony with nature] / Michael Littlewood.
“Free yourself from chlorine, and surround your swimming pool with plants and a natural landscape. Littlewood (Landscape Detailing) introduces the natural swimming pool system, in which no chemicals are used; ecology and biology instead keeping the system clean. Chapters cover the history, planning, and design of natural swimming pools. A gallery of existing pools illustrates the possibilities. Several nice features include extensive plant charts and plant hardiness maps. This is an interesting book, but it could have been made more useful through better organization, sharper layout and photos, and some step-by-step handholding. The concept, familiar in Europe, could really take off in the United States with more help. A nice introduction where there is interest. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

Allegra Hicks : an eye for design / Creative direction by Antonio Monfreda ; photography by Emanuele Mascioni ; written with Noga Arikha ; foreword by Patrick Kinmonth.
“This work examines textile, interior, and fashion designer Hicks’ approach to design and luxury. The book retraces the genesis of her patterns over the past decades of her work.” (Syndetics summary)

At home with Town & country / Sarah Medford.
“The first-ever home book from the magazine that is the last word in defining the affluent lifestyle, opens the doors to 30 distinctive dwellings, providing rare glimpses of lives being lived in sleek urban showplaces and luxurious rural retreats, and offering advice and inspiration for creating stylish, soul-sustaining spaces.” (Syndetics summary)

My passion for design : a private tour / Barbra Streisand.
“A culmination and reflection of Streisand’s love of American architecture and design between the 18th and 20th centuries, this volume contains many of her own photographs of the rooms she has decorated, her art and furniture collections, and her ravishing gardens.” (Syndetics summary)

Arcadia : cross-country style, architecture and design / edited by Robert Klanten, Sven Ehmann, Lukas Feireiss.
“Arcadian architecture, idyllic interiors and folkloristic furniture designs.” (Syndetics summary)

Edwardian farm : rural life at the turn of the century / Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman & Peter Ginn.“Following on from the hit BBC series Victorian Farm, this book accompanies a new 12-part BBC series. This time, Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn take a leap forward in time to immerse themselves in an Edwardian community in the West Country. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Morwellham Quay was situated in a bustling and commercially prosperous region – a stunning rural landscape encompassing rolling farmland, wild moorland, tidal river, coast and forest, which supported a vibrant and diverse economy. Ruth, Peter and Alex will spend a year exploring all aspects of this working landscape – restoring boats, buildings and equipment, cultivating crops. fishing, rearing animals and rediscovering the lost heritage of this fascinating era as well as facing the challenges of increasingly commercial farming practices, fishing and community events. ” (description from amazon.co.uk)

The world of Madeleine Castaing / Emily Evans Eerdmans ; preface by Frederic Castaing ; foreword by Jacques Grange.“The inimitable style of renowned French interior designer Madeleine Castaing, chronicled in-depth for the first time. While many were drumming to the beat of modernism in the early- and mid-twentieth century, French antiquaire and decorator Madeleine Castaing created her own look that was a unique blend of neoclassicism, Proustian romanticism, and pure wit. Her distinctive aesthetic vision has inspired tastemakers on both sides of the Atlantic, and her devotees—both then and now—are legion. Ocelot carpeting, opaline blue, “coolie” lampshades, and an eclectic mix of neoclassical furnishings ranging from English Regency to Napoleon III all formed part of the vocabulary of “le style Castaing.” This lavishly illustrated volume—the first on her work—explores in-depth the elements of her style, and examines how she crafted interiors so emotive that visitors felt that they had stepped into a Balzac novel or a Proustian recollection. Her entire life and career are chronicled, from her early years in Montparnasse, the epicenter of artistic activity in Paris, to her incomparable country house Lèves and her legendary shop on rue Jacob in Paris.” (description from amazon.com)

We have a great list of new books, our Gardening and DIY Recent Picks, for you to peruse in January 2011. Books dealing with gardening as well as decorating your house. Have a look below:

The garden of ideas : four centuries of Australian style / Richard Aitken.
“The Garden of Ideas tells an inspiring and engaging story of Australian garden design. From the imaginings of emigrant garden-makers of the late-eighteenth century to the concerns of twenty-first-century gardeners, this book charts its way across four centuries through a handsome and satisfying fusion of images and text.” (description from Melbourne University Press).

Home made simple : fresh ideas to make your own / the experts at Home made simple.
“Home Made Simple is the essential home reference for simplifying, beautifying, organizing, and inspiring your life. In these pages you’ll find tips, projects, and recipes that will help you create the home you’ll love to live in. Streamline your routine. Dazzle your guests. Indulge your culinary spirit. Celebrate your outside spaces. And adorn your home in ways that are uniquely yours.” (description from Macmillan).

The green roof manual : a professional guide to design, installation, and maintenance / Edmund C. Snodgrass and Linda McIntyre.
“Green roofs — the ultimate in sustainable building practices — continue to generate enormous interest and enthusiasm among architects, landscape designers, and urban planners. Increasingly strict stormwater regulations and the appeal of LEED-related projects have also boosted the popularity and desirability of green roofs. Those who want to build green roofs, however, have few resources to guide them. Until now….” (description from timberpress.com).

Gardens of the world : the great traditions / Rory Stuart.
“Why have the peoples of the world made pleasure gardens, and why have they made them in such different styles? All pleasure gardens derive their design inspiration from one of the world’s six great gardening traditions – the Italian, the Islamic, the Chinese, the Japanese, the English flower garden, and the English park – and it is these that are the subject of this book.” (description from franceslincoln.co.uk).

Here’s how– decks : build your very own deck in 12 easy steps.
“Here’s How…Decks offers the basics of building an entire deck from start to finish, at a price never before offered. For less than $10.00, readers get complete instructions and illustrations for laying out and building a basic deck. Presenting this challenging project through a series of 12 easy-to-follow steps, the book makes deck construction easy and affordable for the value-conscious consumer. …” (description from qbookshop.com).

Lessons in letting go : confessions of a hoarder / Corinne Grant.
“Lessons in Letting Go is an honest, uproariously funny and sometimes moving memoir of the year in which Corinne Grant decides to do something about her hoarding. From every scrunchie she’s ever owned, to every pencil case and magazine, it’s time for it all to go. Problem is, getting rid of the stuff turns out to be much harder than she initially thought.” (description from allenandunwin.com)

How to grow a school garden : a complete guide for parents and teachers / Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Kathleen Pringle.
“In this groundbreaking resource, two school garden pioneers offer parents, teachers, and school administrators everything they need to know to build school gardens and to develop the programs that support them.” (description from timberpress.com).

Home decorating book : hundreds of step-by-step techniques and easy-to-make projects / [illustrations by Kuo Kang Chen].
“Successful decorating is the artful blending of colors, patterns, and textures to create a harmonious effect in the home. Within these pages are a whole house of clever ideas, design tips, and easy-to-make projects for sprucing up the home, from window dressings of every type to bed covers, cushions, and a whole range of decorative accessories.” (description from amazon.com).

The encyclopedia of container plants : more than 500 outstanding choices for gardeners / Ray Rogers ; photography by Rob Cardillo.
“Container gardening is ideally suited to today’s lifestyles — it provides the excitement, versatility, and variety of in-the-ground gardening to those with limited space, time, and resources. But in order to make the most of container gardening, aspiring gardeners — whether rank beginners or seasoned veterans — need to know precisely which plants perform best in containers; just as importantly, they need to know how to grow them well.” (description from timberpress.com).

British West Indies style : Antigua, Jamaica, Barbados, and beyond / Michael Connors.
“Breathtaking photographs capture the history and unique design of the English island great houses, detailing the hardwood furniture, terraced gardens, walled courtyards, and interiors. Perhaps the most admired and influential of tropical styles, the English island style transformed residences into private paradises.” (description from rizzoliusa.com).

We have a great list of new books, our Gardening and DIY Recent Picks, for you to peruse in December. Books dealing with gardening as well as decorating your house. Have a look below:

Understanding garden design : the complete handbook for aspiring designers / Vanessa Gardner Nagel.
“Along with essentials such as traffic flow, focal points, and sun exposure, Nagel also provides thoughtful coverage of secondary, but no less important, topics such as hardscape, furnishings, and ornamentation. Thorough and thoroughly accessible, Nagel’s reasoned yet personable approach to an often intimidating subject will benefit both homeowners and design professionals. –Carol Haggas ” (description from amazon.com)

A taste of the unexpected / Mark Diacono ; photography by Mark Diacono ; recipe photography by Laura Hynd ; recipe development by Debora Robertson.
“Filled with practical growing advice and mouthwatering recipes, this inspirational book will encourage you to share Mark’s sense of culinary adventure – introducing you to the finest forgotten flavours, fabulous lesser-known harvests, the tastiest varieties of familiar crops, and the exotic foreign fruit that our changing climate now allows us to grow for ourselves. None of these requires any extra effort to grow than the usual suspects and all of them will bring new flavours and experiences into your garden and kitchen. Exciting and inspirational, A Taste of the Unexpected will redefine your approach to growing your own for good. ” (description from amazon.co.uk)

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Speed decorating: a pro stager’s tips and trade secrets for a fabulous home in a week or less by Jill Vegas aims at people wanting a quick sale, improve a tired home or just have a change all on a limited budget. She lists seven essentials – flow, light, colour, clutter, condition, cleanliness and lifestyle that are needed to transform a home from bland to beautiful.

Insulation not only keeps a house at an optimum temperature but saves money and conserves energy. Sergi Costa Duran’s book Green homes details the steps of insulating, sealing and ventilating. Colour illustrations complement the text.

Bathrooms are probably the most renovated room in a home. In Sandra S. Soria’s All new bathroom idea book 360 full-colour photographs give the renovator a myriad of options from a small up-grade to a complete renovation. This one-step design guide gives advice for the process for any budget.

Think about a make-over for your house or look into other options including tile designs, decorative painting techniques, plant and design styles in this month’s Gardening Recent Picks.

Reduce the number of plastic bags by using reusable, hand-made alternatives. It’s easy to make your own bags for shopping and a number of other uses. Sew & stow: 31 fun sewing projects to carry, hold and organize your stuff, your home and yourself by Betty Oppenheimer shows how to make quick and simple projects with step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

Read the history of small homes and why they are popular. Small space living by Christine Brun is full of useful design ideas and creative products that enhance small living environments. 325 beautiful colour photos complement the text.

The simple home is about living in comfort in a carefully considered space. Simple home: calm spaces for comfortable living by Mark & Sally Bailey discusses how to make the right choices of colour and furniture. A combination of old, new and re-used items achieve the right character for any home.

Get a new look for the New Year using the guidance in these books and others including how to make perfect curtains, grow your own organic fruit and vegetables and make a deck. All found in this month’s DIY Recent Picks.

Boring lampshades – not any more with The lampshade lady’s guide to lighting up your life: 50 custom lampshades & lamps by Judy Lake. Using inexpensive basic frames, a range of fabrics, photos, postcards or anything that inspires, a tired lampshade will be resurrected or a personalised new one produced.

It can be difficult to be enthusiastic about creating that personal touch for a short term home but Decorating to go by Robin Bernard and Adrienne Nappi gives suggestion on how to do just that. Advice, design ideas and how to achieve a lot with little money will create a feeling of home as well as an ability to transfer the result to another home.

How do you hang a big screen television? Why can’t you ever find your tools?  What should you do with that old sun-lounger? Solutions to these questions and others will be given in Weekend projects: a step-by-step guide to more than 50 DIY projects by Reader’s Digest.

Learn new skills from these books or others including self-sufficient living, upholstery and cooking home-grown produce in this month’s Home and Garden Recent Picks.

It is little things that impact on the look of a room but getting it right can be easier said than done. Accessorize your home: over 400 perfect finishing touches for your living space by Caroline Clifton-Mogg will help to add decorative details and imaginative displays to individualise your home. And what is most important is these ideas will not break the bank.

Chris Gleason, a professional cabinet-maker has no time for fussy, period furniture and his book Building real furniture for everyday life focuses on practical, sturdy and modern items. No time, little money and minimal tools – not a problem he says. Sensible furniture on a budget will be the result.

Organic gardening is becoming more popular as people increasingly want to know what they are eating. Growing organic: green tips for New Zealand gardeners by Nick Hamilton and Philippa Jamieson is a handy guide with information on preparing the soil through to harvesting the crop. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Read more about these subjects and other books on topics including herb gardening, vintage sewing projects and making blinds on this month’s DIY Recent Picks.

Whether to save money or to get a sense of achievement through producing your own vegetables DIY gardening is becoming more popular. In The healthy soil handbook , organic gardeners give advice on making the soil nutrient rich with minimal effort while reducing water usage. A healthy soil will produce healthy results.

Many people would like to try growing vegetables but feel they may not have the time, the space, the environment or the know-how. Dennis Greville’s book Easy on the pocket vegetable gardening : growing your own groceries guides the novice through all aspects and confidently states that year-round vegetables will be the result.

The residents of eight houses in America have allowed architectural photographer Bilyana Dimitrova into their homes. Chosen for their distinctive interiors that blend in with the personalities and lifestyles none of the homes in To each his home : inspiring interiors as unique as their owners have been designed by professionals.

Learn more about DIY reading these books and others on kitchens, bathrooms, woodshopping and more on the DIY Recent Picks page.