The Fabrics of a Look, an Era
BOOKS
Ann Wallace’s “Arts & Crafts Textiles” ($22, Gibbs-Smith, Publisher, 1999) centers on textiles but its reach is much broader, taking in the entire Arts and Crafts movement along the way.
Wallace notes that furniture and other practical home items were the main features of movement originators like Gustav Stickley, but utilitarian and decorative fabrics also had a prominent place. Chairs were adorned with bold designs, wall and window hangings flourished, and artsy pillows were tossed everywhere by followers.
The author takes the reader on her tour by combining vintage and modern photos with a crisp telling of the movement’s history. And for the practical-minded, Wallace shows how many of the textiles can be duplicated by anyone with a little experience working with fabrics.
Hooked on Rugs
Another textile book for the do-it-yourselfer is Juju Vail’s “Rag Rugs: Contemporary Projects in a Traditional Craft” ($20, Firefly Books, 1999). Vail touches on the history of rag rugs (or hooked rugs) but mostly explains how they can be made with basic tools found in most homes.
These pieces tend to be heavy and somewhat primitive, but Vail points out that their charm rests in their simplicity. Besides listing the required tools (in most cases, only yarn, a hook, a frame and scissors), Vail provides templates of several designs. She also explains ways to brighten up the rugs and add personal flourishes with techniques such as applique.
THE WEB
Resources for Remodeling
Readers have recommended a pair of home improvement sites, Remodeling Online (https://www.remodeling.hw.net) and HomeExpo.com (https://www
.homeexpo.com). We’ve checked them out and they’re useful.
Remodeling Online is the best, featuring the usual sections on ways to ensure your plans move smoothly, but with enough details to make the destination a cut above the average. There are links focusing on every facet of the house--the Kitchen & Bath Portfolio is especially comprehensive--and the HomeTech Resource Center gives suggestions on the latest technology.
But the most practical information is found in the Virtual Remodeling Tour, where you can see a project taken through all its stages.
For example, Adriaan and Roxane Bouten show how they added a 2,000-square-foot second story to their Bethesda, Md., dwelling.
The top feature of HomeExpo.com is the many fact sheets on every component of the home, from plumbing to electrical wiring to security concerns. There’s also information on what state and federal building codes you’ll have to meet with any project.
* To have a book or Web site considered for this column, send information to Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Mark Chalon Smith can also be reached by e-mail at mark.smith@ latimes.com.