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Rating: 
Summary: Sunset books have come a long way!
Review: I stopped buying Sunset books years ago, but this book has restored my faith in Sunset. I am one of those individuals who loves clever and innovative interior design, but sadly was not born with the creative gene. I can follow directions though and this book provides the inspiration and direction on how to achieve it. Many of the ideas can crossover easily into other rooms and different home styles. I could have used a book like this years ago when my husband and I were remodeling and updating our first house, a 1940's bungalow. Several of the styles would have worked well in the kitchen, which was the one room we did not remodel, because we did not know where or how to begin! Now I have a contemporary home and there are ideas I am gleaning for it; like the black and white photo gallery. It is simple, clean, dramatic, and I want it for a hallway. The vinyl tile floor in the retro kitchen is the solution I have been seeking for a bathroom floor that must be redone. The metal faced cabinets and concrete counter in the industrial kitchen are very stylish and appealing for a modern/cutting edge look, and I want the rough hewn table that is in that kitchen.
This book is crammed full of ideas and projects. BIG projects, little projects, and projects that would require a professional
to execute. One good idea makes the cost of the book worthwhile to me, and as stated above I have come away with far more than one good idea.
Rating: 
Summary: Look for another way to "reinvent" your kitchen
Review: I was expecting this book to have some instructions or tips for remodeling a kitchen, or advice about different gadgets I could install, or show decorative objects I could display, but it is mostly a book on instructions for cutesy little projects. However, unlike the other reviewers, I was neither charmed or nor inspired. These are projects you can find in most other non-kitchen books on interior decoration. If the photos were great, that would make up for the lack of substantive information, but they are not. My recommendation is to skip this book.
Rating:
Summary: Who says "not usual" is not good??!!
Review: This book features unusual projects indeed. And that's what I like about it. I especially like being able to do things at a reasonable cost. Black and white photocopies mounted in plexiglass on the wall! That's genius, why would I want to spend thousands for the same effect a classy art gallery would likely do? Converting a cheap utility cart into a rolling Island! What a great thing in tough economic times to be able to upgrade my kitchen. If you've ever priced putting concrete slab countertops throughout your kitchen, (which you also have to seal), you'll know that the concrete coating is do-able at a fraction of the cost. And doesn't require a road-crew to move in! If you're looking for some boring old how-to book to make "practical" country duck-shaped cutouts with a jigsaw, stay away from this book. It's packed full of gutsy hands-on projects with good illustrations and instructions to guide you through. I don't know if I'll ever get around to improving my kitchen, but reading these ideas gives me the courage to try! Thank you Sunset for the best collection of EXTRA-ordinary ideas yet.
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