This book is a wonderful history/architectural reference. I purchased this book as an interior design reference and although it does not cover interior design details the rich history provided by the author led me to want to read this book cover to cover. And what a beautiful cover it is- brown leather- makes this a great coffee table book. This would be a great gift for anyone interested in western architecture and home style. This is not one of those books that choses a certain western style and displays hundred of the same photograph-this book covers every ranch style possible. I will continue to reference this book for inspiration and ideas.

The last decade of the twentieth century spawned a culture of week-end ranchers buying week-end "places" and decorating the interiors in "drug-store cowboy". "Ranch Deluxe", however, shows you what the real thing looked like, Partner.

For those of us who grew up on "Hop Along" and Gene Autry Saturday mornings at the neighborhood theatre, Rancho Deluxe is a voyeur's dream.

Motoring down the highways of the great Southwest, one occasionally glimpses an old ranch house in the distance. "Is there a soul so dead who never fantasized about life in that ranch house?" Rancho Deluxe welcomes the voyeur to step inside and have a look around.

CABIN FEVER is great if you want to simply look at pictures and get inspired. I bought a copy, and I have enjoyed it. But that's as far as this book goes.
However, I also bought a book called SECOND HOME, which I found on Amazon.com, and that has become our favorite getaway book. SECOND HOME inspires me with its lush photography of homes (and settings) around the country, but Second Home is equally valuable because it has so much information that keeps guiding us as we work toward turning out dreams into reality. (Second Home talks about how to shop for real estate, how to evaluate a small town or a region, etc. We liked the chapter that is a series of quizzes with dozens of photos to help you decide what kind of home or setting or view or climate you want. That was interesting to go through.)

My favorite book related to vacation home style is Cottage Style, and I wrote a review of that book on amazon awhile back. This Cabin Fever book is a bit narrower in scope, but I am enjoying all the photos. Because I love Better Homes and Gardens Cottage Style, I just bought the new BH&G book called Second Home, which shows one great house after another. I'm getting lots of decorating ideas from those homes. But Second Home also has great information on real estate shopping, home design, and decorating, too. It's my kind of book, because it's a dream book that also helps me do something to achieve the dream.

I strongly recommend anyone who has any interest at all in having their home resemble a lodge, cabin, north woods style to grab this book. I open this and look at the color photos constantly and share it with my friends. Tons of ideas!

The "Book Description" submitted by the publisher started: "American army troops entered Cambodia in April of 1970. President Richard Nixon could not keep ground troops there beyond June 1970 without authorization from Congress, which was not forthcoming."
This is incorrect. President Nixon chose to pull all U.S. troops out at the end of June, but that was his decision. He could have kept troops there months longer, if he had chosen to do so. There were people in Congress trying to impose limitations on the President's ability to use U.S. forces in Cambodia, but they did not manage to get such a limitation enacted into law until January of 1971. I have not yet seen the book, but this error right at the beginning of the publisher's summary of it leaves me a bit suspicious.
I don't like the idea of giving a rating (4 stars out of 5) when I have not actually read the book, but the software on this site will not permit me to post any comment without making a rating.

This book has an excellent assortment of photographs of antique country furniture. The pictures are very colorful and clear. They are great resource for those interested in recreating antiques. The projects were not that detail oriented. I would recommend this book for the ideas it presents through pictures.

This book is a classic for woodworkers who are looking for that rustic touch. An excellent review of wood types and how to cut wood for projects. Many projects in book come with drawings, material listings, and complete instructions. Good advice on construction techniques. If you are a beginning or intermediate woodworker, this book fits well in your must have collection.

I had been looking for a book like this to learn how to make twig furniture. I found it easy to read and understand. It kept my attention. I finished the entire book before putting it down. I now know how to make the furniture that my grandfather made. And without him here to teach me, this book was perfect. This book would be enjoyed by anyone. My opinion is, that any woodworkers bookshelf that does not have this book, is EMPTY.

As a Jew and a vegetarian, I find it completely unconscionable that Emeril would use his fame to profit from a book that pushes the virtues of pork fat. Doesn't he realize that there is a small minority of us out there that doesn't subscribe to his over-the-top method of cooking everything with pork fat, as well as other animal by-products? I've watched his show a few times, and got this book from a friend a few months ago. While the man has some talent, I find it really distasteful that he profits from his fame and over-hyped ego. I looked in vain throughout the book for a recipe that would be culturally and morally sensitive, but came up empty handed. This book is a prime example of the excesses of the capitalist system gone awry.

The newest Food Network superstar could become the next Paul Prudhomme and has put a lot of "BAM" into his recipes. Emeril Lagasse's Louisiana Real & Rustic is his second book and whereas the layout of the book itself does not view well for the eyes, the recipes themselves are outstanding. Emeril Lagasse, a former executive chef at Commander's Palace in New Orleans doesn't use fancy names for his dishes or give every detail in the cooking directions. However, for the person who has more than just a little knowledge in the culinary arts the final products created are mouth watering delicacies: Oyster and Spinach Soup, Duck and Wild Mushroom Gumbo, Shrimp Pernod, Catfish Pecan Meuni(re, Pepper-Stuffed Turkey, Crusted Tenderloin of Rabbit and Creole Cream Cheese Ice Cream. Louisiana Real & Rustic may be a bit primitive yet has the personality that really does make you want to say "BAM". Louisiana Real & Rustic by Emeril Lagasse is published by Morrow Publishing. Recipes are written somewhat crudely but the products are of premiere quality

I have become quite a fan of Emeril Lagasse. Of course, it helps that he and I come from the same part of New England originally and his cooking style and mine are quite similar.

Needless to say that Emeril doesn't cook like a typical New Englander. Layered flavors are the order of the day in his (and my) kitchen. Most folks think of him as being a Cajun style cook. I look at his cooking as being a fusion between Cajun and Portugese.

Louisiana Real and Rustic is a book that certainly belongs on any cook's bookshelf. It's on mine.

This book is a simple mini-course that provides explicit directions, through clear photos, for building two willow furniture projects. I can't think of any other treatment that would so clearly teach the contruction techniques involved in making this style of chair. Any reader can be assured that she will be able to create a perfect copy of Bim Willow's chair design through the use of this book. Further exploration of rustic chair building is dependent on the motivation and imagination of the reader, as general concepts of rustic furniture design are not covered. Other titles, (Mack) cover history and design. This book beautifully serves its purpose as a beginners guide to building that first rustic willow chair.

How anyome can call this book garbage is beyond me. It is extremely helpful if you are serious about making a willow project. The step by step instructions are very helpful especially if you are a beginner. The pictures are clear and very helpful. I would recommend this book above all others and I have them all. Would really like to meet this author and thank him personaly. The only problem I had was finding the ardox nails recommended in the book.....

Bim Willows "how to" book on making willow furniture is a great place for beginners to look for basic information. Easy to follow, concise, with many clear and helpful photographs make this book worthwhile. It has been a lot of fun!

The authors give some background detail about their lives and their philosophy of living, and it is engaging, but most of these projects are not things you'd want to see displayed in your home. The majority look like a bunch of twigs tied together, which is, of course, the idea. Except I'd like them to have some style too. One notable exception: the lampshade pictured on the cover. Some of the projects are illustrated with drawings instead of photographs, and that makes me suspicious. Couldn't the authors make one of these themselves, so it could be photographed?

I would have been happier with some more practical projects than a toothbrush easel that comes with the caveat that toothbrushes displayed in it may hang crookedly.

What a great book! I love walking in the woods. With these simple projects I can bring some twigs home and turn them into something that is both a reminder of the outdoors as well as a useful object. (And a conversation piece.) Also, we don't have to spend a lot of money to make something. And the basic information about using tools and materials will help me with future craft projects. Thoreau would have loved some of these items for his cabin at Walden Pond!

I enjoy this book no end but I would have preferred a little bit more variety of subjects rather than the same one being repeated dressed up differently.

To make a good work with a small amount of wood try that skills and have great work of art projects.