Kitchens for the rest of us From the kitchen you have to the kitchen you love

With the wealth of advice and ideas in these three books, homeowners will be able to make informed decisions on the various ways to redesign their kitchens. Breen (Entertaining for Wimps) dispenses practical information about real-life examples of kitchen redos. The accessible layout offers sections on countertop and flooring options and the pros and cons of what's available in storage, lighting, appliances, and sinks. In Kitchens for the Rest of Us, Lemos, editor in chief of Home magazine, presents close to 20 real-life kitchen remodels in a variety of styles with before-and-after layouts and color photos. Each kitchen includes information on what the homeowners wanted and points out the features chosen that allowed them to realize their ideal. The experiences homeowners recount here give a real feel for what's involved in redesigning a kitchen. The Best of Signature Kitchens features more than 100 kitchens that have appeared in Signature Kitchens and Baths magazine. The introductory chapters provide useful information on new products. Though there is little on practical design, the strength of this book lies in the color photographs. Information is also provided on design styles, special features, room dimensions, products used, and the designers' layout considerations in accommodating homeowners' needs. Creating Your Dream Kitchen is similar to Susan Boyle Hillstrom's Design Ideas for Kitchens (see review, below), though fewer photographs and options appear in the former. Kitchens for the Rest of Us is less accessible than either Breen's or Hillstrom's book, as many of the practical tips are embedded within the real-life stories. Kitchens for the Rest of Us and Signature Kitchens are recommended for any size public library; Creating Your Dream Kitchen is for larger collections or where there is strong interest. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.