The Face of Home: A New Way to Look at the Outside of Your House

Book Description

There are hundreds of books on the market about designing the interior of a home, but none for homeowners that focuses on the design of a home’s exterior. And yet the exterior of the house is what we all see and remember- it’s the “face” of home we fall in love with--whether we are looking for a new home or just taking in the sights during a Sunday afternoon drive. All of us can relate to a house’s exterior, but few understand how they’re put together, or how the outside and inside should work in harmony. When people describe the exterior of a house, they usually give a label or a style- Cape, Colonial, Ranch. But, in truth, what they are referring to are not only its exterior physical characteristic- the particular blend of rooflines, siding, trim, windows, doors and porches, but also its emotional characteristics- inviting, austere, friendly.

In his new book The Face of Home, Jeremiah Eck, FAIA, author of Taunton’s The Distinctive Home, examines these physical and emotional characteristics, explores the concepts and applications of exterior design and how they can be successfully used to enhance the experience of home and provides a fresh, new language for describing, understanding, and shaping the face of home.

After a comprehensive first chapter that illustrates the way houses have traditionally been identified: by historical description (Queen Anne, Tudor); material (Shingle, Craftsman); shape (Salt Box, Ranch); and architectural (Wrightian, Miesian), Eck then introduces a new, fuller language for exteriors that goes beyond and behind these to explore the basic concepts of good exterior design: scale and massing, symmetry and asymmetry, and transparency and opaqueness. These concepts are then further refined and expressed by the shaping of features and details such as roof, doors, windows, siding, and the use of color and textures through a highly a visual tour of 23 houses vividly illustrating how these concepts are applied to give a home its unique style and personality Throughout the book, Eck shows us the close relationship between interior and exterior design and how they impact one another.

Customer Reviews:

Something didn't fit.......2007-01-15

I bought this book online so I never go a good look inside before I bought it . There are a few of the ideas fit with my idea of what a nice house is but then there where more ideas where I would be saying huh that does not look so good.

My advice is to get a good look inside the book before you buy it.

Great houses, great ideas, OK writing.......2006-05-24

First, I should say that Jeremiah Eck is my favorite architect. If I ever build a house (which is hard, because I live in Boston where there are essentially no lots), I'll probably use him as an architect. So I should love this book, and I mostly do. Ideally, I'd like an architecture book to:

1) have lots of great pictures and floor plans of wonderful houses
2) have interesting ideas to convey
3) have good prose to read

I'd say this book scores very well on the first two points, and less so on the third. The photography is excellent, with lots of great houses. Mr. Eck is trying to convey some important ideas about the exterior of a house. Ideally, he things the exterior of a house should have a style that follows from other elements of the design, rather than being superficial decoration. So on the strength of those reasons alone, you should buy it. But for some reason I find his prose hard going. I can't quite put my finger on what bothers me, but it doesn't pull you forward. I found this to be true of his first book, "The Distinctive Home" as well. I'm very pleased I read it anyway.

The New Cottage Home: A Tour of Unique American Dwellings

Average customer rating:

straight into the garage sale
Cottages
Worth the price....
More than just another coffee table book!
Get Cozy!

The New Cottage Home: A Tour of Unique American Dwellings
Jim Tolpin
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Cottage: America's Favorite Home Inside and Out
The Cabin: Inspiration for the Classic American Getaway
Dream Cottages : 25 Plans for Retreats, Cabins, and Beach Houses
More Small Houses (Great Houses)
Classic Cottages

ASIN: 1561583553
Release Date: 2000-04-01

Amazon.com

It takes only a drive through any typical American subdivision to confirm that in recent decades the average house has grown in size, narrowed in style, and shrunk in vision. Jim Tolpin's The New Cottage Home represents a return to a previous school of thought about living space: that it should be no larger than is needed, conservative of resources, rich in detail-- in short, that it should pay homage to honest architecture and fine craftsmanship, not to conspicuous consumption. The 30 cottage homes pictured, all recently built, have the slightly unfair advantage of almost magically beautiful locations, but each has a unique character and many cottage-style nooks and crannies: the converted island pump house with sod roof, the 600-square-foot woodland temple, the salvage-built house on the Kansas prairie, the off-the-grid shingled hilltop house built to take advantage of natural light. Tolpin does an excellent job of pulling together the elements of each that make it a cottage and make it appealing. In his own words, "These houses seem to call as much to the heart as to the head, enriching us more with the highs of nature than with the highs of technology. These are the new American cottages that embody the ancient storybook dream, and the kind of homes that many of us have always dreamed of living in."

Book Description

The New Cottage Home taps into today's move toward lifestyle simplicity and the idea that living space should be rich in details, conservative of resources, and no larger than necessary. Jim Tolpin celebrates the diversity and charm of 30 sample cottages, from a Pacific Northwest cottage modeled after a French hunting lodge to a "salvage yard vernacular cottage" built with junkyard materials. Each featured home reflects individual personality, priorities, and lifestyle. Whether by the water, on a mountain, or in a forest, field, or town, these homes emphasize quality of place over quantity of space.

Customer Reviews:

straight into the garage sale.......2007-09-17

the used bookstore wouldn't even want this rubbish- about 5 pages of decent information. it's all coffee table fluff and I don't drink coffee- Boo

Cottages.......2007-07-12

This book is great if you want gables and a structure with more character but more expensive. I am looking for simple structures. I do like the book a lot.

Worth the price...........2006-02-23

As an avid cottage fan, and living in one while designing a new one to build for myself which is even more zen and simple, I found this book to be one of the best books on cottages around. Although I also admit what was considered a cottage when my place was built someone hundred years ago and what is considered a cottage in 2006 is around five square feet more in size.

Of course I am a purest and go by what my dictionary says a cottage is which is 1 : the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer 2 : a usually small frame one-family house. Small being reduced in size. So I was surprised that on page 112 they show a French Hunting Lodge from the Pacific Northwest. Not a cottage at all.

What does make this good sized book useful for anyone looking for ideas on cottage styles is the vast array of examples given. From the coastline of Maine to the San Juan Island of Washington State, to rural Kansas to Massachusetts to favorite areas here in California.

And wonderful examples of simple to elaborate. One of my favorites because of its really simple zen style is the Pumphouse on pages 52-59 on San Juan Island in Washington State that was made into a smooth lined, all in one cottage which I and other minimalists would love to own. Or the wonderful Salvage Yard cottage in Franklin County, Kansas on page 156-161 that would fit in just about anywhere where clean lines and environmental desires are important.

There is even an off the grid cottage and some communities of nothing but cottages like those on Lopez Island in Washington State beginning on page 196, where the cottages are part of a land trust that was set up to allow people on moderate incomes to build small abodes with common greenbelt areas in and area where expensive homes were/are the norm. Heck, this made the book worth the price in itself.

Each cottage is shown inside and out complete with basic blueprints of each cottage so one can see how the space sits and works. The photography and text meld well and makes this a book that is hard to put down.

More than just another coffee table book!.......2001-12-07

You WILL find inspiration here.

Get Cozy!.......2001-11-17

This book hails a return to the smaller house. We have overlooked the value of coziness for too long.
Delightful! I must confess, my copy is quite dog-earred.

The New American House 4: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)

Average customer rating:

Photos
Let me be the devil's advocate
GREAT resource for contemporary residential design ideas!

The New American House 4: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)
James Trulove
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The New American House 3
The New American House 2: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction: 30 Case Studies (New American Architecture)
The New American House: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)
The New Modern House
Brave New Houses: Adventures in Southern California Living

ASIN: 0823031764

Customer Reviews:

Photos.......2007-05-07

As with everything else from this author, it is just a collection of pretty pictures, with absolutely no detail on materials and construction techniques. There is a reason his books are so cheap.

Let me be the devil's advocate.......2005-04-24

The purpose of my review is to share my comments about this book so that potentail readers could have a balanced view. I also picked up this book at Borders. Fortunately, I did not have to unwrap it...

There are tons of books on modern residential architecture published in recent years. And I (probably you too) have already read quite a few of them. When thinking about getting a new book on the same topic, the key questions we shall all think about are:

What's new in this book? What makes this book different from those I have already read? What does this book add to my collection? What's the unique contribution? What do I learn from this book over and beyond all others?

Unfortunately, this book provides weak answers to these questions. In general, the majority of the houses featured in this book are redundant, uninspiring, and boring. One exception is the SOMA house. There are not many creative ideas in these design. Moderism in architecture is not simply equal to having large glazed windows or using some industrial-flavored materials like concrete. It's a philosophy and life style. It's about innovation and exploration. Many projects selected in this book lack this underlying core. These buildings are just traditional ranch houses with a pseudo-modern apperance.

From a practical standpoint, though some minimalist, bold, and avant-garde houses seem to be "unlivable", clever thinkers can always transform those "unrealistic" elements into feasible design which fits everyday living condition. That's the excitement about architecture and designing: experimentation, creation, and interpretation.

For some good references, check out a book called "Stunning Houses" for high quality and livable modern residential projects. If you want some intellectual stimulation, try "Architecture Now 3" published by Taschen and "XS : Big Ideas in Small-Scale Building". You'll know what I am talking about.

Despite the critiques, this book does have some strengths (also discussed by another reviewer Conan). The text is really detailed. You can also find detailed floor plans and other technical drawings. And I LOVE those beautiful pictures.

In conclusion, this book is mediocre comparing with other books on the same topic. I suggest you borrow a copy from a library or just skim through it in a book store. Considering its price, it is not a wise investment.

GREAT resource for contemporary residential design ideas!.......2004-12-12

I picked this book up at a local Borders bookstore. It was pretty expensive and wrapped in cellophane so you couldn't read it before buying. Well, I confess I unwrapped it while hiding behind a bookshelf because I refused to fork over ~$50 without at least browsing through a pricey and unfamiliar book.

Anyway, after perusing just the first half of this substantial book, I was SOLD. I have been hunting through book after book after book for really good and useful ideas on residential contemporary home design (I have a 15 wooded acre lot I'm planning on building on soon). So many of the books I looked at lacked any real, meat and potatoes/useful detail, and/or they emphasized large commercial structures and/or they went on about these trendy, vague, completely unrealistic notions concerning design (like some guy living in a cardboard box with a toilet). Other books on "minimalism" (a stark, modernistic style) were intriguing and interesting, but really in the end...were completely unrealistic. I mean, where am I supposed to keep my "SCHTUFF???" (yeah, I know, I'm one of those shallow, bourgeois, materialistic Westerners).

Other modern architecture books usually provide just a few flashy pictures and some unspecific/unclear, artsy fartsy double talk/new agey bs description of some millionaire's home in southern California. C'mon, not really useful for a Joe Blow like me who needs some real ideas and a much more fleshed out description of how these houses are designed and built.

Well, this book is not like that. Don't get me wrong, it is a thick, sophisticated and richly detailed book. And although most of the homes in it are also the very expensive "millionaire homes", there are also some more modest homes included as well. Plus, and more importantly, they really devote a full dossier of technical information and a beautiful exterior and interior photographic outlay of each home (in full glorious color). And even with the expensive homes, many of the design elements can still be transcribed and adapted to a more modest home (within reason of course). They also include site plans for each home and plenty of details concerning the construction and design strategies. A decently fleshed out documentary that you can really sink your teeth into - something you can actually use to learn more about new, cutting edge designs and to stimulate thought and creative brainstorming for your own house...which is just what I was looking for!

Sometimes books are wrapped in cellophane at the bookstore to prevent a potential buyer from seeing how pretentious, overpriced and overrated a book is before buying it...but this is NOT one of those books. If you want to learn more about modern residential home design, then I couldn't recommend this book more!

Great Houses of New York, 1880-1930 (Urban Domestic Architecture)

Average customer rating:

Architectural Joy
awesome book
Gilded Age New York

Great Houses of New York, 1880-1930 (Urban Domestic Architecture)
Michael C. Kathrens
Manufacturer: Acanthus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

North Shore Boston: Country Houses Of Essex County, 1865-1930
The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter
Houses of the Berkshires, 1870-1930 (The Architecture of Leisure)
North Shore Long Island: Country Houses, 1890-1950
American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze

ASIN: 0926494341
Release Date: 2005-04-30

Product Description

GREAT HOUSES OF NEW YORK, 1880-1930 presents the stories of 43 most elegant houses built in New York. With over 300 archival photographs and floor plans and a decade of research, Michael Kathrens profiles New York houses known only for their magisterial presence on the city s most elegant boulevards, some of which still exist today. IN the book the lavish rooms are brought to life again polished black and white columns reflect in the marble floor of a grand entryway, Dutch master paintings line damask walls in the second floor reception room, a crystal chandelier softly lights a dining rooms whose boiserie glows with paintings by Boucher evoking the elegant private life that has become a trademark of the wealthy New Yorker.

Customer Reviews:

Architectural Joy.......2007-08-16

A fascinating book, covering the now mostly demolished great homes of New York, during the extraordinary flowering of wealth and enterprise in the late C19th.
All the famous families appear together with Edith Wharton style stories of scandal and excess...
The book boasts beautiful photographs, attractively reproduced, and fascinating floor plans.
Great Houses is exceptionally well written and a joy to the eye. One for architecture enthusiasts everywhere!

awesome book.......2006-06-23

A must read for design, architecture and house enthusiasts. Well written and althought all pictures are in black and white they are fabulous. An easy read full of great backgound and rich in history.

Gilded Age New York.......2005-07-15

I have been waiting for a book like this for some time, and this one does not disappoint. It is well researched with wonderful historic black and white photos. The book is of the finest quality and the text is well put together. This is such an interesting subject and the authors are very thorough in their research, the book really feels complete. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in wonderful Gilded Age residental architecture or just an interest in the rich history of this great city. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed in this book and I commend the authors on doing such a fine job on a most worthy subject. Thank you.

New Sustainable Homes: Designs for Healthy Living

Average customer rating:

Not much technical information/resources
Environment-Friendly Building

New Sustainable Homes: Designs for Healthy Living
James Grayson Trulove
Manufacturer: Collins Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Sustainable Homes: 26 Designs that Respect the Earth
The Modern Townhouse: The Latest in Urban and Suburban Designs
Mediterranean Modern (Design House)
The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture
The New Glass House

ASIN: 0061138916
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Book Description

What makes a sustainable house a sustainable home?

NEW SUSTAINABLE HOMES will address that question by presenting a wide range of projects where the architect and client have made a conscientious effort to incorporate sustainability into the design of the home and construction materials used in its execution. The result is a home that is less toxic to live in, is cheaper to operate, and often gives back to the environment rather than taking away. Also, and this is the most important consideration for many, it is a great looking, highly livable home that not only retains its value but has been shown to increase in value more quickly than more conventionally conceived houses because of cheaper operating expenses. These designers and their clients are not on the fringe.

NEW SUSTAINABLE HOMES will show readers will learn about the many materials and techniques that make up today's sustainable house, including:

1) the use of pervious concrete on driveways that allows water to seep through to the water table below.

2) using bio–fiber panels in lieu of plywood for interior finishing

3) using organic, green roofs that improve insulation, absorb sound and manage storm–water runoff

4) solar water heating systems

5) use of high thermal performance windows

6) photovoltaic electrical systems

Customer Reviews:

Not much technical information/resources.......2007-03-19

I purchased this book in hopes of finding some solid examples/information on sustainable/green systems for residential projects. With the exception of a couple of projects, the sustainable qualities of these homes are somewhat questionable. Do not expect much technical information.

Environment-Friendly Building.......2007-01-21

This is a great book for people who want to build unique, beautiful homes and, at the same time, avoid wasting or damaging our natural resources. It showcases ten different homes (inside and outside) in ten U.S. locations and is beautifully illustrated. It explains how each craftsman used only environment-friendly products.

Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New (Updating Classic America)

Average customer rating:

inspirational, if not particularly informative
Call it four and a half stars
More good ideas for bungalites
The Title Says it All...
MANY UNSYMPATHETIC RENOVATIONS

Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New (Updating Classic America)
M. Caren Connolly
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Bungalow Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Arts and Crafts Home
Bungalow Details: Exterior
Bungalow Kitchens
Inside the Bungalow: America's Arts and Crafts Interior
Bungalow Bathrooms (Bungalow Basics)

ASIN: 1561584355
Release Date: 2002-10-30

Book Description

Taunton's new series, Updating Classic America, provides a unique combination of design inspiration and proven ideas for renovating, remodeling and building classic American homes. The first book in the series, Bungalows, provides a history and overview, along with proven, tasteful design solutions for a variety of bungalow-style remodels, additions, renovations, and new construction. Respected architects and bungalow owners Louis Wasserman and Caren Connolly inspire bungalow enthusiasts and homeowners to "put down the coffee table books," and "get to work on their own houses." Bungalows contains a wealth of successful design ideas for updating vintage homes and creating well crafted contemporary bungalows. More than 20 bungalows from around the country are highlighted with before-and-after floor plans, as well as options for a wide variety of budgets, styles and sizes of homes. 211 color photos and 56 drawings are included.

Customer Reviews:

inspirational, if not particularly informative.......2007-06-04

This book is richly illustrated with plenty of photographs of updated bungalows from several styles ranging from the simple Midwestern houses made to be affordable in their day, to modern, contemporary West Coast bungalows.
Where I found the book somewhat lacking was in the area of detailing before and after transformations of existing bungalows. Given the title, I would've expected more information about specific remodeling and renovation projects, with plenty of photos detailing "before", "during" and "after" the remodeling phases. There's very, very little of that in this book. The majority of the photos and scant floorplans dwell primarily with the finished project, though there are a very few that indicate what the owner started with. If you're looking for project specific guidance for rennovating or building your bungalow, this may not be the best choice. Still, the finished photos and supplemental text are inspiring. I would recommend this book with caution, based on the idea that it should likely be only one of many books in a modest library on period architecture upfitting.

Call it four and a half stars.......2006-05-31

The authors of this book do a very good job of highlighting the bungalow's unique traits and then showing inspirational bungalow renovations. Early pages give the requisite definitions of what makes a bungalow, but I was most impressed by the middle three chapters: "Remodeling Inside the Walls"; "Beyond the Walls"; and "Brand New Bungalows". It is here that the authors challenge you to update your bungalow without losing any of the home's original character (or build anew with the same overall goal of classic home character).

As any bungalow fan knows, there are three definite "branches" to the bungalow tree: in the Eastern U.S. craftsman bungalows rule, in the Midwest you find prairie styles and simple Chicago bunghalows, and in the west you find mission styles and the Greene and Greene influenced California bungalows. Being from the Midwest, I found this book especially compelling because so many of the example houses illustrated in the book are from my part of the country. Thus if you are from the Midwest I recommend this book with 5 stars, otherwise I give it a 4.5.

Updating Classic American Bungalows is a must read for anyone who owns, lives in, or loves the bungalow style of architecture.

Highly recommended!

More good ideas for bungalites.......2006-05-30

The authors confess early on in this beautifully illustrated book that they are themselves bungalow-owners and -dwellers, which makes them automatically sympathetic to the situation of the novice who finds himself with a fixer-upper or a house that needs a new kitchen, more storage, or just more space. And they tell, in a very practical way, how to go about creating what you need. Quite apart from the many beautiful full-color photos, they offer plenty of really vital information. "With the right architect, a radical overhaul can be sensitively done...[integrating] many of the interior details that people love about their bungalows," they say. "A potential side benefit of [renovating one's attic] is that [its slanted knee walls] may mean [it] isn't legally a room at all and therefore not taxed as a bedroom. Check to see if your local ordinance states that if more than a certain percentage of a room's walls are sloping, it is exempt from full taxation." (This is something that would never have occurred to me!) "As real estate values escalate, you may find that the lot is more valuable than the house itself. That, in turn, can make it difficult to get a mortgage on a 900-sq.-ft. house. But if you apply for a loan with a proposal to add on, you may have a better chance of getting financing...Look at the local ordinances covering setback and height requirements and limits on the percentage of the site that can be built on...You also have a chance to address any shortcomings your lot [yard] may have..." Team this volume with Treena Crochet's Bungalow Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Arts and Crafts Homeand Diane Maddex's Bungalow Nation (see my reviews) and you'll have a core shelf that will help you understand, appreciate, and sensitively update your bungalow.

The Title Says it All..........2006-01-25

This book is called UPDATING Bungalows! Amazon is a wonderful resource because you can browse pages before you buy. This book should not be a disappointment for those who are paying attention.

I am now the proud owner of a 1922 California Bungalow. I have no illusions that this was the tract home of its day (I have found 4 others exactly like it in my neighborhood). This book embraces the ideals of the bungalow and the intent of the lifestyle completely. Not all of us can live in rarified homes in Pasadena or Chicago, and a strict period restoration with Stickley furnishings may not be practical for our lives in the 21st century. This book is about UPDATING what you have to balance the traditional Craftsman aesthetic with modern sensibilities.

For those who are hard core Craftsman enthusiasts bent on a period correct restoration, this is not the book for you. If you live in the modern world but respect the ideals of the era, check this out. There are plenty of good ideas, and a few photos of loving restorations too.

MANY UNSYMPATHETIC RENOVATIONS.......2005-12-07

I appreciated the photos of the exteriors but was disappointed to see how many of the interiors were gutted to beyond recognition of the bungalow style. I bought the book to see bungalow style, not poorly interpreted modern cutups.

American Dream Homes: Luxury Design : 50 New Glamour Homes

Average customer rating:

Lots of very very expensive homes.
Good idea book
Not the best bang for the buck.
Every house features full color photos!
Quite interesting!!

American Dream Homes: Luxury Design : 50 New Glamour Homes
Inc. Home Planners
Manufacturer: Home Planners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

House Plans | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Luxury Dream Homes, Third Edition
Dan Sater's Luxury Home Plans
Fine Living: 130 Home Designs With Luxury Amenities
Grand Manor Homes: 120 Distinguished Home Designs
Estate Dream Homes: 181 Designs of Unsurpassed Grandeur

ASIN: 1931131082

Book Description

Walk through the front doors of more of the most exclusive homes in the world.

American Dream Homes is another remarkable beautiful photographic collection of 50 stunning show homes.

The book is like a walking tour, walking you step-by-step through the design and decorating details.

Each outstanding home is the collaborative vision of a unique design team. From accessories to landscaping, these gorgeous homes represent the best of the home-building and decorating arts.

Best of all, readers may purchase blueprints of these fine homes and build a dream of their own.

Ranging in size from 3,000 to over 10,000 square feet, these designs include virtually every imaginable luxury: sweeping staircases, grand entries, soaring ceilings, awe-inspiring interiors and magnificent master suites.

From every corner of North America, American Dream Homes, showcases the finest projects of the brightest residential designers and decorators working today.

Customer Reviews:

Lots of very very expensive homes........2007-02-20

I will never be able to afford any of the homes in this book, and even if I could, I don't think I'd want something that big. Regardless, it is fun to look

Good idea book.......2006-02-15

I bought this book to get ideas for a custom home we were building. I loved the full-page color photos, and found a few ideas I could incorporate in my new home, even though it is much smaller than these plans! I love Colonial, European, and Neo-classic styles, so there were only a few homes with touches of these styles (hence, only 4 stars), but I still found the book useful. For more classic, European style homes, I highly recommend "Villa Decor - Decidedly French and Italian Style" and "French Influences", both by Betty Lou Phillips.

Not the best bang for the buck. .......2006-02-05

The photos in this book are not exclusive, as they can be found in many other books and magazines. It is certainly a better value than "dream home" magazines that usually sell for $7 a pop at the newstands, but it pales in comparison to "Dan Sater's Luxury Home Plans". Sater's book is better in just about every way... larger format, larger pictures, thicker paper, a better selection of homes in my opinion (not to mention a few identical ones), and a lower price.

You probably already know that the purpose of these books is to sell home plans. That's why they're so cheap. From a consumer standpoint, they're fun to browse through and you don't feel any buyer's remorse since you can easily spend more money at McDonald's.

If you're looking for a book to get valuable ideas for your next home or remodel, take a look at "Home by Design" by Sarah Susanka.

Every house features full color photos!.......2004-05-28

I have bought house plan books before and normally only the first few are in full color and then the rest are black and white and don't show any interior photos. This book, however, has full color photos for every house plan featured. They show a few interior pictures for each, and it is by far the best house plan book I have found. Although, every plan in this book is quite large and you'd have to be a millionaire to be able to afford them.

Quite interesting!!.......2004-03-29

Ok,I just read...well skimmed through this book,I just looked at the pics of all the gorgeous houses.My house is custom designed and I wanted to see some other interesting designs.Well I certainly got alot of ideas for my next house,I personally think i'ts a brilliant book that anyone that is fascinated with wealth should read!

Average customer rating:

Cabins: The New Style
James Grayson Trulove
Manufacturer: Collins Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Great Spaces: Cabins
Wood: Contemporary Houses in Wood
The New Wood House
The Cabin Book
Living Outside Inside

ASIN: 0060893494
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Book Description

This third book in The New Style series offers a panoramic look at some of the most innovative cabin designs throughout the country. Cabins: The New Style is a collection of gateways for the modern isolationist. It includes many wonderful homes that range in size, have cutting-edge designs, and use sustainable materials while maintaining the warm feeling evoked by the traditional cabin.

A showcase of some of the most elegant and imaginative designs today, this book highlights how modern architectural elements can be integrated into a rustic landscape. With full-color illustrations throughout, Cabins: The New Style is a must-have for architects and cabin dwellers alike.

The New American House 2: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction: 30 Case Studies (New American Architecture)

Average customer rating:

Good Reference
Wonderful Book of Contemporary Homes
sweet book
A must have for Architects and Do-it Yourselfers alike!

The New American House 2: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction: 30 Case Studies (New American Architecture)
Oscar Ojeda
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The New American House: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)
The New American House 3
The New American House 4: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American)
Modern House
Modern House 2

ASIN: 0823031640

Customer Reviews:

Good Reference.......2007-05-13

This book is a fantastic reference for those interested in architecture or who just like to look at amazing houses. if you like this book, look into the rest of the series. Over all, a great book.

Wonderful Book of Contemporary Homes.......2003-12-10

I love this book. Contemporary architecture is often misunderstood and misrepresented by focusing on the extreme or most useless of structures. In this book Ojeda takes us into some of the most beautiful, yet utilitarian, contemporary homes from the Arizona desert to Manhattan. He explains the design choices made and more importantly why they were made for the different designs. Included in the book are numerous beautiful photos of the different projects and architectural sketches of the projects.

This book would be a wonderful 'idea book' for an architect, or someone like me who is looking for ideas to give to an architect in preparation for building a new house. It is also a simply beautiful book to look at and learn from, both in design concepts specifically, and in building materials as well. I highly endorse this book as one of the best illustrated generalist books available on contemporary architecture. The ideas you will get for your own home alone are worth the cost.

sweet book.......2003-09-07

While not an architect or builder, I am browsing various ideas and methods. This is a great book for getting all the flavors from concrete prefab and rammed-earth to wood-frame with copper exteriors. In one case, a pre-fabbed house is given a timeline picture page showing the construction progress to finish. The pictures are nearly perfect, both encompassing and detailed with briefs that are pretty informative for their length. It's the information that you want with little else. Materials, construction methods and in most cases, cost. Excellent diagrams and cross-sections too. Worth it for someone who wants to build but isn't sure about the materials and methods they want to use, as well as sighting some good ideas.

A must have for Architects and Do-it Yourselfers alike!.......2001-01-08

The second covering houses and one of several in a series that highlight and describe the potential of American domestic architecture. It illustrates the possibilities and alternatives to the popular Martha Stewart/Bob Villa suburban style that has taken away so much recognition from American architects. Stunning photographs and simple detail drawings illustrate several different homes; each with it's own character.

If you are a do-it-yourself type or looking to hire an architect, this is a great place to start. This book will illustrate how a much a professionally designed house stands out from the Home Depot remodel or typical "custom" suburban home designed by a contractor.

If you are an architect, this is a great reference for residential projects illustrating rigorous use of materials and simplicity of concept, without the heavy "archispeak". It is also a great primer for potential clients, exposing them to the possibilities of design.

The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes
Average customer rating:

Smaller is Better

Great ideas, beautiful photography

The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes
James Gauer
Manufacturer: Monacelli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Residential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Small Homes & Cottages | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Terence Conran Small Spaces : Inspiring Ideas and Creative Solutions

New Small Homes

The Perfect $100,000 House: A Trip Across America and Back in Pursuit of a Place to Call Home

25 Houses Under 1500 Square Feet

The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space

ASIN: 1580931472
Release Date: 2004-11-04

Book Description

Simplicity, modesty, and skillful design are the principles that have guided James Gauer both in his architectural practice and in the selection of the seventeen outstanding projects in this unique collection of small homes by architects around the country. A wide range of housing types and settings—from a diminuative New York City apartment to a farmhouse in Pennsylvania, a cottage in Santa Monica, and a single-family home in Nashville—illustrates a variety of architectural styles and design solutions that have transformed these small spaces into comfortable, stylish, cost and energy-effecient residences. More than a how-to style guide, this volume features a wide range of of housing types from 475 to 2,100 square feet.

Customer Reviews:

Smaller is Better.......2005-01-04

The New American Dream is a marvelous pictoral essay presenting a well argued thesis for the superiority of small spaces. The breakdown of the book into sections which focus on specific aesthetic merits that small houses and apartments can provide is
extremely well articulated. It is so refreshing to be able enjoy a book on design that has a text worthy of its photographs.

Great ideas, beautiful photography.......2004-11-06

I bought this book at Strand Bookstore in New York because of the beautiful photography and details the author included about each featured home. I love that there is a movement (apparently) towards smaller homes. I'm originally from Houston, and the disgusting scale of houses in the suburbs is such a contrast to the wonderful buildings featured in this book.

The only problem I had was I felt that most of the dwellings featured were second homes. I would like to have seen more primary residences.

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