Reviews (3)

Excellent and Comprehensive Intro and Education.
I have been looking for a book that would educate me on exactly what green building is, whether it is actually practical and whatit would take to achieve it.This book answered all those questions.I think it has filled a void in the information market.So many people are not satisfied with current building practices especially in the US yet finding one comprehensive source for reliable answers is extremely difficult.There is lots of experience bound up in the very well-written, easy flowing text.The mass of photos is extremely instructive and attractive.This book is not clouds-in-the-sky, blindly pro-environment babble.Neither is it full of the marketing lies that exploit the "green" movement.It is useful for normal people who are interesting in trying to build earth-friendly but practical, efficient and affordable homes.The writers are very honest in their educated opinions and recommendations.And they actually built a small green building in order to write this book.So you get the useful, hands-on advice that they learned themselves the hard way even with their past, extensive building experience in the US.I appreciate their effort and book very much, and can't recommend it highly enough as one every non-expert should read if they have a possible interest in green building in the future or even in just building a marginally more efficient home.

Nicely presented intoduction to several green techniques
A very nicely presented 'survey' of several green building techniques with a practical and mainstream perspective.Less inspiring and holistic (in terms of presenting an overall philosophy of building AND living) than the likes of The Hand-Sculpted House (Evans, Smiley and Smith), etc. but the beautiful photography and clear writing is a powerful tool to use in convincing the skeptical that green building is a legitimate and aesthetically pleasing option in construction.Really more of a 'complete introduction' than a 'complete how-to guide' in my estimation- if you are really going to build you'll need to suppliment your knowledge with additional in depth books on the particular system(s) you choose to use, but this book will expose you to some of the options and provide you with an informational foundation to 'build' on (pun intended).

An essential natural/alternative building manual!
At last - a comprehensive and attractive manual that clearly shows us how to employ 4 different natural building methods; cob, straw bale, cordwood and modified stick frame.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture And Energy Conservation    2. Building Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Design and construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Ecological houses    9. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    10. Home Improvement / Construction    11. House & Home    12. Sustainable buildings    13. Technology & Industrial Arts    14. Building construction & materials    15. Environmentalist thought & ideology    16. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    17. JUVY-WORKBOOKS - JUV WORKBOOKS   

Reviews (10)

Christo
If there is one book that you need to read than this is it. Get your feet in the mud and find out who you really are. This book changed my life. Gave me the empowerment to throw off the chains of being dependent on paying alot of money for a basic need: good housing. Now I've embarked on a path of creativity, to build a house that is healthy, and will suit all my needs. My thanks are great!

Stunning AND the Absolute Last Word in Cob Info
I spent hours and hours with this beautiful and entertaining book, and I was only barely interested in Cob! This book is absolutely terrific, it is wonderfully and beautifully illustrated, includes color photos of some great cob houses, and is absolutely THE book you need if you want to learn about cob, or build your own cob structure. It is a wonderful balance of fun, personal stories, expertise, and technical info. (And really very inclusive too!) I read both Becky's and then this book. It really made me comfortable with cobbing because it is so well done, so inclusive and informative. A testimonial: Some time after reading this book over and over, we decided that cob was not appropriate for our site, and I STILL recently picked up this book for a good read!

Simply gorgeous!
First, it's fun just to browse through the gorgeous homes and creations in this book.Second, cob is well researched and documented here, for instance, did you know there are cob homes in Devonshire England that are over 400 years old?Third, this is a remarkably practical handbook for siting, designing, and building a home from cob.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Architecture    3. Cob (Building material)    4. Design & Construction    5. Design & Drafting    6. Design and construction    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Earth houses    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. Applied ecology    11. Building construction & materials    12. Building skills   

Reviews (19)

WONDERFUL!
whoever gives this a so-so review is downright silly.
MIchael Answers With Inspiring Decorating Ideas
Our TV fav host and ID does a neat thing: he answers emails and the publishes them with his answers and graphics. Easy to Understand & Pratical Answers
At last an easy to understand interior design book offering a lot of worthwile information.Michael Payne delivers the same informative solutions "Designing For The Sexes" offers.This book walks the reader through design projects in such a way everything becomes possible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior decoration    7. Remodeling & Renovation - General    8. Architecture / Interior Design    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

AffectationIn-A-Box
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Jolene's Reviews
This book has beautiful photos and sketched home plans for luxurious living.If you are looking for ideas to build an estate or a waterfront home, this is a good choice.It has home plans from designers like Sater. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    10. Southern Europe   

Reviews (19)

Excellent content, Repetitious Photographs
As a non-designer, this is an excellent design book in that it explains how we can make changes to our homes (or use this as a tool during initial home design prior to construction) to make the home more cohesive, more welcoming, more comfy.The concepts are well described; the biggest weakness of the book is its photography.The small photographs did not bother me per se, but the repetition of photographs really took away from the book.The same photographs are used multiple times to highlight different aspects in different chapters.The homes are primarily architecturally gorgeous, and they are wonderful to look at, but I would like to see these concepts described with less elaborate homes and a wider variety of homes.Most of these have a lot of wood, beautiful views, and lots of investment in design features.Using the same photograph more than once is unnecessary, it would be more helpful to show another home to explore the concept.That said, the content is sufficient to recommend this book to others.
Great support for dreams
As usual, Susanka's books are worthwhile and support in depth looking at pictures and thought.It arrived promptly - 3 weeks faster than another book ordered on the same day.

An Aussie's Perspective
I really love Sarah Susanka's design philosophy.It just makes sense.Here in Australia, there are so many fringe suburbs which are filled to the hilt with McMansions.These houses are built to within centimetres of their boundaries and are generic and worse, shockingly ugly and devoid of character. I loved this book which illustrates the way seemingly small details and good quality workmanship can make such a difference to the feel of a house.If more people embraced these ideals, our cities would improve drastically - more green space has to be a good thing, doesn't it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Designs and plans    7. Do-It-Yourself    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Residential Interior Design    12. United States    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful, Dramatic, and Still Fairly Small Houses
To word it simply, the houses designed by the Hariri sisters are the most dramatic small buildings I have ever seen. Here you will not find gigantic homes built to use size to impress. The Spartan House, built in the Hague, Netherlands was required to have a house footprint no bigger than 26 by 33 feet. Yet even in that small a space their house standa out.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural Firms    2. Architecture    3. Domestic    4. Individual Architect    5. Individual Architectural Firms    6. Residential Buildings Architecture    7. Architecture / Individual Architect   

Reviews (17)

Don't be home without it
I am glad to see Reader's Digest has updated this essential book. I always, ALWAYS have a copy of this on my bookshelf.
The title says it all!
This book has been amazing so far.I purchased it after carefully checking the various topics covered and available reviews on this book as well as dozens of others like it. Two months ago I paid a plumber $70 to fix a leak on my washer hook-ups to find that all he had to do was tighten a bolt and it infuriated me! I have since vowed to do everything myself as long as I have the right tools and instructions, and this book shows you everything.It includes plumbing, furniture repair, appliances, home electronics, sports and recreation gear, emergengies, and much, much, more!It is well worth the price and I look forward to the things I'll be able to do on my own.I highly recommend this book.

A Useful Book
If you like DIY, it's a book for you.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Furniture    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Household appliances    10. Household appliances, Electric    11. Maintenance and repair    12. Repair    13. Repairing    14. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (4)

Where R U Karrie?
I maybe a fool for architectural discourse but The Perfect $100,000 House is as redolent of architectural joy as the Witold Rybczynski book of the eponymous title The Perfect House: Travels with the Master: Anrdea Palladio.Karrie Jacobs just put a price on it.
Very Interesting Book!
Karrie Jacob's book, The Perfect $100,000 House, tackles a problem I've been wondering about for a long time--why is the majority of housing in America today extraordinarily expensive crap?Do people in this country just have no taste, or is it that they have no choice? Is good design only for those who can afford a custom single family residence of 500K and up?
Why the pre-fab movement has gained so many followers
A diary of one woman's search for what seems so reasonable on paper--a modern home on a budget--the strength of this book is its many entertaining interviews with people who are both part of the mainstream homebuilding industry and those that are trying to offer an alternative. If you've heard about pre-fab, this is a good way to learn why it's exciting--but why it only addresses part of the problem.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Domestic    4. General    5. Psychological aspects    6. Residential Buildings Architecture    7. Themes, motives    8. U.S. Architecture - General    9. United States    10. Architecture / Domestic   

Reviews (1)

Pricey but essential
Revised, expanded, and essential to anyone in the building industry because these codes apply across the board, including virtually all states in the US.The IBC has replaced state and other building codes.This volume provides information in the English measuring system. I prefer the looseleaf edition to the bound volume because it folds completely open and you can leaf through the pages more easily, as you are constantly being referred from one section to another.Of course you will want to update your other international code books as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building Codes    2. Building Construction    3. Construction    4. Construction - General    5. Mensuration    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (5)

A Beautiful book of New York History and Architecture
An exquisite book! There are stories about each apartment house and how it came to be. I found the two architects, Candela and Carpenter, to be very interesting characters. The homes they designed are ahead of their time. The floor plans are fascinating. The book also shows, by the floor plans, how people lived and what their needs were. The authors even quote costs of building and tell of the people who lived there. If you like real estate you will find this fascinating.

Grand New York
Let me first say that I loved the period black and white photos of the buildings, I also appreciated the fact that all of the buildings mentioned came with requisite photos, that is a must in book of this sort.I really didn't know that much about these buildings nor the architects so this book gave me a real education, I came away more knowledged and very impressed. The attention to detail the architects employed in these buildings is amazing and the fact that so many are still extant is a tribute to the artistry and talent that went into designing and building them and obviously contempory wealthy apartment seekers appreciate these attributes or else we all know these buildings would have been pulled down long ago, just like so many of the Gilded Age mansions they replaced.This publishing house puts out such finely crafted books and this one does not disappoint, I highly recommend it.

Andrew Alpern's Labor of Love
Candela and Carpenter were two of New York's most noted architects of the inter-war era, specializing in luxury apartment buildings. Architectural historian Andrew Alpern has assembled a reference text of their buildings, organized in geographic sequence. In this book, a typical building has two pages dedicated to it. One page consists of a floor plan, and the facing page has a photo or rendering of the exterior, combined with a one-to-six sentence description. Also, there are several brief essays at the beginning of the book.Read more

Subjects:  1. (James Edwin R.),    2. 1890-1953    3. Apartment houses    4. Architecture    5. Candela, Rosario,    6. Carpenter, J. E. R    7. Catalogs    8. Domestic    9. Individual Architect    10. Interior architecture    11. New York    12. New York (State)    13. Planning   

Reviews (1)

The joys of one-level living
Another beautiful Alan Hess architectural history that deserves to become the standard work.The book is in two parts, in the first sixty-eight pages he writes a readable and interesting history of this very popular housing concept and being popular it was looked down on by the architectural elite and many critics.The second part (147 pages) is a pictorial study of twenty-six ranch houses photographed by Noah Sheldon.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Design & Construction    4. Domestic    5. History - Specific Styles    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Ranch houses    8. United States    9. Architecture / Domestic   

Reviews (6)

Rat's Tail at his best!
I LOVED this book!I think my designs are so much better now that I know when to open and close the windows at the right time!I was always so confused before.I can also make sure that I get good air flow by drawing those great ribbon arrows. This book is perfect for anyone who has never looked at the sky or felt the wind before or chooses to ignore their own senses!I think Brown could of done this without DeKay though.RULES-O-THUMB LUV!

Sun, Wind and Light, Architectural Design Strategies
This is one of the most important books of the decade.Anyone who builds or designs buildings, needs to own and read this book. I am amazed at the thoroughness of information it presents about design, all there, in one book, it is worth five times what they ask.

Detailed handbook for architects
This book is on architecture and energy conservation. From the cover - This book is for designers who want to consider the form-generation potential of sun, wind, and light in the earliest stages of the design process. The book stresses the energy implications of using the sun, wind, and light. However, it is organized by the architectural elements designers manipulate - streets, open spaces and buildings, rooms and courtyards, and walls, roofs, floors, and windows. The book is divided into three sections : Design Strategies, Analysis Techniques, and Strategies for Supplementing Passive Systems. Extensively referenced and indexed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Detail    2. Architecture    3. Architecture And Energy Conservation    4. Architecture and energy conser    5. Architecture and solar radiati    6. Architecture and solar radiation    7. Decoration & Ornament    8. Design & Drafting    9. Interior lighting    10. Methods & Materials    11. Architectural structure & design    12. Architecture / Methods & Materials   

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Construction - General    3. Law    4. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. Financial, taxation, commercial, industrial law    7. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (11)

Nothing new.....
I was a bit disappointed, same old stuff rehashed.AND, not full of do it yourself cleaners/remedies like one would suppose.Not nearly as 'Organic' as germ o'phobe...pages and pages on microscopic blah blah....I clean my home with organic products as much as possible,75%,and feed my family organic food...was hoping for a better mix of NEWER info, as there is A LOT of it, just surf the web!

An excellent resource for environmentally-minded people
Ellen Sandbeck's book, Organic Housekeeping, has joined The Joy of Cooking on my bookshelf as a reference standard. It is packed full of practical ideas, written concisely and with humor. When it comes to housecleaning, I need all three.
Good, practical info and fun to boot!
Ellen Sandbeck's latest is a truly practical guide to getting things clean without killing yourself. Some of the tips are oldies, but goodies that our grandparents used, but there's plenty of new, and quite clever, suggestions as well. I also really appreciate that she encourages the reader to find their own comfort level with what they think is "clean." Instead of dropping twenty or thirty bucks on cleaning products that really do more harm than good, buy this book and leave the world a better place! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Environmental aspects    4. Healthy Living    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Maintenance And Repair    7. Home Management    8. House & Home    9. House cleaning    10. Natural products    11. Repair    12. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (5)

Great ideas!
To make the most of our new home, I was looking for ideas for custom made cabinetry and other storage options.
Great ideas
I want to install severeal built-ins in my older home, as space is limited.This book definitely gave me lots of ideas. The pictures are excellent and really provide inspiration - whether you copy exactly or adapt the ideas to meet your needs.Full of ideas and inspiration - not a how-to.

Talk about IDEAS!
This book, by far, exceeded my expectations!It is full of wonderful photos - cover to cover.We are getting ready to build a new home and we will definitely use a few of these creative ideas.
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Subjects:  1. Built-in furniture    2. Cabinetwork    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Remodeling & Renovation - General    10. Storage in the home    11. Woodworking    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Design & Construction    14. House & Home / Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Remodeling & Renovation - Bathrooms    6. Home furnishing & decoration    7. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (2)

Inspiration for western architects and craftsmen
Among our collection of a dozen or more illustrated books about Japanese architecture and design, this is by far the best. The exquisite photographs are accompanied by a thorough yet interesting explanation of the various traditional styles found in Japanese architecture.
Great Book on Real Japanese Interiors
Beautiful photos of great interiors.Mostly traditional Japanese homes as they are currently lived in.Features homes with collections of traditional Japanese crafts.Also, some modern homes designed with Japanese aesthetic.I would also recommend the book "Japanese Style". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Interior Design - General    4. International Architecture - Asian    5. Home furnishing & decoration    6. Interior design    7. Japan   

Reviews (23)

I'll never be the same!
Patterns of Home describes principles of nature at a deep level. I found my self awestruck as I mused over all of the different aspects of nature that manifest principles described in this book. Nature is the essence of all things beautiful and functional. Patterns of Home explains how to build dwellings according to rules written long before humans arrived. These suggestions can be applied to homes of any style and budget. This book describes an order of design that is practical and elegant.

Very readable, good principles, good overview
Readable, good principles, good examples, good overview of architectural design work.The only thing I find missing is - as with most books on design - any connection to the realities of cost.

Brings a New Concept to the Reader
There are a lot of books on residential architecture that show beautiful house designs. This book takes a different tact that I find most interesting. Instead of looking at the house first and then emphasizing features, it turns the process around. This book defines ten elements, or essentials, or patterns that help to define what goes into houses that are time proven to be a part of the design of exceptional houses.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural design    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating    5. Design & Construction    6. Design & Drafting    7. Designs and plans    8. Domestic    9. House & Home    10. Technique    11. House & Home / General    12. Interior design    13. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (2)

Traditional Adirondack Design
"In time the Adirondacks became synonymous with rugged living, fishing and hunting, other outdoor activities and all sorts of rest and relaxation. It was because of the great camps and rustic furniture that Adirondack became a style until its own." ~Ralph Kylloe
Dream Away The Hours . . .
imagining yourself in the homes pictured in this magnificent book. Again, Kylloe has outdone himself capuring the pure essence of what a true home in the Adirondacks is all about. No author has a better technique on showing the reader all the rustic beauty thats out there far beyond our imaginations, by taking us on his personal home tours into some of the most gorgous beautiful Adirondack homes, most on lakes. He includes Adirondack history and again shows us in many of the homes the rustic furniture and decorating styles that depicks the true meaning of what life must be like for some toown these truely magnificent homes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camps    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    5. Domestic    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - General    9. United States    10. Vacation homes    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating    13. Interior design    14. USA   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (6)

Beautiful pics, interesting copy
Well worth the price...we had just returned from a weekend in Palm Springs and this book gave us interesting background and history and also great photographs.

An Inspiration
This book has enough information in it to turn you into a bit of an expert on Palm Springs mid-century architecture. It has enough beautiful photography and helpful floorplans to make you want a piece of it. My sisters and I are going there in two weeks. We want to see the Alexander tract homes.
Desert Area Living starts with Mid Century Architecture
When I read Palm Springs Weekend I am again reunited with past memories of wonderful warm days and evenings my wife and I spent driving all these neighborhoods. We quickly realized that instead of shouting out to each other ...."Oh my god!! Look at how cool that house is? We would only say something if the house was ugly, the drive quickly became very silent, but our jaws were still on the ground and eyes blink free. Palm Springs is a living museum of style and design and has been flawlessly presented amongst these pages. After driving around for several months drooling on people's doorsteps, we packed it up in LA and headed east. We now own 3 very interesting Mid Century Modern homes in Palm Springs, I sell Real Estate specializing in Mid Century Modern Architecture and life has never been better. Pick up the book, jump on a plane or in a car and come see what all the hype is about, trust me you wont be disappointed with this lifestyle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Buildings, structures, etc    4. California    5. Criticism    6. Domestic    7. Palm Springs    8. Palm Springs (Calif.)    9. U.S. Architecture - General    10. Architecture / General    11. Residential buildings, domestic buildings