Editorial Review

When describing a favorite room in the house, do you find yourself using terms such as "expansive," "formal," and "spacious"--a marble foyer or a formal dining room perhaps? Or do the words "cozy," "intimate," and "warm" come to mind--a cheery little breakfast nook or a window seat complete with plenty of pillows and a breathtaking view? More than likely, you--like thousands of other homeowners--are drawn to the more personal spaces in your home, where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet. In Read more

Reviews (121)

Quality over quantity
This book is a great resource for anyone wanting a home that places quality over size. There are numerous tips on how to make smaller spaces work smarter and for adding quality touches in simple yet elegant ways as well as hundreds of inspiring photos. In our effort to design a reasonably-sized log home that truly reflects and enhances our lifestyle, this book has given us many ideas for making small spaces work. In the age of 3000+ sq. ft. homes, it is refreshing to see a return to the principles of the Arts & Crafts movement. In fact, you will notice many of the houses pictured have many Arts & Crafts influences. That made the book all the more relevant to us as we plan to incorporate some of those elements in our design.
this book is about HUGE, non-urban custom houses in the rural midWest -book is irrelevant to small urban homeowners
I am puzzled by the title and the contents.
The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Fascinating book, I am reading it from cover to cover. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior architecture    10. Psychological aspects    11. Repair    12. Space (Architecture)    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General    15. House maintenance    16. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (6)

Tuscan & Andalusian Reflections
Excellent source of Tuscan & Old World Architecture. Has helped the Design Dept. of my firm understand & grasp our clients ideas better and has allowed us to broaden our job market more with Better Renderings.

Beautiful Book
This is a great book to get ideas for building a Tuscan farm house.Also great ideas for interior decorating.

Tuscan - Californian class!
The Lagoni/Bassenian team knows how to put together unique Tuscan design with a domestic flair.I have purchased most of the other Tuscan design books currently available, and this book is one of the best.Complete color photographs make it easy to imagine. Gorgeous just to use as a coffee table book even if you are not using it for ideas! I LOVE this book!Their other book, Pure California, is also worth the money.These guys know what they are doing, and with class!BRAVO! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House Plans   

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 (7)

an excellent source for hard to find information
this book provides a thorough and well detailed look at SIP anatomy and construction techniques.information on this construction type is extremely difficult to find from sources other than (possibly biased or glossed-over) information from SIP manufacturers.the content covers so many details of its construction that it could concievably be used as a primer/manual/textbook for contractors or others interested in using this construction type.any information needed to supplement the information found here will most likely be so specific that it will be material related to a particular manufacturer's product or information gleaned directly from materials testing reports.i have looked extensively, and not been able to find, any materials on SIPs that could compare to the value of this source.

Excellent Starting Point for Learning about SIPS
Just a quick note on this book.My wife and I are looking to build an energy-efficient home.We are both engineers and very detail-oriented people.As part of our due diligence, we picked up this book after seeing a demonstration house built with SIPS as part of the 2005 Smithsonian Folk Life Festival (this was part of the US Forest Service pavilion - sustainable building approaches area).As noted in an earlier review, this book does have a bit of a promotional feel.However, it could simply be the author's enthusiasm for what appears to be a very good product.The book is also somewhat light in treating potential problems with SIPS.The failures of mutliple SIP roofing systems in Juneau, Alaska should have been addressed.In fairness though, these failures seem to largely be installation problems on the part of a small number of builders unfamiliar with the product.Overall, this book is a very useful and fairly detailed introduction to SIPS building.We would love to see a follow-up title that goes into much more technical detail on designing for SIPs use, as well as further exploration of lessons-learned from using SIPs in various settings and climates.

Answered my questions
I have been considering building a home on a piece of property I own for the better part of a year now.I'm a fan of SIPs due to energy efficiency and the perception I have of their ability to withstand the harsh climate of south Texas.It helps that the best home I've ever owned (and I've owned more than ten) was a panelized home but on a wood foundation that I purchased in Minnesota 15 years ago.The house was solid, energy efficient and better built than anything any of the many site built stick homes I owned before and since. Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Construction - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Dwellings    5. Exterior walls    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Modular construction    9. Prefabricated houses    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Wall panels    12. Building construction & materials    13. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (20)

A great learning tool.
This book fits perfectly into a series called for Pro's by Pro's.
Great addition to the handyman's library
This is a great book!After having read it cover to cover a few times now, I feel very comfortable to tackle most of the plumbing work I am doing as I remodel my house.It explains everything not only step by step, but also explains why, when and where different materials out perform eachother.

Some useful information
I am building my own house and find myself frequently referring to this book. There is much useful information; I only wish it were more up-to-date. It was published 12 years ago, but much of the info was out dated even then. And plumbing isn't exactly a rapidly changing field. The sad thing is that there aren't really any books out there that are much better.
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Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - Plumbing    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Home & House Maintenance    7. House & Home / Plumbing   

Editorial Review

"Do more with less space" is the key concept of this down-to-earth design guide for both new home builders and remodelers. Read more

Reviews (12)

Fine Homebuilding Reprints
This is typical Susanka style, but looking at individual details, and helping to solve specific problems.
A must!!!
Susanka's books are a must for anyone who's planning a house or remodeling.I used many of her ideas to remodel our last place, and when we sold it, it sold for a record amount for the neighborhood....

Susank hits the mark!
Excellent work!As a design professional it was very enlightening to see may examples of quality spaces and useful tips for awkward and often tight areas.Well done and I look forward to more of Susanka's books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Design & Construction    3. Designs and plans    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Domestic architecture    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. House construction    10. Interior architecture    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / General    13. Housing & property for the individual    14. Interior design   

Reviews (8)

Code check
This is a great cliff note to california building codes.Very helpful in the field and at the drafting table.A must have for those just starting out in the profesion.

Good help for the Do-it-yourself remodeler.
If you're a do it yourself remodeler or basement finisher this is a good reference to make sure you meet the building codes.It provides some quick answers to things like nailing requirements, maximum spans for doors, roof frames, and floor joists, and many other quick facts for plumbing, electrical, fire and structural codes.But for many questions/issues it just lists the IRC or UPC reference.For that reason it would be even more valuable if you had a copy of the International Residential Code in case you needed more details since it provides the references. I have a building permit to finish my basement and I want to make sure that I meet the codes and this book has been helpful.I plan to buy the plumbing, building and electrical Code Check too.

excellent reference
I read a couple negative reviews of this book and almost didn't buy it!If you have common knowledge of construction and building this book will be an invaluable reference for you.Many things are abbreviated, so it might look confusing at first.Using some common sense and the abbreviation key in front will get you through the initial learning curve.This book will help you comply with electrical codes, plumbing, etc., with sketches only where needed.I rebuild houses on the side, and this book is invaluable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building Codes    2. Construction - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Residential Construction    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. House & Home / Reference   

Reviews (9)

Architect
I found this book both educational and handsome in content and in photography. As anarchitect practicing in different regions of the country, I'm always thankful for having opportunities to do design work in Maine. Maine, as a place to live, is simply wonderful and unique, but the sense of peace in these "Houses on the Water" is elevated creating a noble inspiration for the reader.

A House on the Water- inspiration for dreaming and designing
As a landscape designer, I was consistenly impressed with how these wonderful houses fit into their site, lifting out the critical views and respecting the nature of the place. Having enjoyed the houses that Robert Knight designs, I was pleased to learn why his houses and those selected for his book are so satisfying to see and experience. O'Rourke's photographs are spectacular and with the plans, really help to visualize the structure and the setting and how they fit together. Design professionals and homeowners alike with whom I've shared this book rave about it. A perfect gift for friends and family!

A gorgeous, inspirational survey
This catalog of twenty-four homes built right on the water provide eye-catching displays of signature homes which highlight the relationship of house to water, from seaside to lakeside and riverside. The focus on home design and construction surveys both artistic and practical details of tailoring a beautiful home which can withstand the demands of a waterside location. A gorgeous, inspirational survey of very different approaches and techniques. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Design & Construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Domestic    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. Lakeside architecture    10. New England    11. Residential Buildings Architecture    12. Seaside architecture    13. House & Home / General    14. Housing & property for the individual    15. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (14)

Modular Works - Even in CA
Hi.I highly recommend this book and more than just a passing comment, I have developed a personal home in coastal CA and there is no resource as complete.There is still so much misinformation out there it aggravates me sometimes - "But most stick builders are not using open faced floor joists and glued drywall. Is that a better way of building or a huge savings in material and labor costs? My feeling is that it's merely a cost savings, and not really a revolutionary way to build.?
very helpful
This book gives you the basics about modular homes. It's more for a consumer to pre-educate themselves with the process. I live in a modular home and the book is right in step.

Comprehensive, Detailed and Consolidated
The title of the review says it all... the most consolidated and detailed resource on modular homes that I found in my research.I would recommend this title as a great starting point to anyone who has an interest in the modular housing industry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Prefabricated houses    7. Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes    8. Home & House Maintenance    9. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (7)

A great place to start dreaming
This was the first log home book my wife and I purchased after making the decision to not settle for any old house on the market and to build our dream home. It was a great way to get the ideas flowing. I appreciate the layout of the book: lots of exterior and interior photos, floor plans to put the photos into perspective, text descriptions of the houses, and great side bars on everything from windows to roofs to heating. The photos and descriptions are inspiring while the floor plans and side bars are practical. Buy this book early in the process and continue to refer to it as your design comes together.

A MUST HAVE FOR LOG HOME BUILDERS!!
My husband and I are in the preliminary stages of planning our dream log home.There are many pricey books out there to peruse, but none were as helpful as this one.It helped us to understand construction and budgetary compliance.By planning with this book, we curbed our budget, without compromising quality and beauty.The information was easy to digest and the photos were excellent and instrumental in the implementation of design and decorating.This book is definitely a MUST HAVE for anyone who is planning to build a log home.

I found a plan
I bought this early on in the planning stage of our log cabin as a resouce. After looking through dozens of books and magazines I actually used one of the plans in the book after modifying it slightly. This has many plans that give you some great ideas and has enough difference between them to be a nice starting point in the design process. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Designs and plans    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Log cabins    9. Wood Construction    10. House & Home / Design & Construction    11. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    12. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (4)

Another review to counter Kathleen's below
The book is plainly marked "House Plans."That's exactly what you get:plans to build a house.Not to decorate nor historically analyze it, but to build.To rate it low because she wanted it to be something it's *clearly* marked that it's NOT is unfair.
Duh.
I really wish that however disappointed Kathleen might have been with what she GOT vs. what she thought she was getting, she would have rated it based on what it was, not what she wanted it to be.It sounds like she thinks it's an OK book of plans, but she only gave it one star.I can only assume that's because it's not a decorating book.That's a little like going to see Citizen Kane and calling it a crappy movie because there weren't any good battle scenes or car chases.
Arts & Crafts Home Plans.Plans for Homes.Home plans.
This book is a catalog of home plans.Operative words: "home"and "plans".Plans with which you can build a home.The other reviewer missed that somehow.
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Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans   

Editorial Review

Sarah Susanka has a not-so-insignificant idea in Read more

Reviews (48)

Inspiring book with one big flaw
As I read this book, I found some ideas that will be very useful in designing my small handcrafted log home. The idea of ensuring long diagonal views, for example, was a good one. And the pictures and floorplans illustrated the concepts very well.
Beautiful Portfolio
A wonderful portfolio of Not So Big Houses across the country.This book holds a collection of already construction homes and home renovations that embody the Not So Big principles of design.Lots of color pictures and floor plans - some for sale.Certainly not a "How-to" for your own home.

Homes with souls and personalities instead of huge, impersonal boxes.
Instead of spending a lot of money on square footage and being unsatisfyed with the end result, Susanka asks for people to look at how they actually USE their houses, and to design them for the lives they live- which increases the cost per square foot, but gives you some stunningly beautiful homes, that LOOK like places you want to live.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Design & Construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. Repair    10. Space (Architecture)    11. United States    12. Building skills    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / General    15. House maintenance    16. Housing & property for the individual    17. HOUSE & HOME / Design & Construction   

Reviews (4)

valuable quick reference
Although the graphics seem simplistic at first glance, they make the information easy to grasp. I had several "ah-ha, I get it" moments when browsing for information. I actually enjoyed looking at this code reference. That's a first!

This one is a must
Anyone building or taking a builders test should have a copy.

Not for Contractors taking thier test
This book is NOT useful for anyone taking there Class "A" Contractor Test with PSI.It is more useful for commercial applications. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building Codes    2. Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Reference    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. House & Home / Reference   

Reviews (1)

Disappointed
I was looking for house plans that had the major rooms on the front of the house overlooking a view.The title led me to believe I would find that type of home in this book.I did not.Also, most of the plans were very complicated with multiple roof angles and expensive building items. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Home furnishing & decoration    7. Housing & property for the individual   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Arts And Crafts    4. Arts and crafts movement    5. Design & Drafting    6. Design - Furniture    7. Designs and plans    8. Government - Legislative Branch    9. House Plans    10. Individual Architect    11. Residential Interior Design    12. United States    13. Architecture / Individual Architect    14. Individual architects    15. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (1)

Disappointed
I was looking for house plans that had the major rooms on the front of the house overlooking a view.The title led me to believe I would find that type of home in this book.I did not.Also, most of the plans were very complicated with multiple roof angles and expensive building items. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

Adobe Details
Adobe Details is a small but powerful book.It is well written and beautifully photographed by Karen Witynski and Joe Carr. This book satisfies the reader's appetite for Mexican and New Mexican decor while challenging him or her to venture out to one of the several locations featured.Ideas abound for the novice decorator.If landscape design is more your style, this book will also energize your outdoor spirits!!The vivid color and simple elegance make the book a "must have" for any library, especially those chocked full of information on the southwest.

Especially for architecture buffs
Adobe Details by award winning Mexican design specialists Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr is an impressive survey at the culture, furnishings, and especially the architecture prevalent in the American Southwest and the mountains of Mexico. The majority of Adobe Details is devoted to breathtaking, full-color photography of grand living spaces; brief text captions and essays provide rich detail on the history, functionality, and symbolism of these inspirational edifices. Adobe Details is especially for architecture buffs and a welcome addition to academic and community library interior design reference collections. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe houses    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Interior decoration    8. Mexico    9. Southwestern States    10. Architecture    11. Architecture / Interior Design    12. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (5)

Makes everything so clear
Clear writing, accompanied by excellent illustrations for all the steps.Everything is included:planning, foundation, material, tools, foundation, windows, wiring and finishing.If you're a newbie, you're not wasting your money by buying this.

Covers all of the essentials of 'how to'
This book is written with simple jargon, clear illustrations and concise instructions.A great spring-board book for those new to construction.
great book
I never built a building before, I did help build a deck.Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Barns    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Farm buildings    7. Garden structures    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. House Plans    11. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    12. DIY   

Reviews (7)

Yes, They Are Small
While I would agree that the 18 homes profiled in this beautifully designed and produced book are very stark and modern for most people's tastes (I certainly couldn't imagine living in any them), I want to clarify a misrepresentation one of the reviewers made. 11 of the 18 houses featured here have floor plans of under 1,000 square feet, and another 4 are right around 1,200 or less-- the smallest is "T-Set House" at 618. About half of the homes are occupied by couples, and the other half are by families of three or four. So, it does have a lot to show one in terms of living in a small space. Of course, a lot of the living solutions cater to the Japanese format of futons on tatami, which are then put away so that the space is usable the rest of the day, so it's not exactly brimming with solutions for the average person. Still, for design or architecture buffs, or just house porn afficianados, each house gets a nice 5-10 photos and is well-explained with cutaway and 3/4 view diagrams. And if one is really interested in the style, the homes profiled are all in the greater Tokyo area and their addresses (and architect contact info) are all listed in the back.

The Spiritual Home
Azby Brown's skills just might finally be realized in his native country.What a breath of fresh air he brings to housing!This country needs less of the expensive mega-residences and over-priced, dysfunctional condos and townhouses.We need more "small communities" of creative villages consisting of Brown's beautiful and functional little houses that could be afforded by the first-time buyer and appreciated for its simplicity by the retired.I loved his Small Spaces, love The Very Small Home more, for the perceptive color photos and exceptionally detailed drawings.
Popcorn reading
One thing that stood out from this book offering would be Kengo Kuma's essay defining and exploring the definiton of living well in limited space.Credit goes to the author of choosing small homes of different themes.I would have to say that many of homes featured here wouldn't be conducive to day-to-day living from Westeners' point of view.As everyone would be aware of, land is a precious asset in Japan and thus, many of homes here are actually going upwards instead of spreading flatwards.Those that are spreading flatwards are mainly built in the occupants' families' land which I'm sure would go back centuries.Whilst it's a novel idea to challenge the ideal of building small homes, it doesn't necessarily mean that savings can be actualised.Rather, suffice to say that this challenge fall into the realm of the intellects and cerebrals who are testing the limitation on architecture.Detailing plans are provided with amples of photos.Readers are pledged to read this book with an objective mind and there are bits and pieces that can be implemented elsewhere but in many instances, some ideas are totally unique to Japanese setting.Still, an enjoyable reference book to have.Commendable reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Architecture    3. Design & Construction    4. Domestic    5. History    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House Plans    8. International Architecture - Asian    9. Japan    10. Small houses    11. Houses, apartments, flats, etc   

Reviews (22)

Worth skimming, not reading
From the very beginning, it is clear that the house project is a project doomed to difficulty--the builders were breaking ground without having a clear design, a price point, and a contract.
It's the people, stupid...
I read this book years ago and it made a lasting impression.
A tribute to those in the building trade!
I think this book is wonderful.It gives an insight into and expresses an appreciation for those individuals in the building trade -- many of whom are extremely bright, talented and quite often underappreciated.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Domestic    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House Plans    6. House construction    7. Residential Construction    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. House & Home / House Plans