Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Domestic    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Residential Construction    9. Specific Residential Buildings Architecture    10. Vacation homes    11. Waterfronts    12. House & Home / General    13. Housing & property for the individual    14. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (4)

Just pictures and a few undetailed floor plans
The pictures are beautiful, and there are a few floorplans at the back. The text however is useless, unless you need to be told that putting in lots of options will raise the price, create the floorplan based on your family's interests and that you shouldn't spend more than you can afford. It really isn't anything more than you could get with a 10 minutes trip to the website of a log home manufacturer, except that it has much less info! Concise, to the point
A good, usable well-illustrated book for the everyday person..the middle class "dreamer". Not focused on millionare showplaces, but homes for the average family, homes under 2500 sq ft. Cozy photos and a nice selection of floor plans. A good working tool if you are considering a log home in your future.

Log Cabin Storybook
This book is aptly second titled a "storybook" - it is the stuff of fantasies - far removed from today's "cut and stack" modern log cabin building.The pictures and design ideas are beautiful.Well worth the time and money.A must read for small log cabin would-be owners. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Designs and plans    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House Plans    5. Interior Design - General    6. Log cabins    7. Home furnishing & decoration    8. House & Home / Design & Construction    9. Housing & property for the individual    10. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

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   

Editorial Review

Subtitled "Designing and Building a House Your Own Way," thisis the book for anyone thinking about building their own home. It iscomprehensive, detailed and covers subjects I have never before seencovered in home building books, like how to make a small house seembigger, incorporating ergonomics and accessibility, doing your owndrawings and scale models, making contracts that work, and workingeffectively with professional designers and builders. With detaileddiagrams and photographs, this is the most thorough overall guide tobuilding your own home I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot!). ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Really good book
I have been researching owner building for almost a year now and this is the first and only book I've found that both had all the information I needed, and presented it in a way that a layman could understand. Five thumbs up.

good reading for the owner-builder
For the owner-builder looking to educate her/himself, sifting thru the oceans of books to read is tough.This one is definitely worth the time.Clark takes a no-nonsense, unpretentious approach.The text is easy to read and in plain language that lay people can understand.Focuses mostly on conventional stick-building, but there are lots of great ideas (in the "doing it yourself on a budget" theme) that apply to any building style.

An ACCURATE subtitle: as much about design as about building
Sam Clark uses up half the book before he gets into the nitty-gritty of construction methods.This really IS a book about house DESIGN as well as construction.As such, it's an EXCELLENT book for someone who's starting from scratch to create their own house.The approach is extremely methodical, treating mindsets and goals as elements of the design process equal in importance to elevation drawings.Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Contracting    2. Design & Construction    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Dwellings    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. Houses    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Residential Construction    12. Building construction & materials    13. Building skills    14. DIY    15. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (2)

GREATFLOORPLANS
HE IS ONE OF THE BEST DESIGNERS I HAVE EVER SEEN!

Inspiring Designs
Definitively one of the most beautiful books about dream home plans, measuring from 2723 to 8088 square feet, 101 designs, of which 57 are featured with lots of real full color photos of actual homes already built, unlike the majority of other books in which they only present about 5 to 10 real homes.
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Subjects:  1. House Plans    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. Decorating - General    4. General   

Reviews (1)

Showcasing practical, efficient, and "people friendly" home
Profusely illustrated with simple yet methodical diagrams and gorgeous color photography, Bungalow Plans by bungalow development experts Christian and Christen Gladu (owners of the Bungalow Company, Bend, Oregon) is an impressive collection of twenty-five bungalow plans from top-class designers. Bungalow Plans is an enthusiastically recommended, beautifully presented showcase of practical, efficient, and "people friendly" homes in this distinctive architectural style. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Bungalows    5. Designs and plans    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. House Plans    10. United States    11. House & Home / House Plans   

Reviews (1)

You can't judge this book by its cover -- or iits title.
Based on the title, I was expecting a book full of some "Dream" ideas of features that modern European architects were incorporating into their designs.What I received was a plan book (ALL plans for sale) of"Luxury European" homes designed by mostly American architectswith little insight into any European design criteria.The book isbasically a catalog of perspective renderings of homes to be built withaccompanying floor plans. Written criteria includes a one pageintroduction to the plan book. Additional written criteria includes a fewbrief paragraphs written by each architect espousing the unique European features of the "American" architect's design.There are atotal of 18 interior home pictures (all captioned) on 9 of the 29 pages ofthe first chapter titled "Gallery of European Style".Thechapter contains mostly pictures of built homes -- all with plans for sale. As a book of plans, I found the designs mostly interesting and thearchitects' work above average.The book is wellworth having if one islooking for a catalog book of expensive "European Style" homedesigns plans.Nevertheless, the insights I was expecting from thetitle are going to be much more of a chore to find by reviewing each andevery plan -- and, are they really going to be "European"? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Design & Drafting    4. Designs and plans    5. European influences    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House Plans    8. United States    9. Architectural structure & design    10. Europe    11. House maintenance    12. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    13. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (2)

Martha's Vineyard Plan Book
I purchased this item expecting to see architectual details for some of the fine Victorian houses in Martha's Vineyard. There's no other home plan catalog like this
This plan catalog is unlike any other you'll find - it's a portfolio of designs that were originally created as custom buildings for architect James Weisman's clients.Unlike "stock" plans, these homes and outbuildings show the care of a good designer who listened to his customersand created unique buildings for their needs. They are also inspirationalexamples of how contemporary buildings can reflect the traditions of theirplace. The homes have balconies, lofts, lookouts, great spaces and unusuallayouts that seem exciting and efficient at the same time. If you enjoydreaming about a country home or a vacation getaway, you'll love this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. House & Home / Design & Construction    3. House & Home / House Plans    4. Blueprints    5. Catalogs    6. Design & Construction    7. Designs and plans    8. Domestic    9. House & Home    10. Houses    11. Martha's Vineyard    12. Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)    13. Massachusetts   

Reviews (4)

Not real hillsides
This book did not have any plans that were truely on a hillside. There were not enough options available. I will be doing my research on line in the future.

Routine Floorplans for Minimally Sloped Lots
I was very disappointed by the floor plans in this book.The designs were very traditional and the lots shown were gradually sloping rather than hillsides.None of the innovative designs of the last decade were even imitated.If you are looking for conventional designs, you may find this book of some value.

Hillside Homes: 208 Sloping-Lot & Multi-Level Designs
I was disappointed in the book because it did not include some designs of "Drive-Under" garage on the rear of the house.There were plenty of "garages-On-The-End" designs. I want a split level plan withground-level entrance from the front to the top (ground)level and adriveway leading to the rear with a drive-under or garage with storage, etcand stairs leading to the top level.I would appreciate some suggestionsif you know of a book that includes such.My email address isjbjact@juno.com.Home to be built on a 15 to 25 degree slope-to-the-rearterrain in Alabama. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Design & Construction    4. Designs and plans    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. United States    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (3)

Good Ideas, But Outdated Images
This book seems to mark another turn in residential architecture: creating small spaces that do not skimp on quality, but give the appearance of quantity. The book features several different houses; although some of the houses' interiors are dated, the floorplans provide a good starting point for those who want to build a house that's small in square in terms of square footage, but large in terms of character.

Inspiration
My wife and i were looking for a new house to accomodate us and our son.We went to a number of open houses of typical contractor built houses and only got sick.The houses were big, inefficient and ill-designed.They lacked character and imagination.Therefore, we are now considering designing and building a house.This book, with its numerous examples of small, well-designed houses, is both helping us find features and designs we like and providing us with inspiration.The houses in this book have character.The book is well-illustrated. A lot of book for the money.
This book is compilation of articles from the magazine.There are 37 different projects covering a wide variety of styles and locations of houses.The articles are often written by the owner / designer and arequite thorough.Many include presentation style: sections, details, andfloor plans.Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Domestic architecture    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Small houses    7. United States    8. House & Home / General    9. Housing & property for the individual    10. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (6)

Save your money
If you want a picture book to leaf thru, I guess it's okay.As far as practical ideas, forget it.Most of the homes here are very site-specific, and most are multi-story.I didn't really see any innovations or adaptable ideas that I could actually use in my own home construction, which was why I bought it.

New Material
Fine Homebuilding does a great job of highlighting unique architecture.My only wish is that it wouldn't get recycled over and over again in hardcover.My plea is for Fine Homebuilding is to keep searching out fabulous homes to keep it fresh.My admonishment is to Taupin Press for boring it's very attentive audience.I now look through a book before I purchase it, I usually find that I already own 20-30 of the pics that I find interesting.

WOW
I just love the small(?) houses in this book. I'm one of those people that dream of one day being able to build my own home, and therefore have numerous books and magazines with house plans. This book is the best by farthat I have. The plans and pictures in this book are just brilliant. I lovethe fact that most of the houses are different to the normal square orrectangular shape that is so prevelent these days. All though most of thehouses in the book aren't really that small, at least not to me, there aresome wonderful designs. The detail provided about each design is thorough.The Energy-Efficient Houses and Craftsman-Style Houses books are terrificas well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Domestic    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House Plans    6. Residential Buildings Architecture    7. Small houses    8. United States    9. Building construction & materials    10. House & Home / General    11. Housing & property for the individual    12. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (5)

Great Resource
Debra Rucker Coleman's book, The Sun Inspired House, showcases passive solar houses that are comfortable the year around, light filled, beautiful, healthy for the residents, and good for the environment. These houses cut energy bills in half and cost very little additional to build. Coleman inspires the reader to want to live in a passive solar house, and walks them through the process of making that happen. Her reviews of current books, design analysis software, and websites point the way to more detailed information on all aspects of the design and construction process.
A collection of home designs which blends floor plans and modification ideas with sun-inspired homes for all climates
A 'sun-inspired' room is sunny, open, warm in winter and cool in summer, and integrates sustainable design principles with efficiency and useful design basics. And THE SUN-INSPIRED HOUSE illustrates a range of concepts related to the sun, using fifty house plans to demonstrate integrated concepts. This is a collection of home designs which blends floor plans and modification ideas with sun-inspired homes for all climates. Blends of design and construction information provide an architect's expertise under one cover. What it lacks in glossy color photos is more than made up for in practical application designs and insider information paired with homeowner testimonials that they actually work. A top pick.
Excuse to sell house plans
While this book contains limited basic information regarding solar design, it really is a house plan book.Unless you are interested in buying her house plans, save your money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Drafting    3. Environmental Engineering & Technology    4. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House Plans    7. Individual Architect    8. Sustainable/Environmental   

Reviews (4)

Not so helpful
I was dissapointed with this book.It had great pictures and information about home repair but many of the subjects did not give any tips on how to do the repairs.For example tuck pointing bricks:The book showed examples of when it needed to be done but there was not one tip on how to do it.

Short on details
I regretably returned this book since it did not describe how home improvements should be done but instead it just describes what needs to be done.The book read more like an encylopedia than a "do-it-yourself" manual - lots of information but not very helpful.I much prefer Standley's home repair manual which describes, for instance, how to caulk or different techniques for sanding.

All aspects of the home are covered
Home Book: The Ultimate Guide To Repairs, Improvements & Maintenance can be consider the definitive, 608-page, "how to" reference and instructional guide for anyone seeking to remodel, renovate, repair, or maintain any aspect of their residence. It's "user friendly" format offers more than 300 step-by-step projects with clear text being enhanced for the reader with 3,300 photographs and illustrations. All aspects of the home are covered including common repairs; wiring and electricity; plumbing; floors and stairs; walls and ceilings; basements and attics; yards and gardens; decks and porches; exterior structures, masonry, framing and carpentry, minor and major improvements, and more. Home Book is an invaluable, enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal or community library do-it-yourself collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Dwellings    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Maintenance and repair    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Repair    10. House & Home / House Plans    11. House maintenance   

Reviews (4)

Good idea book
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.
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.
Every house features full color photos!
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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Design & Drafting    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House Plans    6. Architectural structure & design    7. Building skills    8. House maintenance    9. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    10. Housing & property for the individual   

Editorial Review

This book of architectural blueprints is a loving, if obsessive, tribute to the minutiae of televised domestic life. Author Mark Bennett's excrutiatingly detailed plans span 25 years of television history, from Tiger's doghouse on Read more

Reviews (8)

Great!
This book is as close as you'll get to actually entering the beloved houses of the programs we all loved as kids.Neat-o!!!

50/50
Im half happy an half not. As a classic tv fan the book fules highly my interest in the past but does so at the cost of inteligent architecture. The author is supposed to be a good drafter but clearly did not do his homework. All one has to do is watch old episodes and differences between this books plans and the actual sets stand out like lava in the artic.

good, but some errors
Ok... I liked the book,but i am a BIG fan of mash, and he had this totally wrong. The Conels office was attached to the same building as the hospital, and the recovery ward. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. House Plans    2. Performing Arts    3. Performing Arts/Dance    4. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    5. Television - History & Criticism    6. Performing Arts / Television / History & Criticism   

Reviews (2)

Very Good
My husband and I really enjoyed this book and really felt it helpful!

Good book!
We are planning an adition and I have purchased several books on home remodeling/planning.Although this one is only 186 pages, it is well written with many great sketches and photos. I use it much more that all of the other books I purchased. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Additions    2. Amateurs' manuals    3. Buildings    4. Design & Construction    5. Design and construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Dwellings    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. House Plans    11. Remodeling    12. Remodeling & Renovation - General    13. Architectural structure & design    14. Home furnishing & decoration    15. House & Home / Design & Construction    16. House maintenance    17. Housing & property for the individual   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Drafting    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Domestic    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Residential Buildings Architecture   

Editorial Review

Unlike conventional framing, which is destined to be hidden by other building materials, timberframe homes leave massive beams and smaller supports exposed to be seen and admired as a finished and an architectural element. Tedd Benson divides Read more

Reviews (4)

Beams!BEAMS!!
This book is full of stunning photographs of timber frame homes, accompanied by engaging text both technical and philosophical.The book is divided into locations, such as prairie, mountain, and coastal homes.Not a guide to building, this is more like the ultimate coffee-table book. Beams and More Beams
If you love beams, and more beams, lots of braces, and complex joints; then this book is for you. Visually powerful architectural & design reference.
This colorful survey of the post and beam home examines a construction method which dates to the Middle Ages, and is the first to explore the design potentials of the form. 400 color photos, drawings and floor plansprovide excellent architectural reference and design insights in thiscontemporary exploration of timberframe potentials. Visually powerful andhighly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Design and construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Wooden-frame houses    9. Building skills    10. House & Home / General    11. House maintenance    12. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    13. HOUSE & HOME / Design & Construction   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Design & Drafting    4. Designs and plans    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House Plans    7. Mansions    8. United States    9. Architectural structure & design    10. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (1)

A grogeous trip through Italy throughout the seasons!
This beautiful book takes the reader on a tour of Italy's countryside by looking at regions when they are at their most alluring. In the Autumn, Tuscany and Umbria are highlighted. The reader experiences the localcolors, the wine harvest, the artisantradition, food of these regions,and country houses, gardens, and vineyards. When Winter arrives, the Alpsare at their peakseason, so the tour goes to Cortina D'Ampezzo andCourmayeur. There, the viewer see the Alpine beauty, local colors, skiing,the cheese of the Valle D'Aosta, painted furniture, mountain fare andhouses. Spring is when everything is in bloom, a welcoming time. The readergoes to Lake Como and Lake Maggiore to view the lakes, local colors,experience water sports, see the silks of Como, relish spectacular rod ironat the lakeside villas and gardens, and enjoy light meals by the lake.TheMediterranean is almost Mecca to travelers in summer. The reader walksalong the Italian Riviera, escapes to the Almafi Coast and Sardinia to fallin love with seaside views. Boating is a way of life in summer. Sardiniancloth, tiles, and seafood are abundant and savored. Seaside villas,terraces, and gardens are a breezy way of life for summer tourists andresidents. Each area has something wonderful and special. This gorgeousbook will help the reader fantasize about some of the most beautiful placeson earth until you have your chance to go there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country life    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Description And Travel    7. Europe - Italy    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House Plans    10. Interior Design    11. Interior decoration    12. Italy    13. House & Home / Decorating