5 comments about The Big Book of Small House Designs: 75 Award-Winning Plans for Your Dream House, All 1,250 Square Feet or Less.

1. When I buy a book I either want to learn or relax. In this case I wanted to learn and had to really concentrate because of the lack of pictures in it. Great plans, great book but the lack of pictures makes it difficult to read.



2. I knew the book wouldn't be a great resource but I thought it might have some reason for having been published other than the author and publisher just trying to cash in on the "not so big" / "green" trend.
   
   There is really no redeeming quality in this book. Most of the houses are severely outdated and are poorly proportioned. Except for one or two, they don't even look designed by an architect, they just look like run-of the mill cracker boxes, some with poorly planned additions. There's no useful information on how to best economize space or anything. The "design" information is useless because the illustrations are so bad they are painful to look at. Some are so muddy, it looks as if the book were published using water damaged drawings and a broken Xerox machine.
   
   I apologize for not editing this review, but this book has already wasted enough of my time. If you're looking for something more current, try James Grayson Trulove's 25 Houses Under 1500 Square Feet. It's more design oriented, even if does have a lot of filler. It's not a 5 star by any stretch of the imagination. At least his illustrations are legible and the photos make the book look produced by professionals that actually care about design and architecture.



3. Be warned. This book contains only 2D home plans. Their are no photos besides the one on the cover.



4. The book have a lot of good ideaas for how to draw / design houses. There is a lack of pictures of the actual solutions, in order to give a good idea of how the the solutions actually work.
   Jan T.



5. The book is large and would be best as a coffee table book. I am looking to expand my knowledge of small homes, green living and such. This book while interesting did not cut it for me. The drawings are understandable, but the information on each design is minimal, and more photos (if the design has been built) should be included as well to give a better sense of what the house in question will look like.

5 comments about The Treehouse Book.

1. This is the third book from Peter Nelson of Treehouse Workshop. His previous two delved in depth into treehouse construction. This work is more a survey of the many wonderful treehouses to be found throughout the world. It is crammed with quality color photographs and, unlike a previously reviewed work, has a unifying narrative throughout.
   
   Peter starts you off with a very useful section entitled "Choice of Tree". There he briefly touches upon suitability of various tree species to treehouse construction and provides a mini sketch of each tree species with a treehouse. Immediately after comes some very accurate arboriculture advice from Jonathan Fairoaks. It's nice to find a treehouse book that gets this part right for a change.
   
   For me, the real value of this book is in the tour it takes you on of many notable treehouse. I bring this book to meetings with clients so they can see the many incredible things possible. And for those who've never considered it possible that a treehouse could be any more than a small, roughly built box, this book will blow their minds.
   
   What this book lacks is building advice. It's not a "how-to" book. There really is no great "how-to" book out there. Even so, highly recommended.



2. This book has the best pictures and if your looking for ideas
   and inspiration, this is the book to buy.



3. This book along with Treehouses of the World are inspirational page after page. If you are a fan of treehouses, this book is a must in your collection.



4. This book is just as good as the front cover picture suggests: pie-in-the-sky treehouses. The kind that you dreamed about as a kid? Its obvious from this book that some adults still think about and make their dreams become beautiful structures in reality. If you ever wanted a pictoral book of treehouses representing your wildest imaginations, this is the book for you!



5. This book has some excellent pictures of treehouses. I love it! It is one of my favorite treehouse books. It is not for someone looking to build a treehouse; for that, i recommend "Home Tree Home", by Peter Nelson. Back in 1999, I built my own treehouse, primarily using ideas from "Home Tree Home" and prior treehouse building experience. I lived in it for 5 years.

5 comments about S M L XL: Second Edition.

1. An acquaintance had a copy of this so I looked through it during a dinner party. Blah. Bah! It's full of facetious, egotistical monoliths (from the edifices to the book itself) that offer nothing but themselves to the rest of the urban experience. Le Corbusier of the late 20th century. Gawd, I hope Koolhaas doesn't take that as a compliment.



2. Realmente atendeu as expectativas. Um belíssimo livro em um bom preço e no prazo de entrega informado.



3. So much information that it took too long to get through it before most of it wasn't relevant any longer.



4. There's a terrific line in Breakfast at Tiffany's. George Peppard proudly hands neighbor Audrey Hepburn a copy of his just-published book. She has no idea what to do with it, so she puts it on a shelf next to a vase, backs away and says "Doesn't that look nice?"
   This book is a lot like that. A self-conciously designed object for the homes of style consumers who already have the right clothes and the B&B Italia furniture. A prop for the still-life they want to inhabit. If they ever got around to "reading" it, they'd discover to their great relief... it's NOT a book to be read in any strict classical sense.
   
   It also reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon where one associate asks another, "Read the first few pages of any good books lately?" The age of the short attention span is not going away any time soon. This hefty grey slab is easily recast as the shiny new headstone for verbalized intelligence.
   
   As Kracauer holds it, there's nothing wrong with framing a culture via fragments, but I have plenty of qualms about advancing one's own ideas that way. And I'm suspect of ideas that trowel on style in the abundance seen here. If I could believe Bruce Mau's intentions were more than just trying to look new, (This 'look' now permeates architecture publications) I'd have more respect for this, but it was obviously calculated as a totem of style and style-suffusion.
   
   For better or for worse, the book got noticed, the industry was distracted by the pretty surfaces and the ascent of Koolhaas is a done deal.
   If you want to actually READ a book full of Koolhaas' thoughts, skip this and get a copy of Delirious New York.



5. Possibly one of the many great books on architecture of today with plenty of references and clean graphics. A must have for all architecs or if you just want a wonderfully beautiful book for your home or office.

5 comments about Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream.

1. Very well written. The book makes it very easy to understand why our towns and cities are set up like they are and why some are more livable than others.
   
   I purchased this book about five years ago and often still think about the concepts that are explained inside.
   
   I highly recommend it.



2. One of the best books I've read this year. Lots of things that I've
   noticed over the years about places I like and don't like were summarized
   and expounded upon. I hadn't quite realized the effect traffic
   engineering has had on city design.
   
   I felt that it really elucidated a lot of why people are really unhappy
   with their homes, lives, and communities.
   
   This book is extensively footnoted with lots of data to back up opinions.
   There is a huge bibliography into which I'm delving.
   
   However, where it ventures into the social and political realm, it is
   less effective and borders on being one-sided and polemic.
   In one example, the authors state that GM and others
   killed streetcars in 50 cities to get people to take cars rather
   than public transport. If you look into this a little deeper, you'll
   discover that it was probably more to promote their buses, and that the
   truth was a lot more complicated than that. Look up "Great American
   Streetcar Scandal" at wikipedia.



3. This book was recommended by a friend, and since Mr. Duany has been to Sarasota (where I now live) as a consultant, I decided to read it out of general interest. I was pleasantly surprised how readable it was, and many of the concepts of community that I was exposed to as a child were presented. And most importantly, it explained my preferences in leisure vacation travel for the convenient, comfortable community destinations--whether they be in large cities or in nearly rural locations. It is good reading for anyone who is or will be affected by growth or redevelopment.



4. I really must thank the authors for putting this together. I just finished Suburban Nation and I now know why I'm so stressed out all the time living in this "ticky-tacky" world (to borrow a line from the Weeds theme song).
   
   I wish I could do more to help combat sprawl at the moment. However, I'm keeping my eyes open all the time for what works, what doesn't work and I will continue to study this subject so that if and when I'm in a position to either make a move or be part of a decision making body, I will be able to intelligently make my opinion known.



5. It's no wonder that the suburbia style brought so much finance and - why not - mental damage to our everyday lives. We gave up living smartly for living in beautifulness.
   
   I believe that the sense of ownership prevails in suburbia much more than the sense of community. If you live in one for a long time, you probably know what I am talking about. Even if you don't, you might imagine how it feels to be in one.
   
   I lived in one for quite a long time and must recognize its benefits: peacefulness, plenty of space to stroll around and not much of noisy neighbors. Surely it has its advantages. I really admire how beautiful some neighborhoods really are and can remain when apart from the hassles of the inner city.
   
   But the need of taking my car to do absolutely everything from my basic needs just started to bother me as time went by and as my bills started to rise from such crazy oil consumption. One of the reasons why we are the biggest spenders in the entire planet is certainly the suburb predominance all over the country. Any doubt about it?
   
   This book is absolutely wonderful. It traces back to the WWII era when everything started out. Government has promoted all of the land development we see today and which is still in high demand, unfortunately. What once was a success formula to promote economic development is today a "cancer" that we have to live and deal with. We were imposed to a lifestyle that we didn't necessarily want to live, and we now pay high taxes just to keep this "monster" alive. As the book brightly states on its pages: suburbs were made for cars, not human beings.
   
   At some point in the book, authors state something that for me it is absolutely true: the archictecture is a science which is very undervalued in America. Obsolete and outdated zoning ordinances, traffic engineers more worried about the flow and the trucks that could pass on the streets and, most of all, community planning based on numbers and not aesthetics are the major rules when a new development takes place, leaving no room for smart development.
   
   Smart growth requires a lot of thinking, and for the long run, but thinking isn't really one of the best characteristics of land developers and home builders who have no expertise on archictecture issues, but only on how to make money fast and effortlessly. However, I have to recognize that it's not all their fault. Smart growth will also require a major cultural shift from a society which became used with such sprawl standards, whether living this way is beneficial or not.
   
   The book not only shows what went wrong with such aged growth policies, but also proposes solutions for building smarter towns and stimulates the creation of a community sense that today is just missing. Carefully written, is a reading that won't put you at sleep.

5 comments about The Simple Home: The Luxury of Enough (American Institute Architects).

1. I adore this book. I am a professional organizer and it really speaks to me and my clients about downsizing and the privilege it is to have a home that is uncluttered and 'just enough'. Thank you for a wonderful book.



2. Great book to help you get focused on the necessities of your house. It makes you think what is necessary and what really is not. Do you really need two ovens...etc. After reading or more realistically paging through several other books I found myself jotting down notes made from this book that really hit home. Our lives are fast paced and complicated enough, so it was wonderful to hear the great thoughts of Sarah Nettleton. I recommend this book along with The Farmhouse by Jean Rehkamp Larson and the New Old House by Russell Versaci. Great Job Sarah Nettleton!



3. Wonderful case studies about 20 homes with good explanations about material choices, site considerations, and the people who own them. It's a Taunton Press book, so the photos are great, of course. I especially like the floor plan illustrations that support the photos and give a sense of flow through the houses.



4. This book is amazing! The pictures are great, and so well coordinated with the text that the reader can truly "see" each house. For anyone dreaming of a second home, or a more efficient first home, this is an ideal volume.



5. Sarah Nettleton's THE SIMPLE HOME: THE LUXURY OF ENOUGH defines the concept of a 'simple home' and offers interior design tips to achieving satisfaction from a basic home design. This involves eliminating non-essentials and practicing restraint: six avenues to achieving a 'greener' lifestyle from this approach blends full-page color photos with comments on designs which refine and simplify the home - perfect for new students of interior design and homeowners contemplating reconstruction.

1 comments about Forgotten Modern California Houses 1940-1970.

1. Modern is not new. It has a history and this book remind us about it.
   The language of Modern Architecture change in time but au fond remains the same. The book is nice, good photos and has many examples of old modern.

5 comments about The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage: The Real Goods Solar Living Book.

1. It's a guide. No matter if you will be building in cob or not, it' real pleasure to read this book. I recommend it heartfully.



2. This will sound like a strange thing to say about a book on building, but I've been moved to tears reading this. One might think that the authors of such a book would be Luddites proposing a return to savagery or some such, but this is not the case. What they propose, beautifully, is a return to sanity and perspective.
   
   The subtitle of this book, "A Practical and Philosophical Guide..." is dead on accurate. This book is eminently practical and the philosophy of it one of learning to really live and love life rather than struggling to overcome the multitude of unnecessary obstacles we impose on ourselves. It talks not only about building a house from cob, but deals at length with the sort of observation of the world around us that was common in preindustrial times that has, sadly, been largely lost.
   
   Even if you have no plans at all for building your own house (from cob or any other material) read this book. If you are a teacher or parent, read this book with the children in your charge. This is a great way to help them develop an appreciation of the world around them and spark an interest in science. What could be more interesting to a child (and the child within us all) than learning from the beauty of what naturally occurs around us?
   
   A beautiful and informative book.



3. I bought this for myself as a Christmas present, on a whim; little did I know I would spend hours with it after its arrival.
   The authors detail building with cob (a mixture of sand, clay, straw, and water) - from the design stages (including land selection) to adding sculptural details. While writing about cob's uses, they also tell the reader where cob should not be used (wet, low-lying areas). This is a well-written, very accessible book for anyone who is curious about environmentally-friendly building techniques.
   Because of this book, my fiancé no longer thinks I'm crazy for wanting a "greener" house without a mortgage. I'd call that a success.



4. For me this book has covered all the bases. Not only has it inspired me to take on building with cob in the near future it has awakened my entire family to the possibility of building with alternative materials. The more I read it the more I appreciate it.



5. They weren't kidding when they told me that this was the cob builders bible! I agree that Becky Bee's "The Cob Builders Handbook" is also, a must have. I actually would suggest reading that one first. If you are serious about building with cob, then just buy it already. Even if you already know everything, like I do (Ha :) Ha) from being a builder for almost two decades and growing up in a family of them. It's worth it's weight and then some! A must read and reference.

2 comments about Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building.

1. As a national trainer and a former national board member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Jerry Yudelson is a nationally recognized leader and expert in green building. He summarized his many years of professional experience with green building design and renewable energy systems in "Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building."
   
   "Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building" covers the history, importance, benefits and costs of green building. It also covers some key elements of the LEED building rating system in plain English, such as water conservation, reducing energy use, solar energy, locally sourced materials, natural ventilation, zero-net-energy buildings and creating a conservation economy, etc.
   
   "Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building" has 240 pages packed with useful information. It is an indispensable and accurate guide for anyone who is interested in green building!
   
   Gang Chen, LEED AP, AIA
   Author of "Planting Design Illustrated"



2. 
   I've always respected Jerry Yudelson. He is a fixture at USGBC and an active proponent of intelligent green building. Jerry has done the industry a service by writing his book.
   
   This book provides one page on each term so people new to the industry can follow conversations about sustainable architecture and urban planning. It decodes green building terminology. I recommend it for first year architect students or any old AIA dog trying to learn new tricks.
   
   It is even a good title for people who think they know it all, just to make sure they didn't miss anything.
   Sometimes we tend to know concepts so well that we can't explain the simplest of terms, A to Z saves the day.
   
   The appendix provides a great list of books and websites. For anyone wanting to shorten their learning curve (like the Regents of Higher Education perhaps?? or city commissioners??) this book is an easy one to flip through and is comprehensive enough to save hours and hours of fumbling around on Google. It is sort of like an abbreviated wikipedia of green building terms.
   
   -Jane Talkington
   PhD Student of Sustainability at OSU
   www.Trifecta-Consulting.com

5 comments about The New Bungalow Kitchen.

1. Peter Labau has crafted a practical and classy take on classic bungalow kitchens. The visuals are exquisite and as easy on the eyes as the words which flow from author to reader. His years of experience in classic home environments shines through each chapter. I found "The New Bungalow Kitchen" easy to read and very informative. The book also serves as a perfect reference for 20's period architecture in general. Each turn of the page brings another good example of how to create beautiful spaces. This is definitely worth having on your bookshelf as a reference for any re-development project you might have!



2. "The New Bungalow Kitchen" is not a coffee-table book. It is beautifully made with text and photos that are clear and helpful, but it also gives practical ideas for creating a cooking/eating space that feels like home. I may not have an Arts and Crafts Bungalow, but I can have a kitchen that gives the same warm and comfortable as a true bungalow.



3. As always Amazon had what I wanted. I love the book!!!Just what we were looking for. Your website is easy to use4 and navigate, you even linked me to the marketplace for further titles and books at half the cost of new. I did not know that marketplace existed, so I learned something new. Thank you for another great visit to Amazon.com



4. The book gave us a lot of good ideas. We just bought a Bungalow built in 1941 and we are looking to overhaul the kitchen without disturbing the character and charm of the home. This book will help us do that. I was a little dissapointed that the book did not give more specific reccomendations i.e style of cabinets, materials used, finishes etc. They had some pictures, but alot of the details are not literally described . Still a great book.



5. I relied on this very well-written, beautifully photographed book while renovating my 1900 colonial revival house. Mr. Labau's eye, obviously honed by long experience, is pretty amazing when it comes to combining the class of the old with the functional needs of the new.
   The best thing about this book is that you don't put it away on a shelf. It is an art book, too!
   Ruby

5 comments about Bungalow Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Arts and Crafts Home.

1. My wife and I appreciated this detailed book and incorporated many ideas we found in our new (old) residence



2. I was very excited to get this book as we plan to incorporate some craftsman style elements into the 1970s bungalo we're buying. The interiors in the photos were not terribly attractive and leaned towards kitschy. Unless you want to turn you house into a museum to 20th century cheasiness, don't buy this book.



3. This is a good book if you are looking at remodeling a craftman type home or if you are planning to build one. I did like some of the idea's and the pictures.



4. If you are planning any kind work where you are going using allot of wood this is a great book, it is full of ideas. The photos have great detail. One of best books I have on Craftsman/Arts& Crafts interiors.



5. So you've bought a bungalow--now, what do you do with it? Maybe it's a fixer-upper; maybe it's too small, or doesn't have enough storage space; maybe you're just not sure what kind of furniture to get. This book is a great start toward deciding where to go next. Illustrated with hundreds of full-color photographs, it shows not only many of the features by which you can tell an Arts & Crafts house when you see it (I was surprised to learn that the big old foursquares such as my grandparents lived in for 40 years are included in this classification), but gives actual ideas carried out by other homeowners, even unto before-and-after floor plans. The author's advice is thoughtful and well suited to the houses she writes about, too. And if you just like to look at pictures of vintage American homes, this would be a good volume to add to your collection.