Almost 10 years after The Not So Big House came out, it's reassuring to see that houses really are starting to get smaller. Over the past year I've been interviewed time and again for articles describing a growing backlash against the mega-houses that have been built across the country in recent decades.
Houses aren't only getting smaller, they're also becoming less formal, a trend picked up by my good friend and coauthor (of Inside the Not So Big House) Marc Vassallo in his new book, The Barefoot Home. Marc hits the nail on the head when he says that we no longer need formal living and dining rooms--it just doesn't fit the way we live anymore. And we're spending just as much time enjoying the outside of our homes as we are the inside. In a barefoot home, you can feel like you're on vacation 365 days a year, a lifestyle that's much more in tune with the way we REALLY live today--at least when we're not at work.
I was lucky enough to be one of the very first readers to receive a copy of The Barefoot Home and as I leafed through it, I could almost feel the sand between my toes. Marc has assembled and described, in his inimitable style, 20 excellent examples of houses that are both Not So Big in form, and decidedly Not So Formal in function. As Marc recommends in his "barefoot manifesto," it's time to kick off your shoes, open up, embrace the sun, live outside as well as in, and adopt a barefoot state of mind. The lessons these homes have to offer are much needed by all who are disenchanted with "too bigness" in house design; and best of all, they're easy to implement, and often less expensive to boot. Anyone who is a fan of the Not So Big House series will almost certainly enjoy this book as well.
Book Description
As our personal and professional lives become more demanding and hectic, people have reacted with a more casual, relaxed, and open way of living at home. Kitchens are no longer just for cooking but serve as entertainment hubs; barbeques on the grill have replaced formal dinners. As our lives at home have become increasingly informal, the “barefoot living” lifestyle has emerged and there is increased demand to carry this attitude over into home design.
Relaxed, open, filled with light, and intimately connected to the outdoors, barefoot houses make living at home feel like being on vacation 365 days a year. The 24 houses featured in The Barefoot Home reflect today’s barefoot times. From a long, low house on the Kansas prairie to an adobe home in New Mexico and a New England cottage by the sea, these homes capture the essence of barefoot living.
Customer Reviews:
Surprised and delighted.......2007-09-27
We live in temperate Australia and hesitated long before buying this book. We have shelves of excellent architecture reference books from around the world and have been owner builders. Was it going to be just glam coffee table eye candy? The architect has worked with Sarah Susanka (Not So Big House etc), so we decided to take the plunge. This is a very good book. There is so much to look at, contemplate, re-visit. Brilliant resolution of details, houses that flow, small exquisite spaces, sound materials. We have had hours of enjoyment from this book and have been happy to share it with others to extend their knowledge of good architecture. Enjoy!
Barefoot -- informal style, for an informal life........2007-05-16
On first glance I agreed with many of the other reviewers: 'the book was slick', 'it was disingenuous', 'sure, if you live in a sunny climate, most, if not all, of the time'.
Then I went back and looked at the book again, and read the opening passage: he does not strive to be disingenuous, he tells us he himself doesn't live in a barefoot home, nor a barefoot neighborhood, but he is trying and the manifesto of the book is to entreat all of us to be more informal in our primary living space -- our homes.
Open the house up as soon as you can, get rid of all the stuff you don't need, make your home as casual as you can, and then enjoy it.
Think informal thoughts, and live in all the spaces available to you: the patio, the deck and never forget how good it feels to have sand between your toes!
He provides blue prints to the homes and he even lists the architects. Enjoy and live well!
Great Book!.......2007-03-26
This book is great for conversation and ideas. I leave mine on the coffee table for periodic inspiration...that of myself..and of others!
Barefoot, if it's summertime.......2007-03-11
I don't exactly get the barefoot concept. If the author had seen these homes in the wintertime, would he still consider them barefoot homes? Barefoot seems far-fetched and contrived in this book.
This book is a nice compilation of casual homes mostly in the country or at the beach. It's similar to other books on getaway homes. Beyond that, I didn't see anything particularly new or inspiring. It almost seems like the author (or Taunton?) was more interested in pushing the barefoot concept than providing new ideas.
Designed for wilder, more remote locations.......2007-02-15
This book is beautiful, the writing lyric and inviting.
But in looking for ideas for building our coastal home, I found that the windows and outdoor living areas were meant for homes in secluded or tree-sheltered locations, not on a city lot as our will be.
I highly recommend this book for those with more remote building sites.
Book Description
Bigger, better, expanded, enhanced, and just a whole lot more of the reliable, authentic dishes readers expect from Southern Living. This all-inclusive and completely revised edition packs in more than 1,250 recipes in its 512 pages, all tested for prep times, health-consciousness, convenience, and, of course, exceptional taste. Longtime fans of Southern Living as well as novice cooks will love the comprehensive Kitchen Basics chapter and abundance of enticing photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific cookbook!.......2007-09-09
I checked this book out from my library and quickly realized that I had to have this book! The recipes all sound delicious and easy to prepare. The how-to sections on making bread and choosing cuts of meat are very helpful. You can't go wrong with this book!
favorite cookbook.......2007-09-08
Recipes are easy to make,and taste great. I love that the book includes a nutrient analysis for each recipe, and also highlights family favorite and quick recipes. This book makes a great gift.
Great Basic Cookbook.......2007-03-18
This is a great basic cookbook to have, plus it offers so much more, especially if you are a southern cook.
Awesome Book!.......2007-03-15
I love this cookbook. Has awesome recipes. Would highly recommend it.
All-New Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook.......2007-03-01
Like all the annual Southern Living Recipe books, this one is equally wonderful as gifts for my wife and mother-in-law. Husbands & son-in-law, go for this one - it may get you out of the dog house.
Book Description
With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is packed with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen.
In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of inspiration.......2007-09-22
Love the way the book shows apartments of varying small sizes and multiple solutions for small-space dilemmas (like little room for sleeping, tiny kitchens). I was able to brainstorm a solution for my own apartment after one look through this book.
My only complaint is that there are no product resources listed--just designers' names and contact information.
Fabulousity on a budget.......2007-06-01
Well, I guess I'll add my voice to the chorus of reviewers for this book:
This is a jewel of a book. Lots of fabulous examples of small spaces with a lot of character. People who love art, collect books and appreciate unexpected decorating ideas will enjoy this book."
A lovely book that could use a bit of fine-tuning to best serve its intended readership.......2007-04-06
I really liked this book, but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because I think the definition of "small spaces" is too broad. This book would be better if it showcased twice as many spaces from 100-600sqf, rather than going all the way up to 1000. Maybe for people who don't live in cities, 1000sqf is tiny, but I think a lot of the book's target audience would find that amount of space to be truly palatial. Many of the larger spaces had yards or terraces, sometimes doubling the real amount of living space, so that feels like a "cheat" to me. I got the most ideas out of the first half of the book, and the rest of the book was enjoyable as a general interior design book rather than a "small spaces" design book. Many of the featured homes' remodels involve knocking out walls and really re-working a space, so if you're a renter looking for what you can do with a small space you don't own, you might be disappointed. All in all, a very nice book with wonderful photographs, I just wish there was a greater focus on spaces under 600sqf, and more creative rentals being showcased for readers who are renters.
Really small spaces!.......2007-03-26
A small but pretty coffee table book with great content and some good ideas for living in tiny, tiny spaces.
1) 16 of the 33 profiled spaces were 500 sq ft or less! The other 17 were 600 - 1000 sq ft in size. I haven't seen many books on small space living that focus on this size range. Most books seem to present 2000 sqft houses as tiny.
2) The owners of these spaces didn't all have an unlimited budget. Many were in rentals so gut renovations, moving walls, etc was not an option. Many did have expensive or design worthy furniture and art but quite a few were heavily furnished with IKEA and thrift store finds.
3) Most of the owners had to be very carefull with clutter and picking pieces that would work in the space and that they really loved. Some of the other Amazon reviews found this to be somewhat unrealistic but I think that when you live in such small spaces, you are going to have to keep things very neat and tidy.
4) Part of the title is "expressing personal style". There is plenty of that in the book mostly clustered around what I'll call "modern" (eams etc), "drama" (red, red everywhere), "eclectic" (high design items mixed with garage sale items) and "standard" (danish). Many of the owners have extensive collections that are well presented and show off their unique personal style.
5) Most of these places are inhabited by: architects, artists, interior decorators, makeup artists, writers, curators, floral designers, etc. Essentially those who are in the "profession". I got the impression that hiring someone is de rigur if you are an accountant or fireman.
6) I liked the organization of the book by size of the space, architectural diagram of the space, lots of well shot photos, a narrative of who the residents are and how the space came to be and a picture of the residents.
7) One of my favorites were Francisco Parod and Ximena Orozco, the couple from Mexico living in a 450sqft NY apartment...with a baby! Not only did it look comfortable and open, they furnished almost everything at IKEA. My other favorite was Karen Meyer. She had translucent screens that could slide between the living room and dining room. This provided flexibility to the spaces by making it more expansive or more private, as needed. A murphy bed that was behind a shelf unit in the dining room could be opened up to create a guest room. A nice example of rooms doing double duty.
All in all, the best book I've found for realistic ideas for very small spaces.
Living Large in Small Spaces.......2007-03-19
Although I was not overwhelmed with inspiration, I liked the set-up of this book. The spaces are grouped by square footage complete with pictures of all areas of the space and a floor plan so that you can visualize how the spaces fit together. I also liked the fact that there were various design styles. However, I could not visualize myself living in the majority of the spaces displayed in this book. The majority of the homes displayed were homes of designers and artists. Since I myself am not a designer or an artist, I could and would not begin to design like what was displayed in this book.
Book Description
Professional chef George Stella serves up a feast of inspiration and 125 delicious recipes to kick-start any weight-loss plan!
George Stella lost more than 250 pounds on a low-carb eating plan and has turned thousands of fans on to Stella Style -- eating fresh, natural foods prepared with minimum effort for maximum taste. In Eating Stella Style, he shows readers how to tailor his recipes to fit any personalized weight-loss plan, whether it's low carb, low fat, or low calorie. He inspires even the most jaded dieters to begin a new eating lifestyle and shows them how to stay on track.
But Eating Stella Style is really about mouthwatering recipes: How does a Hot Ham and Cheese Egg Roll sound for breakfast? Or Strawberry and Mascarpone Cream Crêpes, Stella Style Baked Eggs Benedict, or Coconut Macaroon Muffins? For lunch or dinner, choose Grilled Portabella and Montrachet Salad, Wood-Grilled Oysters with Dill Butter, Kim's Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Lemony White Wine Sauce, Shaved Zucchini Parmesan Salad, or Spaghetti Squash with Clams Provençal Sauce. Satisfy your snack cravings with Better Cheddar Cheese Crisps, Devilish Deviled Eggs with Tuna, or Cheesy Pecan Cookies. And for dessert, try Pumpkin Pound Cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, Honeydew and Blackberry Granita, or Chocolate Pecan Truffles.
Perfect for both devoted Stella Style fans and new converts, Eating Stella Style will tempt you with tasty, flexible recipes that satisfy everyone!
Book Description
Sharing a delicious meal is everyone's favorite way of bringing together friends and loved ones. In her new cookbook, Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style, Paula Deen -- author, restaurateur, and Food Network star -- turns to her friends to share their stories, ideas for entertaining Southern style, and, most important, more than 150 of the prized recipes they serve to their family and friends.
With the trademark Southern charm that has made her beloved by fans everywhere, Paula's new book features delicious, down-home entertaining menus, with recipes that are guaranteed to be instant crowd-pleasers. Whether you're planning an intimate family dinner, hosting an elegant cocktail party, or feeding a hungry crowd for lunch, these mouthwatering meals are the perfect way to share any occasion with good friends -- and have fun doing it! From a tailgate picnic to a bridge supper, a christening to a camping trip, and a family dinner to an ice cream social, there are recipes to delight any gathering.
Throw a down-home Birthday Bash with Beer-in-the-Rear Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob, and Buttermilk Pound Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. Or host a casual Cookie Swap with friends and watch those Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes and Rolled Oatmeal Cookies disappear! An outdoor lunch wouldn't be complete without real Southern Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Corn Bread. And comfort foods like Quick Crab Stew, Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole, and Black Bottom Pie are soul-satisfying dishes that warm the heart and soothe the spirit. There are also recipes for refreshing cocktails and beverages, from the Southern traditional favorites, like Plantation Iced Tea and Mint Juleps, to Lemonade and Hot Cranberry Cider.
Entertaining Southern style is about much more than the food; it's about spending time with the people you care about. Paula and her friends are the experts when it comes to creating delightful meals that are easy to prepare, so you, too, can relax and enjoy the fun with your guests. Each chapter is filled with helpful tips and time-saving techniques, as well as the memorable cooking stories that inspired Paula and her friends to create these recipes. You'll be inspired to share memorable meals and occasions with family and friends, as Paula Deen & Friends invites you to live it up, Southern style.
Customer Reviews:
Paula Deen & Friends Does Live It Up!.......2007-07-14
Hello! I rarely write reviews of the products I purchase online. In fact this is my FIRST, lol! However, this book I feel deserves a write up and I hope it helps buyers out there~ I LOVED the book! I find the recipes well written and easy to follow. Not complicated to cook nor are the ingredients hard to find! MOST IMPORTANT, after making a few of the meals, THEY TASTE FABULOUS! That's what it's all about! The book is written in a very straight forward, down to earth manner with down home southern hospitality thrown in. I cook for a living. I am a foodie! I have over 300 cook books, (YES that other famous one with the peacock guy...) and like that one, this is also one of my favorites, right off the bat; I knew it before I even tried any of Ms Deen's WONDERFUL recipes! There are many "trade" secrets or cooking tips included, if you don't know them already! Many of the recipes are very unusual and unique; not found everywhere! (Now today, that's important with the slew of cookbooks out there!). I suggest you go out and buy this cookbook NOW, AT ONCE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! You won't be disappointed in it, I feel! Lastly, THANK YOU MS. DEEN for your wonderful book, you are making me FAT! But "never trust a skinny cook" as the saying goes! Scott in New York City. parkslopescott@aol.com
Paula Deen & Friends.......2007-07-09
Fun cookbook and nice reading on the life of Paul Deen and her family. It shows what a warm and friendly person she is. The recipes are also good.
Paul Deen is a good southern cook, but..........2007-06-20
Paula Deen is a good southern cook, but I was a little disappointed with this offering. It doesn't seem to live up to her other products. Maybe it is because that I don't entertain much, and certainly not in a formal way, but this doesn't fit our lifestyle or cooking preferences.
Great menu suggestions.......2007-06-02
This book provides great menus for a variety of entertaining. The recipes are easy to use and are food that is familiar to everyone - nothing so exotic that you have to go to a speciality store to buy it.
HEY YA'LL ! THIS COOKBOOK IS KITCHEN FRIENDLY!.......2007-03-02
If you watch the Food Network, then Paula Deen is no stranger to you. I remember never missing an episode of her show years ago before Paula became so popular. Now, she is everywhere...and deserves every minute of the exposure. Good for her! I still never miss a show; I even like the reruns on Sundays.
Rightfully so, I had to have her cookbooks. Paula is a cook that everyday Americans can relate to. Remember cooking shows on PBS where the cooks always made food with ingredients that they probably never sold in your local supermarket, that is, if you could even afford them? The Food Network has changed that these days, and Paula is at the top of the list for wholesome foods that anyone can make.
Her Living It Up Southern Style cookbook is a quick pick for a fast meal or for party planning. The recipes are easy to understand and easy to plan for. You probably have most of the ingredients already in your pantry. I like the layout of this cookbook too. There's not a lot of reading so the recipes don't get lost. They are also divided by occasion, so it's easy to find what you need if you are looking for suggestions.
Best wishes! Best dishes! And definitely one of Paula's best too!
Book Description
A tasty milestone for more than 16 million Southern Living readers, this new collectors edition commemorates 40 years of the best of the best. All 250 recipes have been tested in the Southern Living kitchens and over 100 photos preview gorgeous meal presentations. From classic comfort food to lighter, healthier options, 30 menus cover every occasion for foolproof cooking and entertainingSouthern style.
Customer Reviews:
Another Southern Living Jackpot.......2007-08-23
What can I say? This book is full of gorgeous color photos and delicious, timeless recipes. If you know Southern Living, then you already expect and know that this is another great installment. If you don't know Southern Living, start with this book and welcome to the family.
This ones a keeper.... Great Cookbook! And I dont even cook!.......2007-08-02
This cookbook has the most wonderful receipes. I cant wait to try them...but the color photos are to die for...it makes you want to run to the store and buy the ingredients... I put the book on my living room table for casual reading and guests have been picking it up... I cant wait to try the fried chicken recipe...it calls for some bacon fat! No jokes! Real southern friend chicken for sure!
Cooking as Art.......2007-07-09
No one has better recipes than Southern Living except my wife. The only thing better than the recipes in this book is the photograpy.This is how food is suppose to look. A cookbook without pictures leaves you wondering do I really want to try this dish? This book shouts "I sure do!" Though not evey entre' is photographed, enough are to make you hungry to try them out. And what good is a cook book that is never opened. A great gift for the cook in your life. No one promotes Southern Hospitality and graceous living like Southern Living. A winner of a book
Great Book!.......2007-05-14
I always look forward to any Southern Living cookbook, and am never disappointed. This is a great one, great recipes and great reading.
Book Description
Also published in a gorgeous, slip-cased limited edition, Bohemian Modern is now available in this beautiful hardcover edition. Through striking illustrations and stunning photographs, Bohemian Modern explores the unique structural and interior designs that have put California's ultra-chic Silver Lake neighborhood at the forefront of a new style phenomenon.
One of the country's most renowned modernist architects, Barbara Bestor has fully embraced and perfected Silver Lake's "bohemian modern" style: a practical philosophy that is Californian in origin but achievable anywhere. It is a look that favors raw, authentic materials, brilliant colors, creative space planning, and a natural flow between indoors and outdoors.
The results, as Bohemian Modern presents, are striking: a flawlessly restored Neutra house decorated with both whimsy and restraint, a rooftop constructed for viewing the stars, a lavish outdoor garden delicately integrated into the surrounding architecture, a double-sided bookcase that soars three stories and serves as a functional art installation...there is no limit to the creativity and beauty of Silver Lake style.
Both modern and classic, refreshing and inviting, Bohemian Modern will delight readers with its breathtaking, vividly photographed tour of Silver Lake.
Customer Reviews:
Bohemian Modern: Loads of pleasing photos.......2006-11-03
The book offers a great visual journey into the BOHOMO style
Someone Needs to do a good book on Silver Lake.......2006-10-03
The L.A. neighborhood called Silver Lake is home to a large number of iconic Modern-era houses, with many created by the West Coast's masters of the period. In recent decades, as "mid-century modern" has found new admiration, a new generation of architects has been called on to add to the already rich Silver Lake Modern storyline. Thus, today, perhaps more than any other neighborhood in the U.S., Silver Lake---a neighborhood with distinct, widely acknowledged geographic boundaries---is a mecca for Modern. What's more, there's actually enough extant iconic Modern houses in Silver Lake to merit a book-length treatment. After all, many of these daring examples of design have fascinating stories.
Sadly (and frustratingly), Bestor's book, despite its title, isn't about Modern residential architecture in Silver Lake. While it does consider a small portion of Modern houses there, including important houses by Neutra, Schindler, and Lautner, it spends much more time looking outside of Silver Lake (Echo Park, Elysian Park, Atwater), in places that have their own distinct identities and architectural histories. Almost immediately, the reader is forced to ask, "What happened to Silver Lake?"
Just when one recluctantly accepts this fact in an effort to move on to experience the other houses she's selected, Bestor abruptly ends the house tour and devotes the balance of the book to her favorite restaurants and other businesses, complete with photos of the owners, recipes, and flat-footed self-promo quotes from the managers and other employees of these establishments. Few of these businesses, it must be noted, are contained in Modern buildings. Why are they in a book about Modern in Silver Lake? Page after page, it all smells of blatant advertising.
If there is a common thread binding each of the author's very odd selections of subjects, it is her seemingly incessant need to use the book's very casual short texts to promote her own firm (as well as that of her many friends mentioned in the book) and give the proprietors of her neighborhood hang-outs a pat on the back.
How a book with such a confused sense of focus got past its publisher is shocking. The door to do a good book on Silver Lake remains wide open.
Enjoyable overview of America's most interesting neighborhood.......2006-07-06
Beautifully illustrated and informative exploration of the design and architecture of America's most unique and unheralded artist community. The author seems a bit eager to anoint herself the leader of the BOMO movement, taking great pains to establish her legacy as its central figure. At times this leaves the book feeling like an overpriced brochure for the Barbara Bestor Studio, however, there is enough content to make it a worthwhile read, particularly for those familiar with the area.
Must reading for Silver Lakers!.......2006-05-31
As a journalist and Silver Lake resident, I found this book very informative. I have driven or walked by many of the homes featured in the book, and it is fascinating to learn about the people who live in them.
Modern Classic - Lush & Inviting!.......2006-05-29
This book is a marvel! Kind of a cross between modern, urban, industrial, romantic and, of course, bohemian. Through extensive photos, warm and funny text, and an inviting format, the reader is transported to what seems like a foreign country. I want to live in Silver Lake! There is a wonderful sensibility behind this book; that of living simply and emphasizing those things that are truly important to quality of life: friendships, relationships, artistic expression, and warm environments in which to nurture what is important to the individual. This book will surely appeal to those who love great design, self-expressive environments, and simple pleasures. My new favorite design book!!
Book Description
In Book 3 of this four-volume work, Alexander presents hundreds of his own buildings and those of other contemporaries who have used methods consistent with the theory of living process.
Nearly seven hundred pages of projects, built and planned in many countries over a thirty-year period, illustrate the impact of living process on the world. The book provides the reader with an intuitive feel for the kind of world, its style and geometry, which is needed to generate living structure in the world and its communities, together with its ecological and natural character.
The projects include public buildings, neighborhoods, housing built by people for themselves, public urban space, rooms, gardens, ornament, colors, details of construction and construction innovation. The many buildings shown, and the methods needed to design and build these buildings, define living structure in a practical way that can be understood and copied.
". . . Alexander's approach presents a fundamental challenge to us and our style-obsessed age. It suggests that a beautiful form can come about only through a process that is meaningful to people. It also implies that certain types of processes, regardless of when they occur or who does them, can lead to certain types of forms."-Thomas Fisher, former editor of Progressive Architecture.
Christopher Alexander is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, architect, builder, and author of many books and technical papers. He is the winner of the first medal for research ever awarded by the American Institute of Architects, and Emeritus Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught for 40 years.
Customer Reviews:
A practical approach to reinventing human habitats.......2005-04-15
Alexander's long-awaited third book in the four-volume Nature of Order series finally provides a practical guide to creating great places based on his concepts of "centers", "wholeness" and "structure-preserving transformations."
Page after page of photos and diagrams give weight to Alexander's process-oriented approach to building.
This tome should be required reading for anyone who has wondered whether there is a way to reinvent our cities and suburbs away from "sprawl" and into vibrant, living places.
Book Description
Yurts: Living in the Round journeys from Central Asia to modern America and reveals the history, evolution, and contemporary benefits of yurt living. One of the oldest forms of indigenous shelter still in use today, yurts have exploded into the twenty-first century as a multi-faceted, thoroughly modern, utterly versatile, and immensely popular modern structure whose possibilities are still being explored. Kemery introduces the innovators who redesigned the yurt and took it from back country trekking and campground uses to modern permanent homes and offices.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent and the best Yurt book.......2007-07-15
The author has lived in various yurts in enough states to have some wisdom to share since climates can change and a yurt in the dessert is different than one high in the Sierras or Rockies where the temperatures can get well below freezing. She writes of the history of yurt dwellers and how modern fabrics here in the states make yurts weather proof in most areas and livable homes year round.
As a member of the Small House Society I am looking for a variety of small house choices and yurts and boats are at the top of my dream list.
Her examples also show the modern yurt like the ones here in the Sierras that all have windows, skylights, doors and most amenities one can find in a small modern home. Read other 5 star reviews who tell you even more. Excellent book.
Great Book.......2007-03-24
"Yurts: Living in the Round" is put together very well. It is clear and concise, bright and full of photos, and covers just about everything you'd ever need to know about yurts. It is obvious upon reading the book that the author has used her own extensive personal knowledge and experience in writing it.
Beautiful and Comprehensive.......2007-03-17
Ever since I first heard that Becky Kemery was writing a book about Yurts I have been looking forward to having it in my hands. The wait has definitely been worth it, now that I can see how fully realized her idea has become. Yurts: Living in the Round was published in 2006 by Gibbs Smith, and is the definitive source of information about anything to do with yurts. Not only that, it is also a fine piece of art in its own right; nearly every page is graced with carefully laid out color photos and drawings. Becky's writing is both clear and well researched.
Becky writes, "Most yurts are portable, tent-like structures. They have circular lattice walls (reminiscent of baby gates tied together) and a cone-shaped roof supported by rafters that meet in a center ring. The outer fabric shell of the yurt can be made of felted wool, coated canvas, or a modern architectural fabric. An ever-increasing number of wooden structures are also called yurts. What defines them as yurts and not just round houses? The Answer lies in the yurt's uncommon roof structure."
"The yurt roof incorporates a unique architectural design. Roof struts meet in a center ring, producing inward and downward pressure. This center ring holds the rafters an a state of compression. Where the struts meet the wall at the perimeter, a natural outward thrust occurs. A band (of rope, woven cloth, or wire cable) a the top of the wall holds the wall and roof poles in tension against this outward pressure. Because of this...long roof spans are possible without any internal support system (like posts, trusses, or beams). This gives the yurt an uncommon feeling of spaciousness and uplift. the roof design also creates an incredibly strong and resilient structure that is uniquely equipped to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and heavy snow loads."
The historical evolution of the modern yurt from its origins with the nomadic Central Asian tribes is carefully outlined. Both the Mongolian Ger and the Turkic Uy are the forerunners of what we now call the yurt. How these tribal folks traditionally make and decorate their portable homes is both fascinating and colorful. This process is generally a group effort and often involves painstakingly felting the wool to make the covering. The traditional pattern of living within this circular space is surprisingly similar to Native American traditional use of space within a hogan, with various family members and guests having their appropriate places.
One of the early modern adaptations of the traditional yurt design was Bill Copperwaite's "tapered wall yurt." These are wooden structures that incorporate the same roof design, but modify the vertical walls to incline outward, giving them a distinctly oriental flare. Bill has been exploring these interesting shapes since the early 1960's, and has come up with quite a variety of forms, including some with concentric tiers of yurts within yurts. Some of them have scalloped butterfly-like roofs; others have gothic arches that surround the perimeter.
The modern fabric yurt is more like its nomadic predecessor, in most ways, except that modern canvas or synthetic fabric replaces the felted wool. Becky chronicles how various people have adapted the original designs to suit modern needs in a variety of climates. Many of the new yurts have central plastic dome skylights and windows that let in lots of light, making them much more open and airy than the darker, womb-like nomadic yurts.
Many of the folks who have experimented with building their own yurts have gone on to make a business of supplying yurt kits for the general public. Becky suggests how to locate and evaluate these yurt companies, and describes various ways that yurts can be adapted for personal needs, such having a bathroom, porch, heater, etc. She even addresses the issues of financing and insuring yurts, and dealing with building code officials.
Another modern adaptation to the traditional yurt is called the "frame panel" yurt. These are much more permanent dwellings than their fabric cousins, and can appear as very solid indeed. They are often prefabricated off-site and shipped to the site for erection. Becky interviewed various people who have lived in these unique homes and shares many insights that could help others who do the same.
The chapter titled "Living in the Round" philosophically evaluates the merits of doing this. Becky writes, "The flexible open space of a yurt is an interior design canvas waiting for the creative expression of each yurt inhabitant. What remains constant is the welcoming embrace of the space, the interaction between inner and outer worlds, and the roof structure that lifts our vision skyward. The yurt also has an inherent ability to bring people together into a circle, which naturally engenders connection and cooperation."
The final portion of the book has several appendices that explore building codes, platform construction, and wood stove installation. There is also an extensive resource guide here for yurt companies, yurt plans, and other media. Becky's website about yurts, [...], is another resource providing additional information.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in simple, sustainable living, enduring vernacular architecture, or the possibilities inherent in living in the round.
Yurts for everyone.......2007-02-19
Excellent overview of all types of yurts,very helpful and comprehensive appendix with websites,etc. Great photos.
The blend of color photos and lively yet practical 'how to' advice' is unique........2007-02-08
YURTS: LIVING IN THE ROUND offers both a history of the nomadic yurt round house design and a survey of contemporary fabric yurts and how to build them, making it an excellent choice for any lending collection strong on alternative home-building options. Accounts from those who built and lived in yurts accompany color photos of differing styles and options, insights on how to choose and work with a yurt company, and even bear proofing a yurt. The blend of color photos and lively yet practical 'how to' advice' is unique.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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- Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town
- Making Your Move to One of America's Best Small Towns: How to Find a Great Little Place as Your Next Home Base
- Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home
- Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
- Mediterranean Inspiration: 125 Home Plans Inspired by Southern European Style (Inspiration (Homeplanners))
- Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style
- Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
Books Index
Books Home
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History & Criticism
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| Women in Art
Living with Art's Core Concepts in Art, Version 2.5
Gilbert's Living with Art
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
Real Essays with Readings: Writing Projects for College, Work, and Everyday Life
C Programming: A Modern Approach
