Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • Very Poorly Written
  • Broad Outlook on Interior Products
Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (6th Edition)
J. Rosemary Riggs
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0130483990

Book Description

/*0-13-048399-0, 4839J-7, Riggs, J. Rosemary, Materials and Components of Interior Architecture, 6/E*/ Taking into account the dramatic advances being made in materials and technologies, this innovative book on interior architecture offers a refreshing, synergistic approach to the field while exposing readers to many exciting nonstructural materials available to today's designers. With an eye on the environment, it provides a firm understanding of the products, properties, and uses of all materials, covering everything from floors, walls and ceiling to installation, and recycling. Progressing from the ground up—literally—it looks beyond the more decorative aspects of design to study the properties and uses of both finishing materials in the design field and structural materials in the architectural field. For interior designers and specifiers.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Very Poorly Written.......2006-08-22

This book is very poorly written. It also does not adequately discuss estimating materials.

3 out of 5 stars Broad Outlook on Interior Products.......2000-06-21

This book is a good reference for anyone who is currently designing or building a luxury home, but for a general education on construction interiors, this is not the book. There are many references to the latest products, which include both color and feature description that will be quickly outdated. Most of the discussion centers around materials that would be used in an affluent home rather than your typical family residence, and product descriptions focus on the unique product, not the typical. Dimensions for comfortable clearance and layout hints are useful for residential layout, but the commercial references are very limited.
Inside Today's Home
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great resource !
  • Great book for anyone seriously interested in interior desig
Inside Today's Home
Luann Nissen , Ray Faulkner , and Sarah Faulkner
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0030554926

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great resource !.......2007-05-08

I used the text for a space planning class. It was well organized and there were tables for referencing anthopometric data quickly. I kept it on hand while drawing floor plans for easy reference.

5 out of 5 stars Great book for anyone seriously interested in interior desig.......1997-12-18

I have used this book as a reference for many years. It is a great book. Anyone who is remodeling their kitchen or building a new home should read this book. Ms. Nissen has explored many areas of the field and written a terrific book.
Let's Get Comfortable
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful Ideas
  • A Must for the First Time Decorator
  • A Great Catalogue for Gold and partner
  • Just like any other decoration book out there
  • A book for the decor-impaired
Let's Get Comfortable
Mitchell Gold , and Bob Williams
Manufacturer: Meredith Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0696234300
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

Expert advice on creating style and comfort in your home

You've seen their relaxed, comfortable furniture in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams stores, Crate & Barrel, or Pottery Barn, and admired their accessories while watching Sex & the City or Friends. Now you can learn from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams themselves how to create gorgeous, yet completely comfortable style in your own home. Inspiring color photos, floor plans and step-by-step instructions show you how to decorate and design your home, plus arrange furniture and color schemes to make any room an oasis of comfort and personal style.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Ideas.......2007-08-03

I love this book. I was very happy upon receiving this book. There are great many useful ideas for furniture arrangements, color coordination, etc. Very useful for people to use to assist with laying out a room, carrying through decorating ideas, that are simple but very beautiful.

5 out of 5 stars A Must for the First Time Decorator.......2007-07-19

Ordered this book for a couple who purchased their first home. They LOVED it and were inspired to decorate (beyond the in-college look) realizing they didn't need to spend $$$ to set up a fantastic looking room.

2 out of 5 stars A Great Catalogue for Gold and partner.......2007-07-17

I personally feel the book is a great catalogue for the furniture manufacturers who wrote the book. Some nice pictures but not of much value to me however, I am very choosy about my design books so others may feel quite differently.

1 out of 5 stars Just like any other decoration book out there.......2007-06-27

I saw an excerpt of this book in a deco magazine I read. It was about the placement of the furniture in the living room, by creating layers of objects. Finally a sound, step-by-step advice with pictures, since I always had trouble implementing in real life all the pretty pictures I saw for years in the magazines I read.

Unfortunately, upon reading the book I discovered that this is the only step-by-step advice in it. All the rest are (again) pretty pictures, in the same contemporary design. I really should not have bought this. If you feel the same, I recomment Easy Decorating Makeovers by BHG.

5 out of 5 stars A book for the decor-impaired.......2007-05-21

I have to tell you how much I like this book. First of all, I am very busy--single mom, working, blah blah. Definitely too busy to decorate and when I do have the time, I don't have a clue how to go about it. My rooms end up looking like a hodge-podge, and not in the cute, shabby-chic kind of way. I had actually called an honest-to-goodness licensed Interior Decorator out of desperation, even though I couldn't afford it.

And then I saw this book. And I canceled the appointment with the decorator lady.

Why should I pay her what I already paid these guys to do? They told me what I needed to know to make my rooms look better. More cohesive, more stylish, and more comfortable. Which is all I wanted.

The book is easy to read with lots of good pictures and common-sense advice for pulling rooms together. Best of all I could use a lot of what I already had.
Good book, great investment!

Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors: Basic Skills
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent Reference Book
Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors: Basic Skills
W. Otie Kilmer , Rosemary Kilmer , Kilmer , and Stephen Hanessian
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471109533

Book Description

Get a realisitic guide to producing construction documents that clearly communicate the interior space of new construction, remodeling, or installation projects with Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors. This highly visual book:

Order your copy today.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Book.......2005-06-22

I have many years of architectural drafting experience. Although this book says "Basic Skills" on the cover, it is much more than basic. It's an excellent reference book, covering everything that is needed for interior design drafting: from line weights to scale, dimensioning, plans, elevations, sections, checklists, furniture and finish schedules, contract documents, and the list goes on. I highly recommend this book for students of interior design and practising designers alike.
The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great concepts, middling design
  • Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space
  • A must Have If You Plan To Build
  • Reviewed by Amy Lignor
  • Insightful book with great ideas
The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Sarah Susanka
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1561583766
Release Date: 2001-04-01

Amazon.com

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 The Not So Big House, respected architect Sarah Susanka and coauthor Kira Obolensky address our affinity for the "smaller, more personal spaces" and propose "clear, workable guidelines for creating homes that serve both our spiritual needs and our material requirements." The heart of the not-so-big house--which is not "just a small house ... [but] a smaller house," that uses "less space to give greater quality of life," and is designed to not only "accommodate the lifestyles of its occupants" but also to express "our values and our personalities," is discussed in chapter 1, entitled "Bigger Isn't Better." Susanka's urging for homeowners to get creative with their space as well as loads of ideas to encourage that creativity are covered in "Rethinking the House" and "Making Not So Big Work." Discussions of specific needs, such as a home for one and designing for kids, can be found in "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," while "Dreams, Details, and Dollars" gets down to the nuts and bolts of the operation, looking at quality versus quantity, budgeting, and what "low end," "middle ground," and "high end" really mean in home design and construction. Lastly, the authors look at the home of the future, which involves simplifying, recycling, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs, as well as floor plans and Susanka and Obolensky's intelligent and lively dialogue, The Not So Big House is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. --Stefanie Hargreaves

Book Description

Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just don't work. In The Not So Big House, she proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics covered include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs as well as floor plans, the book is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. “Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms.” — San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great concepts, middling design.......2007-09-25

I've found this book to be an invaluable resource and appreciate the philosophy and information contained within it. I also found the numerous photos and illustrations to be helpful to convey Susanka's ideas.

The only problem is that I found the actual design and decor of the homes in the book somehow dated and uninspiring. This is definitely a personal reaction, and I'm sure others would disagree. Despite my issues with the actual look of the homes, I'd recommend this as an essential resource along with John Wheatman's books (whose design does resonate for me).

5 out of 5 stars Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space.......2007-09-02

The ideas in this book encourage you to think about how you would like use your home space and how to accomplish this marriage of functionality with comfort and aesthetics. Almost every photo has some new little idea to think about. It gives me hope that I'll finally be able to create a comfortable home that integrates everyone's interests & needs. It's inspirational for those of us who have to adapt living spaces to growing families & to those like me who are now empty nesters (but who still need bed space for visiting family members).

5 out of 5 stars A must Have If You Plan To Build.......2007-06-27

Useful, practical, creative. Anyone can gain something from this book even if you aren't building.

4 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Amy Lignor.......2007-06-21

Have you ever found yourself asking, "Is this all there is to life?" We are running in a world of cell phone and blackberry technology, where life is so fast that we never have time to do what we truly want: sit back and enjoy our lives while we have one. This author, with a background in architecture, has put together a fantastic psychological blueprint, if you will, to make changes that will offer you a more rewarding life. This is not like the usual "schlock" that says close your eyes and all good things will come. No, this author takes the time to reveal that things like form and function are not only useful in building a house, they can be translated into building a better life. In a house, you can tear down interior walls to make more space and bring in more light; in your life, you can tear down your fears and open new possibilities.

This is a lovely read filled with wise advice. The author has successfully interwoven her extensive architectural background into well-compiled thoughts on how each and every one of us can make small changes in our lives that will allow us to treasure the time we have.

My advice? If you wish to begin taking time out to enjoy your life - begin by reading this book.

5 out of 5 stars Insightful book with great ideas.......2007-05-26

I was starting to think I was crazy for wanting to build a small house, but this book perfectly articulates the thoughts I was having so much conveying. It is a wonderful basis for discussion and offers many practical, well thought out ideas for implementation.
Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great reference for intermediate to rooky
  • Fantastic.
  • Great for the serious do-it-yourselfer
  • Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros)
  • Wiring for Pros?
Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros)
Rex Cauldwell
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ElectricalElectrical | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1561585270
Release Date: 2002-08-23

Book Description

This classic reference book on home wiring for homeowners, electricians and apprentices has been completely updated to reflect changes to the electrical code since it was first published in 1996. New material on home generators, lightning protection and wiring "above code" has been added to this edition. New design and color photos and illustrations throughout are featured.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great reference for intermediate to rooky .......2007-09-28

This is a very readable, very well organized how-to book. Anecdotes help illustrate the points and Rex covers a little of practical real-world stuff that is missing from other wiring guides. Clear diagrams and photos. Best of over ten recent books that I surveyed - I bought this one and use it often.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic........2007-09-04

Fantastic book for novice to intermediate electrician. Wow this book was written very well and was very helpful. Best of several books I have on the subject.

4 out of 5 stars Great for the serious do-it-yourselfer.......2007-08-21

OK, so this book is NOT aimed at folks who get worried by the mere THOUGHT of electricity. However, if you are COMPETENT at DIY, it is excellent - there's perhaps more about site preparation and getting ready for the electricity company to connect up than I needed, but the above code hints were extremely handy.

One or two tips were missing - for example, when wiring ceiling lights it is a good idea to use 12-3 rather than the cheaper 12-2 so that you can put a fan on a separate switch by the door rather than relying on the pull cord.

His recommendations for Siemens breaker boxes is right on, by the way.

5 out of 5 stars Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros).......2007-06-27

The book was very helpful for someone serious about doing a wiring project. The writer needs to update the book every time the code changes and the book has not been updated for most recent code. But overall it's very good.

1 out of 5 stars Wiring for Pros?.......2007-05-30

This guy is seriously overstating the simplicity of the book.Its supposed to be for amateurs not pros and while their is afair amount of information ,it really comes up short with install tips.Would not recommend
Designers Guide to Furniture Styles, Second Edition
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderfully Educational
  • Waste of time and MONEY!
  • Good Guide
  • Like Cliff Notes for Furniture!
  • Excellent Reference - Nice Job!
Designers Guide to Furniture Styles, Second Edition
Treena M. Crochet , and Treena Crochet
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0130447579

Book Description

This book profiles the history of the development of various furniture styles, exploring the evolution of style in the context of the architectural setting, interior design, and decorative arts of each period. This fascinating book is a beautiful visual reference guide to furniture styles. For architects, interior designers, furniture manufacturers, and antique dealers.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Educational.......2007-05-14

This book is wonderfully educational. It takes you back to the beginning of furniture and walks you through the centuries providing you with the intial inspiration through Modern design. Great pictures too.

1 out of 5 stars Waste of time and MONEY!.......2006-07-09

Based on the reviews of this book I decided to buy it! To my absolute shock, I dont understand who wrote these great reviews??? They were probably written by the publisher or author of this book.
What a waste of time and money. Being a designer myself, i ve got every possible book on interior design, and furniture styles that are out on the market. Based on the price of this book, and good reveiws, I figured it would be a great addition to my collection of books and references. Its poorly printed, very bad paper quality, no detailed shots of the furniture pieces, and not worth the price whatsoever. I mean if the publisher is charging this price, then the least they could do is print it on good paper and have clearer pictures.
I am extremely dissapointed and returning the book asap.
If u enjoy throwing your money away on a small book with poorly printed pictures(aside from the info, which is fine)then this is the book to buy . But if you are looking for details of furniture, including the background and history, and worth every penny, then i suggest you buy (Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary by Judith Miller )

4 out of 5 stars Good Guide.......2006-02-08

I was not impressed when I received this book, with the quality of the paper or the overall presentation. I thought some of the photography left much to be desired quality-wise. However, it is quite a comprehensive book and I leaned on it considerably in my studies of furniture and design. So don't let me put you off. I just think that, with all the research and hard work involved, and considering the price, a better quality might have been forthcoming.

4 out of 5 stars Like Cliff Notes for Furniture!.......2005-08-10

This book has brief history lessons on furniture from the begining of time! It's a great reference when you need an answer about a design period- quick! A must for every Interior Designer!

4 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference - Nice Job!.......2003-01-19

I found the book to be a good overall reference and extremely
useful in explaining period furniture to my design clients. I would like to have seen more coverage of Mid-century Modern, especially the work of Edward Wormley and DUNBAR.

Definitely worth the money - should be all designers reference
libraries...
In the Pink: Dorothy Draper--America's Most Fabulous Decorator
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Dorothy Draper: an inspiration to her field!
  • The Height of Glamour
  • The gorgeous terror of excess, or "How I was blinded with ornament"
  • Absolutely gorgeous book
  • As History & Biography: Bravo! As Design Inspiration: Blah!
In the Pink: Dorothy Draper--America's Most Fabulous Decorator
Carleton Varney
Manufacturer: Pointed Leaf Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0972766189

Book Description

From the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia and Quitandinha in Brazil to her important fabrics for F. Schumacher & Co. and her automobile and airplane interiors of the 1950s, Draper continues to influence designers today.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Dorothy Draper: an inspiration to her field! .......2007-10-12

As one of the previous commentators stated, this book is a wonderful book in terms of historical significance to the Decorating/Interior Design field, but this book is certainly not a "how to" book on decorating. Therefore, if you are looking for a basic "how to decorate" book, then this book may not be a way to go.

HOWEVER......

If a person is buying this book as an historical reference book to their home decorating (or interior design) library, then this book would be a wonderful addition.

For example, if I were a person majoring in a form of home decorating field, then this book would be of tremendous value. WHY?...because so many ideas that Dorothy Draper implemented are still being used today or still inspiring home decorators today!! (eg: if you were to look at Jonathan Adler's current design concepts, you will see alot of Dorothy Draper's influence in Jonathan's work). Thus, Dorothy Draper's influence to the home decorating field is truly immesurable.

This hardback book is large in size.The photos are amazing. Most are in black-and-white since that is how the photos were orignally taken. But still,....the author describes the colors that would have been used in the book's B&W photos, and THAT helps the reader so much! I could certainly visualize what the B&W photos would be like in color, thanks to Carlton's wonderful descriptions.

5 out of 5 stars The Height of Glamour.......2007-07-12

When High STYLE was "in-style" Dorothy Draper was the queen of design... Every page reflects her understanding of space, light and perfection!!! This isa great read for the design professional as well as the casual reader. Her life story and her work are inseperable - she loved beautiful things and had an un-erring eye for the dramatic. "In the Pink: Dorothy Draper --America's Most Fabulous Decorator" is a visual treat as much as it is a fun read! As an iterior designer I see her design principles are as easily applied today as it was in the age of glamour. I would give it a 5!!! all across the board.

5 out of 5 stars The gorgeous terror of excess, or "How I was blinded with ornament".......2007-06-01

While Kelly Wearstler was still in the womb, Dorothy Draper was jetsetting the style world in a solid gold Deusenburg that was fueled exclusively on Chanel no. 5. Her contribution to the interiors and custom fabricated furnitures and fixtures has forever seared a scar into the homes of hollywood and beyond. Liberace himself would be sent into a seizure over Dorothy's hallucinagenic oppulence and fearless approach to her indulgent, decorative torture chambers. Get this book and blow your mind.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely gorgeous book.......2007-04-06

It took a while for me to finally decide to drop that kind of coin on a book, but its absolutely gorgeous and worth the price. Very cool to page through and see her imprint on decorating and design through the 30's up to now. You page through a Domino magazine and see a cool black and white modern print on a white french chair and think 'wow' and then you page through the book and see that she was doing it in the 40's. Just makes me wish I had my own chandelier fabricator and my own master plasterer as those seem to be her tricks of the trade. Beautifully put together and one of the few decorating books I actually wanted to READ every word and not just page through for the pretty pics.

3 out of 5 stars As History & Biography: Bravo! As Design Inspiration: Blah!.......2007-04-02

I bought this book for my wife, who is an artist and color consultant, because I thought she'd enjoy seeing an iconic designer known for her bold use of color and thematic environments -- especially done on a grand scale. And, yes, you will find page after page after page of grand ballrooms, hotel lobbies, mansion-size dining rooms, and so on here.

80% of them, unfortunately, are photographed in black & white. So much for the bold use of color.

There are two great color photos -- pages 161 and 207 -- that show off Draper's lush, vibrant style. But the rest of the book is either slightly out of focus color photos, color illustrations and old ads, or black & white photos. It's just sad in how it under-represents Dorothy Draper.

"But be fair," you say. "Dorothy Draper's peak took place before the advent of color photography." That's fine. But this book is a perfect example of the rare publishing project that truly is BEGGING for Photoshop colorization. On page 53, for example, the text refers to a House & Garden magazine article which declared one of Draper's most visible design projects, Hampshire House, to be "a gold mine of decorating ideas, particularly in color." And yet all four photos on that spread are in black & white, as are the spreads before and after it. A very good Photoshop artist -- and several do perfect, true-to-life work -- could give those old black & white shots the vivid, vibrant colors that would represent Dorothy Draper properly and accurately without changing Draper's style one iota.

As I say in my title, as a history (of the advent of superstar designers) and a biography (of Draper), this is a very good book that should not be overlooked. But how can you do a history of bold interior design, or a biography of a top interior designer, without SHOWING the vivacious use of color which was central to both? That's like doing a bio of Abe Lincoln without including the Gettysburg Address.

So is this worth seeing? Definitely. Worth buying used? Probably. Worth buying new? Only if you're rich.
Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • For those who want to dig a little deeper
  • Full of inspiring ideas!
  • Great Ideas
  • Less is most definitely more
  • Great as always!
Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
Sarah Susanka , and Marc Vassallo
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Design & ConstructionDesign & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Cleaning, Caretaking & RelocatingCleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
  2. The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
  3. Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka) Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
  4. Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home
  5. Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka) Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka)

ASIN: 1561586811
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Book Description

In her latest book, best-selling author of The Not So Big House Sarah Susanka teams up with architectural design writer Marc Vassallo to expand upon the message that has resonated with over a million homeowners and builders across the country: opting for personalized, well-crafted, thoughtfully designed spaces over superfluous square footage results in a home that comforts and nourishes those who live there.
In Inside The Not So Big House, Susanka and Vassallo focus their lens on the tangible and sometimes intangible details that bring an otherwise ordinary home to life. Incorporating such details as dropped ceilings, built-in shelves, pocket doors, window seats, and well-placed alcoves infuses a home with the character of its owners and conveys a uniqueness that's mising in many homes built or remodeled today. From Rhode Island to San Diego, the 23 homes featured here illustrate exceptional attention to detail. Each offers inspiration for those building or remodeling to transform their home into an expression of all that is important to them. "Detail is everything in design. Sarah Susanka proves it again with this, her latest book."
--John Wheatman, author, Meditations on Design and A Good House Is Never Done

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars For those who want to dig a little deeper.......2007-09-02

Susanka's attention to detail is awe-inspiring, and probably more information than the average person wants, but the book has great photos and some wonderful ideas that anyone can use. If you've been able to acquire the perfect furniture, best use of space and light, but you're still missing the ingredient to really pull it all together -- balance, aesthetics, personality, etc -- this book may help you.

4 out of 5 stars Full of inspiring ideas!.......2007-03-08

I have been devouring the pages of ideas in this book. I think I have looked all through it a dozen times, because many of the concepts and ideas seem to improve and become more usable as I think them over. We live in a ca. 1970's "split-ranch" house and this book has me thinking creatively about using the space in our house in ways I haven't done before.

4 out of 5 stars Great Ideas.......2006-11-03

Read the book cover to cover and enjoyed a fresh look at residential design. As an architect myself, it made me rethink some of my own design processes. Bigger isn't always necessarily better!

4 out of 5 stars Less is most definitely more.......2006-03-22

In this astonishing book, which is filled with wonderful ideas, as well as being a beautiful coffee table book, we are granted an inside look at a truly new concept in home design in our age of teardowns and mega-mansions, a concept that smaller can be more satisfying than larger, if properly done. Here we are presented with something seldom viewed these days, how to make a house a home. There is something for every taste herein, and it is even multi-cultural, with oriental viewpoints as well on both furniture and flow of the home. Spend some time with this excellent book to see how every size home can be made more personal and beautiful, no matter what the budget.

5 out of 5 stars Great as always!.......2006-03-20

Sarah books are a staple in my books of design collection. I refer to them frequently. She has a wonderful sense of design as it relates to organization, usefullness,and asthetically pleasing. I wish more designers and architects would use her sensibility and we would not be over run with all the hideous, vapid,mac mansions everywhere. I would reccommend all of her books without hesitation.
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Rather Big 'Not So Big"
  • pretty much only covers enormous houses
  • Landscaping 101
  • Wonderful Book- Susanka is the best!
  • Many ideas for designing small areas near small houses
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
Julie Moir Messervy , and Sarah Susanka
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

LandscapeLandscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Garden DesignGarden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
LandscapeLandscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Interior DesignInterior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Decorating | Decoration & Ornament | Floors | General | Lighting | Painting & Wallpapering | Professional Reference | Style | Upholstery & Fabrics | Windows
GeneralGeneral | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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  1. Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka) Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
  2. Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka) Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
  3. The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
  4. The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
  5. Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka) Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home (Susanka)

ASIN: 1561587346
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, noted landscape designer and award-winning writer Julie Moir Messervy and bestselling author Sarah Susanka reveal how to bring house and garden into perfect harmony. After all, who doesn't yearn for a landscape that is as well designed as the interior of their home? In Outside the Not So Big House, Julie and Sarah teach you everything you need to know about the design concepts essential to extending your home beyond its four walls.

Lushly photographed and illustrated with vivid drawings, Outside the Not So Big House explores how to build pathways and journeys in your gardens; how to make the most of your site; how to use details to bring it all together. Twenty homes from across the country aptly illustrate these easy-to-grasp design ideas. Fans of Sarah's previous Not So Big books will be pleased to discover not only Julie's clear, concise prose but also a new vision for creating home.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars The Rather Big 'Not So Big".......2007-03-29

I come away with the feeling that Sarah was lead astray when this book was in development.

Many of the houses in previous books in the 'Not So Big' series have been rather expensive even if they have not been that big. At least these books have provided me with ideas in redoing our moderate sized/priced house.

In this book I find a 'Not So Big' house with a library, a sitting room, and a sunroom on the first floor in addition to a mudroom, kitchen with eating area, formal dining room and living room. The next house in the book sits on a 4 acre lot. Almost every house in the book has grounds that require hired maintenance professionals.

I would imagine that one of the first chapters in Sarah's new book, 'The Not So Big Life', will recommend reducing the square footage of your house and the maintenance required for your grounds. Reducing the square footage of your house will substantially reduce the work needed for upkeep. The 'grounds' could be turned into a native prairie for which God will provide the maintenance. Half of our 1.3 acre lot is native forest looked after by God.

The subtitle of the new book is 'Making Room For What Matters'. One of the things that matters for me is making time for things I enjoy by spending as little time as possible 'mowing the lawn'.

3 out of 5 stars pretty much only covers enormous houses.......2007-01-11

I find the title of this book incredibly misleading. For her, "not so big" means "integrated with nature" as opposed to, well, "not so big"! Almost all of the houses in here are enormous (without counting I'd say maybe 38 of the 40 she talks about), so it's not very helpful for someone like me with a smaller house. Granted, she says her "starter home" was a large Victorian in Boston with a wrap-around porch and stained glass windows, so her perspective is bound to be different from the average American's! But unfortunately I had a hard time applying her concepts to my smaller home (on a 1/4 acre lot), and found myself heartily annoyed because the title had promised something that perhaps might be more useful to someone like me.

5 out of 5 stars Landscaping 101.......2006-09-14

This is a grand book with homes in differing sites in differing parts of the US. One can glean many ideas from the great photographs and text. Julie Moir Messervy's designs are elegantly simple and reflect her studies in Japan. This book is a real addition to the library of anyone interested in designing their landscape.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book- Susanka is the best!.......2006-08-22

Susanka is a great architect! Love it all and look forward to generating a whole new look for my entire property!

4 out of 5 stars Many ideas for designing small areas near small houses.......2006-07-15

(4.5 Stars) I can see from the other reviews that there exist a wide range of opinions about this book. I fall on the high side, I suppose. I enjoyed the large number of photos and ideas for landscaping small areas - spots even - in the yard around a smaller home.

One, rather unreal aspect was that, most of the homes pictured are modern homes with interesting custom architecture. Some of us live in simple ranch-styles (boxes).

Julie's training and interest in architecture does come through, but I did not find it distracting. In fact, I found the emphasis on the relationship between the interior design of the home and landscape as seen from inside very useful. Most landscaping books present only the view TOWARD the house, not FROM it.

I got several good ideas from this book and learned a bit about design.



Books:

  1. Mexican Muralists: Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros
  2. Microprocessors and Microcomputers: Hardware and Software (6th Edition)
  3. Modern China and Japan: A Brief History
  4. Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination
  5. Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style
  6. Nicomachean Ethics
  7. Office Space Planning: Designs for Tomorrow's Workplace
  8. Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design
  9. Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture
  10. Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design

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