Residential Books

This book is a must have for any lover of the Victorian era. The photographs are gorgeous, wonderful quality. I have it on my coffee table for all to see. Please don't hesitate if you want this book because you will regret it. I have always loved this era, especially Victorian homes. If I had the money, I would live one. My dream!

Nancy S.

While there may be a plethora of books on the subject of Victorian decorative arts, none have the ample number of photographs this one has.

My wife and I recently bought a circa 1900 home, complete with most of its original elements ranging from seven glorious mantels to original gaslight overhead lighting fixtures. The only problem was the awful interior paint job, and of course, lack of Victorian furniture.

We searched everywhere for a book which depicts correct colors and design elements to no avail. Then at the local library we came across this currently (at the time of this writing) out of print book. It is still available as new and used.

The text is excellent, however, the photographs are the main selling point. If you are interested in authentic Victorian style and want to decorate your home correctly, this book has it all.

A must for everyone who owns or dreams of owning a victorian period home. Covering grand to smaller scale homes, this book takes you through every nook and cranny of homes...from porches to living rooms to victorian style bathrooms. This book offers the reader so many ideas but is not a true reference book...no how-to's in this one but rather a visual treasure chest of examples for those looking to renovate or decorate in true victorian style. A source directory is included. Enjoy!

Should you actually wish to drive down either Westmoreland or Portland Places, expect an unnessecarily rude treatment from what must be the local rent-a-cop. It matters not the price of your car or attire- you might get (as I did) threatened to be "thrown in jail for trespassing", and lectured as if you were an idiot. Other students of architecture beware. It happened to me, and judging by the character of the "gentleman" in question, I'm just glad I'm not black. I escaped without kissing the hood of my car.

I love this book. It has tons of beautiful exterior photos but I would like to see more historical photos and more interior shots. I would also love to see more recounts by the people who lived there. There are a few stories and I read them over and over. I'd really like to give this book a four and a half but that's not an option.

Congratulations to all that contributed to this outstanding book. The history of the Places was carefully and completely researched and presented with beautiful photographs.

Great tips from A to Z on home buying. I am considering selling my current home and buying another and reading this book has made the process a lot easier. Very knowledgeable on hints on finding the best match in a realtor. Thanks Michael Flynn!

We just bought our first home and were completely overwhelmed. It's scary knowing what you're getting into and trying to make sure you aren't making a huge mistake. Thanks to this book we felt confident that we were covering all of our bases. This book gave us tips on everything from making sure we were working with an agent we liked and trusted--and who wasn't lying to us, to knowing what to expect and how to handle the inspection, things to consider when buying the house, and, some of the best advice, were tips on things we never would have thought of. For example, go to the house at various times of day to make sure you know what the traffic is like, drive from the house to work and school so you knw what that will be like. It was terrific and I will recommend it to all my friends--even those who already own a home. You can use this the first, second and third time around.

150 Best House IdeasI am planning to build a house and was looking for some ideas to help me with the house plan. This book is outstanding!

I bought this book as a present for a friend who renovates homes, but I had to buy another as I didn't want to give it away.
The photography in this book is simply amazing, and the designs are stunning. Most of the houses are contemporary in design, and the fitouts are superb. The architects names are also included if you want to contact them, a very nice touch indeed.

There is something for every person interested in design in this book.

25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines by Elizabeth V. Reyes, featuring the photography of A. Chester Long, is an impressive collection of the innovative architectural designs showcasing Philippines creativity and artistic approaches to crafting modern furniture and buildings. Featuring a substantial compendium of vivid full-color photography, 25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines acts as an ultimate guide for students of architecture of Filipino modern culture and design. A welcome addition to professional and academic library Architectural Studies collections, 25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines for anyone who has an interest in the art of modern architectural design in a tropical south-seas climate.

This book showcases what Filipinos can do in modern architecture and interior design, while still incorporating the notably unique and vibrant tropical style. The houses featured in this book used a number of West, East, traditional, even tribal elements that can only be truly Filipino. A great reference material for people into modern architecture with a tropical twist. It's a feast!

Sorry I don't have more time right now to compose a more substantial supportive review, but suffice it to say that I can enthusiastically give this book 5 stars. Though somewhat modest in it's appearance, the book's contents are an important advancement of many of the concepts discussed in the equally important book, How Buildings Learn. Importantly, in addition to the ideas discussed, are several examples of actual projects, including construction details and materials showing how to achieve them. This book is a particularly valuable and practical reference for all forward-thinking architects and contractors who truly want to serve their clients for a long time to come.

good overview of adaptable home techniques
focus on affordability is a welcome change as most architectural design is geared toward higher end homes.
illustrations compliment the text

from the book:
Author Avi Friedman believes that rather than being unchangeable, physical environments should be designed and constructed to easily adjust to the evolving lifestyle of their inhabitants. A home, he contends, should be structurally flexible enough to adapt to changes such as children "leaving the nest," elderly relatives moving in, or the need for home office space. Written by an internationally recognized flexible housing advocate, The Adaptable House provides specific design approaches and techniques that facilitate flexible design--both on the inside and outside--making it simple to alter a dwelling layout, demolish partitions or build new ones, upgrade heating systems, change the locations of stairs, etc. The book is divided into three logical sections: the first sets the stage for adaptability, the second outlines relevant principles, and the last shows their actual application. Packed with floor plans, drawings, photos, and charts to fully and clearly illustrate his suggestions, The Adaptable House includes detailed coverage of: * Interior layouts and room configurations * Exterior elements such as roofs and facades * New building materials and methods * Easy add-on and remodels * Single-family and multiple dwelling housing The Adaptable House is a master blueprint for those interested in creating homes that can be quickly, easily, and inexpensively redesigned to meet the dynamic nature of the occupants' life. contributers include Nadia Meratla, Effie Bouras, and André Majaes

Whilst writing my tome on Sears Homes, I kept Clark's book close at hand as a resource. Years earlier, I'd read it cover to cover and just loved it. "The American Family Home" is written by a college professor but it's a warm, conversational and fascinating read. Lacks the dry-as-dust technical, clunky language that some architectural writers seem to relish (and employ!).

What I love most about his book is that he explains HOW and WHY American architecture evolved the way that it did. He explains (in delicious and interesting depth) why the early-1900s bungalow was actually a specific response to the ostentatious and ornate Victorians of the late 1800s.

This book was well-researched and well written. I highly recommend it, both as an entertaining book and a wonderful resource to help you gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of America's architecture.

Rose Thornton
author, The Houses That Sears Built

Few books, in my experience are written as clearly as this one. Clark leads the reader carefully and thoughtfully from 1800 to 1960, and shows why certain styles of home were popular in each era. His word choice is excellent and his sentence formation is flawless. He gives many examples and the book is well illustrated. For anyone wishing to understand why Americans have bought and built the houses they have, and what they hoped to get out of them, this is the book to buy. Get two.

This is a beautifully produced book with wonderful photographs that capture the essence of Predock's work, the magical interplay of light and shadow. A characteristic of Predock residences is the interdigitation of the house and the land so that it appears as if the house almost grew out of and/or grew into the earth (pp.46-7, 82-3). The siting of the Boulder House (pp.46-7)against the majestic barren New Mexico environ is bold and assertive but at the same time is pitched in perfect harmony with its surroundings(pp.38-9). It embodies the primordial purpose of a domicile, a shelter from the harsh elements of nature and a haven where the inhabitant inside feels snug and protected. A unique feature of Predock's buildings is his almost metaphysical approach to design so that the structure seems to morph into a kind of mythic place, evocative of some distant place/ancient times/primordial culture. This is exemplified by the Fuller house as illustrated on pages 86-7. The Fuller house is classical without appearing derivative. It is timeless in its suggested monumentality. Predock's designs should withstand the vagaries of time. Though he is a gifted master of modernism, he is a universal architect of all times and all places because of his almost mystical reverence for the land and his profound appreciation of the "geological strata" of culture encoded in the place where his building is situated. Because he also understands stage craft from his background in dance performance, he is a clever stage master and understands the emotional impact of well choreographed presentations. (See the boulders spilling down to the pool on pages 100-1.) He is also a brilliant colorist, as exemplified by the elegantly tinted exteriors of his houses which blend in so seamlessly with the background landscape without the artifice of mimicking nature (pp. 86-7, 104-5, 120-1). This book does an admirable job of capturing these special attributes of Preodock's designs.

Predock is the George Jetson of our day. He ia a prime speciman of a spaceman. The man knows space. This is not so much a review of the product I received from Amazon as it is a prelude to a Predock. As you move yourself toward the crafting of your space and before your space craft blasts off, go for a test drive with Predock. He will put the rocket in your proverbial pocket. He will put the capital D on your dreamhouse. Predock is not the product but all props to Amazon for hooking me up with the man and his work. I am feeling deeply satisfied and inspired.

This book, like Arts and Crafts Houses II, covers only three houses, in this case William Morris's Red House (designed by Phillip Webb), William Richard Lethaby's Melsetter House, and Sir Edward Luteyns' Goddards, but it covers them beautifully and thoroughly. There are site plans, floor plans, elevations, beautiful black and white photos and stunning color photos, significant introductory essays, and lists of references. This is a beautiful book at an amazing price.

These are three of the major works of the Arts and Crafts Movement beginning with the fabulous Red House which brought together many of William Morris' ideas in shaping this movement. Philip Webb worked with Morris to create this resplendent design, inspired by the earlier neo-Gothic movement, but pointing the direction to a new architecture. There are many fine color photos as well as key details of the house that give you a very good impression of this seminal work in the English Freestyle.

Lethaby and Lutyens carried the movement forward. They, along with C.F.A. Voysey, were the leading figures in the Arts and Crafts Movement, and shown here are their key works. The Melsetter House is a tour-de-force, stripped of most of the Neo-Gothic trappings, this house offers a more refined version of the English Manor House of the late 19th century. The site plan shows the beautiful configuration that Lethaby came up with to anchor the house on the large site with its radiating gardens. There are many beautifully detailed drawings, including molding profiles of the enormous fireplaces, which graced this mansion. But probably the most evocative photos and drawings are those of the chapel which was an extension of the main house.

Lutyens was a very eclectic architect, drawing on many classical themes as well as Neo-Gothic themes. Goddards represents a closer adherance to the Arts and Crafts Style, but in the introduction the author gives the reader a wide sampling of Lutyens' style. Goddards has elements of timber architecture and is more earthy in its appearance. The skewed wings open up the courtyard to the countryside beyond, and Lutyen's richly detailed chimneys rise as strong tower elements in the otherwise horizontal house. Lots of wonderful sections and detail drawings to give the reader a full impression of this manor house.

As a lay person anticipating residence in Assisted Living before all is said and done, I wanted to find out just what it is, how to evaluate it, and what pitfalls and protections await the residents. I had read Internet articles suggesting that there are problems with defining Assisted Living, that protection for residents varies from state to state, and that variations are great, even within states. Mr. Lawton's work, combined with B. Schwarz's Aging, Autonomy, and Architecture: Advances in Assisted Living, managed to provide me either with the answers or with an explanation of why there are still so many unanswered questions. Lawton's Needs, Practices and Policies in Residential Care for the Elderly presents the results of studies and investigations in a number of states, one a potential retirement destination of mine. Both volumes deal with the issue of "aging in place," which turns out to be an urgently important concept to those whose needs might be better served by skilled care (nursing) but an often unwelcome practice to those residents not wishing to be surrounded by the very frail. What happens to those wishing to age in place but who are unable to do so without risk to themselves? What are the issues of liability, as regards the institution? Marketing departments promote the concept of living in a "homelike" atmosphere, but architectural design has traditionally been dictated, and often still is, by practical needs and has been patterned after a "medical" (hospital-like) model, as is the typical nursing home. In the nursing model, the lack of independence and the hospital-like appearance of the establishment apparently contribute to the depression and despair of many residents. What kinds of building styles lend themselves better to the creation of a more homelike atmosphere? Mr. Lawton's studies deal with most of these issues, and his conclusions tend to confirm the information of the other text. The difference? Mr. Lawton's work, as suggested, is based upon studies executed in several states. Mr. Schwarz has compiled a text containing a variety of articles by respected experts in the field from around the country. Both books are valuable because they arrive at many similar conclusions, using different approaches. Mr. Lawton's is a hardback text, perhaps one that more easily fits the bookshelf. But both are excellent, and both enabled me to have a well-informed interview with an assisted living administrator. The lay reader can appreciate these texts by reading attentively, and the elder care administrator will undoubtedly find well-documented discussion and many names familiar to those in the field -- features that would make this a worthwhile text in the office.

This thoroughly researched, scholarly book is just as valuable to the consumer seeking to learn more about assisted living, as it is to healthcare professionals, students of gerontology, and policymakers. The authors have amassed a wealth of information concerning key issues in assisted living, including the evolution and future direction of long term care in the U.S., as well as policy and regulations across states.

Each chapter is written by professionals who are experts in their field. I highly recommend Part II of the book, which focuses on assisted living in four specific states, illustrating the diverse nature of long-term care facilities. Topics such as physical environment, characteristics of residents, types of care provided, special concerns related to dementia, and financial issues are all explored in depth.

As an eldercare executive who works with assisted living facilities across the country, I believe it is crucial for all of us to have a thorough knowledge base in order to make informed decisions about care for our loved ones.