Residential Books

What could be more delightfully English than the country house? The many-roomed manors surrounded by lush gardens and populated with liveried footmen. From Pemberly to Chatsworth, from Manderly to Blenheim, the English country house has captivated American audiences as we wander from room to room in the ones now owned by the National Trust imagining what it must have been like to live in one of these palaces.

Many books have been written on the English country house, but most are fawning photographic journeys into the picturesque, or architectural studies. This is by far the best comprehensive social history of the country house: warts and all. This book chronicles the rise of the estate, when the Empire was at its peak, London at its dirtiest and the cost of wiring and heating all those rooms was not an issue, to the years when these elegant status symbols became ridiculous white elephants that literally couldn't be given away... to their reemergance as cultural and historical artifacts and status symbols all at once.

This book is well-researched and well-written, and offers a comprehensive view of all types of country houses: from the huge palaces to the little cottages that sprouted up in the Victorian period for the middle classes to enjoy. It even delves into the building rush of the 1980's, when the country home again became popular as the rich grew richer.

If you are at all interested in English history, the history of the wealthy, or the history or architecture then this book is for you. It offers a nice history of the National Trust and other organizations that own and open these houses to the public. If you are a tourist who enjoys traveling to country houses this is also definately worth a read.

In the late '50s I had the unusual chance to personally ask FLW what school might be best to learn City Planning. Not knowing then that his inimitable, signature response would be "you can't learn that in a School, you have to learn by doing."

Later, I also had the pleasure of knowing Paul Bonfilio, and can attest that his own product here is a labor of love that reflects an intuitive, heartfelt resonance.

BTW, if you have the opportunity to personally visit Fallingwater, try to exactly time it to that week in May when the surrounding wooded Moutain Laurel canopy is in their full and profuse bloom for an added breathtakingly magical experience.

30 nicely photographed designs with easy-to-follow instructions. The book showcases many different project mediums using a variety of decorative techniques and finishes. Also has an informative guide on the use of tools and materials. Wonderful book!

I bought this book to have an idea of the Farnsworth house, but it is much more detailled that i ever imagined. An essencial Mies.

Now you can see how the designers really live in their own homes. This book is a great inspiration for people who wants to live the designer-way.

The book was brand new as promised and was recieved within two business days as amazon predicted, which was awesome because I needed the book right away. Excellent service as always from amazon and I will continue to buy textbooks from them.

I have never traveled to Finland, but after reading this book, one will feel like they have journeyed there many times! The author beautifully portrays the simple yet elegant Finnish living designs and also brings the reader though the seasons in order to experience a more up close and personal Finland. The pictures are beautiful, bright, and do help the reader to have more of a "feel" of the land and people of Finland.

"The house is like its master", states a Finnish Proverb, which greets the reader at the beginning of the book. Gaynor depicts Finland to the reader in both black and white and incredibly vivid color. Her narratives throughout the book are wonderful and one will feel that they are totally immersed into the experience of touring the countryside with the author! The richness of the people, portrayed through their simplistic lifestyle, is very much evident.

The reader is also bought into the design of the exterior of the buildings and I loved the pictures of all the different doorways! The taste of the architectural adventure and history is a treat! Sources are also listed at the back of the book if one wishes to purchase Finnish furniture or accessories.

I heartily recommend this book, whether one is contemplating a trip to this Nordic country, or whether one has a fascination for the culture and experience of Finland. This book will easily feed your fascination as you cannot help but devour chapter after chapter! The photographer, Kari Haavisto, is also to be commended for the beauty of the land as seen through her eyes. The reader will definitely walk away with a more revered perspective for the people, their land, and their lifestyle.

Allan Konya has written the most complete text on the Finnish sauna, covering the broad spectrum from the origins and rituals (something often overlooked),design and construction, materials, siting and layout. Every facet of the subject is thoroughly covered in detail and one comes away feeling he has finally understood what it takes to make a "good" sauna. This book follows quite closely the earlier text; "The International Handbook of Finnish Sauna" written by Allan Konya and Alewyn Burger. Anyone interested in designing,building or using a sauna should try to locate this book. It is the "bible" of the Finnish Sauna and is far superior to any other text on the subject.I have designed and built several saunas and still find useful information and inspiration in this book.

Vitruvius' myth of origins is here made relevant to the theoretician and architect today. Not only is this good reading, but it will reward the practitioner with a methodology for approaching his own work.

This is the clearest book I've ever rear on Foundation Repair. Robert Brown sure knows soil and foundations.