Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design by Max Jacobson, M. Silverstein, B. Winslow Why are some houses such a pleasure to visit or inhabit? This spin-off from A Pattern Language, a design resource for decades, successfully answers that question.
The Energy Saving House by Thierry Salomon, Stephane Bedel Save money--and save the planet! This informative and practical book covers every aspect of home energy use. Design and build to save energy through your choice of materials, proper insulation, heating options, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, water consumption, windows, renovation, retrofitting, choosing appliances and fuel suppliers. Learn how to retain your comforts of life, yet save 60% of your energy and water use...
The Natural House: by Daniel Chiras A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes. This well-illustrated book explores building a house that is economical, energy-efficient, nontoxic, environmentally kind, and a pleasure to inhabit. It explores the pros and cons of 14 natural building methods, including straw bale, rammed earth, cob, cordwood, adobe, earthbags, papercrete, earthships and more.
Bungalows: Renovating, Remodeling, and Building by Caren Connolly, Louis Wasserman The first volume in Taunton's new "Updating Classic America" series, this title provides a wealth of ideas for renovating, remodeling, or building bungalow style homes. Architects Connolly and Wasserman, who live in a remodeled bungalow, select over 20 homes to illustrate the renovating, remodeling, and building of the Bungalow home.
Cabins: by David R. Stiles, et al A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat. Cabins have come a long way from the 19th-century rustic structures familiar to all school children. Stileses shows how to build a cabin that reflects the builder's lifestyle; some are simple, while others contain multiple rooms and utilities... Other designs include a Japanese moon-gazing cabin, a pyramid-shaped cabin, and an A-frame cabin. A section on cabin accessories (including brief construction hints for rustic wood furniture) and a list of sources (including web addresses) completes this title.
The Not So Big House: The Way We Really Live by Sarah Susanka, Kira Obolensky Architect Susanka believes that the large homes being built today place too much emphasis on square footage rather than on current lifestyles.
Creating the Not So Big House : by Sarah Susanka, Grey Crawford Insights and Ideas for the New Home. Sarah Susanka has a not-so-insignificant idea in Creating the Not So Big House. She contrasts the glamorous, glossy-photo house plans of vaulted ceilings and palatial living rooms with the livable, day-to-day pleasure of cozy window seats and comfortable breakfast nooks...
Small Houses: Fine Homebuilding Small houses are less expensive to build, more energy efficient, and easier to maintain than big homes, but they don't have to feel small. In this collection of 37 articles from FINE HOMEBUILDING magazine, you'll find new houses, remodels, urban rowhouses, and guest cottages that double as work studios. A book full of practical design ideas and construction information that will help you realize just how beautiful small can be.
The Brand-New House Book: by Katherine Salant Everything you need to know about planning, designing, and building a custom, semi-custom, or production-built house. A helpful demystification of the complicated, expensive processes such as financing, lot selection, flooring, contracts and construction. An indispensable resource for anyone contemplating a new house.
Basements: by Better Homes and Gardens Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling Even the darkest, most cavernous space can be transformed into an attractive, practical area perfect for your needs! Helps you assess your basement's remodeling potential. Leads you step-by-step through transforming wasted square footage into practical living space. Covers playrooms, spare bedrooms, hobby spots, home offices and entertainment areas. How to deal with moisture and radon.
Attics: by Better Homes and Gardens Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling Here's how to turn your attic space into living space. Shows real-life examples of attics recast as bedrooms, kids' playrooms, home offices, guest suites and family living areas. Helps you evaluate your attic's structural and design possibilities. Addresses awkward spaces, skylights and fire safety codes. Plus technical information from ceiling height to stairway access. Bonus room arranging kit includes graph paper and template. 100 photos inspire confidence and ideas.
The Bathroom Planner: by Suzanne Ardley Great Ideas for Your New Bathroom The bathroom, any bathroom, begs to be designed as a space for both relaxing comfort and complete privacy--at once a utilitarian space of functionality and a peaceful oasis. The Bathroom Planner is full of practical advice and handy tools that will help readers looking to update their bathroom--or completely remodel it--find the perfect design.
The Kidspace Idea Book: by Wendy Adler Jordan Wendy Jordan offers fresh, practical ideas for converting both private and family spaces - including kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and decks - into places where kids (and adults) can enjoy their home to the fullest. Each section of the book covers a different area of the house, from bedroom to playroom, kitchen to tree house. Detailed photos zoom in on storage and design ideas that make a good room even better.
Porches and Sunrooms: by Better Homes and Gardens Your Guide to Planning and Remodeling Porches I could not find any other books like this that showed me all the possibilities and helped me decide what kind of Sunroom was right for our house, where to put the room, and even how to decorate it. This isn't a book about building it yourself but about getting your own goals and ideas straight before you call in the builder, or the architect, or the seller of sunroom additions.
Garage: by Kira Obolensky Reinventing the Place We Park Kira Obolensky finally gives the garage its due as a room with potential far beyond its obvious use in her beautifully photographed, straight-forwardly written book. Great source of inspiration for anyone looking to eke out an extra room or anyone who enjoys spending time in his garage. Fun gift for lovers of architecture, home and style as well as garageophiles (my realtor says it's the #1 room for most men). But beware: your own garage will likely feel inadequate after you peruse these handsome pages.
Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design
The Energy Saving House
The Natural House: by Daniel Chiras
Bungalows: Renovating, Remodeling, and Building
Cabins: by David R. Stiles, et al
The Not So Big House: The Way We Really Live
Creating the Not So Big House
Small Houses: Fine Homebuilding
The Brand-New House Book: by Katherine Salant
Basements: by Better Homes and Gardens
Attics: by Better Homes and Gardens
The Bathroom Planner: by Suzanne Ardley
The Kidspace Idea Book: by Wendy Adler Jordan
Porches and Sunrooms: by Better Homes and Gardens
Garage: by Kira Obolensky