From Publishers Weekly
Acclaimed architect Susanka, who spawned a virtual cottage industry of home books favoring quality over quantity (The Not So Big House; Not So Big Solutions for Your Home; etc.), now turns her eye to 30 key design principles that produce a home. Seeking to capture the "elusive quality of home," Susanka uses beautiful photographs and helpful floor plans to discuss how "the interrelationships between spaces, walls and ceilings, and windows... shape our experience." It isn't the external architecture that matters, she says, but the interior. All homes provide shelter and footage; the goal is to enhance the quality of living. To do that, Susanka employs important tricks of her trade, explaining the rationale behind everything from window positioning and reflective ceilings to achieving symmetry, keeping in mind the overarching themes of space, light and order. Blessedly free of complex jargon, the book stresses that size doesn't matter, but construction does. Susanka's philosophy is simple: good architectural design is as important as good nutrition, and a savvy understanding of your surroundings lets you craft a better place to live. To illustrate her points, the author cites 28 of the best-designed homes in the U.S., from a tiny California cottage to a lavish Minnesota manse and a remodeled Kansas City abode. Susanka's generosity with tips (e.g., a bold use of color can add depth and solidity; aligning a doorway with a window directly across brightens the area) will be a boon to readers, who will wind up getting an architectural education in the process. 60 b&w line drawings.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description
Sarah Susanka's first three books have launched a revolution in residential architecture with the message that it's not the size of the house that matters, but the quality of its design and details. Her books strike a chord in homeowners, who are finding that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. Now, in Home by Design, Susanka presents 30 design concepts that can transform any house into a welcoming home filled with character, beauty, and comfort. Opening readers' eyes to what's possible, she makes spatial design accessible to the layperson. Each of the design concepts here, from entryways to public/private space to window positioning, is illustrated with examples from houses by leading architects. Homeowners will learn how to assess their environment to discover what works or doesn't, and find the necessary tools to create the homes they really want.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sarah Susanka looks at the key design concepts behind all well-designed homes. With these essential ideas, she empowers homeowners to transform a house from mere shelter into a comfortable home filled with character and beauty. In Home by Design, Susanka presents the 27 key concepts that can be applied to any home -- no matter what the style or size. Using 30 of the best designed homes from around the country, Susanka brings these concepts to life with 150 powerful and inspirational examples -- from something as simple as placing a rug under a table to defining one room from another with a framed opening or archway. Home by Design gives today's homeowners a new way to "see" their house and create the home they've always wanted.

SYNOPSIS

Extending her innovative way of thinking about residential design, the author of The Not So Big House and Not So Big Solutions frames her "architect's toolbox" for creating user-friendly homes in 150 examples with color photos and floor plans. Susanka treats the quality as well as quantity of space and light. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly