Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid
by Marianne Cusato, Ben Pentreath, Richard Sammons, Leon Krier
from Sterling

Editorial Review:

Even as oversized McMansions continue to elbow their way into tiny lots nationwide, a much different trend has taken shape. This return to traditional architectural principles venerates qualities that once were taken for granted in home design: structural common sense, aesthetics of form, appropriateness to a neighborhood, and even sustainability. Marianne Cusato, creator of the award-winning Katrina Cottages, has authored and illustrated this definitive guide to what makes houses look and feel right--to the eye and to the soul. She teaches us the language and grammar of classical architecture, revealing how balance, harmony, and detail all contribute to creating a home that will be loved rather than tolerated. And she takes us through the do's and don'ts of every element of home design, from dormers to doorways to columns. Integral to the book are its hundreds of elegant line drawings--clearly rendering the varieties of lintels and cornices, arches and eaves, and displaying "avoid" and "use" versions of the same elements side by side.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

• Disappointed
  The book provides extensive detail about the architectural detail of a TRADITIONAL house. It will not help much with a contemporary house. It has a ton of drawings to help make its points. It is basically all pictures and drawings -- very little narative.

• Picture your remodelling first
  Remodelling made easy with this visual book. I worked out some details on a remodel alongside my contractor using this great resource. The book is mainly illustrations of the various ways (right and wrong) to change your home without the use of an achitect.

• Great resource
  A local Architect recommended that I get a copy of this book. I am staff to the local historic zoning commission and always can use assistance explaining architectural concepts to applicants. This book is a reasonable articulate resource that alows an applicant to see the problems he/she might be having with a design. This book is easy to read and it presents clear and useful solutions to the mistakes that many applicates and their architects seem to want to make. I have gotten copies for all of the... more info

• Well Done
  A lot of work went into this book. The overall presentation and layout is friendly and easy to the eye. The illustrations are very effective and easy to understand. The language is simple and clear. What you get is a book that is very practical and that explains in great detail the dos and don't of design. While the focus is residential the principles can be applied to all types of buildings. Highly recommended.