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.
| Preface | 3 | |
| From House to Home | 5 | |
| Part 1 | Space | 18 |
| Chapter 1 | The Process of Entering | 20 |
| Path and Place | ||
| Receiving Place | ||
| Gateways | ||
| Entry Courtyard | ||
| Covered Entry | ||
| Front Porch | ||
| Chapter 2 | Shelter Around Activity | 28 |
| Alcoves | ||
| Window Seats | ||
| Soffits | ||
| Ceiling Shape | ||
| Rug-Defined Place | ||
| Chapter 3 | Sequence of Places | 36 |
| Alcoves off a Central Space | ||
| Alcoves off Circulation | ||
| Connecting Views | ||
| Nooks and Crannies | ||
| Chapter 4 | Ceiling Height Variety | 44 |
| Dropped Soffits | ||
| Lowered Alcove | ||
| Lowered Hallway | ||
| Floating Shelf | ||
| Ceiling as Sculpture | ||
| Ceiling Height Hierarchy | ||
| Chapter 5 | Interior Views | 52 |
| Diagonal Views | ||
| Long Views Through | ||
| Connecting Views | ||
| Partially Hidden Views | ||
| Surprise Views | ||
| Chapter 6 | Layering | 60 |
| Framed Openings | ||
| Framed Openings in Series | ||
| Connecting Pass-Throughs | ||
| Arcade | ||
| Implied Walls | ||
| Sliding Partitions | ||
| Chapter 7 | Inside Outside | 68 |
| Continuous Surfaces | ||
| Almost Frameless Windows | ||
| Outdoor Focus | ||
| Outdoor Room | ||
| Chapter 8 | Changes in Level | 74 |
| Stairs as Sculpture | ||
| Lowered Room | ||
| Raised Room | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Over Under | ||
| Chapter 9 | Public to Private | 82 |
| Focal Gathering Place | ||
| Alcoves off Focal Gathering Place | ||
| Away Room | ||
| Place of Quiet Remove | ||
| Place of Your Own | ||
| Chapter 10 | Openability | 90 |
| Sliding Doors | ||
| Sliding Screens | ||
| Sliding Panels | ||
| Movable Window Walls | ||
| Chapter 11 | Enclosure | 98 |
| Containment | ||
| Partially Hidden Room | ||
| Implied Walls | ||
| Chapter 12 | Differentiation of Parts | 106 |
| Exterior Beltlines | ||
| Interior Beltlines | ||
| Headbands | ||
| Floating Surfaces | ||
| Separate Components | ||
| Pod of Space | ||
| Chapter 13 | Depth and Thickness | 116 |
| Thick Walls | ||
| Deep-Set Windows | ||
| Library Walls | ||
| Wide Windowsills | ||
| Wall Insets | ||
| Interior Sculpture | ||
| Part 2 | Light | 124 |
| Chapter 14 | Light to Walk Toward | 126 |
| Light at the End of the Tunnel | ||
| Window at the End of a Hallway | ||
| Lighted Picture at the End of a Vista | ||
| Window at the End of a Main Axis | ||
| Chapter 15 | Light Intensity Variation | 134 |
| Layers of Light and Shade | ||
| Light Defines Form | ||
| Indented Windows | ||
| Brilliance in a Dark Place | ||
| Chapter 16 | Reflecting Surfaces | 142 |
| Wall Washing | ||
| Reflective Ceiling | ||
| Hidden Light Source | ||
| Light Coves | ||
| Doubling the Space | ||
| Chapter 17 | Window Positioning | 150 |
| Daylight Fixture | ||
| Centered on the Middle | ||
| Windowsill Height | ||
| Window Whimsy | ||
| Light from Above | ||
| Chapter 18 | Visual Weight | 158 |
| Colored Wall | ||
| Dark-Colored Ceiling | ||
| Textured Wall or Ceiling | ||
| Subtle Color Difference | ||
| Colored Alcove | ||
| Lipstick | ||
| Chapter 19 | View and Nonview | 166 |
| Light but Not View | ||
| One-Way View | ||
| Art-Glass Focus | ||
| Small Panes | ||
| Part 3 | Order | 176 |
| Chapter 20 | Pattern and Geometry | 178 |
| Simple Pattern Overlay | ||
| Grilles and Lattices | ||
| Geometric Feature | ||
| Pattern Feature | ||
| Chapter 21 | Alignments | 186 |
| Perfect Symmetry | ||
| Partial Symmetry | ||
| Asymmetry | ||
| View along a Main Axis | ||
| If in Doubt, Line It Up | ||
| Half a Bubble Off | ||
| Chapter 22 | Rhythm | 194 |
| The March | ||
| The Triad | ||
| The Waltz | ||
| Rhythmic Refrain | ||
| Chapter 23 | Theme and Variations | 202 |
| Signature Form | ||
| Signature Pattern | ||
| Repeated Material | ||
| Repeated Relationship | ||
| Repeated Color | ||
| Chapter 24 | Composition | 210 |
| Balance | ||
| Window Composition | ||
| 3-D Composition | ||
| 4-D Composition | ||
| Surface Composition | ||
| Interruption of Order | ||
| Chapter 25 | Expressed Structure | 220 |
| Exposed Joists and Rafters | ||
| Exposed Beams | ||
| Columns Define Spaces | ||
| Brackets | ||
| Artful Structure | ||
| Chapter 26 | Point of Focus | 228 |
| Focal Wall Surface | ||
| Room Focus | ||
| Focus at the End of an Axis | ||
| Something Place | ||
| Attention Grabber | ||
| Chapter 27 | Organizing Strategy | 236 |
| Simple Square or Rectangle | ||
| Long Thin House | ||
| Circulation Spine | ||
| Around a Courtyard | ||
| Assemblage of Structures | ||
| Afterword | 246 | |
| Architects and Designers | 247 | |
| Index | 249 |
Anonymous
Posted January 26, 2012
The book provides helpful information in an easy to read, well organized manner. The photos are beautiful and provide visual reinforcement for the concepts presented. The idea of building a home that fits your needs and where every room is utilized is the key to The Not So Big House.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
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 ...