Reprint of rare book contains scores of illustrations and floor plans for 80 charming American homes, among them a spacious Pennsylvania fieldstone colonial, and a modest, three-bedroom suburban bungalow. 104 black-and-white illustrations.

In the post-World War I era, as the economic boom of the 1920s gathered momentum, millions of Americans set out to make the dream of owning their own home come true. Labor and materials were plentiful and cheap, and new trends in home design made the prospect of homebuilding an exciting venture. This fascinating book, a reprint of a rare catalog of prefabricated houses from 1923, reveals in detail the types of design offered to those in the market for a new home in the early 1920s. Of the 117 designs included, most are substantial middle-class homes. But the popularity of cottages and bungalows is also apparent in the wide selection of practical and appealing designs depicted. And there are large, formal homes as well, many of which embody America's unflagging interest in colonial styling. Some have affluent touches such as a sleeping porch or a sun room. Many reflect a strong interest in exterior detailing, in the form of cypress siding, broad eaves, heavy timber brackets, stucco pillars, and flower boxes, among other features. Each house is shown in a large frontal illustration. Floor plans for the first and second floors are included, and interior and exterior detailing are extensively described. The specifics of plumbing, heating, and lighting are included in a special section at the back of the book. Architects, architectural and social historians — anyone interested in American home design — will enjoy the rich variety of designs presented. Republished in association with the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, this authentic catalog provides not only an indispensable repository of information about the homes themselves but a source of insight into American life at a time when owning a home became a widely realizable dream for a rapidly growing middle class.

Excellent reproduction of rare catalog illustrates and describes 86 different types of houses and bungalows still in evidence across America. Over 300 photographs, illustrations and floor plans with full descriptions comprise an invaluable sourcebook for study, authentication or restoration of antique articles or architecture.

Based on a rare 1925 catalog, this showcase of one of the most beloved eras of American architecture features floor plans, construction details, and photos of twenty-six homes. Styles range from English cottages and Spanish bungalows to Dutch colonials, New England farmhouses, and Italianate designs. More than 250 illustrations, and 21 color plates, complement the text, which contains detailed descriptions of exteriors and interiors. Supplementary articles explain how to convert porches into living space, install plumbing, and build garages. Other home-improvement suggestions offer tips on landscaping gardens and designing interior woodwork. Daniel D. Reiff, an authority on antique house-plan books, offers an informative introduction that places these authentic views of early-twentieth-century American architecture into a wider context.

Perspective drawings, floor plans, and descriptions of principal features of outstanding '20s designs, many by leading architects of the period. 1,135 black-and-white line illustrations, 262 black-and-white photographs and tone drawings.