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.

Offers a guide to finding the perfect home, covering such topics as renting versus buying, mortgages, assessing neighborhoods, budgeting, evaluating a property's condition, and determining energy use and efficiency.

A #1 best seller for years, Bill Hirsch's Designing Your Perfect House: Lessons from an Architect has been called an essential read for Homeowners as well as Professionals. Bill's flowing style of writing makes you feel like you are sitting with him having a chat about your project. The philosophy behind design decisions is explained with stories, photos, sketches, and checklists. The book is divided into Twelve Lessons, with an additional Bonus Lesson ," Building Green, Naturally". You will learn how to evaluate your needs and work towards creating a suitable design, perfect for you and your family. The experience of home design and construction should be controllable, gratifying and enjoyable. With the valuable advice that Designing Your Perfect House: Lessons from an Architect provides, it can be.

A visual guide to building materials and specifications, covering masonry, wood, framing, roofing, wiring, heating, lighting, and other topics.

“[A] much needed book both for homeowners who want a beautiful and well proportioned house and for the professionals who help them to realize that dream.” —Sarah Susanka, FAIA, architect and author of The Not So Big series and Home by Design 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 dos 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. “This ‘Rosetta stone’ of design will guarantee Cusato a place in the history of twenty-first century American architecture.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer “[Cusato] provides a vision of how we live together and build on our planet, and points out the consequences of flawed building practices not only to our environment, but to our spirit and our soul.” —Michael Lykoudis, Dean, University of Notre Dame School of Architecture

For immigrants, their descendants, and anyone else looking to learn the unbiased truth about investing, Close the Gap & Get Your Share is a step-by-step guide to generating and passing on wealth in the US. Despite the American Dream’s promises of prosperity and security, many immigrants still discover a seemingly insurmountable wealth gap upon their arrival to the United States. From Dr. Julio Cacho, Cole Conkling, and Juan Carlos Herrera, managing directors of Inscription Capital, Close the Gap & Get Your Share is a crucial resource that explains US-based investing in a way that makes sense to immigrants (as well as novice investors) and allows them to attain financial prosperity—without jeopardizing their families’ existing resources. This book does away with the usual Wall Street practice of overcomplicating investment advice in favor of fact-based, straightforward strategies that put the reader’s financial well-being first. Drawing on the authors’ combined four decades of investment experience, Close the Gap & Get Your Share teaches immigrants and their families how to: • Overcome hidden and unnecessary risks common for immigrants and novice investors • Invest in practice, including how to properly balance risk and return • Recognize and understand behavioral biases and overcome them to achieve long-term financial security For all generations of immigrants and non-immigrants alike motivated to grow their wealth and pass it on, Close the Gap & Get Your Share is a robust guide to closing the ever-growing wealth gap with accessible and distilled financial literacy and strategy.

Old-House Journal is the original magazine devoted to restoring and preserving old houses. For more than 35 years, our mission has been to help old-house owners repair, restore, update, and decorate buildings of every age and architectural style. Each issue explores hands-on restoration techniques, practical architectural guidelines, historical overviews, and homeowner stories--all in a trusted, authoritative voice.