Architectural Inspiration: Styles, Details and Sources [Hardcover]

Richard Skinulis (Author), Peter Christopher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2007

The perfect what-to, how-to and where-to guidebook and reference for inspired homeowners, house renovators, interior designers and residential architects.

This exceptional style and source guide is the first book to examine residential architecture and design elements from both creative and practical perspectives. It is also the first to include extensive North American sources for high-end, custom and hard-to-find materials and services.

Combining original photography of 70 superb homes with hundreds of hand-picked product shots, this stunning compendium is a superb resource and reference book for homeowners and professionals alike.

Architectural Inspiration features the innovative ideas, inspiration and practical advice of renowned North American designers and architects. It also provides access to many of the same sources they turn to in residential home design and detailing.

From the Table of Contents:

Part One: Styles

Exteriors: North American Styles

• The evolution of residential styles in North America, from Colonial days to the present.

Interiors: Living Spaces

• Great rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, staircases, converted lofts, reconstructed barns and more.

Part Two: Details

Exterior Details

Doors and Windows

Floors, Walls and Ceilings

Architectural Details

Light and Heat

Kitchen Fittings

Bathroom Fixtures

Hardware

Part Three: Sources

• Contact information for major North American manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of high-end, hard-to-find residential building materials and accoutrements.

(20071231)

Editorial Reviews

Review

More than the usual coffee table 'deco porn' ... it offers inspiration and a whole lot more. (Cecily Ross Globe and Mail 20071102)

An impressively detailed resource that covers architectural styles, details and sources. (Carolyn Leitch Globe and Mail 200711)

A terrific North American source of residential design ideas as useful to the seasoned designer as to the homeowner. (Canadian House and Home 200710)

A comprehensive sourcebook ... Profiles on featured homes keep the book from reading too much like an encyclopedia. (Home and Design, Luxury Remodeling Supplement (Sil 20071215)

For sheer volume of product and possibility... this book has an inspiration for nearly every occasion. (Bill Robertson Star Phoenix (Saskatoon) 20071202)

Useful... like having a vast array of catalogs from building resources that has been carefully and thoughtfully edited and organized. (New York Living (Buyer's Guide 2008) 20071231)

An excellent volume showcasing the beautiful interiors and exteriors of more than 70 homes... Loaded with products, shots, and sources. (Cheryl Cornacchia The Gazette (Montreal) 20071200)

This well-illustrated guide, which includes many Canadian sources, will help you define your style and choose materials and finishes. (Style at Home 20071215)

This is the perfect one-stop shop in a book. (Gerald Flood Winnipeg Free Press 20071215)

[A] visual feast [and] a dream browse for anyone renovating a home or even thinking about it. (Globe and Mail 20071209)

Loaded with products, shots and sources, including many by Canadian manufacturers. (CanWest Wire Service 200712)

An excellent volume showcasing the beautiful interiors and exteriors of more than 70 homes.... loaded with products, shots and sources. (CanWest Wire The Calgary Herald 20080131)

Gorgeous ... crammed with design ideas and sources.... A good mix of Canadian and U.S. styles and ideas. (REM (Real Estate Market) (Alberta) 20080112)

A feast for the eyes ... nothing short of a celebration of residential construction and interior design at its best. (Frank Condron Canadian Contractor 20080101)

An excellent volume showcasing more than 70 homes. (Cheryl Cornacchia The Ottawa Citizen 20080201)

What sets the text apart from similar books ... is the sheer volume of products (Kitchen & Bath Design News 200809)

Architectural Inspiration is just that: inspiring.... Those who have recently built a home will be overcome fixture envy. (Michael J. Albert The Bloomsbury Review 20080531)

If you're not sure what your personal design style is, this book can help you identify it. (Gloria Hildebrandt Escarpment Views 200801)

Anything and everything you need to know.... plenty of gorgeous pictures ... loads of detailed information... truly an inspiration. (Patrick Tivy Reno & Décor 20080224)

Will motivate readers to look for materials beyond the big-box home-improvement stores... Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. (Library Journal 20080308)

This is one of the most thorough and well-researched source books on products and materials on the market. (L.S. Chicago Tribune-City, Colorado Springs Gazette 2008)

A complete design inventory (and wish book).... Fabulous. (Linda Turk The Chronicle-Journal 20080701)

A great source book for home renovators, designers and architects.... .... The book's big advantage, of course, is insider's information. (Kim Pemberton The Vancouver Sun 20091201)

Delivers a wide-ranging survey of styles, fixtures, and architectural elements,... with a source guide of hard-to-find high-end building materials. (Aspen Home )

Plenty of gorgeous pictures of beautiful rooms ... but also loads of detailed information. The book is truly an inspiration. (Patrick Tivy Reno and Dï¿1/2(c)cor )

Comprehensive, gorgeously illustrated .... one of the most thorough and well-researched source books on products and materials on the market. (Lisa Skoline The Edmonton Journal )

The detailed product photographs;...are what set this book apart. (John Laurence Kelland American Reference Books Annual 2008 )

The greatest value lies in the product illustrations, which are numerous and varied. (P. Glassman, Long Island University Choice )

We can all revel in these wonderful examples of home design, using them as a guide for projects and daydreams. (BookNews )

About the Author

Richard Skinulis is the award-winning author of six books. He has also written numerous magazine features.

Peter Christopher is the photographer of nine books and a contributor to many others.

(20071027)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press; 1St Edition edition (September 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155046468X
• ISBN-13: 978-1550464689
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Style

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Architectural Idea's and Photo's for the Custom Home, October 25, 2007

By 

L. E. Currie (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architectural Inspiration: Styles, Details and Sources (Hardcover)

This book is an outstanding display of custom idea's for the entire home. The photo's bring to life 1000's of interior and exterior shots, that give you idea's from all over North America. Different styles, materials, concepts, roof lines, sidings and unique designs are fully explored throughout the book. If you want idea's while building a custom home, that are state of the art, and displayed with beautiful photographic pictures that you can build from, this is an excellent book to have. The text fully explains the use of materials and explain sections of the pictures that I would not generally have seen. I have only just received my copy of Architectural Inspirational and have received some excellent feedback from my friends and neighbours whom I have shared my recent purchase.

5.0 out of 5 stars Architectural Design Resource Book, March 14, 2010

By 

Brad VanAuken (Honeoye Falls, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architectural Inspiration: Styles, Details and Sources (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful resource book for architects, interior designers and homeowners that are interested in designing architecturally interesting homes and spaces within homes. The book is over 500 pages in length and is loaded with interesting photographs. Topics include exterior and interior styles, exterior details, doors & windows, floors, walls & ceilings, architectural details, light and heat, kitchen fittings, bathroom fixtures, hardware and more. It covers a wide variety of materials, ideas and resources. My favorite sections are those on doors, entranceways, garage doors, staircases and ceilings.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book purchase, August 1, 2009

By 

C. J. Dederick (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Architectural Inspiration: Styles, Details and Sources (Hardcover)

Great book, in near new condition, just as described by seller. Great price, great service. Very fast. Will do business again.