Customer Reviews

Blueprint Small: Creative Ways to Live with Less

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The review for the book gave me the impression that it would deal with the experiences of people who live in small spaces, and give ideas of how to deal realistically with a small space. The book does not seem to deal with the reality that the vast majority of people who live in small homes are on a more conservative budget, and can not afford to do most of the decorating that is done in this book. I will agree that most of the spaces shown were small, but most of the decorations, and the remodelling that have been done, are not within the reach of most people who own small homes. In my opinion, this book is written for people who can afford a very large home, but choose, for whatever reasons, to live in a smaller home. I live very comfortably and have been able to restore my home in stages, but the things that are shown in this book are things that I could only do if I had large amounts of money to spend, or if I worked as a carpenter(and had large amounts of money to spend).

The book is well written, adn the pictures are presented in an appealing way, but I would only recommend this book for a someone who has the means to live in a larger house but chooses to renovate a smaller one.

I'd be lying if I said that most of the designs in "Blueprint Small" are my cup of tea (with the notable exception being the apartment in the Chicago highrise -- amazing!)... I'm more of a "white walls and clean, modern design" sort of person. However, this book does a very good job of showing a variety of innovative and imaginative designs, in a format that shows them from all sorts of angles. It also explains the reasons for decisions made by the architects and homeowners, which is something you don't often hear. Complaints that most people can't afford to do the things shown in this book are somewhat beside the point; if that were the case, "Architectural Digest" magazine wouldn't be as well known as it is. "Blueprint Small" exists in that same realm, where good design is appreciated for what it is. This book is a very good source for ideas for improving your own space; you don't have to hire an architect or an interior designer to appreciate what it has to offer.

Very few of the spaces shown incorporate the entire area the owners live in. Instead, some of these "small" spaces are 500-square-foot additions to much larger homes. It's not much of a challenge to make that work!

This is a hodge-podge of designs with little theme, and Kodis' writing is some of the clunkiest in the home design field. Try any Taunton book, instead, such as one of the books in Sarah Susanka's excellent Not-So-Big House series.

The review for the book gave me the impression that it would deal with the experiences of people who live in small spaces, and give ideas of how to deal realistically with a small space. The book does not seem to deal with the reality that the vast majority of people who live in small homes are on a more conservative budget, and can not afford to do most of the decorating that is done in this book. I will agree that most of the spaces shown were small, but most of the decorations, and the remodelling that have been done, are not within the reach of most people who own small homes. In my opinion, this book is written for people who can afford a very large home, but choose, for whatever reasons, to live in a smaller home. I live very comfortably and have been able to restore my home in stages, but the things that are shown in this book are things that I could only do if I had large amounts of money to spend, or if I worked as a carpenter(and had large amounts of money to spend).

The book is well written, and the pictures are presented in an appealing way, but I would only recommend this book for a someone who has the means to live in a larger house but chooses to renovate a smaller one.

This is a "must have" book for anyone who needs some inspiration and incentive for turning small spaces into fantastic living areas! Wow! Kodis's book offers a thorough look at creative and aesthetic solutions for all lifestyles. Complete with architectural renderings, floor plans, photographs, and excellent descriptions; the book appeals to a wide variety of tastes.
Although Blueprint Small is an effective tool for getting started on projects, it's also darn good coffee table reading! I've given it to several friends as a gift, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. It's a wonderful combination of entertainment and utility.
Kodis has a very clear and charming writing style that takes you eagerly from one chapter to the next . . . and has you wishing for more! She is professional and knowledgeable, but you don't have to be an architect to understand the book's content. It is truly a pleasure to read.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend it!

The small spaces in this book represent a spectrum of locations, budgets and individual style and taste, but all were chosen because they prove that scaling back doesn't have to become a sacrifice in comfort, spaciousness, or beauty." ~Michelle Kodis

Blueprint Small gives ideas for anyone interested in building or renovating a small home, office, or retreat space. It could be 240 or 2,400 square feet. I am almost jealous as I view page 14. How I wish for a private little space outside to escape for dinner or to sit in the sun. This is what I miss after selling our home. I need to find a new place with a private deck where my outdoor furniture can live happily. I love how the doors in this book open up to lovely patios and decks and how sunlight is streaming into the rooms making each house look so cozy and inviting.

Contents:

The Joys of California Living
A Cost-Efficient Caretaker Apartment
An Elegant Suburban Retreat
Tranquility Above the Crowds
Something Old, Something New
A Fresh Angle
Trailer Park Living with a Twist
A Neighborly Development
A Small Addition Makes a Big Difference
A Contemporary Slant on a Traditional House

One of the best ideas in this book is a room that functions as a bedroom and an office. Hey, that is my current situation. The designers put the bookshelves between the desk and the bed. That sounds like a great solution and the shelves were high enough that they actually look like a room divider.

As you are in bed, you can see items on the shelves (in cute boxes) on the back side of the bookshelves and on the office side it is filled with books. So this book gave me some design ideas for my current situation.

There are some basic blueprint designs and lots of fun full-color pictures showing what can be done with small spaces. The retreat idea with a swimming pool looks like a great writing location for a writer or could work as a studio for an artist. You would never know the trailer park home is a trailer. That is probably the most interesting house to study. If you have an interest in community gardens, there is section with a number of cottages all placed around a gardening area. The shelving in these cottages helped to save space and made the rooms look so cozy.

While this is not a detailed guide for building your own home, it will give you lots of ideas and some pictures to show an architect.

OK, I have to go reorganize my bedroom/office. This book gave me some great ideas.

~The Rebecca Review

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointed, December 12, 2008

The cover inspired me, I thought it was about "creative ways to live with less" (or what I understand by that: simplicity, autonomy,creative lifestyles...).
I didn't expect to bump into this kind of projects: very much made from architect plans, quite out of touch with the environment, square, angulous, steel, glass, almost nothing about renewable energies and green materials.
I loved Building Green by Clarke Snell, which develops a whole reflection on the impact of building, why make it small, how to make it beautiful and healthy. I guess I was looking for a book showing diferent projects in that line, example of people choosing to live happier with less, rather than somehow very conventional small houses, seen from the point of view of architects. I give the book away if you're interested!