Designing Houses: An illustrated Guide to Building Your Own Home [Paperback]

Lester R. Walker (Author), Jeff Milstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 1979

Designing Houses is the famous step-by-step guide for prospective homeowners who want to create a more personal plan than an architect may design, as well as for those who can't afford an architect. Each step is illustrated with easy to follow diagrams and photographs that are clearly and completely explained. This book will appeal not only to the layman but to the student of architecture, as an introduction to the tools and methods of designing a home structure. Using this process of information gathering and decision-making, the authors gently take you by the hand and teach you to design the house of your dreams.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (June 25, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087951096X
• ISBN-13: 978-0879510961
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book to read BEFORE you begin your project!, March 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Houses: An illustrated Guide to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

I am a builder in Hilo, Hawaii. I have used this book for many (25) years in presenting a class at the University of Hawaii in Hilo, "The Owner Builder". It is clear, concise and brief enough that the authors are able to get their point across without without boring to the reader.

An architect friend of mine, while recommending the book to me said, "This is everything I learned in architecture school in four years, distilled into one small paperback". I couldn't agree more!

I would strongly recommend that you NOT lend this book to anyone, as it will most likely NOT be returned! I truly hope it will be back in print soon!

Aloha! Eliot Merk, Hilo Hawaii

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb tome - at the heart of home design decision making, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Houses: An illustrated Guide to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

This little book presents a complex subject with brevity and wit. It is well illustrated and primes the reader to explore the subject in more detail, while giving an overview of the process of home design. Why is it not in print? Shame! Shame!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GET YOUR HANDS ON A COPY RIGHT NOW!!, April 13, 2008

By 

Nedhera Landers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Designing Houses: An illustrated Guide to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

I purchased another of Lester Walker's books A Little House of My Own: 47 Grand Designs for 47 Tiny Houses and fell hard for this man's obvious love of good building techniques and his eco-consciousness. DESIGNING HOUSES is out of print but there ARE absolutely bargain priced copies out there waiting to be snapped up by some very intelligent person (like yourself!).

I love the cartoon format (making it "user friendly" before that term was coined) and the very, very simple explanations of what are actually fairly technical architect's terms. Even "I" - Ms. Ten Thumbs - could conceive of a wonderful design for the straw bale house I will retire to in a decade or two. It takes a bit of concentration to actually make the drawings but YOU CAN DO IT.

For constantly making the less accessible VERY MUCH MORE accessible I highly recommend this book and this author. Look up his other books on Amazon and treat yourself to some truly interesting and useful information and really lovely photography.