A Good House Is Never Done [Hardcover]

John Wheatman (Author), David Wakely (Author, Photographer), Sarah Susanka (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2002

This follow-up to Meditations on Design shows readers how to work with their homes as living spaces that change and evolve as their lives do. Organized around six activities people conduct in their homes — sleeping, bathing, working, cooking, dining, and playing — the book suggests ideas for creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful. Each chapter features an introductory essay, lush photographs, and a discussion of a particular design technique. "Wheatman’s words and wisdom will guide you through the process ... making your house ... a place of inspiration, beauty, and vitality." — Sarah Susanka

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Conari Pr (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573247170
• ISBN-13: 978-1573247177
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #558,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good House--Great Ideas!!, March 27, 2004

By 

Rene M. Hales "annieroo" (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Good House Is Never Done (Hardcover)

This book had so many great ideas and new ways to think about arranging and ordering your home. I really liked the way he wrote about sleeping, bathing, working, cooking, dining, and playing areas and not bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. I read this while out of town and came home and rearranged my living room. I can't stop looking at the space in my house in quite different ways. I want to move everything around based on the ideas I got from this book. It is actually a fun read too.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes you look at your house with "eyes of possibilities", June 17, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Good House Is Never Done (Hardcover)

Author John Wheatman earlier wrote Meditation on Design, and has been selected as one of House Beautiful's Top American Designers.

Wheatman believes that real design incorporates things that have meaning to the inhabitants. Well said in the foreword by Sara Susanka, AIA: ". helping readers understand how to make a living poem out of the place they live-a poem that continues to grow and change with the years."

Most design books show rooms that are so perfect-and unattainable for most of us. However Wheatman shows real rooms used for cooking/dining, playing/working (office) as well as sleeping and bathing. The tips, techniques and ideas are all about new ways to think about everyday activity-as well as your common and treasured items.

I found myself saying, "Oh, I could do that." as one photo showed a collection grouped, whether antiques or hobbies (like matchbook collection displayed as wall hanging).

The photography by David Wakely was superb with rich colors and unique angles. Together with Wheatman's words, you'll be ready to make your home a place of inspiration, beauty and vitality.

I like to go antiquing (or rather, bargain hunting) and when I select a certain piece that makes me smile-or my heart thump, I know that I am in for pleasure every time I see it in my home. This book about design didn't make me hate my own house like many do, but that I could do little things to make my house better-more filled with things that give me pleasure, displayed in unique ways.

As the title states: A good house is never done.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a book that will give you easy-to-implement ideas for your own home.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty and Poetic, February 27, 2009

By 

E. S. Noyes "liza lives to read" (Maine) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Good House Is Never Done (Hardcover)

This book has pretty photographs and text that leans toward the "poetic". I found it a little light on practical advice, and generally a little light. I burned through it in an hour or two, and it left me kind of unsatisfied. There's something a little pretentious about the philosophizing. It may just be a question of taste, but this one didn't really suit mine. A Good House is okay, and I agree with his basic premiss, but I guess I expected something more substantive.