Sell Back Your Copy
For a $0.99 Gift Card
Trade in
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Great Houses on a Budget
 
See larger image
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Great Houses on a Budget [Hardcover]

James Grayson Trulove (Author)
2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback --  

Book Description

September 20, 2005

For the typical American homeowner, Great Houses on a Budget presents case studies from across the country that achieve high style at an affordable cost.

Most homeowners can only fantasize about owning and living in beautiful dream homes designed by top architects -- houses that are well beyond the reach of average consumers. This splendidly illustrated volume promises to provide a reality check by presenting beautifully designed houses by the same architects, but with one exception. The houses in this book were designed and built for clients with high standards, as well as modest budgets.

Fifteen in-depth case studies display the work of some of today's finest architects in locations ranging from California and Connecticut, to Virginia and Oregon. Each project includes lavish photography accompanied by detailed discussion of the economical construction techniques implemented in each house. With an in-depth look at square footage costs, design techniques, and low-cost building materials, Great Houses on a Budget will provide readers with everything they need to plan a great home on even the smallest budget.



Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Grayson Trulove is an author, publisher, and editor of books on the subjects of architecture, landscape architecture, and garden design. His recent books include New Sustainable Homes, 25 Apartments and Lofts Under 2500 Square Feet, and Prefab Now. He resides in Washington, D.C., and New York.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Collins Design (September 20, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060779934
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060779931
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.4 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Nice homes, title deceiving, March 10, 2006
By 
Edward J. Shannon, AIA (Elgin, IL United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Great Houses on a Budget (Hardcover)
This book features some fine architect designed, contemporary homes. ...but the title is very deceiving. While some of these homes may employ the use of unconvention (suposedly cheaper) materials like corrated metal siding, most of these homes have complex forms, elaborqate steel detailing, and from a construcition standpoint appear very complex.

The book offers no real strategies for building on a budget. For example, in one of the lightweight commentaries that accompany each house, the author states that the budget strategy was to use convetional wood framing! How I would love to tell my clients that I could save them big bucks by using this new, innovative strategy. Most, if not all the homes in this book appear far more expensive to construct than a typical builder's home or even a more convetional custom home.

In reality this is another one of this authors books that needed some type of cause to be published. As with all of the authors books, the homes are elegent, yet the text is superficial.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars No actual discussion of budgets., December 17, 2006
This review is from: Great Houses on a Budget (Hardcover)
Even though the description claims that the book provides an in depth look at square footage costs, it does not. Only a few of the houses even mention the square footage and none have information about costs. This was VERY disappointing, as it seemed to be the whole point of the book. I also have to question the position of "on a budget" one house, for instance, has an exterior that is clad in raw steel. There is no mention, of course, in what this actually cost, but it would seem not be a "budget-friendly" approach. The discussion of "Keeping costs down" for each house is a short paragraph, often two sentences. The wood framing has already been mentioned by a reviewer, another favorite of mine is the ability to open the windows allowing "temperate ocean breezes" to eliminate the need for air-conditioning. There are a few interesting ideas, and the photography is quite nice, but the book does not come close to providing what it promises.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Photos, May 6, 2007
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Great Houses on a Budget (Hardcover)
As with everything else from this author, it is just a collection of pretty pictures, with absolutely no detail on materials and construction techniques. There is a reason his books are so cheap.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews







Only search this product's reviews



What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums





Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject