Customer Reviews

Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For anyone who loves to do the Sunday-afternoon-drive-around-and-look-at-old-houses thing, this is the book for you. The quality of the photos is really impressive and while I suppose it'd best be described as a coffee-table book, it also contains a fair quantity of information about the houses and their style and influence and history of design.

While there is some history and corollary info, I was saddened to see not a word - not ONE word mind you - mentioned about Pacific Ready-Cut Homes. Perhaps you're thinking "what has that got to do with anything?", let me explain.

This book has quite a bit of info on Pasadena and whilst Pasadena is home to a stunning variety of architecture, it's also home to a wonderful collection of bungalows that were originally ordered as KIT HOMES from Pacific Ready-Cut Homes.

That being said, I was truly impressed with "Pure California" and found it to be a fun, easy read and a beautiful book with wonderful, strong-quality (and richly-colored) photos.

Rose
author, California's Kit Homes

This book has more inspiration per page than any other book I;ve purchased on home building. This is a literal home idea book in one package. Floor plans , detailed pictures and amazing ideas are all within the package. I;m building a home and this book has provided more inspiration than all other books combined. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Save the decorator fees, just check out the ideas within. You won;t need a decorator!

I wish they would make more versions of this. These architects rock!!!

What a waste of everyone's time! Just the same old boiler-plate track houses with a few luxury upgrades and too much square footage. I don't see a significant difference from one house to the other. Wish I had saved my money!

This is a great Architectural magazine book for builders, designers and future home owners.
The floor plans are exceptionally thought out, no big drywall or stucco boxes, no dead spaces, just real life experience design.
Beautiful floor plans for sun shine state such as Cal and Fl.
Truly recommended, I have two copies.

i have the entire collection of these books and this one is my favorite. if you are at all interested in california style living, this is the book. the photos in the book are just awesome. the way they create the look with the lighting, blows my mind. the colors and fabrics are just so well put together. i use it for the coffee table but it's also something to get inspired by.

As a residential home design company "Jeff Andrews Custom Home Design Inc." [...]. This book has been a great addition to our library. Clients contact me from all over the U.S. and ask for all kinds of architectural styles. This book was a great help in capturing the California Style.

Great design! All the residential projects: The floor plans, the overall building, the interior, the furniture layout, furnishing and landscape are really well designed.
I would like to recommend this book for those who loves residential, interior architecture. It's worthed.

I live in California and have been throughout the state admiring authentic "Pure California" homes. The homes represented in this book are not much different in design from a number of uninspiring tract homes I've seen from North to South. I was hoping to find some authentic Early California design when Pasadena was mentioned. I didn't realize these were all new subdivisions. I was disappointed. The addition of floor plans is always a great idea; these just didn't offer the architectural elements I was looking for.