Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties [Hardcover]

Arrol Gellner (Author), Douglas Keister (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2001

In the tradition of the Bungalow series, here is a marvelous celebration of the twentieth century's most delightful and whimsical architectural style

Storybook Style, the rambunctious evocation of medieval Europe in American housing, was born in the early 1920s and almost forgotten by the late 1930s. It took its inspiration from the Hollywood sets that enthralled Americans of the period and that still appeal to our jaded modern eye. Half timbered and turreted, pinnacled and portcullised, these houses owed their fanciful bravura to architects and builders with theatrical flair, fine craftsmanship, and humor. In Storybook Style, architectural information enhances the stunning color pictures by Bungalow and Painted Ladies photographer Doug Keister to impart a wealth of information and enjoyment.

Photography by Douglas Keister.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Studio (October 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670893854
• ISBN-13: 978-0670893850
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare original idea, October 9, 2003

By 

misterbeets "misterbeets" (Safe Harbor, MD USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties (Hardcover)

My first impression of this book was that it was a trifle; once I started to read it though, I discovered it was surprisingly substantial. What a joy to look at these quaint medieval-inspired houses. Lots of them, and all those turrets! You won't find mention of this phenomenon in any of the popular books on house styles, and the author deserves credit for documenting it.

The book displays a professional knowledge of architecture, unlike many in this category which seem to be written by art historians, and you can rest assured the author will not confuse a mullion with a muntin, or claim, as another one once did, that Tudor is an early Rennaissance style. (Although he happens to be incorrect in saying "terra cotta" means "hollow tile"; it means "baked earth".)

No vacant catalog-esque prose here; the author knows his subject and enjoys telling others about it.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Homes out of Hollywood fantasy land, March 25, 2003

By 

Jim Tolpin (Port Townsend, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties (Hardcover)

Idea books for cottages and cottage detailing don't get much better than this. This book tells the story of the emergence of the Storybook style in the early part of the 20th century-- a style that came right out of the fantasy world of Hollywood. In fact, many of the homes featured in this book were commissioned by the movie folk of this era. This is a larger format book-- and you'll be glad it is when you see the pictures!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whodathunkit - a page-turner architecture book!, September 16, 2003

By 

GEM (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties (Hardcover)

5 stars plus! A book to delight the heart! It's so well-written you don't want to stop reading, yet you want to see what delight awaits on the next page. My suggestion - page through and look at all the pictures - then go back and read it all. Great job - please do another one!
These guys did a similar book called Red Tile Style, on spanish revival architecture - if you like this one, check it out- it's also very well done.