Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May [Paperback]

Cliff May (Author)

Book Description

Series: California Architecture and Architects | Publication Date: January 1, 1997

The success of the first edition of Sunset Western Ranch Houses led Sunset and Cliff May to bring out a second edition in 1958. Very different than the first edition, this too proved to be a best-seller. In addition being more thorough than the earlier work, the second edition also showed that May's architecture was going in new directions. He still preserved the rustic traditions and materials of the ranch house, but his designs were more open and flexible. The houses show that May had absorbed many of the modernist advances in domestic achitecture taking place in Southern California, while still maintaining his esthetic roots in the Spanish ranch house.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hennessey & Ingalls; Reprint edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940512041
• ISBN-13: 978-0940512047
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a spectacular compilation of his work...., January 8, 2002

By 

Soul Butterfly (LOS ANGELES, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May (Paperback)

I adore his homes, and this book gives you the complete layout, including the floorplan---something I love in architecture books. If you can't visit the homes in person, this is the next best thing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book No Cliff May Owner Should Be Without, February 8, 2008

By 

Stephen Meade (Tustin, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May (Paperback)

This book has several traits that make it unique among residential architecture books: 1. it was written by the architect it covers 2. it is a reprint of book that was written during the heyday of the homes featured. No Cliff May owner should be without this book. Looking through the pages will give you an amazing amount of insight into the design of your own home. But others may also find this book very useful. While most of the home designs assume lots much larger than commonly available to homebuilders today. With that said, the ideas will still send you in new directions of home design.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on ranch-style houses, December 13, 2011

By 

Steve in Memphis "Steve in Memphis" (Memphis Tennessee) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May (Paperback)

On the plus side, this book has lots of photographs and does have floor plans of each featured home. Sometimes it is hard to tell from an on-line description if the book has photographs only or includes floor plans also. The houses in this book definitely have a Western flavor, like the title says, but I can tell that they are the close cousins of the ranch-style houses in my part of the country. The houses featured in the book are from 1939 to 1959. The photos are only black and white, but there are plenty of photos of each featured house. Although my interest in the book is from an architectural standpoint, it would also be a good book for those interested in mid-century interior design or those who simply want to travel back to the days of Ozzie and Harriet.