Rustic Retreats: A Build-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author) "It is very impressive to hear stories of backwoodsmen who can build a cabin in the woods in three or four days using only an..." (more)
Key Phrases: Basic Building Techniques, Garden Retreats, Primitive Native Shelters (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is a delightful book that promises to deliver loads of fantasy and fun for anyone in need of a rustic place to rest, relax, and retreat from the speed and stress of modern living. The Stiles provide more than 20 step-by-step plans for low-cost outdoor buildings, among them a grape arbor, a hillside hut, a water gazebo (floating!), a log cabin, tree houses, a wigwam, a garden pavilion, a yurt, and a river raft. A bit of individual creativity can make any of the plans described and diagrammed into unique personal statements or fantasies. Many of the plans are so simple they can be built in a few hours or in less than a day, and most do not require high levels of carpentry or building skills (though all will be useful as "learning projects" for the uninitiated). If you built forts as a kid--or wanted to--here's your chance to play at it again as an adult! --Mark A. Hetts

From Library Journal

The Stileses, authors of a number of do-it-yourself books such as Jeanie's Kids' Furniture You Can Build (LJ 12/96) and David's Sheds (LJ 4/93), have created a unique build-it-yourself book based on the concept that "today, more than ever, we need to have a way of escaping from our high-powered electronic civilization with its hectic pace." They start with the very basic task of tool selection, and supply directions to build a tool-box for storage. They also cover primitive door locks, roof thatching, window design, ropes, and knots. Within the pages of this book are directions on building garden retreats, basic lean-tos, primitive native huts, log cabins, among other things. A delightful treat for the imagination and also a very practical building guide. Highly recommended (no Boy Scout should be without it!).?Sandra Knowles, Sch. of Medicine Lib., Columbia, SC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580170358
• ISBN-13: 978-1580170352
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,379 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect builders' guide, April 25, 2000

By	Donald J. Berg (Rockville Centre, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Straightforward instructions and beautiful, informative drawings will help you build dozens of great back-country shelters. Designs include sheds, arbors, lean-tos, huts, cabins, tree houses and even a design for a floating cabin.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars creative ideas, not for children, January 23, 2003

By	christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

These are true rustic retreats for adults. Just know this is not for children's tree houses or play houses. These are very rustic retreats, such as a lean-to to use as a nature retreat, or for the shack-like building the size of a garden shed for sleeping in as a weekend getaway,(sans electricity or toilets).

The one I loved the most was a rustic arbor for grapevines that was basically 4 poles with a semi-roof--for the vines to grow up and over the top to form a roof. The idea of sitting under it with a table and relaxing outdoors was quite tempting. However, where I would get the rustic tree trunks to make this is beyond me (but it looked wonderful).

There are no photographs. This is not a glitzy-beautiful tempting type of book. It is about the nuts and bolts of really building one of these structures. I suggest browsing this book first to see if there is a structure you are interested in.

The plans are quite detailed and seem more than adequate to use as building plans.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rustic Retreats, February 23, 2000

By	A couple (Everett, Washington) - See all my reviews

We have enjoyed all the Stileses garden house/project books and consulted "Sheds" when we were planning our own shed. We especially appreciated the step by step instructions and clear drawings. We were still deliberating over plans when we saw "Rustic Retreats" in a book club ad and we ran all over greater Seattle looking for it. We must have bought the first copy in Washington. We proceeded to build the cover garden house in the fall of '98, finishing the shingles this summer. It was originally intended to be a storage shed but was so wonderful that we added chairs and a bed. It was our first building project and what a treat!