Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid

Marianne Cusato & Ben Pentreath  

w/Richard Samons & Leon Krier

Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales

Published by Sterling Publishing, 2008

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As the housing boom of recent decades ends, Americans are looking closely at what generates real value in our homes.  Increasingly we are realizing that adding gables for the sake of gables and endless square footage don't actually sell homes.  True value comes from good proportions and

simple, yet elegant, details.

'Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use and Avoid' illustrates the elements that create well-proportioned and detailed homes explaining clearly what to do - as well as illustrating common mistakes to avoid.  This comprehensive and authoritative book is an essential resource for homeowners, designer, builders and anyone interested in home design.

Creating a well-designed building that looks and feels right isn't a matter of sticking on shutters or applying trim here or there.  A successful design requires fluency in the language of architecture.  Get Your House Right teaches you how to speak this language and how to “read” it in every house you see.  Cusato's nearly 1,000 meticulous line drawings illustrate the vocabulary (components such as windows, doors, and eaves) and grammar (the rules we use to put those components together) in depth and rigorous detail.  It also offers practical advice on which elements and materials to choose in order to achieve a beautiful, authentic design.

THE VALUE OF DESIGN

And its Effect on our Lives and Communities

Marianne Cusato

In association with James Hardie Building Products

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Design matters.  Design adds value to our homes and communities in terms of dollars and cents, but its value is deeper than monetary.  Design can greatly improve our quality of life and the condition of our fragile environment.

The Value of Design looks at the specific elements that add value to our communities as a whole as well as our individual homes.  This 52 page book provides easy to incorporate tools for builders, developers, homeowners and municipalities by illustrating not only what works, but what doesn't work as well as including take-away tips and practical ideas from experts throughout the industry.

Everyone is touched by the design of our homes and communities.  All too often we treat the space between our garage door and the parking lot at work as something to tolerate rather than to enjoy and engage with.  The Value of Design looks at the choices we have as both individuals and communities in building and development. Development will happen, what it looks like is up to us. These decisions start with understanding design.