Suburban Renewal

by Tom Connor

A beautiful and inspiring display of humdrum houses across America reborn as colorful one-of-a-kind homesMany of today's young couples are trapped in a cookie-cutter "starter" house, ready to step up... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670892173
• ISBN13: 9780670892174
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Viking Studio
• Length: 157 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.9" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

A Starting Point for Change

As a residential architect I have been using this book for years as a starting point to show my clients the possibilities and transformations that are possible to their typical, tired, suburban home. Most of my clients want to expand their home in someway while renovating and updating to modern looks, conveniences and finishes. This book provides all that and more. And while there are some homes that upon careful observation would be considered torn down and reconstructed on the original foundation, they are still well done in scale and respect for the lot and very likely the neighborhood. Don't look to this book for detailed information but for inspiration!

Inspired for the tired

This is not an academic dissertation on the downfall of American suburbs - there are plenty of sources for those. This book for most readers is something better. I found it to be a fresh look at what is being done to bring life and inspiration for the tired,neglected, and typically dull field of "ranch house" renovations. As an architect I see this book as a great primer and visual starting point for people who don't believe good design can transform the ordinary (suburban box) into something Special. The Designers and Architects who shared their work with Mr. Connor for the book should be commended for tackling a seemingly simple but actually challenging design problem.

Suburban renewal - a selection of viable solutions

As a home owner, I am faced with the usual problem of aesthetic / expense. My wife and are lucky in that we have similar taste in design and decoration - so we sing from the same hymnal - so to speak. But one is always on the prowl for a great look as yet undiscovered, or at least unexploited. This exquisitely produced and artfully written volume opened our eyes to a widely ranging catalog of both classical and neo-millennial architectural "looks" that both inspired us and confirmed our opinion that there is no substitute for good taste. I recommend this wonderful book to anyone who owns a home and wants to improve it.