The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now

By Gil Schafer III

Acclaimed architect Gil Schafer illustrates how he blends classical architecture, interior decoration, and landscape to create homes with a feeling of history. As a traditional architect, Gil Schafer specializes in building new "old" houses as well as renovating historic homes. His work takes the best of American historic and classical architecture--its detailed moldings and harmonious proportions--and updates it, retaining its character and detail while simultaneously reworking it to be more in tune with the way we live now--comfortable, practical, family-oriented. In his first book, Schafer covers the three essential cornerstones of creating a great traditional house: architecture, landscape, and decoration. He discusses the important interplay between the interior architecture and the fabrics, furniture, and wall treatments. In-depth profiles build on these essays, including Schafer's own new "old" house in the Hudson Valley; the renovation of a historic home in Nashville designed by Charles Platt in 1915; and the restoration of a magnificent 1843 Greek Revival mansion in Charleston. Filled with hundreds of interior and detail shots, The Great American House is an invaluable resource for anyone who loves old houses and traditional design.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847838722
• ISBN13: 9780847838721
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 4.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 10.4" x 12.4"

Customer Reviews

Beautifully done. A great addition to my interior design collection.

As an interior designer myself, this book is a must for all who love beautiful, classic and timeless interior design. There’s a lot of fabulous pictures, with detailed information on how to achieve the look. No gimmicks and fads here!