Home Improvements: ideas from an architect

My girlfriend and I recently moved into a new home which is in need of some renovation and TLC. We were after some inspiration on ways to put our stamp on the property, with the garden being one of our primary areas for improvement. We were recommended this book and can't speak highly enough of its clear, concise and informative way of presenting a range of fantastic solutions for sprucing up the home. Case Study 1 (Flower Box Design) and Case Study 5 (Garden Terrace), have already given us some great direction for tidying up a pretty wild garden area, and once we move into the interior, we'll definitely be using some of the other Case Studies for guidance. Whether you've just moved into a new place or want to freshen up your home of many years, I highly recommend this book!

I really liked this book. it starts with some introductory thoughts and the action plan helps to keep track of progress during the construction stage. Most of all i enjoyed the single storey extension. The design looks very professional and i love the extensive use of wood on the floor and ceiling. I unreserverdly recommend this book - it is ideal for someone seeking to improve their home.

I’m already acquainted with Keith and his work and was looking for his Gresham College Mahler’s London lecture when I stumbled upon this book. This was very timely. As someone from a three-generation construction background I’ve previously had a very practical role in the renovation of two houses, am looking toward a third, and wondered what I might be able to learn from this book that would help with the process. With his hands-on experience of home renovations, Keith is familiar with the problems involved from a practical as well as an architectural viewpoint.While a “fixer-upper” is a popular route to acquiring a property otherwise beyond your price range, part of seeing beyond such a property’s shortcomings and realising its full potential is understanding what can be achieved. How many people would have thought, for example, of raising the roof profile of a house to provide an extra room? The case studies in this book, starting with simple projects and increasing in complexity give much food for thought, as well as guidelines for the process and a useful glossary.The traditionalist in me very much approves of the use of salvaged and recycled wood as a cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing and sustainable option. While anyone can throw money at a problem, it can be a satisfying exercise in creativity to put together a home that reflects your personality at minimal cost using salvaged and second-hand items. The book has already given me ideas about how best to replace some badly-fitting cupboard doors in keeping with the character of my home, and how a bike store might be constructed.As the subtitle suggests, this is a book of ideas to act as a catalyst to turn your imagination into reality, and hopefully lead you to think “out of the box”. It's a book that can be dipped into andI hope to continue to dip into it in the future for ideas and advice as required.