Blueprint Affordable: How to Build a Beautiful House Without Breaking the Bank

"If you dream of an architecturally distinctive house filled with graceful, beautiful materials, a space that has been customized to fit your lifestyle, but think you can't afford it - you have come to the right book." There are ten houses in Blueprint Affordable and if you are budget minded and also want a beautiful house, your dream can become a reality. There is an affordability checklist to show you how you can omit basements or work with your architect to create a floor plan that encourages natural ventilation to save on air conditioning costs, etc. Contents: From fish-and-Chips Stand to Beachfront Home Quaint Ocean-View Cottage A Contemporary Rendition of a Traditional Design An Innovatively Remodeled California Bungalow Rustic Elegance Beside the River A casual House in a New Kind of Neighborhood Midwest Ultramodern High Design on the Kansas Prairie The Colorado Barn, Reinterpreted Streamlined Sophistication on Martha's Vineyard Each house project has the cost per square foot and detailed information on how the house was constructed or remodeled. The interior pictures should give some ideas for decorating and design. There are floor plans and notes about saving money. I liked the lighting ideas in quite a few kitchens and yellow chair sitting out on the deck of the bungalow looked so inviting. They had also painted the walls yellow and it looks beautiful. All of the houses are unique architectural designs and after reading this book, I'm convinced a house with big windows is best. All that filtered sunlight streaming into the rooms through beautiful sheer curtains. When I live in a house, I dream of the simplicity of apartment living. When I'm in an apartment I miss my own deck and privacy. So, I think a smaller home is the solution. I need a house that is low maintenance and that is unique. This book gives many ideas for building your own house or you may just enjoy the decorating ideas. I could handle living in a house by the sea. This book is probably one of the sturdiest books I've ever seen. It is very well made and will last for a long time. ~The Rebecca Review

With 8 examples of new construction and 2 remodels/renovations, this book offers up many coherent and sensible ideas for building a well-designed house on a budget. The suggestions and guidelines are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format, and the featured houses are in a wide range of style, location, and cost. Particularly useful are the clearly written photo captions, which at a glimpse provide the salient details of the house in question. Kodis also includes an Affordability Checklist, which is a useful rundown of the key points to remember when designing/building a house on a budget. There is a focus on materials and well-executed floor plans, as well as numerous lower-cost alternatives to more expensive features and details. The author also describes ways to splurge, even when money is tight. Another bonus: most of the homes in the book are modest in size. This book is an excellent addition to my architecture library.

Michelle Kodis' previous effort, "Blueprint Small", was an excellent resource for designing small residences (less than 1500 square feet). The book was well laid out, had some very good photography, and the designs of the residences themselves were all quite striking. This new book is just as good, if not better. The focus now is on complete residences that not only look really spectacular, but also come in with a respectably low price tag (in terms of price per square foot of living space). When it comes time for me to move from a condo into a house, I'll definitely be using this book as a reference... can't wait to see what Michelle will come out with next!