The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living

This is an excellent house design book. It's a very functional book ,you'll probably examine your house plans in a new light after reading this. I appreciated the content of the book; excellent pictures, floor plans for every house (you would think every design book would include this, but no)and a range of house sites from coast to coast and urban to country. The author developed his topic (relaxed house) well throughout the book, I found that the text was concise and interesting. Vassallo demonstrated again and again in various contexts his themes for a "barefoot house"-light, open spaces, texture, durable surfaces, great connectivity to the outside, and every inch of space useful and used.

Don't let the beautiful photography fool you, this is more than just a 'coffee table book' you'll look at once and forget. Sampling houses from a broad range of architectural styles that are set in a wide variety of environments Marc Vassallo pulls out the elements that make each a "Barefoot Home". It's an attitude and the thought that your house should be a sanctuary from the "big box sameness" that has crept into so many aspects of our lives today. If you are looking for houses that are casually elegant, quirky, fun, and full of life this book is for you. If you are looking for ideas to help design a house, or ways to make your existing home more sanctuary than simply shelter, this books is full of ideas. As someone who is on the process of thinking through the design of a house I can tell you this is a great resource.

Marc Vassallo delivers practical ideas on realizing one's fuzzy notions about downsizing, settling into a more informal and comfortable lifestyle, and doing it well. An architect as well as a former magazine editor and writer, Marc knows what it takes to grab our attention: Clear no-nonsense prose, fabulous images, and solid information. He zeroes unerringly in on America's fatigue of fussy decorating, unused rooms, clutter, and never ending maintenance. Then he shows us how to go about creating an easier, more laidback lifestyle...and he makes it OK to do so. Whew! I could feel myself relaxing as I thoughtfully turned the pages. Thanks, Marc. And everyone else: Crawl over broken glass to buy this book! It has the power to change your life for the better! I'm buying copies for all of our kids! Darlene White

I stumbled across this book after reading a review in Coastal Living, and I haven't looked back. I am neither a designer nor an architect, but with carefully chosen text and clear, descriptive pictures, Marc Vassallo really opened my eyes and mind what it is that I am looking in a home. I've been trying to create my perfect (for me and my family) home for years, and while I realize that is a process, not a goal, all the elements that are key for me were captured here beautifully. While so many books and magazines about US homes and designs feature mostly homes on the East Coast or in the Midwest, this one refreshinly was not limited by geography and the West and Pacific Northwest were well represented. I loved that fact that the homes were not huge palatial estates but, with creativity, had elements that were attainable for most people who are willing to take a few risks and even do some of the work themselves. This book really validated what I believe my home should and can be and reenergized me to continue to move forward. As a big fan of the Taunton Press books and Sarah Susanka's The Not So Big House, this was an immediate purchase for my home library and still is out where I reach for it at least once a day to look at and think about how to apply some of the principles to my home. As a public librarian, I know these types of books are very popular with our customers and Barefoot Home is no exception - all our copies have been borrowed since I ask the book selector to order it and it was put on the shelves. The Barefoot Home website is a great resource, too. Have fun dreaming!

The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design For Casual Living is a lavishly photographed interior design and decorating guide, with an eye for the laid-back lifestyle. Emphasis on openness, lack of clutter, serenity, ventilation, and ease distinguish these suggestions for everything from kitchens to studios to bedroom. Full-color photographs on every page, diagrams, and extensive writing not only about specific suggestions but also general themes to promote a relaxed atmosphere fill The Barefoot Home cover-to-cover. The perfect interior design antidote to the pressures and stresses of a fast-paced world, The Barefoot Home is written in a tone akin to its subject matter - easygoing and thoroughly accessible to amateur and professional designers alike. Very highly recommended and informative reading.