Introduction:
In the early part of the last century, only the affluent could
afford to have finely constructed built-in furnishings added to
their homes. A grand home, like the Greene & Greene-designed Gamble
House in Pasadena, California, was graced with custom-made
stairways, fireplaces, even light fixtures, and had extensive
built-in furniture and cabinetry in every room. Fortunately, in
recent decades built-ins have become part of the contemporary
American concept of what makes up the interior of a home -- whether
its a mansion or a starter model. The right built-ins afford a home
many important qualities, including utility, comfort, and style.
Cabinets and shelves have the utilitarian function of storing our
clothing or organizing our books. Window seats and benches add
comfort to our homes by creating cozy places to relax or congregate.
Well-designed built-ins and the trim, paneling, and other components
that enhance their installation can add warmth, color, and tons of
style to any room of the house, transforming spaces from drab to
delightful. Besides making an interior more pleasurable to live in,
built-ins also can add to the value of your home -- yet another
compelling reason to consider them.
The rising popularity of the DIY (do-it-yourself) movement and
the spread of home centers and internet web sites has greatly helped
to make the possibility of creating and installing your own
built-ins a reality. There's a seemingly endless selection of
products -- everything from knock-down cabinetry to shelf and closet
organizer systems to counter and work surface materials. There are
also countless options for bathroom, kitchen, and lighting fixtures,
and hardware for doors, drawers, racks, shelves, and more.
But before you begin making the multitude of decisions your
remodeling or home upgrade job will entail, you must begin with
ideas. That's where this book comes in. The following 10 chapters
are organized by rooms: passages (hallways, entryways, and
staircases), kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, entertainment areas,
bedrooms, kids rooms, work spaces, and utility areas. There's also a
first chapter that's intended to help you better plan your
built-ins, as well as effectively integrate them with the rooms
paneling, doors and windows, and trim.
Throughout these pages, you'll find lots of impressive examples
of built-ins for every room in the house. The photos were taken in
well-designed homes and apartments all over America, and range in
style from country rustic to traditional colonial to casual
contemporary to stark modern. Just leafing through the book, you're
sure to glean lots of ideas about design, layout, and materials that
will help you create your own vision, or make it easier for you to
work with an interior designer, contractor, and/or builder on your
project.
Whether you find a design that is exactly what you're looking for
or you simply develop a better sense of the wide range of looks and
configurations possible with built-ins, this book will be both
helpful and inspirational.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
1. Planning Built-Ins
Choosing the Components
Integrating Built-Ins
Do-It-Yourself or Hire Help?
2. Passages
Entryways & Doorways
Hallways
Stairways
3. Kitchens and Dining Areas
Cabinetry
Islands
Eating Spaces
4. Bathrooms
Sinks & Vanities
Tub Enclosures
5. Living Spaces
Fireplaces
Window Seats
6. Entertainment Areas
Media Centers
Reading Spaces
7. Bedrooms
Sleeping Areas
Entertainment Spaces
Closets & Dressing Areas
8. Kids Rooms
Bedrooms
Play Spaces
9. Workspaces
Home Offices
Work Centers
10. Utility Areas
Resources
Credits
Soft-cover, 9-3/16 x 10-7/8 in., 176 pages, with
color
photos and drawings
Published 2005
ISBN: 978-1-56158-673-8
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