false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1187680532m/1746246.jpg 1746246 1 As families and architectural styles have changed, so has the definition of what a family home should be. Today's living spaces must function for families whose members span different generations, interests, work, and school schedules. Precisely because homes in the "New West" tend to be less formal than their eastern counterparts, more innovation and experimentation is generated here. The West's booming cities&#151;Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Tucson, San Diego, and Albuquerque&#151;have provided fertile ground for new designs, incorporating the best of previous generations and adding new features families appreciate. <P>ELIZA CROSS CASTANEDA found inspiration for this book in homes from the desert vistas of the Southwest to the high country panoramas of the Rockies, focusing on houses that are stylish, personal, yet highly functional. No family can live practically in a museum, so Castaneda found furnishings and materials that are flexible, adaptable, and beautiful. Because Westerners tend to spend more time in the outdoors and make design decisions with an eye towards environmentally-friendly applications and materials, a unique sensibility and style has risen there. This book captures that sensibility in an elegantly simple format. <P>Chapters, like the houses they describe (depict?), are presented by function rather than form. Spaces for "Cooking and Gathering" replace old notions of kitchens and dens. As family schedules have a harder time meshing, "Dining Together" has become more important than ever before. "Living and Relaxing" spaces are where the family interacts and where memories are made, and the more practical aspects of family life: "Bathing and rejuvenating" and "Slumbering and Awakening" are presented with an open informality that are hallmarks of functional family homes. <P>"Enjoying the Outdoors" is given equal attention, due to the absolute necessity of outdoor play for grandparents and children alike. Not forgotten is the need for "Retreating"&#151;spaces where the world is shut and families can read quietly and gather strength for the buzz of everyday family life. Spend some time with Family Homes of the New West and see if there's spaces that work for your family, too. 1743932 20 10 2006 Family Home of the New West total:1|3:1| 1 3 1 0 3 0 false false Wed Jan 14 19:18:38 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 14 19:18:38 -0800 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=1746246