The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now

by Gil Schafer III

Acclaimed architect Gil Schafer illustrates how he blends classical architecture, interior decoration, and landscape to create homes with a feeling of history. As a traditional architect, Gil Schafer specializes in building new "old" houses as well as renovating historic homes. His work takes the best of American historic and classical architecture—its detailed moldings and harmonious proportions—and updates it, retaining its character and detail while simultaneously reworking it to be more in tune with the way we live now—comfortable, practical, family-oriented. In his first book, Schafer covers the three essential cornerstones of creating a great traditional house: architecture, landscape, and decoration. He discusses the important interplay between the interior architecture and the fabrics, furniture, and wall treatments. In-depth profiles build on these essays, including Schafer’s own new "old" house in the Hudson Valley; the renovation of a historic home in Nashville designed by Charles Platt in 1915; and the restoration of a magnificent 1843 Greek Revival mansion in Charleston. Filled with hundreds of interior and detail shots, The Great American House is an invaluable resource for anyone who loves old houses and traditional design.

Genres: Design, Interior Design, Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Architecture, Photography, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2012

Reviews

[Susan Kendrick]

This is a picture book, a coffee table book. I checked it out from the library because two interior designers I follow (Erin Napier and Marian Parsons) both mentioned the author (an architect) as influential in their work. At first, I just flipped through the pictures and was unimpressed, but then I decided to actually read all of the book. Schaefer’s thought process and intentionality in his work is really beautiful to witness. I’m pretty sure I’ll never live in a home he designed, but it was delightful to walk through some of those houses via this book. If you like homes, classicism, and big pretty pictures, this book is worth checking out.

[Sungyena]

I’m a huge fan of Gil Schafer and his trio of sumptuous books. This made me think of the “101 Dalmatians” scene of the humans matching their dogs, except for houses. His collaborations with his clients feel so natural and complimentary. No notes! Perfection!

“Classicism is a language, and you can speak it in a contemporary way.”

[Lucy]

Great houses created or renovated by architect Gil Schafer III. He works from the principles of classic architecture, going against the modernist theme that he was taught in school, but going back to the homes he was comfortable with growing up. These houses are big and pricey, especially when starting from scratch with a plot of farmland, but end up being comfortable looking.
He always keeps in mind architecture, decoration and landscaping, each being almost equally important in making a home instead of just a building. Lots of attractive photographs.
After chapters focusing on his architecture, decoration and landscaping themes, he focuses on four houses. First his own, Middlefield, built on former farmland in the Hudson Valley. Then another from scratch on farmland north of New York City. Next is a renovation of Boxwood, originally designed by Charles Platt in 1915. Here he has some photos of the original design of the house, as it had become before this renovation, and after. Finally a historic house in Charleston, which the owners wanted renovated back to the original as much as possible. This called for a lot of interesting problems to be solved.
One feature I dislike intensely: the text is often broken up with pages of photographs. That would be okay except that the break is always in the middle of a sentence and you have to page past a few or several photos to get to the end of the sentence.
Very interesting. Recommended to fans of historic architecture and large homes.

[Lorraine]

East Coast, USA. Present day. Gil Schaefer III’s The Great American House Tradition for the Way We Live Now, a beautiful coffee table book written with Marc Kristal, details and illustrates “ contemporary classical architecture “ in which he specializes. This architect builds new houses that appear as though they were built a long time ago, but these new houses although designed classically provide a ‘home’ for 21st century families. For example, the informality of life today is provided by incorporating a large kitchen where a small kitchen would have been and designing a bigger bath area replacing the old style small bath as well as additional tweaks for the 21st century family. Mr. Schaefer also states how landscaping play an important role in his designed houses. Another fascinating aspect is seen when this architect is hired to update an historic home in Charleston, SC. The thought of living in one of these houses is thrilling! 5 stars.

[E W]

Beautiful photography of beautiful houses, but not a lot by way of useful written content. The restoration of the Charleston house was the most informative about how he used the space compared to the house in upstate New York with his and hers mudrooms (what planet does that even make sense?), though that house in New York did have amazing grounds for what it's worth. Not sure it was worth the purchase price, but definitely worth checking out from a library.

[Debbie]

4.5 I adore Gil Schafer's spaces and the proportions and balance are just perfect. I would be at home in any of them. I slightly marked this one down because I didn't like what a couple of the designer's did (Gil is the architect). The Nashville home didn't resonate with me at all.

[Lisa Wenzel]

This book is intended for someone contemplating building a beautiful home. The scope includes how to make a new house as beautiful and full of character as an older or historic family home. The author takes us along in his own journeys from childhood to architect and explains the concepts used to create comfort and a sense of history. It’s not so much about decorating as creating cohesion between house and land. Good insights.

[Cris]

Having missed yet another calling, one as an architect, I always like to look at books about period homes. This book is different in that it is a book about building modern homes with the practicality and grace of older ones. Architect, Gil Schafer, inspires both a twinkle in my eye and a lopsided nod. The twinkle is for the roman numerals after his name, his picture holding a dog and his farm upbringing. The nod is for his ungilded paintings of the duke of York and for his love of things a little tacky but authentic. I completely enjoyed reading his chapter on building for a sense of place. Many houses nowadays are built completely at war with the nature around it. McMansions, with every decorative device and no personality or point. I particularly agreed with him that one room deep houses are easier to light and to cool in spring and fall. He is right that part of what changes in larger homes nowadays has much to do with the lack of serving staff that even well-to do folks feel uneasy in having. I do think that some of the grace of that time was in the love of company and nature. If you have a larger family, you can still see the need for long dining rooms and wrap around porches. It seems like excess now, what was grace then.

[Jennifer]

A gorgeous book! I read it from cover to cover; it was completely fascinating to see the amazing thought and detail that goes into some homes and the surrounding grounds. Definitely worth checking out!

[John Hellman]

I'm excited to have Gil speak to The Decorative Arts Trust Cleveland June 14,2013.

[Chris]

Lovely. Charming. Heartwarming. Imagine an entire book by an architect about his work nary a bit of feh, pretentious, artsy-fartsy preaching. I want gill Schafer to design or redesign my next home!