The Abrams Guide to American House Styles

by William Morgan, Radek Kurzaj (Photographer)

Now in paperback, this authoritative book on house styles explains the unique characteristics that make a house colonial or craftsman, Modern or Deco, and any of the other approximately twenty styles of domestic architecture common in the United States. At a time of near obsessive attention to home design and renovation, this compact, easily accessible guide—the only book of its kind with all-color photography—makes the identification of house styles a breeze. Multiple examples of each house style are provided—the book includes 350 houses from more than forty states—so the reader can see region-specific variations.

Complementing the beautiful color photographs is a selection of line drawings highlighting each style’s key attributes. Beautifully illustrated and impeccably researched, this portable volume is a perfect companion for discerning house hunters and homeowners, realtors, design and construction students, and professionals. For anyone interested in architecture, The Abrams Guide to American House Styles is ideal for use at the desk and in the field.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Art, Reference

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Laura Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I loved the over-the-top editorial language but by the end it grated a bit. A bigger issue: I believe there was only one female architect mentioned in the entire 417 page tome and it was in the end notes about up-and-coming architects. This is a good lightweight introduction to the styles but I found the examples sometimes difficult to trace back to the description, it would be nice if the image description pointed out ways the picture emulated and differed from the style.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and informative. Key points are written as an overview and as points you can compare across styles. For example; proportions, roof types and features, fenestration (Windows), structural/face materials, et cetera.

Excellent book that keep text and pictures in balance. Loved seeing the differences in colonial versus Georgian, as well as craftsman versus prairie style, among others. However, I wish there was more of what covers the landscape today--the faceless houses of suburbia. I would have also liked to have seen some Eichlers in here, too, since they were so pervasive after WWII.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my interest in houses and housing design, I picked up this book at the library recently. It was very interesting, easy to follow and filled with beautiful pictures exemplifying each of the styles. This book confirmed for me what I thought when we were looking at houses for sale recently: all houses built after 1950 are, in my opinion, ugly crap. Too square. Too industrial. Too weird. Give me a Craftsman bungalow or a Queen Anne or maybe even a Colonial in New England any day.

(Perhaps this should not count toward my books for my reading goal -- it was more pictures than text!)

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful resource for anyone interested in American domestic architecture. The book is full of color photographs that make it easier to identify American houses. Though it lacks the scholarly quality of McAlister's Field Guide, it still deserves a place on anyone's architecture bookshelf.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful as a supplement to other American home books, but not as a standalone text.