Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #320801 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 191 pages

Customer Reviews

Another Beautiful Sater Collection!
Just when I think it Sater Design home plan books can't get any better, they do! I really loved the Tuscan and French styles, but all are well detailed.
It has many beautifully photographed homes which I've come to expect in Sater's books. You wont be disappointed with this book!

No, you'll be disappointed
Ok, this book is headed straight for the recycle bin. Essentially the book is full of houses planned or built by developers who have, in my view, have no class or true understanding of the styles they are going for and how to build them.

The homes are basically giant customized versions of the pretend Italian/French/Spanish/Tuscan/English styles that the cookie-cutter developers build where every house looks like another up the block. These guys are masters of stucco and drywall application (which has its place) in the name of cost savings and speedy construction.

One cannot recreate the beauty and character of these old styles where stone or wood trim would be if the house was "real" by raising the stucco on a corner and painting it a different color as suggestion of a spot where stone or wood trim would be. More over, throwing in fancy drywall shapes where proper trim and woodwork or masonry should be totally makes these houses a cheap joke.

I'm not saying only true imported stone and wide plank floors are acceptable but these superficial wannabe's are a joke.

Try "Tuscan & Andalusian Reflections" by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects. They have a perfect middle ground between the stucco/drywall vs actually building the home stone by stone -Great trims, texturing, and an understanding of the details that make a new home true to the old character and style.

One positive about Sater's book: It does have several neat indoor pool designs that could pose as starting points for ideas.