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

Lovely coffee table book by architect Gil Shafer about his views on what makes a great house, with several case studies of projects he has built / renovated for clients. This is a very personal view from someone who respects the great houses of the past, so don't expect modern minimalism or pared back style. However if you love great American houses and the style of people like Albert Hadley, Sister Parish and Bunny Williams (who wrote the foreword to this book), you will love this book too.

This book will make you dream of homes, of houses, of gardens of interior design ,,, these homes are amazing in a way only Americans can do ,,, they know all about comfort ,,,, no shaky design and deficient bathrooms and pokey kitchens ,,, all gorgeous space and amazing taste ,,, this book would make an amazing gift.

I was really looking forward to receiving this, it wasn't cheap but as we are renovating a home in a New England style I thought I'd get some tips. It's bland and boring. Most of the homes are old fashioned and I hoped the pictures would be a lot more inspiring. They weren't. Stick with Pinterest.