Books like Houses from books by Daniel D. Reiff

Houses from Books offers a meticulously documented and illustrated examination of the impact that published designs had on American domestic architecture from 1738 to 1950. The study analyzes 118 books and booklets—ranging from Palladio’s "I Quattro Libri" (1570) to Aladdin’s "Ready-Cut Homes" (1952)—and explores 76 works by 46 authors or firms whose designs appear in built homes across villages, small cities, and suburbs. Daniel D. Reiff investigates the production of these influential volumes, the ways architects and builders adapted their contents, and the rise of architectural training during the period. The book’s final section provides a catalog to aid readers in locating specific models and determining construction dates. Its comprehensive scope makes it valuable for homeowners, architects, historic‑district researchers, and realtors seeking insight into the styles, sources, and meanings of American dwellings.

First publish date: 2000