House to Ourselves : Reinventing Home Once the Kids Are Grown

by LAWSON, TODDCONNOR, TOM

• ISBN13: 9781561584901
• ISBN10: 1561584908
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Taunton

Summary

When the kids leave the nest many couples are suddenly free of many of the constraints that tied them to a particular house or neighborhood. It's a time of new opportunities, an exciting time to rethink the very concept of home to suit changing needs and interests. In The House to Ourselves, authors Lawson and Connor take you on a tour of 20 homes designed for this joyous and liberating phase in life, when couples can have the home they've always dreamed of. These homes reflect the many opportunities available for empty-nesters, whether renovating an existing home, staying in a beloved neighborhood but building a new house, or creating a new home in an entirely new community. Throughout the book, you'll find ideas for homes that cater to music lovers and woodworkers to homes with private his and her wings and homes with special areas for guests and entertaining. The 20 featured homes are alive with clever, creative energy, and they collectively open the door to the possibilities of creating a truly fulfilling home.

Author Biography

Todd Lawson's architecture and design firm specializes in custom residential and commercial projects. He has won several awards for his built and theoretical work. He lives in Seattle. Tom Connor has written about architecture and home design for the New York Times magazine, the Los Angeles Times magazine, Home, House & Garden, and House Beautiful

Table of Contents

Introduction	2	(2)
The Joy of Having the House to Ourselves	4	(18)
PART ONE Finding Our Place
The Next House as Pure Possibility	22	(2)
A Hip Retirement Haven	24	(8)
At Home on the Range	32	(8)
In the Company of Friends	40	(8)
The Geometry of Two Lives	48	(8)
PART TWO Just the Two of Us
The House As Retreat	56	(2)
Together on the River	58	(10)
A Shipshape House for Two	68	(10)
A Couple's Island Lodge	78	(10)
Refining the Ranch	88	(10)
Field of Dreams	98	(8)
PART THREE Separate but Together
The House As Family Compound	106	(2)
An Old Cottage Made New	108	(10)
A Nest for the Future	118	(8)
An Addition for Two or More	126	(10)
Designed with Offspring in Mind	136	(8)
A Modern Desert Home	144	(10)
A Family Compound Spreads Out	154	(10)
From Cramped to Comfortable	164	(8)
PART FOUR Pursuing Our Passions
The House as Office, Studio, and Workshop	172	(2)
Time for a Change	174	(8)
A Weaver and Woodcutter's Refuge	182	(8)
A New Old-World House	190	(8)
A Retreat Far from Home	198	(10)
Harvesting the Land	208	(8)
Directory of Architects and Designers	216