House comfortable: the art and science of comfortable living - Softcover

K. McMillan; Patricia Hart McMillan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0399522344 ISBN 13: 9780399522345

Publisher: Perigee Trade, 1996

Synopsis

Provides information on designing a house for lifestyle comfort, talks about understanding design and decoration, and offers tips on transforming problem rooms

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Directed at those who feel that their "house and its equipment for living are inconvenient, unworkable or even downright hazardous to your health," this practical, unpretentious guide shows the way to functional, cozy living. About half the chapters take on such topics as color, window treatments, lighting and security; others consider individual rooms ("Dining In/Dining Out"; "The Home Office"). Readers looking for a decorating guru will be disappointed?there is not a whit of poetry in the McMillans' no-nonsense prose. But there's a wealth of usable tips for those who are interested in knowing, for example, the National Kitchen and Bath Association's Bath Design Rules for a comfortable bathroom (e.g., "Leave 21 inches of clear walkway space in front of the toilet") or how much of a kitchen's square footage to devote to windows and skylights (at least 10%). The authors, a daughter-mother team based both in Florida and New York (Katherine is a design writer, Patricia an interior designer), also pay particular attention to adapting homes to the needs of the elderly and handicapped. A valuable mail-order resource list is included.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This prolific mother-and-daughter team have a different approach to interior design; they concentrate on how design can make life more manageable rather than focusing on how to use design to beautify a home. When discussing lighting, flooring, window treatments, and such, they focus on how each choice will effect personal comfort. Ergonomics is given special emphasis, as is home security, air purity, and design considerations for the elderly, the disabled, and children. Concluding with a list of mail-order sources for products, this book is highly recommended for public libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Perigee Trade
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0399522344
• ISBN 13: 9780399522345
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 213