Home, sweet home. That may seem like an archaic saying from yesteryear, but on further reflection we realize its a most contemporary expression of how we feel about the place we live. As our lives become increasingly frenzied -- jam-packed with work, school, and serious play -- we long to spend as much time at home as possible, cocooning with our families. And we want that home to be a haven for comfortable relaxation as well as a smooth-running machine.
The family home is no longer a series of formal rooms with rigid purposes, ruled by imperial parents. Today's home is a much more informal and versatile place than the one we grew up in, and certainly more kid-friendly (if not kid-obsessed).
Taunton's Family Home Idea Book was created to help you think about ways to design or renovate your home that speak to the needs of the whole family as well as its individual members. To assist in this brainstorming exercise, we've put together hundreds of photographs that showcase practical and imaginative design ideas for comfortable living and family fun.
This book presents a realm of possibilities for family spaces. A home is made up of both public and private areas: The open floor plan that is so popular presents many opportunities for the family to mingle, but we also need separate territory where we can spend time alone.
The first section of this book focuses on the gathering places in the home, the primary areas where we congregate -- living rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and play spaces for kids of all ages. The next section turns to getaway places -- the smaller, more private spaces, such as libraries and hobby rooms, or the private sanctuaries of bedrooms and bathrooms. This section also pays special attention to the nooks and crannies throughout the house that can be appropriated and reinvented as useful and appealing space. Of course, the outdoor rooms of the house make great family havens for open-air relaxation, so the last section of this book addresses porches, decks, patios, and outdoor play spaces.
In addition to the hundreds of photographs within these pages, there are numerous drawings and annotated floor plans that illustrate important concepts, such as making efficient use of existing space, establishing different zones within large spaces, and reviving outdated layouts. Sidebars throughout offer checklists for outfitting different family spaces, as well as suggestions for designing flexible spaces that adapt to the evolving needs of a family over time.
We hope this catalog of design ideas will inspire you as you make your house the home, sweet home you've always dreamed of.
