Except where noted* all the books listed here can be found at
St. Louis' main downtown Library, 1301 Olive, 241-2288.

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ARCHITECTURE/FLOOR PLANS/HOUSE STYLES

The American House
Robin Langley Sommer
© 2000 Rowayton, CT: Saraband, Inc.
The richly varied design of American domestic architecture is captured in words and many beautiful photographs in this volume that explores American homes in detail from the first colonial shelters to the sleek, streamlined Modernists’ designs. With glossary and bibliography.

American House Styles*
A Concise Guide
John Milnes Baker
© 1994 New York: W. W. Norton
This guide to popular American architectural styles begins with a house designed by the author, followed by his transformation of the floor plan into a Georgian Colonial, a Gothic cottage, an International-style home, and many others. At each stage he details the essentials of that style and how they have fit into the history of American architecture. Illustrations include elevations, floor plans and architecture detail drawings. With index, glossary and bibliography.
Recommended by Jackie Chambers

A Field Guide to American Houses
Virginia & Lee McAlester
© 1984, 2000 New York: Alfred A. Knopf
A guide of nearly every architectural style of house found in typical American neighborhoods from the 1780s through the 1940s. Filled with black and white photos and many line drawings of architectural details. Gives main identifying features of a particular style, then breaks it down into subtypes to help you identify what style of home you have. Other books by Virginia & Lee McAlester: "Great American Houses and Their Architectural Styles".

Floor Plan Atlas: Housing*
Friederike Schneider, editor
© 1997 Birkhauser Boston
This sourcebook shows floor plan designs for all types of residential housing during a period of more than 30 years. Approximately 140 examples illustrate post-war development with emphasis on contemporary design. Photographs, sections, and site plans are presented for each design.

House Styles in America: The Old-House Journal guide to the architecture of American homes James C. Massey & Shirley Maxwell © 1996 New York: Penguin Studio Looks at broad trends in domestic buildings rom 1640 to 1950 with emphasis of the major architectural movements of the 1920s and 30s. Over 200 color photos and many line drawings. Complete glossary.

How Old Is This House?
A skeleton key to dating and identifying three centuries of American Houses
Hugh Howard
© 1989 New York: The noonday Press: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Intended for the person who wants to understand where their house fits into the timeline of architectural history. Comprehensive glossary of terms and a list of publications and organizations for those who may want to do further research.

Old-House Dictionary:
An illustrated guide to American domestic architecture (1600 to 1940)
Steven J. Phillips
© 1989 Lakewood, Colorado: American Source Books
This dictionary tackles the language of domestic architecture in words pictures. Very easy to understand and well illustrated by the author, it also has a comprehensive resource list and a helpful cross-referencing section.

The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration Patricia Poor, editor © 1992 New York: Dutton Hands-on guide that details the finer points of evaluating and buying a property you may want to restore and how to turn it into a showpiece. Features nearly 700 photos and drawings. Offers easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions covering the details of repair and restoration. Includes a renovator’s library and a sources appendix.

Victorian City and Country Houses: Plans and Designs*
George E. Woodward
© 1996 New York: Dover Publications
Offers and abundance of authentic, finely detailed floor plans and designs. Published directly from an 1877 edition.

The Victorian Design Book*
A Complete Guide to Victorian House Trim
© 1984, 1989L Ottawa, Canada Lee Valley Tools
This book was originally published in 1903 as a Universal Design Book containing official price lists, illustrating mouldings, balusters, stairwork and is an excellent source for identifying exterior trim. Both black and white and color illustrations.
Recommended by Paul Porter

The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture
Rachel Carley
© 1994 New York: Henry Holt & Co.
This reference book explores not only styles, but is a sort of field guide, identifying materials, structural underpinnings and other elements. 500 detailed drawings. Complete bibliography for those interested in further research.

What Style Is It?
John Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers,
and Nancy B. Schwartz
© 1977 Washington, D.C.: The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Overview of basic architectural styles complete with a glossary of terms and helpful bibliography. Over 80 black & white photos and line drawings.

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PAINT–CHOOSING COLORS

Century of Color
Exterior Decoration for American Buildings 1820-1920
Roger W. Moss
© 1981 American Life Foundation, Watkins Glen
This is a documentary history of American exterior decoration illustrated in 100 plates take from the collections of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia and the Sherwin-Williams Company archives. This practical guide can help in the selection and placement of exterior coloration. A fold-out color card with heritage color sample chips accompanies as well as an architectural glossary.

Exterior Details:
An inspirational and practical guide to transforming the outside of your home
Jocasta Innes
© 1990 New York: Simon & Schuster
Ideas to help you with a subtle facelift or a complete overhaul. Creative incentive, design inspiration, and advice on methods, sources and materials. 350 color photos.

Old House Colors:
An expert’s guide to painting your old (or not so old) house
Lawrence Schwin
© 1990 New York: Sterling Publishing Co.
35 classic styles. Choose the most authentic exterior paint selection for your home’s style. Includes charts showing how to mix today’s brand name paints to get the colors you desire.

Paint in America: The colors of historic buildings Roger W. Moss, editor © 1994 Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation This book utilizes the expertise of leading architectural historians, paint conservators and paint investigators to describe historic paint and painting techniques. Also recounts the process of paint research at historic American sites like Mount Vernon and Williamsburg. Has a list of the most common pigments used from 1600 to 1850. 90 color photos, 25 illustrations.

The Perfectly Painted House
A Foolproof Guide for Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Bonnie Rosser Krims
© 2001 Glouster, MA: Rockport Publishers
This nationally-recognized color consultant shares her method for selecting and combining exterior paint colors. This full-color guidebook presents more than twenty-five distinct color schemes, complete with reference numbers from the major paint manufacturers. In addition, the author shows several different architectural styles and the book also contains a very useful section with charts that help you calculate the size of the house, estimated time it will take to paint it and the cost of materials. She also outlines proper preparation for all types of surfaces and how to hire a painting contractor.

Period Finishes and Effects
A step-by-step guide to decorating techniques
Judith & Martin Miller
© 1992 New York: Rizzoli
Covers a whole range of traditional surface treatments, everything from aging paint and metal to limewashing ornamental finishes. Examines the history of popular surface treatments such as stenciling and woodgraining. Each chapter is accompanied by photos with practical step-by-step sequences illustrating how amateurs can achieve authentic results.

Victorian Exterior Decoration:
How to paint your nineteenth century American house historically
Roger W. Moss & Gail Caskey Winkler
© 1987 New York: Henry Holt & Co.
How to select and apply historically appropriate paint colors to enhance your period home. Illustrated with full-color paintings and reproduction prints from the 19th century as well as today’s Victorian houses.

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RENOVATION/REPAIR

Caring for Your Historic House*
Harriet Whelchel, editor
© 1998 Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York
This book is a joint project of Heritage Preservation and the National Park Service with chapters contributed by many preservation practioners. About 200 illustrations, color photos, and line drawings provide examples of historical styles, materials and before and after treatments of damaged elements. A great reference guide, also includes a list of resource organizations, reading list and an index.