House Thinking: A Room-By-Room Look at How We Live

by Winifred Gallagher

Book Overview

Ethan Allen and HGTV may have plenty to say about making a home look right, but what makes a home feel right? In House Thinking, journalist and cultural critic Winifred Gallagher takes the reader on a psychological tour of the American home. By drawing on the latest research in behavioral science, an overview of cultural history, and interviews with leading architects and designers, she shows us not only how our homes reflect who we are but also...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060538805
• ISBN13: 9780060538804
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Understanding our spaces

Enjoyed this book a lot though it is not a "decorating book" in the usual sense. I agree pictures would have been a delightful addition but I can see how it would have increased the costs and size of the book too much to be affordable. I found the insights into how our home spaces have evolved over time, and why we use them the way we do to be very entertaining. This book helps you think about how you use your space, and what feels good and right to you so your choices in decorating, remodeling or purchasing a home can be more deliberate. (You may actually understand why you fell in love with a house, or one room just feels so good, and another so bad!) It is easy to read and so entertaining, I hated to put it down.

Environmental Psychology

Fascinating look at how architecture and interior design influence our mood and behavior. You gain general priciples and insights into what makes an space inviting or unappealing. This is a great book for an architect or interior designer with an interest in environmental psychology. This is NOT a "how to" book for consumers who want remodeling ideas.

Understanding the Psychology of Spaces in Your Home

I was pleased to discover this book from a review in the Orlando Sentinel. It explains why certain spaces in a home may be beautifully decorated, yet not feel right. The author says, "feeling at home isn't about spending money." Our bedrooms should reflect our private self and the living room our best self. This book makes you rethink the spaces in your home and tells you why some area work for you and others just don't have the feel you want.

inspirational and moving

House Thinking is a thoughtful, carefully argued book written with a lot of love and passion. Like Gaston Bachelard's Poetics of Space, Gallagher's book explores the fascinating relationship between domestic space and psychology. It's also a must read for ANYONE interested in the arts, architecture, interior design or renovation. Unlike so much of the garbage out there, this is a book that makes you really think about how the way we live shapes our lives. Highly recommended!

House Thinking by Winifred Gallagher

This book provides a good deal of practical wisdom on how to decide upon your dream home. It covers environmental psychology consisting of wall colors and lighting placement. It discusses the wisdom of having a great room as a refuge. Some homes have a cozy cavelike refuge to enhance privacy and intimacy. The author asks that we balance privacy and sociability with the design. After all, the house layout supports the way we live far into the future. Optimum lighting contributes to an overall feeling of well-being. Clutter management is important to enhance orderliness and accessibility of items used on a daily basis. As a rule of thumb, discard, sell or trade things not used within the current year or so. The book will assist you in organizing a model home for living now and into the future. This is a valuable acquisition because the author presents many aspects of the home which people do not consider when making a purchase decision. A home can be a place where you will spend much of your time. This book will assist in ascertaining whether or not the site provides the comfort and atmosphere most people require in a home setting.