House & Home

If you drive a car then this is the book for you. Avoid serious repair bills by learning what to do when something goes wrong.
Our cars are essential to us, and we rely on them for so much that it's hard to imagine being without them.
Doing the wrong thing when your car develops problems could cost you a lot of money and be a real inconvenience – but what if your car has a water leak, or if you discover oil underneath it? What if a warning light comes on? What could be the cause? Is the car safe to drive, or do I need a breakdown service or a mechanic? How can I get it to a garage safely?
This book covers the most common problems that can occur on modern cars. It's easy to follow, written in plain English, and is full of detailed photographs. Probably the most invaluable item you can keep in your car, and you only need basic mechanical skills to get the full benefit of this book.

Gergely Bajzáth has made a good number of engine coffee tables, and constantly enjoys positive feedback and comments about his work. Now, in ‘How to Build your own Engine Coffee Table’, he has decided to share his methods and tips with you, so that you can make one of your very own!
Whether in your living room, workshop, den, man cave, or girl shed, an engine coffee table is a great talking point, and is almost guaranteed to become the main topic of conversation when friends visit.
This book shows you everything you need to know to create your very own furniture centrepiece. From the best choice of engine base, to instructions on design and fabrication for appearance and safety. Hand painted finishes are covered, and a dedicated section shows how to safely plan, prepare, and fit a glass top for a serviceable, and safe, end result.
You’ll know that you want one of these tables as soon as you see the examples in the book!

Simple Japanese Furniture presents 24 simple and stylish furniture projects for the home based on timeless Japanese designs.

Each project is presented with notes on the key design elements of each piece, the tools and techniques needed, and step-by-step instructions for completion. The designs are chosen to illustrate the structure of furniture and key principles in furniture building, and the techniques are well-suited to working with cuts of coniferous trees, especially cedar. Each project is described in a brief overview, with notes on degree of difficulty and an emphasis on key design elements.This isfollowedby a detailed descriptive sectionwithhelpfulillustrations.

Will appeal to woodworkers and hand-tool enthusiasts, the book reflects growing interest in making simple, practical furniture for the home as well as an appreciation of Japanese design.

Documents the structure of the world's greatest timber buildings, and shows how the framer's craft has evolved over the past 1,000 years.

English Historic Carpentry describes and illustrates all of the classes of structural carpentry known to the author in England, from Royal works to Vernacular buildings. Joinery techniques are illustrated as are structural devices and timber moldings. Hewett has developed and proved his theory from the 1960s regarding the identification and dating of historic buildings from their joinery techniques. This is the definitive book on the subject.

Rarely can a work on ancient methods of building construc­tion have had such a broad spectrum of interest as this magnum opus. Hewett's book is considered the seminal work on historic timber buildings and their construction. The great contribution that Cecil Hewett made to architectural history was his proof that the methods of assembling timber buildings, particularly the joints used, follow a strict historical sequence, as datable as ceramics.

The popularity of timber framed houses in the United States has been rapidly growing over the last ten years. This book will have a special appeal to all those interested in this type of construction because of the extensive joinery illustrations that Hewett has incorporated into the text. This is an in-depth discussion of timber framing and the historical progression of techniques used in the field.

The must-have pocket resource for professional builders and home handymen.

Every step of home building, from pouring the concrete foundation to nailing roof tiles, is addressed in this compact construction guide that is the perfect size for your shirt pocket. Each chapter contains a bevy of helpful tips and guidelines, including rafter formulas that show how to create roofs at different pitches, instructions for building stairs of various degrees, and even a guide to reading common blueprint symbols and abbreviations. The professional builder, amateur carpenter, and home handyman alike can find concise information on insulation, thermal efficiency, drywall, plywood, nails, interior finish, and cutting tools. Whether the project is replacing a window or building a home from scratch, this is a must-have resource.

Simple green roof design and installation for the do-it-yourself builder

Essential Green Roof Construction is a comprehensive, in-depth guide to building simple green roofs for houses and small buildings.

Packed with detailed photos, illustrations, case studies, and code compliance advice, it offers clear step-by-step instructions necessary to create your own living roof on a new build or as a retrofit. Coverage includes:

• The benefits of a green roof
• The basics of planning and design
• Assessing site conditions such as aspect, slope, and loads
• Navigating building codes and working with building officials
• Material options, including professional grade and economical or local alternatives
• Planting suggestions for different roof climates and conditions, including food production
• When to call on professionals to ensure safety and integrity
• Step-by-step guidance for safe roof installation and detailing
• Annual green roof maintenance.

Where common sense meets beauty — a green roof is a system of layers that work together to support plant life, insulate homes, and make the world a greener place.

Essential Green Roof Construction will give you the knowledge and confidence to install your own green roof.

Design a rainwater harvesting system for any home in any climate.

Water is a crucial resource increasingly under stress. Yet rainfall, even in arid climates, can make up a sizable portion of any home, acreage, or farm's water requirements if harvested and utilized with care. The key is appropriate planning and high-quality site- and climate-specific design.

Essential Rainwater Harvesting is a comprehensive manual for designing, building, and maintaining water harvesting systems for the warm and cold climates of the world. Presenting design considerations and approaches for the most common household rainwater supply scenarios – primary, supplemental, and off-grid supply – this step-by-step approach covers:

• Considerations for full-property water security
• Demand planning and conservation strategies
• Supply calculations and design implications for extreme rainfall and drought
• Materials selection and water quality
• System and site assessment
• Sizing and design of gutters, conveyance, tanks, and pumps
• Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection options
• System maintenance and upkeep

This practical resource provides DIYers, trades, and rainwater practitioners with the essential tools, methods, and technical know-how to design, build, and maintain rainwater harvesting systems anywhere.

Rob Avis, P.Eng and Michelle Avis, P.Eng own and operate Adaptive Habitat, a leading edge property design firm for resilient homes, acreages, and farms and Verge Permaculture, a globally recognized award-winning education business. They have over 20 years of combined experience in project management, ecological design, and sustainable technologies, which they share at vergepermaculture.ca from their suburban house and yard that they've transformed into a model of cold climate urban permaculture in Calgary, Alberta.

Everything you need to know to build with rammed earth in warm and cold climates.

Rammed earth - sand, gravel, and clay or lime/cement binder packed into forms - is a low-energy, high-performance building method, yielding beautiful, sustainable results. It's thermally stable and can be insulated, can actively modulate humidity, provides a healthy indoor environment, and allows site materials to be used for major structural and building envelope elements.

Essential Rammed Earth Construction covers design, building science, tools, and step-by-step building methods for any climate, with a special emphasis on building in cold climates of the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. Coverage includes:

• Overview of earthen building
• Appropriate use of rammed earth walls
• Stabilized versus raw rammed earth
• Design considerations, including structural, insulation, and building envelope details
• Special considerations for cold and freeze-thaw climates
• Construction drawings, with step-by-step building instructions
• Tools and labor covering industrial methods, low-tech techniques, formwork options, mix design, budgets, and schedules
• Codes, inspections, and permits.

This guide is an essential resource for experienced builders, DIY home owners, designers, engineers, and architects interested in learning about rammed earth construction.

A veritable cookbook of natural plaster recipes and techniques for beautiful, durable finishes

Natural plasters made of clay, lime, and other materials mixed with sand are beautiful building finishes. Fun to work with, low-impact, and allowing infinite creativity, they are high performance and provide proven, centuries-long durability.

Yet until now there's been no resource that has pulled together the best North American plaster recipes and how-to into one place. Essential Natural Plasters covers it all:

• Sourcing and selecting materials, including site-soils
• Clay, lime, and gypsum plasters as well as fibers and amendments
• Interior and exterior use and specialty plasters such as tadelakt for bathrooms
• Preparing substrates, from straw bales and cob to lath and Sheetrock
• How to set up a safe, efficient worksite
• Mixing, testing, tinting, repairing, and applying plasters
• Coveted recipes from leading plasterers in Ontario, Vermont, New Mexico, France, and New Zealand.

Richly illustrated and deeply researched, Essential Natural Plasters is the must-have resource for owner-builders and professionals alike.

Build economical and resilient earthbag structures using simple tools and techniques.

Earthbag construction- building with polypropylene bags usually filled with earthen materials- is a versatile, easy-to-master, low-impact, and highly durable form of building, suitable for structures from houses to root cellars.

Containing over 75 photos and illustrations, Essential Earthbag Construction is a practical guide to this affordable method of building. Going well beyond the scope of other sources, this indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine if it's the right choice for your project, and to start building. Distilling decades of experience, research, and best practices, it covers:

• Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it
• Pros and cons of different fills from gravel, to earth and clay, to insulative perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone
• Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for efficient bag filling and installation
• Details for various designs, including domes and arches
• Foundation options and seismic and stability considerations
• Finishing and maintenance techniques
• Tools and materials
• Additional resources.

Essential Earthbag Construction presents the practical guidance and best practices for both the DIYer and professional to design and build high-quality earthbag structures.

From wastestream to mainstream, a practical guide to composting toilet systems.

Composting toilets are a key feature for local resilience, money saving, water conservation, resource recovery, septic system replacement, and an improved bathroom experience in rural and urban buildings.

Essential Composting Toilets is a streamlined manual that takes a practical, how-to approach to composting toilet system selection, design, installation, and operation, while meeting universal health and safety objectives. Drawing from existing regulations and research, this book dispels myths and provides tools to assess various systems. It includes:

• Easily-understood drawings, plans, and photos
• Coverage of all main composting toilet systems
• Selection criteria including site considerations, urine separation pros/cons, renovations/new builds, ventilation, servicing, and composting details
• Design and installation details.

Offering a professional approach accessible to DIYers, homeowners, designers, building consultants, water conservation advocates, and regulators, Essential Composting Toilets provides key information for redesigning toilet systems anywhere in the world.

Cordwood construction - log-ends set in insulated mortar - is a versatile, economical, low-impact, and beautiful building method. Its durability and performance has been proven in beautiful, centuries-old buildings in North America and Europe.

Yet until now, there has been no trusted, practical guide to cordwood construction using the material in a wide variety of construction projects.

Distilling decades of experience and best practices, Essential Cordwood Building is the first fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to cordwood building. Ideal for the DIYer and professional designer and builder alike, it covers:

• Wood species selection, log-end length, and seasoning
• Cement, lime putty, and cob mortar options
• Wall cavity insulation options
• Budgeting and estimating
• Highly illustrated, step-by-step building techniques
• Window and door frame installation
• Pointing and chinking, finishing, and plastering
• Special designs and decorative features
• Code references, compliance, building science, and best practices
• Troubleshooting and maintenance

Dreamers, owner-builders, natural and sustainable building contractors, modern homesteaders

Cordwood construction - log-ends set in insulated mortar - is a versatile, economical, low-impact, and beautiful building method. And while cordwood construction’s durability and performance has been proven in beautiful, centuries-old buildings in North America and Europe, there has been no trusted, practical and comprehensive book on cordwood construction methods using cordwood in a wide variety of cordwood masonry construction projects.

Distilling decades of experience, best practices, and innovations in cordwood construction, Essential Cordwood Building is the first fully illustrated, step-by-step comprehensive book on cordwood construction. Ideal for the DIYer, professional designer, and builder alike, this comprehensive book on cordwood construction covers:

• Wood species selection, log-end length, and seasoning
• New mortar options such as cement, lime putty, and cob mortar
• Wall cavity insulation options
• Budgeting and estimating for your cordwood construction
• Highly illustrated, step-by-step cordwood masonry construction methods and techniques
• Window and door frame installation
• Painting and chinking, finishing, and plastering your cordwood construction
• Special designs and decorative features
• Code references, code compliance, building science, and best practices for cordwood masonry construction methods
• Troubleshooting and maintenance.

Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers, and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information is key to success. GET THE ESSENTIALS!

Rob Roy is widely recognized as a world leading authority on cordwood masonry construction methods. Rob has authored and edited 15 books including Cordwood Building and Stoneview. He lives in West Chazy, New York.

From the author of The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy, an easy guide to solar electricity—everything you need to power your home or small business.

Written for the individual or business layman, this is the fully revised and updated guide for generating solar electricity. Practical and accessible, it provides a basic understanding of electricity, wiring, and solar energy. The book guides the reader through assessing your solar electricity site and determining the type of solar system needed for to generate solar electricity, providing you with a solid understanding of grid-tied and off-grid systems, along with important guidelines on installation.

Power from the Sun, 2nd Edition, discusses types of photovoltaic and photovoltaic solar energy systems, and includes comprehensive information on recent changes and improvements in PV modules, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, generators, and net metering policies. It offers an excellent overview of the many options available as a guide for generating solar electricity, allowing you to make the best choices for your individual situation during the design, installation, and operation of a solar energy system. This is the definitive layman’s guide for homeowners, business owners, installers, architects, and just about anyone interested in generating solar electricity to lower energy bills and achieve greater independence through solar energy.

“Dan Chiras is as reliable as a Swiss watch—once again he’s created a text that’s as accessible as it is informative.”—Ann Edminster, author of Energy Free: Homes for a Small Planet

“Chiras makes it as easy as possible for you to affect your own transition away from fossil fuel dependence.”—Bruce King, PE Director, Ecological Building Network, and author of The New Carbon Architecture

There are so many reasons to update your living space. The exciting, creative process can quickly get out of hand if you are not ready for it. The Styleprint® Design System simplifies everything and helps you each step of the way. The Styleprint brings your unique design preferences to life by evaluating your space, identifying what exactly is not working for you, and then setting goals to improve it.

With the help of the Decor&You Styleprint Design system, you can create the living space of your dreams.

• How the race to conquer space influenced design development.
• The first comprehensive overview of the designs and designers of the Space Age.
• With revealing insights into the overall cultural echo in architecture, fashion and culture.

Using over 200 iconic and rare archive images, this authoritative volume explores the origins of the space race and its profound impact on design, architecture, fashion and culture. 

The launch of Sputnik in 1957 marked the beginning of a new era for the world - the space age. The subsequent space race triggered an explosion of creative energy. Cars were given rocket-like tail fins. Airports looked like spaceships. Furniture became objects that seemed to anticipate the future. New materials changed the possibilities of design and there was an intense optimism and spirit of innovation in design, architecture, fashion, music and art. Revolutionary products seduced consumers with the idea of how to live in this new era of space travel. 

This is the story of space age design - the result of a generation of designers, architects and creatives reaching their peak during a cultural and technological revolution. From the iconic works of Eero Saarinen, Pierre Paulin and Verner Panton to rare images from the NASA archives, Space Age Design is a gateway to the bygone world of glittering mid-century exuberance and a recontextualization of the most innovative designers of the modern era.

Among lovers of interior architecture and design, there is hardly a book that is as eagerly awaited year after year as this wonderful illustrated book: The Andrew Martin Interior Design Review vol. 28 is more than just a coffee table book with extraordinary insights into the world of interior design! Among design and interior architecture fans, the photo book is considered the "bible of interior design" according to the Times. More than 1.000 glamorous photos on over 500 pages allow interior design enthusiasts to indulge in the trends in interior architecture, decoration and design with this fascinating illustrated book. 

Current style trends and award-winning design highlights in an opulent illustrated book 

Anyone who appreciates style cannot do without the latest issue of Andrew Martin Interior Design Review Vol. 28: Whether minimalism and Scandi-chic, colourful, vibrant and unconventional boho style or luxury with a touch of decadence - this magnificent illustrated book showcases the crème de la crème of design trends, top designers and interior design must-haves. Unique insights into private living spaces as well as trendy restaurants, cafés and shops will inspire design newcomers and interior design professionals alike. Every year, Andrew Martin also presents the winners of the "Designer of the Year" awards - brilliant, inspiring and unique in the world of interior design.

Coffee table book, style guide and creative compendium in one 

Martin Waller, interior design guru and founder of the design institution Andrew Martin, has been honouring the "Designer of the Year" since 1996 and provides inspiration to millions of people worldwide with his compendium of design trends. Anyone who wants to be informed about the latest style trends in decoration and furnishing will find their most important home accessory here: The first-class Coffee Table Book is inspiration, a style bible and a "who's who" of interior design all in one!

Capture the Japanese-meets-Scandi trend with in-depth practical advice on how to use colour, texture, lighting and more, all accompanied by images of gorgeous interiors and inspirational showpiece homes.

A fusion of functional Eastern minimalism with clean Scandi cosiness, the japandi interior style creates a tranquil home with its focus on warmth, simplicity, natural elements and muted colours. Elements such as bamboo, wood and stone, along with clean lines and uncluttered spaces make a restful environment. With a historical overview of the decor, and illustrated with examples of notable interiors and key elements of lighting, furniture, colour palette, texture and textile, Japandi offers practical advice on how to recreate the look in your own home.

With a historical overview of the decor, and illustrated with examples of notable interiors and key elements of lighting, furniture, colour palette, texture and textile, the book offers practical advice on how to recreate the look in your own home.

Award-winning journalist, color blogger and shelfie fanatic Martha Roberts shows you how to source, sort and arrange your belongings into stylish shelfies for home and workspace.

An interesting response to the clutter-clearing movement has been 'the shelfie' as a decorating trend and social media phenomenon. What started as a label for beautiful bookshelves is now applied to artfully stylish arrangements of collectables, flowers, photos, crafting ephemera, perfume bottles - and of course books. And shelfies don't just appear on shelves but also on tabletops, fireplaces and desks. At a time when we own six times more objects than our parents did, and move house more often, decluttering, and then curating our possessions stylishly, is an important way of having a dedicated space that is a 'little bit of us', injecting stylish personality into the home and workplace. In the first book on the subject, Martha Roberts explores the art of creating great shelfies, explaining color, scale and composition then showing inspiring shelfies in every room in the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom, the home office to a hallway, allowing you to declutter your surroundings without throwing away the things you love in the ultimate form of self-expression. The book's photographer, Nick Pope, took the photographs for At Home with Plants, also published by Mitchell Beazley.

• Standard work published annually with 1,000 images of extraordinary design trends

• Numerous ideas for inspiration-seeking beginners, passionate enthusiasts and professional interior designers

• Named the "bible of the interior design world" by The Times

His Interior Design Review, the definitive standard work, unmatched in its variety and broad range of topics, is now being published in its 26th edition. One hundred designers, 500+ pages, 1,000 photographs — such is the opulent presentation of the latest interior trends in this magnificent coffee table book. With its special arrangement, the latest edition is once again a feast for the eyes of design lovers who want to unleash their creativity.

Artist and designer Luke Edward Hall, based in London, has taken the design world by storm with his playful, nostalgic, charming, and sophisticated interiors, fabrics, ceramics, furniture, stationery, prints, drawings, and paintings.

With a strong belief that his artwork, décor, and interior design convey “happiness and optimism,” whimsical and romantic themes and a bright color palette are purposeful hallmarks of the wunderkind’s aesthetic. Before the age of 30, Hall has already collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious creative brands and garnered acclaim from The New York Times, Vogue, and many of the most influential arts, design, and fashion publications. teNeues is proud to debut the exciting, beautiful, and exuberant first monograph of the brilliant Luke Edward Hall.

After graduating from the esteemed Central Saint Martins, Luke Edward Hall began his career in interior design before establishing his own studio in 2015, and has since worked across a broad range of art and design commissions and interior design projects. He has expanded his portfolio to design collections of housewares, table linens, ceramics, stationery, embroidered slippers, clothing, and jewelry, and more. Burberry, Liberty London, Svenskt Tenn, Rowing Blazers, Christie’s, and the Royal Academy of London are among his notable clientele. Hall has exhibited his artwork in London and Stockholm and contributed art pieces and his writings to such lauded culture magazines as Cabana, House & Garden, and Pleasure Garden. He is currently a regular columnist for the House & Home section of the Financial Times.

• The standard book for decoration and interior design: Andrew Martin, "Interior Design Review" in the 27th edition.
  
  
• "The bible of interior design" - by the British Times

The annual classic shows the design trends in the hottest interior design styles. From minimalist Scandinavian to charming Boho, to decadent, bright and colourful, Martin Waller presents not only houses and flats but also restaurants, cafés and office spaces designed by the leading top designers around the world in this lavishly designed illustrated book. Interior Design Review Vol. 27 is an inspiration for everyone who is passionate about interior design. On more than 500 pages, the beautifully designed coffee-table book presents trends on the subject of furnishing and design in more than 1.000 photographs. Everything is shown that meets the high standards of Martin Waller, founder of the designer brand "Andrew Martin", as an impulse for his own designer brand.

A highlight of the illustrated book is once again the presentation of the "Designer of the Year", who Martin Waller selects together with his team and presents in his book. 
If you are looking for a coffee-table book that combines hip trends in home decorating with style, "Interior Design Review Vol. 27" is perfect for you. A great read that offers many ideas for designing your own four walls or is simply for those who enjoy looking at beautifully designed rooms.

Expansive, sun-drenched spaces, unobstructed views to the outdoors and easy-going comfort - coastal design captures the spirit and escapism of seaside living.

Illustrated with breathtaking interiors and inspirational showpiece homes, Interior Style: Coastal traces the evolution of the aesthetic from the white villas of the Riviera to the California Look of the USA's West Coast. With in-depth professional advice on how to use elements such as colour, texture and pattern, you will discover how to bring the tranquillity of coastal life into your home.

Oak-framed projects stand the test of time. The longevity of the mighty oak trees that grow for centuries is echoed in Oak-Framed Buildings – they are here to stay and so are these oak-framed buildings! Newly updated, this classic title is ideal for carpenters, builders, aspiring DIYers, and anyone who appreciates beautiful, durable, and environmentally friendly structures.

Revised and fully up-to-date. Oak-Framed Buildings has been substantially revised to bring the book completely up-to-date and in compliance with current building technology. It combines traditional building techniques with modern materials and installation methds, resulting in solid buildings with a high standard of energy efficiency. It covers all this and more:

• Practical information about the history of timber framing
• Structural qualities of oak
• How-to get started
• Techniques of timber-frame construction
• Designing frames
• Making and raising frames
• The building envelope
• Finishing details and much more

Beautifully photographed. The structural details are clearly explained through:

• 180 stunning full-color photographs of structures in various stages of construction 
• 90 three-dimensional illustrations

The best of yesterday and tomorrow.  Oak-Framed Buildingsis an amazing melding of centuries-old techniques with 21st century environmental and energy-saving standards – an essential resource for pros and non-pros alike.

“Every aspect of creating a beautiful, sensible, and healthy home is explored and demonstrated with elegance and clarity.” —Martin Hammer, architect, co-director, Builders Without Borders

An EcoNest is not just a home—it is a breathtakingly beautiful structure that nurtures health and embraces ecology. This unique approach to construction combines light straw clay, timber framing, earthen floors, natural plasters, and other natural techniques with the principles of Building Biology to create a handcrafted living sanctuary. By bringing together time-honored traditions and modern innovations, owners of EcoNests enjoy living spaces that reflect the best of both worlds.

The EcoNest Home is an in-depth exploration of the benefits of choosing this technique over conventional alternatives, combined with a complete practical guide for prospective designers and builders. Authors Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte draw on their own extensive experience to provide:

• A detailed explanation of the nature-based science behind EcoNests
• Fully-illustrated, step-by-step instructions to guide you through construction
• Dozens of inspiring photos of completed projects

The most comprehensive, North American resource on light straw clay construction, written by its leading proponents, The EcoNest Home is a must-read for anyone considering building their own healthy, affordable, environmentally friendly, natural home.

“A great new book for the ecological designer, builder and homeowner.” —Sukita Ray Crimmel, coauthor of Earthen Floors

“The EcoNest Home is made from well designed, sophisticated techniques rooted in simplicity. This book demonstrates the outstanding results that arise to their steadfast commitment to creating healthy, natural homes.” —Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, authors of Using Natural Finishes

A comprehensive guide to building green on any budget.

According to conventional wisdom, building a green home is an expensive endeavor. The standard approach treats green as an add-on, tacking "premium" products, finishes, and equipment onto a traditional home design. As a result, many green home projects end up over budget or fail to achieve their environmental and performance goals.

Green Home Building explodes the myth that green homes have to cost more. Using proven methods based on applied building science, the authors show how to:

• Lower base construction costs to provide funding for high performance upgrades
• Achieve a net-zero energy home, including "zero-ing" water, waste, carbon, and associated costs within fifteen years
• Live affordably into the future, despite anticipated rising costs for fuel, water, materials, taxes, and health care

This comprehensive guide to building green on any budget defines the strategies that maximize the return on green investments. Written for anyone who has ever been swayed by the argument that the price tag limits how green a home can be, Green Home Building is a must-read for builders, contractors, architects, designers, and homeowners.

Miki Cook is a green building and sustainability consultant who has dedicated her career to educating contractors and the public on the strategies, methods, and benefits of green homes.

Doug Garrett has trained thousands of homebuilders, architects, and sub-contractors to build energy-efficient homes using applied building science to improve comfort, durability, and healthfulness while meeting or exceeding the energy code.

This practical guide to mural painting explains all the key techniques and design styles you need so that you can get creative in your own home and start 'unsaming' your walls.

Murals are a fantastic way to breathe new life into an interior or exterior space. Mural painting is perfect for creating a particular theme in a room, livening up a boring corner of your home and personalising a child's bedroom with their favourite characters. It can also be used to spruce up corridors, hallways and stairwells and other areas of our homes which often get forgotten about.

This practical guide to mural painting explains all the essential techniques for getting started including what kind of paints and brushes to use, how to work on various wall surfaces and how to prepare the surface area before painting in order to get the best results.

Authors Clara Wilkinson and Mary West, outline the practicalities you need to consider when you are planning a mural such as how much light the area receives and how will it fit in the desired space. They also look at where to find inspiration sources, how to use colour in your work and how different styles of painting suit certain locations.

One of the most challenging elements to creating a mural is how to transfer your ideas from paper onto a wall or ceiling and how to ‘scale up’ the design. The authors explore various techniques for transferring mural designs including the traditional grid method and their own innovative ‘doodle grid’ method.

Murals offer an exciting opportunity to try out different styles of painting: abstract graphic, painterly and linear are all styles that are looked at in this collection. These painting techniques are explored using step-by-step photography and there is advice on how to combine different techniques to create stunning results.

The authors take us on a tour of some of their most exciting wall art and murals and explain, using step-by-step instructions and photography, how you can achieve similar results by either using their design templates or learning how to create your own. Each of these projects is based on a particular theme including Chinoisserie, graphic botanical, celestial, tropical jungle, linear abstract, florals and a painterly abstract design. Just choose your favourite and get started!