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Issue 219

On the Cover

Built for the Long Haul

This family-friendly house combines recycled materials and energy-conserving strategies that will pay off for centuries.

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Features

  • Contemporary Courtyard

    Overlooking San Francisco Bay, this house wraps around a protected courtyard that soaks up the sunshine.

  • Payback Time

    A small house in Vermont goes above code to cut energy bills by more than half.

  • Did Starting Small Work Out?

    We revisit a house designed to grow over time.

  • Living Lightly on the Mountain

    A small, day-lit house deep in the Tennessee woods brings one retirement couple closer to their natural surroundings.

  • Seamless in Missoula

    A second-story addition to a classic bungalow looks as though it has been there forever.

  • Drawn to Detail

    Designed on the fly, a master collaboration between architect and builder produces a one-of-a-kind remodel.

Article

  • Urban Farmstead

    A little Dutch colonial gets an open plan and lots of year-round living space.

  • What’s the Future of Home Building?

    Despite the recent blow to the housing market, to most of these industry insiders, the future looks bright

  • Basement and Attic Remodel Checklist

    Need more living space? Use this list to see if you have affordable options under your existing roof.

What is the Difference

  • What's the Difference: Programmable Thermostats

    Basic vs. full feature

  • Wood-Trim Alternatives

    Understand the differences between fiber-cement, cellular PVC, and wood-composite trim.

Drawing Board

  • Reviving a Home’s Exterior Style

    For various reasons, a house can lose track of its curb appeal. In this "Drawing Board" column, architect Roxana Vargas-Greenan recommends a number of ways to revive a home's exterior…

Fixtures and Materials

  • Dimmers for CFL and LED Lighting Fixtures

    C•L Series dimmers from Lutron

  • Downspouts that Catch More than the Eye

    Copper Downspout Cleanouts

  • PVC Post Wrap

    Versawrap

  • A Sunset in a Wall

    Heat & Glo Solaris direct-vent gas fireplace

  • Domestic Exotics

    Exotic Fusion Hardwood

  • Iconic Light Fixtures

    Celestial Collection

Commentary

  • Why Good Clients Lead to Successful Projects

    I meet regularly with fellow architects and building contractors to talk about various issues of mutual interest. We often discuss the key reasons that one project is successful, but another…

Design Gallery

  • Souped-Up Roof Energizes the Back of the House

    Heather Washburn’s clients have a sunny backyard garden that might as well have been in the shadows. You could barely see it from the house. They asked Washburn, an architect…

  • No-Wasted-Space Closet

    The top shelf in most 8-ft.-tall closets is reserved for items that are in a kind of suspended state of storage, somewhere between the attic and the Goodwill bin. This…

  • A Window Seat with a Garden View

    When Bill Mastin started working with Michael and Lianne, they expressed a fondness for the cozy quarters in their vintage 1920s bungalow. They needed to enlarge the house a bit…

  • Office Above, Tokonoma Below

    The landing at the top of the stair in this San Francisco row house is flanked by an idiosyncratic wedge-shaped piece of space. Its ceiling ranges from 4 ft. to…

  • Stairs Taken to the Next Level

    As the shape of this stair to a second-story addition unfolded, several household activities gravitated to it. Its location in the plan offered the potential for a sculptural feature bathed…

  • Bookshelf Divider Unites House

    The rear portion of the clients’ house was split in half by a wall that created two too-small areas: one a back entry/mudroom, the other a breakfast alcove. Architect Lynn…

Tailgate

  • Tailgate: Hank Louis, Teacher

    Teacher On the Navajo Nation, the founder of a Utah design-build program is crafting sustainable homes and better architects.

More? View Past Issues

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

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