Written by architects and filled with lavish photography, the series gives readers a primer on the trademark design elements of each genre, before-and-after looks at dozens of renovation projects and handy definitions (to help you distinguish between, say, a “shed dormer” and a “Nantucket dormer”). The resources page even lists contact info for the architects whose work is featured in each volume. The books cost $29.95 apiece, but beware: just page through one, and within days there’ll be a very expensive contractor parked in your driveway.
