Reviews
From The Washington Post Over the past 39 years, Michael Litchfield&has written nine books on the design, construction and renovation of houses, including one on remodeling that runs more than 600 pages, and he writes the Cozy Digz blog for Fine Homebuilding magazine, of which he was a founding editor. Clearly, Litchfield is an expert. But as he demonstrates in his latest book, "In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats: Your Guide to Turning One House into Two Homes" (Taunton, $25), he still remembers the befuddled perspective of a beginner. He has tailored his message accordingly, with lots of information [and] no jargon&.At the heart of the book are 30 examples of in-law units, technically known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs. Litchfield divides these into six approaches: going up (converting the attic); going down (converting or excavating to create a basement); carving up (reconfiguring the space within the existing building envelope); bumping out (adding an addition); converting the gara≥ and building a separate unit on your property&The units described in the book range in size from about 250 to 750 square feet-from tiny to merely small. Nonetheless, the designers have managed not only to include the necessities-kitchen, bathroom, and living and sleeping areas-but to do so with an inventiveness that can make the spaces look and feel twice as big. --Katherine Salant Litchfield's wonderfully illustrated book, complete with floor plans, pointers of how to check legality issues and tips on new products, also contains the personal background stories of people who have chosen to go this route. Without these human stories, the book would be useful and beautiful. With the stories, it is also warm and down to earth...If you're looking for a way to incorporate parents or other loved ones into your home life while still giving each generation the desired amount of privacy, I'd strongly suggest a small investment in "In-laws, Outlaws and Grannyflats." It's a beauty of a book full of inspiration and practical ideas applicable to many lives. --HealthCentral.com A real "go-to" book for anything to do with in-law suites, garage conversions, and other "accessory dwelling units" you build or create on your property. Recommended. -- About.com Over the past decade, financial uncertainty, high housing costs, an increasing elderly population, and a rising number of multi-generational households have led more and more homeowners to add secondary living spaces to their homes. Referred to as ADUs (additional dwelling units), these units can serve as housing for aging parents, adult children, guests, or renters, and are changing the definition and purpose of "roommate" in polite middleclass society. A new book by Michael Litchfield, In-Laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats: Your Guide to Turning One House Into Two Homes, (The Taunton Press) documents this trend, highlighting some particularly inventive ADUs and looking at the challenges in planning and constructing these secondary units. Litchfield is well-qualified to comment: He's a journalist and home builder who's worked over thirty years in the residential construction industry, and a founding editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine. Though he's not an architect, Litchfield's position has given him a fresh (and sometimes unexpected) perspective on the role architects can play on home remodeling projects, from design, to shepherding projects through the public approvals process, to communicating the design intent to skeptical community members. -- AIArchitect, Over the past 39 years, Michael Litchfield...has written nine books on the design, construction and renovation of houses, including one on remodeling that runs more than 600 pages, and he writes the Cozy Digz blog for "Fine Homebuilding" magazine, of which he was a founding editor. Clearly, Litchfield is an expert. But as he demonstrates in his latest book, "In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats: Your Guide to Turning One House into Two Homes" (Taunton, $25), he still remembers the befuddled perspective of a beginner. He has tailored his message accordingly, with lots of information [and] no jargon....At the heart of the book are 30 examples of in-law units, technically known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs. Litchfield divides these into six approaches: going up (converting the attic); going down (converting or excavating to create a basement); carving up (reconfiguring the space within the existing building envelope); bumping out (adding an addition); converting the garage; and building a separate unit on your property...The units described in the book range in size from about 250 to 750 square feet--from tiny to merely small. Nonetheless, the designers have managed not only to include the necessities--kitchen, bathroom, and living and sleeping areas--but to do so with an inventiveness that can make the spaces look and feel twice as big. --Katherine Salant, "The Washington Post" A new book, "In-Laws, Outlaws and Granny Flats," by Michael Litchfield, explains in detail how to turn one house into two homes. The author uses dozens of floor plans and hundreds of striking photos to illustrate the process. For all parties concerned, such transformations, can result in "more lifestyle options, greater economic security and deeper personal satisfaction," Mr. Litchfield writes. A terrific resource."--The Wall Street Journal " This book is chock full of very practical tips, great advice, and plenty of real world examples. Because in-laws, converted garages and gue
