“How to Design and Build Your Own House” is a comprehensive manual of everything you need to know about the design, layout and building of a home. The book was written by Lupe DiDonno and Phyllis Sperling, who also worked together on “How to Redesign & Renovate Your House or Apartment”.

This book explains each step of the process and will help you get your design ideas onto a blueprint. There is also extensive advice on what tools will be suited to the job and when you will need to call on the professionals. Fitting bathrooms, shower enclosures and plumbing are just some of the other interior areas covered. The easy to read and practical advice offered in the book will also make it a handy reference for anyone looking to undertake smaller DIY or home-improvement projects.

Each chapter is split into categories such as “Functional Space Planning” and “Design Elements”, which aim to educate the reader about how space and rooms can be best utilised. There is also a chapter dedicated to solar power and energy conservation.

Designing your own house may seem easy and fun to do, but this book will help you see what is really important when it comes to layout and how you can use space to its full potential. For anyone building their dream home this book will prove to be indispensable, even if you are using an architect and will enable you see things from a very different perspective.