Norm Abram's New House/America's Favorite Carpenter and His Wife, Laura, Build Their Dream Home
As star of the television seriesNew Yankee Workshopand the master woodworker onThis Old House, Norm Abram would seem the perfect person to write a personal account of how he built his dream house. Wouldn't we all like to know what that's like? Well, it took Abram four years from the day he and his wife decided to build to the day they moved in, and this rather humorless account details the arduous process. More technical than anecdotal, the story unfolds through chapters that reveal how specific rooms progressed and certain systems were installed (heating and roofing, for instance). Norm was deeply involved in designing, developing, and constructing the house, and it must have been worth it, for theirs is a beautiful and special home that showcases high-quality workmanship. The book does an exemplary job of recognizing the artisans and technicians who worked through sometimes harsh weather conditions to complete the project. Illustrated with line drawings and photographs of the house at various stages of its construction, this is a book for the connoisseur.Kathy Broderick