PreFab Home

The Prefab Home looks at the emerging world of prefabricated or modular housing, and delves into how new advances are being made to create prefab homes in the popular and widespread Arts & Crafts style of the early twentieth century. When Michael Buchanan set out to find ways to build a house more cost-effectively, he turned to prefab construction. He wanted to pursue his dream without sacrificing his sense of style, all while staying within a realistic budget. What he discovered about the possibilities of cost-efficient prefabricated housing will astound and amaze anyone who thinks "prefab" necessarily means "double-wide!"
The book traces the home's creation from beginning design phases, through production at the factory, to placement and assembly onsite, to interior design and decoration. The whole process was filmed and will be featured as a special episode for "This Old House", to air on PBS this spring and then syndicate to other stations.
Chapters include:
· Framing a dream: Setting goals and defining design aesthetics
· History of Modular Construction
· Vocabulary of Modular Design
· Design Recipe for a Pre-Fab Bungalow
· Updated Arts & Crafts Details
Michael Buchanan is the owner of Michael Buchanan Designs, a New York-based interior design firm that pairs European philosophies with practical and functional needs. He is also the owner of a popular antique store in the Pennsylvania countryside. His designs have been featured in Traditional Home and Better Homes and Gardens. Michael has been invited by Christopher Lowell himself to participate in a new feature next season, "Designer's Round Table." He can also be seen on HGTV's "Decorating With Style" and "Our Home."