I've got a copy, but didn't get it until my kitchen was 90% done. Because of this I've only read parts of it out of curiosity, rather than putting its ideas into practice. It is exactly what its subtitle claims: Step by step procedures for designing and building the kitchen you want with the space and money you have. The book introduces basic principles of kitchen design, has you look at the floorplan of your own house and presents methods for designing a kitchen that will work well within whatever constraints you might face. Following that are detailed instructions for building functional cabinetry from simple materials, with simple tools.

This book is fun and informative, but it is 25 years old and looks out of place next to the highly-polished aspirational, shelter-mag sorts of stuff we see now. There is no computer-aided design, no mention of internet resources, no granite, no glass tile, no professional-looking appliances. This is 1983, the US economy is just climbing out of the painful 1970s (which -- who knows? -- may be coming around again...) and this book has a very practical and hands-on flavor. I like the book a lot, but it's targeted at a very particular audience.

FWIW, I think even Sam Clark's website suggests that other books may be more useful unless you're specifically looking for information on building your own built-in-place cabinetry.

I have not seen this particular book, but I did recently buy a fabulous 1970s kitchen design book (50 cents!) that actually has a lot of good information.

The photos are B&W (but I'm sure there would be some orange Formica in there) but among the kitchens pictured are Julia Child's and some other pro cooks of that era. Lots of long open shelves, Julia's famed peg rack (with outlines for each implement) and not an island is sight! And these people cooked a lot more than anyone on these boards ever will, so "efficient kitchens" were NOT invented in the 90s.

I heard something once, and I think of it often. Knowledge is assembled. You can find the pieces anywhere.

I borrowed it from the local library. It's a great resource book.

I'm old enough to have purchased The Motion-Minded Kitchen long ago when it was still in print. It's still my favorite kitchen design book. This book fueled my passion for functional design (and I have since become a KD). The pictures are dated, but the design concepts are timeless. In our own kitchen we are building our own cabinets, although not using Clark's construction techniques.

If you like The Motion-Minded Kitchen, you might also like A Pattern Language, an ambitious book about architecture on both a macro and micro level that attempts to identify what makes a space feel right.

If only A Pattern Language were as easily available as Clark's books. I've read it, but have yet to splurge on my own copy. It and The Timeless Way of Building are both wonderful.

I've never read The Timeless way of Building. They're both available on Amazon.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Pattern Language

Ellene, The Timeless Way... sets up the context for A Pattern Language; it lays out Alexander's theories about vernacular building systems, describes what he means by "patterns" and how they should be used. I know the books are available, it's just the price tag that makes me hesitate.

Ellene and Jon, thanks for the book tips! I've been trying to figure out what to get DH for Father's Day, and he is a book collector with a special interest in architecture and philosophical issues related to how we order our lives. He is going to LOVE these! I *never* find this stuff without him already knowing about them, but I'm pretty sure I've scooped him here.

Anita

Interesting how people balk at the cost of Pattern Language, myself included. To put it in context, for $41 a person could buy a square foot of granite countertop, or a book with insights that could profoundly influence a kitchen, home, or even extend to one's life philosophy. [To the right reader, Pattern Language is that awesome.]

At least that is how I rationalize my book budget (and my laminate counters).

-Lena

I don't recall the name of the magazine where I found my kitchen design at but it was definately late 70's to very early 80's. The finishes and colors were HORRIBLE but the design was extremely functional for a small kitchen. We raised the height of the bar but other than that the entire design is the same.