Home & Garden

Lauded by Sarah Susanka, best-selling author of the Not So Big House series, this book addresses the changing nature of neighborhoods today and is a fantastic addition to the alternative-lifestyle revival movement. It includes the history behind neighborhood development and the societal atmospheres that have driven the evolution of neighborhoods. From sprawl to in-building to the return to small-scale, community-focused neighborhood design, author Ross Chapin highlights the best of purpose-driven communities. —Adrienne

If you’re considering creating a second unit on your property, or if you’re learning to live in/with one, you need this book. For those just starting out, it provides how-to advice, design plans for inspiration, and expertise on all sorts of other practical considerations for splitting one residence into two. For those already in this type of living situation, the stories of families who have made this change show how to overcome some of the challenges in using and sharing these spaces. —Nici