This is a smart, solidly researched and well-written book. These are rare qualities in how-to books. Bless her, Powell never writes down to her readers. She appears to be a bright, cheerful, opinionated woman who has a lot to share and has found a great way to do it. I like a writer who has passion and a recognizable voice -- that's Powell.

It's hard to imagine a more useful book for any interested in bungalows, whether as a design type found throughout the Unites States, or as a how-to-rehab it right guide.

I like the divisions of the book. You want sinks? Sinks have their place. You want tile? It has its place.

The photographs are terrific, the line drawings are an excellent guide.

Buy two, give one as a gift and keep the other.

The author has a comprehensive awareness of both the stylistic and the practical issues involved. She also has a sense of humor about it all.

I was particularly impressed by the pictures. Several of the historical rooms are studied in careful detail, wth closeups of many features---not just the major plumbing fixtures. Also, all the photos were taken specifically for this book; so many bathroom-advice books feature mostly manufacturer-supplied photos that bear little relation to the text.