By design. Designing for our human scale ; How much space do you really need? ; What is an open plan and why does it work? ; Let there be light ; Where does the garage belong? -- Room by room. The new heart of the home ; Rethinking the informal eating area ; Rethinking the formal dining room and living room ; Designing an away room ; Designing a comfortable guest room -- Attention to detail. Column proportion : bigger is usually better ; Unifying an interior with horizontal trim ; Fixing a room that is too tall ; Improving a McMansion with ceiling height variety ; Making a zero-clearance fireplace look real ; Locating smoke detectors and security-system sensors -- Making it personal. Designing a welcoming front porch ; The importance of a front entry ; Designing a breakfast nook ; Make your house an expression of yourself ; Using color effectively -- Practical matters. Where to put the TV ; Designing a kitchen island ; Squeezing in a half-bath ; Getting creative with the bathtub and shower ; Designing a laundry room that works -- Living in the real world. Making room for privacy ; Living with extended family ; Good additions make good neighbors ; Changing the face of teardowns.