While we're spread out working on our plentitude of current projects, such as reclaimed flooring, furniture design, deconstruction, historic preservation and construction (this is a conservative list!), we like to take a moment, rest our minds and eyes, and collapse into an inspiring book.

Today's pick was Artists' Handmade Houses, described as "a collection of 13 homes handcrafted by the finest artists and craftsmen in America, including George Nakashima, Henry Varnum Poor, Sam Maloof, Wharton Esherick, and Russel Wright. Built over the course of 75 years, from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century, these homes were each designed and built by the artists as an expression of their aesthetic sentiments, and in many cases, as extensions of their artwork."

From the great New York History blog: go have a look!

The aspect of artistic extension is certainly visible throughout these homes, always incorporating available materials and transmuting them into personal expression.

What we're reading: "Artists' Handmade Houses" (Text: #michaelgottkin / Photos: #donfreeman ), "a collection of thirteen homes handcrafted by the finest artists and craftsmen in America." This photo is from Henry Varnum Poor's "Crow House" (eponym by the ever-present murder of crows perched and wheeling over the building site). The ceiling beams of the living room Poor hewed from dead chestnut trees he found on the property. The trestle table was likely a wedding gift to his wife, Marian Dorn, inscribed "July 17, 1921"-their second wedding anniversary. The woodwork and reuse is quite an inspiration for us!

See this Instagram photo by @southernpinecompany * 9 likes

Photo found at a great review of the book on Dwell.

We'd love to help make any of this book's inspiring designs come true, so if you have an idea, let us know. If you're in need of inspiration, you can find the book here.