The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live [Paperback]

When describing a favorite room in the house, do you find yourself using terms such as "expansive," "formal," and "spacious"--a marble foyer or a formal dining room perhaps? Or do the words "cozy," "intimate," and "warm" come to mind--a cheery little breakfast nook or a window seat complete with plenty of pillows and a breathtaking view? More than likely, you--like thousands of other homeowners--are drawn to the more personal spaces in your home, where comfort, beauty, and efficiency meet. In The Not So Big House, author Sarah Susanka, a respected architect and columnist for Fine Homebuilding magazine, addresses our affinity for the "smaller, more personal spaces" and "proposes clear, workable guidelines for creating homes that serve both our spiritual needs and our material requirements." The heart of the not-so-big house--which is not "just a small house ... [but] a smaller house," that uses "less space to give greater quality of life," and is designed to not only "accommodate the lifestyles of its occupants" but also to express "our values and our personalities," is discussed in chapter 1, entitled "Bigger Isn't Better." Susanka's urging for homeowners to get creative with their space as well as loads of ideas to encourage that creativity are covered in "Rethinking the House" and "Making Not So Big Work." Discussions of specific needs, such as a home for one and designing for kids, can be found in "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," while "Dreams, Details, and Dollars" gets down to the nuts and bolts of the operation, looking at quality versus quantity, budgeting, and what "low end," "middle ground," and "high end" really mean in home design and construction. Lastly, Susanka looks at the home of the future, which involves simplifying, recycling, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs, as well as floor plans and Susanka's intelligent and lively dialogue, The Not So Big House is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. --Stefanie Hargreaves --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Simpler lifestyles, higher quality leisure time with family and friends - these and other trends in society lay the foundation for this important, thought-provoking design and architecture book. In it, Sarah Susanka, LIFE Magazine's Architect of the Year, offers thoughtful guidelines for designing homes that more accurately reflect our lifestyles and personalities. The Not So Big House proposes clear, workable guidelines for creating modern homes that serve both our spiritual needs and our material requirements, whether for a couple with no children, a family, a retired couple or someone living alone.

Susan Susanka is a best-selling architect and cultural visionary. Her approach to design has attracted vast media attention and she has appeared on numerous television shows, such as the Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a former principal and founding partner of Mulfinger, Susanka, Mahady & Partners, Inc., the firm chosen by LIFE magazine to design its 1999 dream house. She lives in North Carolina. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.