"Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein

So starts the book, The Not So Big House, by Sarah Susanka. First printed in 1998 and now with a 10th anniversary edition, her book is chock-full of ideas to design "elegant, comfortable and highly personal spaces." Sarah’s inspiration came from clients who contacted her after they built McMansion-type homes in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s and were frustrated because their "houses" did not feel like "homes."

Albert Einstein may also say, "But it’s all relative." You might think someone is building a big house when they think it’s small. Whether you are trying to reduce square footage from 5,000 to 3,500 or 3,000 to 2,400 or 2,500 to under 2,000, the key lies in spending more in the quality of the space and less in the quantity while still expressing your personality and developing a design to fit your lifestyle today and in the future.

The "Not So Big" philosophy has turned into much more than that - Susanka has expanded home plans into the "Not So Big Life." She has gathered quite a following. Some of the ideas may seem over the top, but as this old expression goes - "Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water." Looking on-line or through library copies of her many books and/or DVDs, you may find ideas that will save space, be exactly enough for your use, express your personality and ultimately build a dream home that’s better and within your budget.

Here are the main "Not So Big House" design tenets:
1. Don’t pay for space that will not be fully used.
2. An open floor plan with a diagonal line of view to the farthest point draws your eye outward and makes your home feel larger.
3. Vary the ceiling and floor heights to add interest.
4. Create "private" retreats for each family member.
5. Window placement and lighting have a significant effect on how a home feels.
6. Your home should be designed to welcome guests.
7. Use outdoor rooms to significantly enlarge your living space.
8. Take full advantage of the attributes of your yard.
9. Your home should be personalized to you and your family.

You’re probably thinking - nothing new here. Frank Lloyd Wright built homes in the 1930’s using these same principles. And you’re right. But somehow along the way that thinking changed to ‘bigger is better’ in everything from burgers to cars. You can see where that has lead us!

So, time to adjust our thinking more in line with our budgets - should be simple, right? Well, it’s more like your New Year’s resolutions of losing weight or getting organized - it’s harder than you think. Thousands of stock plans are available in plan books and on-line. They are a great place to start. But only you know how you want to live, what inspires you, and what would turn your house into a home.

Here’s how to start: Reassess form vs. function in your current home. List each of the rooms and how frequently you use them. Then ask yourself these questions:
- Is there is a way to provide better flexibility and more versatility in the space?
- Which rooms can be smaller to allow more room in other areas?
- What "personal retreat" areas can I incorporate in my home, expressing my unique personality and interests?

By working closely with your builder and home designer, you can design your dream space and keep it within your budget.

Great homes can come in smaller packages - it all depends on the big ideas you use.

Here are some Big Ideas for small spaces we have used in our homes.

This office layout uses just an 8’ x 10’ (80 sq. ft.) space.

    

This guest bedroom uses the closet as a design feature but with ample room to accommodate guests. Instead of a full wall closet, window seats flank each side of this closet, allowing for storage of extra or off-season linens, and used by guests for their suitcases or a place to sit while dressing - a private cozy, retreat.

This keeping room off this kitchen uses a mere 54 sq. ft. (6’ x 9’) but is one of the most used rooms in the house - coffee in the morning, reading in the afternoon, conversation and a glass of wine while cooking dinner - a small and cozy space that surrounds you like a cocoon but also allows you to daydream while looking outside.

Outdoor space is much less expensive to build and provides opportunities for areas for conversation, dining and activities. And, believe it or not, you can enjoy these spaces year-round.