The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live Reviews

• Interesting, if not especially original concept

  
  By on 1999-10-05
  The Not So Big House forces one to reevaluate what is truly a"dream home." Is it a house with empty square footage or onewith charm and character? I agree with many of the reviewers that the book features only one home style--the quasi Frank Lloyd Wright style obviously favored by Ms. Susanka. I like the Prairie Style, but it is certainly not appropriate for most regions of the United States. I would appreciate seeing examples of Colonial, Farmhouse, and Victorian styled Not So Big Houses. While I enjoy the blond trim and floors and white walls of the featured homes, that monotonous interior style is certainly not for everyone. It would help if dimensions for each of the featured rooms and houses were given. Many look large, but I'm not sure if that is due to the photography, the architecture, or just the room dimensions. This would help people see how much square footage is required to achieve the effects illustrated by the book. Additionally, Ms. Susanka refers to a special quality associated with these houses, but she seems to have trouble articulating exactly what that quality is. The Not So Big concept is not really all that innovative. These houses are rearranged, upscaled, and two-storied ranch houses popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of these ranches did not have "formal" dining rooms and had fairly open living areas. Like these ranch houses, Not So Big simply eliminates the dining room and reorganizes the living room under the moniker of "Away Room." Eliminating only the dining room does not reduce square footage by much. I would not want to throw away the dining room for one very important reason: cleanliness. The family dining area collects school papers, magazines, notices, newspapers, bills, etc (which are conspicuously absent in the photographs in the book). If the dining room is gone, suprise guests (which are fairly frequent at our house) would be forced to dine in the clutter of the kitchen. The dining room provides a quick, clutter free place to dine with guests, even if it is just an informal meal of sandwiches. Otherwise, the homes and concepts illustrated are attractive and fairly practical, if expensive. While these are out of the range of the typical home owner, who must settle for paint-grade finish trim, flat, textured drywall ceilings, and fiberboard doors, they do give one ideas for future upgrades and projects. Overall, an attractive book that wins the reader over to small homes.
  
  

• This book deserves to be widely read

  
  By A1QO6YNSZSASA on 2000-07-05
  We are just completing the construction of our new home. While this book was certainly not the only source of ideas, it was certainly critical in giving us the courage to abandon the "starter castle" mentality of soaring ceilings and the attendent wasted space. The reaction we are getting certainly bears out the strength of these design concepts.

  Given the content of the other reviews, I have to be clear about the intentions of this book. It is not a book about building inexpensive houses. It is written by an architect, and architects are generally not consulted when price is the ultimate consideration. It is not a book of house plans, nor a how-to book on house design. It is a book about a design philosophy which considers the house as a place to live rather than as a monument to impress ones neighbors. The philosophy is not terribly original; why does it have to be? It is a return to basic principles of good design.

  We began this project with a very clear idea of the style we wanted, and someone concerned with style alone might not recognize this book's influence on our home. On the other hand, anyone who compared our home to the starter castles on our block would see the difference immediately. Every room is comfortable and constructed on a human scale. I would recommend this book to anyone in the process of constructing a new home. If I had the money, I would send anonymous copies to a number of builders and designers in the area. This book deserves a wider reading.
  
  

• Quality rather than Quantity

  
  By ANAOQ28V21Y5M on 2000-12-06
  Although the concept of 'The Not So Big House' is not a revelation to many people, sometimes we need reminding that 'more' is not always 'more, and this book is a wonderful source for inspiration, both philosophicaly and practically. The book begins by showing some examples of when people put their money into building a small home with character, and others that put their money into square footage. The second of the two is only too familiar in my area (Colorado). Here there has been a trend for the last ten or so years of developments being built with large (4000+sq.ft) homes that have absolutely NO design qualities what-so-ever. Even the paint jobs are identical on literally thousands of homes. These developments are not communities. Personally I see them more as the large scale slums of the future. Really ugly. The majority of the book however shows examples, home by home, of how people have built with minimal square footage, using well thought out floor plans, and delicious design details, to create a feeling of comfort, coziness, spaciousness and drama without pretence. Some of the homes were clearly built by people who had quite a bit of money to spend on custom cabinetry, stonework and refined plaster molding. Probably not within the budget of many people even if they do choose quality over quantity. Others are very simple, light filled, and within the budget of pretty much anyone who has it in their budget to build thier own home in the first place. Just a note that this is not an interior design book. This is a book for those seeking a different way of living 'in space' and creating an environment for family life and enjoyable pasttimes. Much of the interior decorating is really quite boring. But the homes themselves are very inspirational. The use of wood work reminds me of older homes, built up to and including the Arts and Crafts movement. The authors are pining for homes to be built the way that they used to be, and by the time you have finished this book, you will be too. I do believe that beauty, and quality of life, is in the details, and a properly designed home makes use of the square footage it has and requires much less 'room' than is commonly thought necessary these days. If you feel this way, or think you might like to, this book is for you.
  
  

• The blueprint for our new house...

  
  By on 1999-12-11
  We are on the last stages of building our first(last?) house, and this book showed us the way. Most homes built today try to stretch square footage at the expense of quality ("starter castles" is the term the author uses). We've all been in these big, soulless homes:a marble foyer that feels like a mausoleum, rooms that reach to the roof and waste all the space overhead; and usually in a few years the cracks are beginning to show in the drywall seams, floors are squeaking, and there are still a few rooms that don't have any furniture in them yet...or people. The author makes a great argument for building a smaller home that is higher in quality and more space efficient. Better to fill a smaller space with things of quality and beauty than build big and empty places. We read this book, threw out our floor plans, and started over with a new philosophy. In one month we'll be moving into a better, more energy and space efficient home for having done this--at about $90/SQFT.

  Read this book before you build.

  (You can also read the author's columns in Fine Homebuilding magazine; many are also on the FH website. The column on "designing an entryway" is a logical place to start!)
  
  

• Not so original, but well said.

  
  By on 2000-05-10
  I enjoy reading and re-reading this book, so I think there's a lot of useful content here. I bought this book shortly after remodeling my house, and found that the book expressed many of the ideas and goals of my house remodel. I find myself disagreeing with most of the criticisms I have read, save that many of the photographs are examples of the same "style." I think the author's intended audience is people who are planning to build a new house (or substantially remodel an existing one), and obviously as an architect she is encouraging people to find and work with an architect, to value the importance of design, and to spend money on qualitative aspects of a house rather than raw square footage.

  I would note that many ideas in the book are neither original to the author nor to this book; the fact that the book seems to be a big success indicates however that previous efforts to put forth these ideas had not reached many people. An example of a good book in a similar vein (and written in 1985) is: "Modest Mansions: design ideas for luxurious living in less space" by Donald Prowler (now out of print but Amazon might get it for you used, or try the library).
  
  

• Too Much Frank Lloyd Wright
  By A12IZ88X5REPCR on 2000-01-16
  Susan Susanka is a 'student' of Frank Lloyd Wright and it definitely shows in this book. Although the title of her book implies she is thinking 'small', the content of the pictures shows she is only thinking 'Wright'. Anyone who buys these types of books in order to stimulate their imaginations will be somewhat disappointed unless they too are Wright fans and are looking for Wright-ish inspiration. If you love Victorian, French Country, American Country, Spanish Colonial or industrial modernism; this book will not provide you with visual inspiration. Also, her basic premise is that the modern trend towards really large houses is actually alienating. She is of the opinion that vaulted ceilings make a person feel insignificant. I disagree whole-heartedly. When I am in a room with a vaulted ceiling my spirits rise, you could say my spirit soars to fill the room; it is not a blow to my self-worth.
  
  
• this book is about HUGE, non-urban custom houses in the rural midWest -book is irrelevant to small urban homeowners
  By A9KAY47NCPQS on 2006-03-18
  I am puzzled by the title and the contents.
  
  I wanted a book about small houses and how to remodel or decorate them. This book cannot be more irrelevant.
  
  This book is exclusively about custom built, large (2000 sqft+) houses for people (retired wealthy, or professional double income wealthy) with unlimited budgets who are building their dream home in the country woods.
  
  What really bugged me is that "not so big" in this book really means "not a 5 bedroom MacMansion." If you are in New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, the featured houses would count as rare gargantuan behemoths.
  
  I thought book editors gave lots of thought to titles, but this title was downright misleading.
  
  
• A Great Book for Home Builders
  By on 1999-10-25
  After reading this book, I would have to disagree with those who don't think it's a good book for someone building a house on a budget. Although that's not the point of Susanka's work, she wants her reader to change the way they think about homes, and to review their choices in a custom home. Trading square footage for higher quality craftsmanship is the way to go--but you can also cut out the excess square feet and use standard materials and labor and cut your cost. It's up to the builder--that's the beauty of it. She shows you how to choose and some of the possibilities, whether you're on a tight budget or have half a million to spend. I learned a lot from this book, and would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of building a home, or takes a fancy to architecture. There are wonderful pictures in here, many of which have given me ideas for my own home. Definitely worth the cost.
  
  
• 4.5 stars: Great treatment on use of space; so-so economics
  By A3IVIS1OPYUU0X on 2003-05-26
  "The Not So Big House" is the best treatment I know of on efficient use of available space in a house design. Sarah Susanka favors built-in storage near the points of use, which is efficient in both use of square footage and on time spent getting things out of storage to where they're needed. Of course built-ins raise the cost of a house, which leads to Susanka's central thesis: a small, well-designed house with attention to detail will be costly -- but, in her opinion, worth it. She suggests toting up the square footage vs. time spent in various home spaces, and finds that typically formal living and dining rooms are budget busters that are used only rarely. Skipping these formal rooms will free up money for higher quality in the remaining spaces.

  Susanka falls down on the job with her limited treatment of ways a prospective home owner can save money on their dream house. Specifically, she mentions only
  - smaller size
  - less attention to detail (lower quality)
  - a cheaper lot
  but not, for example
  - changing the number of stories (2-story homes save on foundation costs over ranch homes)
  - owner labor
  - owner functioning as general contractor

  The book, filled with excellent color photographs (many by the author) is extraordinarily well laid out. The text continually refers to "the photo above" rather than something like "Fig. 8-3b". Accompanying floor plans show the point and angle of the associated photos, making it easy to build up a mental picture of the overall space from a few choice shots. The lighting, contrast, color balance, and composition of the photos is outstanding.

  I must mention that the book is basically a paen to houses heavy on natural interior wood detail. In American homes this is exemplified by the Craftsman style; the feature also applies to traditional Japanese houses. It's a style that I personally like so that's not a detriment for me. If instead your taste runs to French country homes, where every scrap of wood must be painted, you'll probably have some qualms at the author's architectural bias.

  Unlike most architecture books which feature carefully decorated rooms you couldn't possibly be comfortable living in, the spaces depicted in Susanka's opus are refreshingly naturalistic. That's not to say that there are photos with kids' fingerprints around the light switches (as in real life). But this book is a rarity in showing bookshelves loaded with paperback books instead of the usual sets of matching leather-bound volumes, each shelf having three books stacked sideways to hold some Object d'Art. And there are actual kids' toys on actual floors!

  A final, fairly significant drawback is Susanka's short shrift when it comes to non-design topics. For instance, energy efficiency only gets a couple of pages. There are even shorter treatments of recycled materials, sustainability, and alternate (other than stick-built) construction styles. All of these "peripheral" subjects are crammed into the last (and shortest) chapter.

  Summary: This book is a rich resource of ideas on how to design a house that's efficient for your actual lifestyle. You'll need to look elsewhere to figure out how to build it and pay for it. But because design is the spearhead of the architectural process, this is an excellent starting point.
  
  

• A boring sameness of design
  By A22U8J2LNB7LVV on 2000-05-15
  If you love the look of Georgian, Federal, Victorian, French, or Mediterranean style this book will leave you cold.

  It's obvious that all the houses/rooms shown are done by the same architectural firm. After reading the entire book, you will come to see a sameness to the designs. They look to my eye to be variations on the theme of craftsman/prairie style.

  The openness gets boring, as does the constant use of light walls with light wood trims. There is a lack of color in these rooms that breaks my heart.

  You'll also notice a squareness to rooms, staircases, windows, fireplaces, kitchen islands -- everywhere you look there is a rectangle or a square. Very seldom (you can count them on one hand) will you see the use of curves or circles.

  And where is the practicality in having kitchens opening into family rooms, living rooms, and eating spaces? Doesn't anyone in these homes ever cook?

  Even with the best exhaust systems, cooking emits odors, deposits grease and oils into the air, mucks surfaces, and requires constant upkeep. That's one of the reasons kitchens used to be separated from the living spaces of the home. (OK, fire was another reason)

  Privacy is another issue. Loft bedrooms that open to family room spaces offer none, even though the author shows and suggests 'away spaces' where one can close a door and go to be alone and quiet.

  There is such a thing as too much togetherness and houses like these have few places for family members to get away from each other.

  As a practical person I feel the owners of these houses will constantly be cleaning because the very openness doesn't allow for clutter or a mere closing of doors (since there aren't very many!).

  I suppose I was expecting more of a 'how to' book. I want to know how to put storage under stairs, eke an extra few inches out of a powder room, make use every inch of space in a kitchen, design bedrooms with plenty of windows without giving up wall space.

  As with most things design, it's all a matter of individual taste. This style isn't mine.
  
  

• Bourgeois bohemian guilt assuagement
  By A3R79XTTVMC7YQ on 2004-03-09
  Let's see....2000 square feet is considered "not so big." And working one's way up -- oops, I mean down! -- to that modest allotment of space requires spending at least six, more like seven figures. And, supposedly, this fits under the philosophy of "simpler living."

  What sort of people buy into this? Bourgeois bohemians, of course, a subspecies wittily described in "Bobos in Paradise" by David Brooks.

  These are people with lotsa dough who live in nice neighborhoods and drive nice cars. But they're not rich, you see. They're "progressives" (read: liberals). So, in order to assuage the subconscious guilt they suffer for the "sin" of their own affluence, they drop loads of money on expensive stuff that's no different in quality from many cheaper brands, but merely has "progressive" cachet. You know...REI and L.L. Bean clothing ("environmentally aware"), coffee that costs $12 a pound (because it's "fair trade"), and just about anything that comes out of the public radio tchotchkes catalogue.

  Susanka's book has kicked this up the ultimate notch. No longer is buying a high-priced Saab or Volvo the ultimate in pretense to "conscience" while indulging oneself. Now the bobos of America can take out second and third mortgages to cover what their six-figure incomes won't and build the "not so big house" of their dreams. Hey, it's not the money that's important. It's "feeling good about your choices."

  Susanka, Obolensky, and anyone who gave this book a good review are welcome to trade their huge houses for my one-bedroom, second-floor apartment in a working-class neighborhood with no off-street parking. They can then acquaint themselves to their hearts' desires with the reality of "modest living."

  As for me, I'll buy lots of cool stuff and fill up their former abodes. I've got better things to do than wring my hands over my "ecological footprint." And for my housewarming party, I'll be barbecuing up a few spotted owls, bald eagles, dolphins, and baby seals in that spacious back yard.
  
  

• A Valuable Primer, and Fun To Just Flip Through
  By A3JM2U8EONZZL7 on 2000-03-10
  This pleasing-to-read, pleasant-to-look-at book offers a tantalizing glimpse of what is possible when trying to make every square foot count in a home, without compromising practicality or comfort. The homes featured in here are, for the most part, neither sprawling nor overly ritzy; however, many plans will require some serious construction or renovation on an existing home. So if you're looking for some pointers on how to make your own Not So Big House seem Not So Small, but without tearing out a wall or two or adding an extension . . . well, you're bound to be a bit frustrated as you ooh and aah in these pages. But fair enough -- it's an architecture book, not a decorating book.

  To this end, Susanka still provides plenty of sound advice and information on the importance of making little things count, from acoustically isolated rooms to the need for private space, and what it means to Look At The Diagonal of A Room. She also points out how to make a good use of light, and how to determine what your REAL needs are when purchasing a home, as opposed to your PERCEIVED needs. If you're out shopping for your first home -- or are building another -- you'd be hard pressed to find a better primer on what to look for if you're trying to make your space matter.

  In fact, the homes shown in this book are so much fun to look at that it is sometimes difficult to give each home the time and space that it deserves. Susanka's text is so lively, and keeps things moving so quickly, that you're often left to do a double-take as you wonder whether you're going to get to see other rooms in the house to help pull the whole thing together. Sometimes you do, other times you don't.

  There are also times when it would have been helpful to see the individual floorplans for some of the houses shown in here. Again, for some we do, and for others, we just get the layout of the rooms in question. There are instances when readers are offered a glimpse of an intriguing room, and then get to see it several times from a number of different angles at a number of places in the book -- and unless you're paying close attention (I finally caught on, in one instance, because of a row of displayed plates that kept showing up), you're not always aware you're seeing the same room from a different perspective. A more consistent use of floorplans might have made things just a bit easier to negotiate. It might also have been nice to have been given just a bit more indication of how much some of these innovative uses of spaces actually cost the homeowner.

  There's really only one jarring moment in the book -- really, now, wouldn't any architect worth his or her protractor know that television's most famous fictional architect is named MIKE Brady, and NOT Robert Brady? (Susanka misquotes the lyrics to THE BRADY BUNCH theme, too. Ah well.....)

  But this is all nitpicking, really. Susanka meets her goals in writing this book -- it really IS "A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live" and you will likely find something in here that catches your fancy. Check it out, and leave it lying around for some casual inspiration.
  
  

• Concept is excellent, text is short on specifics
  By on 1999-04-02
  If you want to expand your ideas about what a nice home should be then this book may be for you. And if you are looking for a book full of pictures to help you communicate with your architect during your next meeting, then again this is a good choice. But if you are like me, trying to design you own small house to be space-efficient and comfortable, then you may find that Susanka does not supply you with much worthwhile information. Her concept, I believe, is excellent. And the book makes no claim to be a do-it-yourself guide. But I was still hoping for some more substance behind the glossy photos. There is little information about the process of laying out a house from scratch to fit a site and its occupants. There is no real method for how to go about optimizing your use of space in the overall floorplan, or how to address common problem situations. It is full of many excellent space-saving examples- but by the time I was finished reading this book I never wanted to see another white room with light wood trim again. The 199 pages of this large-font book are full of "architecturally designed" houses that appear to my eye a bit dated. I also think she is too devoted to the upper levels of the budget spectrum. Most people who are building a "Not So Big" house don't have a half million dollars to spend, which her case studies apparently did.
  
  
• Not Bad, but Not Great Either
  By AW52ND2AK9JAU on 2004-03-18
  Susan Susanka presents her ideas on how to build a better home. Half way through the book she presents her trinity of compromises that the architect, builder & home-owner have to make...price, quanity & quality of the proposed home. I think this is the gem in the book. As many have noted, this is definitely not a book for a "small" or "cheap" home; and this should be obvious as nobody who is limited to building a "small" or "cheap" home would hire an architect to design it! Though she never states it, I estimate that the houses she designs cost over $500,000 to build so consider that when you read this book.

  I value this book for the ideas it presents; however, it is definitely a coffee-table book rather than a reference for an architect or home-builder. Not until the last two super-homes does Susan even mention a number. Nowhere in the book does it actually talk about the square feet, total price, price for materials, cost/square foot, material trade-off possibilities, building codes, or anything that is actually needed to design or build a house (or even remodel). The lack of details and thoroughness was disappointing and the reason I only gave her three stars. I suppose this book can be considered a "theory" book rather than a "practical" book, but it seems to me that a well-written book could contain both.

  On the plus side, the pictures were very nice; there were floor-plans for each of the houses and Susan has a very nice and clear writing style.
  
  

• Not So Big, but Not So Inexpensive Either
  By AUN0HMIU6TNM6 on 2001-11-08
  You'd think a "not so big" house would be not so expensive, but this book isn't about building small, budget-conscious homes. It's really directed at the group of wealthy people who usually build 3,000+ square foot homes. The author shows these people how they can build a home with more character and better materials by forgoing rooms like the much-unused dining rooms of yesteryear, large foyers and hallways and creating floor plans where rooms open to each other and their characters are determined by the placement of furniture. It's good advice for anyone building a home, no matter what his or her budget may be. Just don't be fooled by the photos if what you really can afford is something under $250,000. You aren't likely to be able to build one of these homes for that. (...)
  
  
• I Only Wish That The Book Had No Ending
  By AOC95SC37P4M4 on 2000-02-22
  I'm not in the market for a new home or even thinking about replacing the home we built 25 years ago. Yet I couldn't put this book down and thoroughly enjoyed the author's presentation. The text was outstanding and I was able to relate to the author's expressed viewpoints on home design through the floor plans and photographs presented (which were conveniently placed for the most part on the same page as the related text).

  I've always remarked that there isn't anything that I wish I had done differently in the design or construction of my home. Having read this book, I know now why I enjoy my home every day of every season.
  
  

• It's the thought process...
  By A3NF73Z0RT467Y on 2000-01-21
  To focus on the style or interior decorating aspects of TNSBH is to miss the point. The point is about thinking (first and foremost) and thinking differently before building. This book will be much more valuable if you read through "A Patten Language" which is referenced in the book. This roughly 900 page, 1977 book isn't for the faint-hearted but if you're thinking about building your final home/dream home like we are, it's worth the time and the money to supplement your thoughts. To see another aspect of TNSBH, check out the Life Magazine Dream Home which the firm designed. You can see the high end and the medium-priced version. TNSBH isn't for everyone, but for us the time and the mindset were right.
  
  
• BIG IS NOT BETTER
  By on 1999-12-03
  The concept behind this book matches my thoughts exactly. I do agree with the reviewers comments that the interiors look dated, (most architects are not interior designers) but those reviewers are being to literal. The interior (and exterior) can be in any style that appeals to your taste. What is important is applying the elements and principals of design, not just blindly following the latest trend. Just because it might cost the same; big is not better. Most people wrongly assume that working with an architect and interior designer is only for the wealthy, but these trained and experienced professionals can guide you to the best possible result, whatever your financial resources.
  
  
• Interesting but...
  By on 2000-12-21
  This book has some interesting concepts about how we live and should build our houses around these lifestyles. But unless you like contemporary architecture, you may not get that much out it.
  
  
• No variety
  By on 2000-08-02
  I think I'd like this book better if it showed more variety. Many of the interiors have a dated quality. And they tend to all be neutral with lots of wood and an overriding Craftsman look. The point of the book is great, but I'd love a book that shows me small houses in a wider range of styles. How about something slick and modern? Or how about showing a traditional Cape? Or a 1958 ranch house?
  
  
• Good but Not Great
  By A1CP75N61T0ZYY on 2005-06-19
  Although both "The Not So Big House" and "Creating the Not So Big House" are good books with well-thought out concepts, I think you can find better books on the subject. After reading both books, I felt the information rather evaporated, and I was left without some good, basic practical outlines on how to proceed with the house. Fortunately, I came across "The Home Design Handbook" by June Cotner Myrvang & Steve Myrvang, AIA, where at the end of every well thought out chapter, you found a detailed, practical checklist of major issues that needed to be considered before proceeding with your plans. Everything missing in the "Not So big House"(s) was found in this one book, which offered highly useful information.
  
  
• A great idea book for the coffee table, but not the workshop
  By A1K5M046HX553E on 2001-08-30
  The Not So Big House is terrific for those who are thinking of building a new home for vacation, retirement, etc. and need ideas on design and layout. From a philosophical perspective, the author does a great service by laying out her argument that bigger is not necessarily better. She provides a number of great tips in house design (cornerboards instead of mitered corners save A LOT of money, panalized design, etc.) and provides numerous examples of interesting designs. However, if you're looking for details on actually building such a house, this is not a do-it-yourself guide. Lots of good ideas, but the book sits on our coffee table, not in my workshop
  
  
• The title is misleading
  By A34645X9ZUS023 on 2000-05-01
  It would be a mistake to think that this clever title reflects an eco-sensitive philosophy. Here are key sentences that show the author's mindset: from page 15, "While you might be able to afford a 6,000-sq.-ft. house, you may find that building a 3,000-sq.-ft. house that fits your lifestyle actually gives you more space to live in"; from page 37, "Another client, living alone in a brand-new 5,000-sq.-ft. house, called me because she wanted to plan an addition. . . . Rather than add on, we reconfigured part of the existing space by opening up the maze of rooms into an open, public space"; and on page 182, "Sustainability does not mean that we should give up any of the hard-earned comforts that we have come to expect in the modern world." This is a book for the rich and the eco-insensitive. If your idea of appropriate cost size is a quarter million dollars or more, this is an idea book with seductive pictures. But if you care about the world in which your grandchildren will live, don't buy into this mindset, and don't buy this book.
  
  
• I liked seeing the same house over & over
  By on 2000-01-11
  This is a clever book with important new thoughts and a great deal of depth. I appreciated seeing the same house photographed from many angles and explained from many different perspectives because now I feel like I can really imagine how that house looks. I find it annoying to see just one photo from each house, because I don't really get to understand how all the spaces play together.
  
  
• Not so boring
  By A3D6DBNHD9ORPU on 2000-06-08
  This is not your typical suburb home plan book and that's why I love it. The new homes of today are all rated on size not quality of space usage. This book gives you some great ideas for open space living without giving up your needed space.

  I don't agree with some of the other reviewers that think the homes are boring or too open or too contemporary. This book does not show ultra contemporary, cold, white homes. Rather open spaces with the warmth of wood and practical use of space.

  I live in an even more contemporary home than those shown in the book (some may call it cold) but I love my open space. A bunch of little rooms adding up to a ton of square footage is not what I consider the best option. When friends see my open floor plan they marvel over the size of my home, but in seconds ask that typical question, "How many square feet is it?", and are shocked to find that it's much smaller than it feels.

  I think this is a perfectly timed book as many of us are thinking of sizing down rather than up. Who has time to vacuum a 2400 square foot home anyway.
  
  

• Special Book
  By A25B1387S5520T on 2000-10-21
  If you're thinking of building a new home, this is a MUST read. No more MacMansions! Learn ways to make your home really special, not just BIG! My husband and I design homes and home renovations and agree with so much of this book that we now share it with our clients.
  
  
• Thought provoking
  By A2T6RWGHT3DIDH on 2000-11-22
  Granted, the pictures probably make the rooms look larger than they actually are....I believe it's due to the use of a wide-angle lens. However, the book accomplishes its goal in that it makes the reader consider a house that is designed for the family that lives within its walls, rather than a generic floor plan designed by a mega-developer. It has helped me to consider designing a house that is smaller (and thus more budget conscious) yet reflects the purpose for which I will use the rooms. It also provides ideas on putting construction money into items that will enhance the interior, the comfort of the home, saved through reducing the overall size of the house.
  
  
• Help for MY not so big house :-)
  By A3J21V8OISY05 on 2001-06-13
  Disclosure: I live in a not-so-big house that not so recently lacked creativity, quality craftsmanship, and comfort. My do-it-yourselfer husband has been steadily working for years to add his original stamp to our abode. We loved this book and the ideas Susanka presented in it. We have been inspired to seek out the best use of each of our 1600 square feet, and this book confirmed many of the decisions we made while remodeling our kitchen area - an area that now feels like a welcome hub in our home, open to the family and living rooms and open right into the backyard. This book is also helping me to visualize (something that really doesn't come easy to me) "cozy" spaces like a window bench (which opens to store toys!!!) reading areas to create smaller, intimate areas that add character and comfort to my livingroom. Anyway, I didn't really mean to give so much personal info, just wanted to convey the idea that this book can help even someone as clueless as myself to create great things in small spaces!
  
  
• A great guide for our own home.
  By A1QMJF9VR808JM on 2001-06-24
  We live in a Not So Big House (900 sq. feet on 1 and 1/2 floors). According to some of the houses in this book, that is considered a garden shed (I'm kidding). This book has helped us maximize the space we have, rethink and redesign some wasted space and decorate some small rooms so they look a lot bigger. The book is a tresure chest of ideas and innovations that you will love if you are building or already own a small home.
  
  
• This author/book needed interior design collaboration.
  By on 2000-01-04
  Although I agree wholeheartedly with the author's premise for this book, I fear she lost waaaaay too many points for her limited repertoire and lack of creativity/imagination in the design of her structures' interiors. I can appreciate her own personal preferences, as documented by the many photographs of her own home, but feel that her ability to stretch into other styles, finishes, etc. is more than a little limited (i.e., arts and crafts style; white or light colored walls with light, natural wood finishes; ship ladders; and 'contemporary' furniture ad nauseum). The audience for her books and lectures, as well as her clients, would be better served if she worked hand in hand with an interior designer who was more in touch with the multiplicity of styles and finishes that are available and currently on the market. The fact that no one can do everything well (thus the need for input from BOTH the architect and interior designer) is highlighted here by the works of an architect who apparently tried to do it all, over and over and over again.
  
  

• Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
• Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home
• Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
• The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
• Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home (Susanka)