When architect and "cultural visionary" Sarah Susanka speaks, we listen. And when she writes, we read, whether it's The Not So Big Life, the latest in her Not So Big... series, or this excerpt from Creating The Not So Big House that ran in Fine Homebuilding Magazine, where she's a contributing editor.
The article showcases the ability of built-in furniture to both save space and help a space feel more cozy... read on for a few highlights.
- On saving space with built-ins: "Pushing standard furniture tight against a wall tends to suggest that a room is too small, as if the furniture had to be shoe-horned in. Built-in furniture lets you use a reduced amount of space but gives the opposite effect, making a room look more finished."
- On choosing materials: "It’s a common fear that choosing a lower grade for one material will ruin the whole effect of the house, but this is seldom the case. By spending more of your budget on highly visible features like the cabinetry and doing some creative compromising elsewhere, the quality of the whole house increases."
- On what makes a small house feel big: "When a house is small, it’s important to have at least one area that gives a sense of spaciousness, and in this house the common room serves that function."
Click over to Fine Homebuilding for the full article in PDF, along with lots of beautiful photos.
Hmm. Reminds me of what my 7 year old said when he saw a copy of "The Not So Big House" on my desk. "Why is it called that?" he asked. "Because it's a book about not so big houses" I answered. "But that house is huge!". I had to agree.
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