Learn to Live the Not-So-Big Lifestyle

(Page 4 of 4)

Oct. 14, 2008
By Troy Griepentrog 
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What’s different in the new version of The Not So Big House?

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One of the things about the new 10th anniversary issue of The Not So Big House is the last chapter, a new chapter, which describes three houses that came about as a result of people reading the first book and hiring architects to help them design really good examples of not-so-big houses. Each one of them is green, very sustainably built.

This was at the core of the first book, but that book came out before we really understood what sustainability was all about. It hadn’t completely sunk into the culture. The new chapter expands on what the original book only pointed to, relating to green design.

Where can I learn more about the not-so-big philosophy?

Visit the Not So Big Web site. There’s an enormous amount of material there for people interested in building their own house or remodeling an existing house not so big. It includes a home professional’s directory to help people find architects, builders and designers in their locale. 

You can order the 10th anniversary issue of The Not So Big House from Amazon.com.

If you’d like to simplify your life or live in a smaller home, you might also be interested in reading Simpler Living and Home Petite Home.

Are you already living in a “not-so-big” home? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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  • glenn merchant 10/17/2008 6:02:18 PM

    About a year ago, my wife and I visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama and were amazed at the quality and richness of the space. As one of Wright's original "Usonian" houses from the 1930's, it really spoke to us as an excellent example of design suggestions from The Not So Big House - which we added to our library a few years ago. These homes are a real contrast to the overblown Georgian imitations we see in most new single family homes in our area - "bonus" rooms and all.
    Wright designed many Usonians across the country and a number are open to the public. A visit will change your views about "home"....it sure changed ours.

  • maggie tatum 10/17/2008 1:35:01 PM

    I "downsized" almost 2 years ago. I looked for a smaller already built house, but could not find what I wanted.
    I decided to draw up a rudimentary plan, present it to a builder and see if we could work together. We did. In doing my plan I thought of the way I wanted to live, ignoring all the attractive aspects of other peoples' houses and also items in magazines. I ended up with a house in which I love to live. It is up in the hills and has natural vegetation all around. I think lawns are an abomination because they use valuable water and often take a lot of work to care for. I would rather give that time as a volunteer to the community. I rain harvest, have a tankless water heater and do all I can to protect the environment. I use passive solar power to dry my clothes.
    (I wish I could afford solar panels for the whole house, but cannot afford them at this time.) I am a Texas Master Naturalist so of course greatly value the outdoors. The deck on my house is almost as large as the big open living area within the house. This was a necessary item in my house plan. Big is certainly NOT better. I keep hoping more people will begin to see that each persons real value does not rest on the square footage of a house nor the green lawn around it.

    mt

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