Amazon.com
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, respected architect Sarah Susanka and coauthor Kira Obolensky address our affinity for the "smaller, more personal spaces" and propose "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, the authors look 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 and Obolensky's intelligent and lively dialogue, The Not So Big House is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. --Stefanie Hargreaves
Book Description
Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just don't work. In The Not So Big House, she proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics covered include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. With more than 200 color photographs as well as floor plans, the book is perfect for homeowners ready to rethink their space. “Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms.” — San Francisco Chronicle
Customer Reviews:
Great concepts, middling design.......2007-09-25
I've found this book to be an invaluable resource and appreciate the philosophy and information contained within it. I also found the numerous photos and illustrations to be helpful to convey Susanka's ideas.
The only problem is that I found the actual design and decor of the homes in the book somehow dated and uninspiring. This is definitely a personal reaction, and I'm sure others would disagree. Despite my issues with the actual look of the homes, I'd recommend this as an essential resource along with John Wheatman's books (whose design does resonate for me).
Inspiration & ideas for rethinking your living space.......2007-09-02
The ideas in this book encourage you to think about how you would like use your home space and how to accomplish this marriage of functionality with comfort and aesthetics. Almost every photo has some new little idea to think about. It gives me hope that I'll finally be able to create a comfortable home that integrates everyone's interests & needs. It's inspirational for those of us who have to adapt living spaces to growing families & to those like me who are now empty nesters (but who still need bed space for visiting family members).
A must Have If You Plan To Build.......2007-06-27
Useful, practical, creative. Anyone can gain something from this book even if you aren't building.
Reviewed by Amy Lignor.......2007-06-21
Have you ever found yourself asking, "Is this all there is to life?" We are running in a world of cell phone and blackberry technology, where life is so fast that we never have time to do what we truly want: sit back and enjoy our lives while we have one. This author, with a background in architecture, has put together a fantastic psychological blueprint, if you will, to make changes that will offer you a more rewarding life. This is not like the usual "schlock" that says close your eyes and all good things will come. No, this author takes the time to reveal that things like form and function are not only useful in building a house, they can be translated into building a better life. In a house, you can tear down interior walls to make more space and bring in more light; in your life, you can tear down your fears and open new possibilities.
This is a lovely read filled with wise advice. The author has successfully interwoven her extensive architectural background into well-compiled thoughts on how each and every one of us can make small changes in our lives that will allow us to treasure the time we have.
My advice? If you wish to begin taking time out to enjoy your life - begin by reading this book.
Insightful book with great ideas.......2007-05-26
I was starting to think I was crazy for wanting to build a small house, but this book perfectly articulates the thoughts I was having so much conveying. It is a wonderful basis for discussion and offers many practical, well thought out ideas for implementation.
Book Description
Entrepreneur's Notebook propels you on a whirlwind tour of the start-up process. It is an invaluable reference for new and experienced entrepreneurs that includes chapters on a wide range of topics, from entrepreneurial team building to business plans to financing. This excellent book provides an incredible amount of practical information that will help you make smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. The author, Steven K. Gold, is an accomplished entrepreneur who has co-founded and led five early-stage ventures. As an investor and mentor, he also advises many entrepreneurs and young companies. He earned his B.S.E. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.D. from Brown University Medical School.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Guide for Beginners.......2007-06-16
The author writes a nice overview of the entrepreneurial process. It's basically for novices but it does a good job for this audience. The only problem I have with this book is that it is too basic and is therefore non-unique because it is so low-level. Regardless, I must say that for the right audience, it does a fine job over giving the big picture.
If you are advanced or aspire to become advanced, I would recommend "The Startup Company Bible for Entrepreneurs" but only for high-tech entrepreneurs. Even this author has recommended it.
A Must-Have for Entrepreneurs.......2007-05-14
Steven gives great illustrations to drive home his insightful advice for entrepreneurs. As he's "been there, done that," we can take his advice to heart in the hopes of becoming a success like him!
Exellent Book.......2007-05-11
Great book for getting ready to open a new business. Would refer to anyone thinking about opening a business.
Brief and to the point.......2007-04-27
This is a delightful little book that contains a wealth of useful and helpful information and ideas on starting a small business and ensuring that it is viable and succesful. The book is well written and easy to follow and interesting to read.
This is a must read for entrepreneurs, particularly budding ones as the information the book provides is very practical and can help you avoid making costly errors. The book covers a wide range of topics including the start-up process, marketing the business on a small budget, cash-flow forecasting, among other things.
The book is an excellent companion for the entrepreneur that is well worth having.
Invaluable advice for the budding entrepreneur.......2007-03-04
This book does a terrific job of presenting some of the most important issues entrepreneurs face when embarking on new ventures, touching on topics such as the business plan, funding, team building, and cash flows. Using simple, yet stunningly accurate models of the entrepreneurial process, Steven Gold distills complex subjects into simple, practical, take-away messages. The classification of entrepreneurial personalities (professionals, pragmatists, and inventors) is something I think we can all relate to. I find the metaphor which compares building a new company to making "stone soup" equally compelling. There are countless books out there for budding entrepreneurs, but this one is no fluff. It gets right down to the nuts and bolts so you can concentrate on your business.
Customer Reviews:
Small Houses.......2007-07-12
I am going to build a small house and found great ideas in this book. I like this book a lot.
Save your money.......2006-02-28
If you want a picture book to leaf thru, I guess it's okay. As far as practical ideas, forget it. Most of the homes here are very site-specific, and most are multi-story. I didn't really see any innovations or adaptable ideas that I could actually use in my own home construction, which was why I bought it.
New Material.......2002-05-29
Fine Homebuilding does a great job of highlighting unique architecture. My only wish is that it wouldn't get recycled over and over again in hardcover. My plea is for Fine Homebuilding is to keep searching out fabulous homes to keep it fresh. My admonishment is to Taupin Press for boring it's very attentive audience. I now look through a book before I purchase it, I usually find that I already own 20-30 of the pics that I find interesting.
WOW.......2000-05-21
I just love the small(?) houses in this book. I'm one of those people that dream of one day being able to build my own home, and therefore have numerous books and magazines with house plans. This book is the best by far that I have. The plans and pictures in this book are just brilliant. I love the fact that most of the houses are different to the normal square or rectangular shape that is so prevelent these days. All though most of the houses in the book aren't really that small, at least not to me, there are some wonderful designs. The detail provided about each design is thorough. The Energy-Efficient Houses and Craftsman-Style Houses books are terrific as well.
one of the best books on small houses.......1999-08-04
This book has a wide variety of different homes-- which to me didn't seem that small. The plans as well as a description of primary concerns in design are often included. Best of all, many of these homes were designed on a budget of about $100,000, which makes these houses seem much more inspiring and realistic to the potential home builder. I'd never thought of designing my own home until I saw this book, but now it's one of my hopes for the future.
Book Description
The Big Book of Small House Designs is a collection of more than 500 drawings illustrating all aspects of 75 small homes of various styles, from a New England farmhouse to a sophisticated steel frame to a Santa Fe ranch. Each design includes detailed floor plans, section drawings, elevations, and perspectives, as well as a description of the materials used and landscaping around the home. Keeping in mind that a chief priority for a small home is often energy efficiency, most of the plans incorporate some energy-efficient element. There are dozens of plans suitable for every environment and climate in the country. The designs are all a direct result of several international competitions that solicited from architects the best homes of 1,250 square feet or less. Contact information for the architects is provided in the back of the book.
Customer Reviews:
pleasant but not fulfilling.......2007-10-01
The book is large and would be best as a coffee table book. I am looking to expand my knowledge of small homes, green living and such. This book while interesting did not cut it for me. The drawings are understandable, but the information on each design is minimal, and more photos (if the design has been built) should be included as well to give a better sense of what the house in question will look like.
Small House Design.......2007-05-13
I am pleased with the contents of this book. It was purchased as a gift for a grandson, who will soon receive it. I hope he enjoys it and will put some of the information to good use.
Small House Designs.......2007-04-16
The book is interesting but the illustrations are somewhat difficult to
visualize and understand.
Just what I was looking for.......2007-04-10
This book is a great source for small house designs. Has great plans and elevations of what the house looks like from the outside. It has a nice variety of styles and ideas that you could actually use. They also use a variety of materials used on the houses..Giving you the option to use other things like metals and woods in unconventional ways.
Not even nice pictures.......2006-11-20
A compilation of few interesting ideas and very hard to see illustrations. Poor quality reproductions. No measurements at all. Furthermore the contact information in the back was not cross-referenced with the designs & listed no phone or web contact, just mailing addresses. Seems like the authors took the cheap and easy way out with a good idea.
Taunton Press's "The Cabin" is a much more inspiring & informational book.
I do not recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent resource for building barns
- Makes everything so clear
- Covers all of the essentials of 'how to'
- great book
- How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings
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How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings
Monte Burch
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Outdoor & Recreational Areas
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| Home & Garden
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| Home Design
| Home & Garden
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Do-It-Yourself
| How-to & Home Improvements
| Home & Garden
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Book Description
Building your own barns and outbuildings offers many benefits, perhaps the most obvious being the money you can save. About half the costs of any building project is the labor, and, by doing it yourself, you can construct your building more economically, or even put up a larger building on the same budget.
But another important benefit of building it yourself is the satisfaction that comes from improving your own landscape and surroundings. A well-constructed barn, shed, or outbuilding can be a source of pride for many years -- and will also enhance the value of your property.
In How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings, Monte Burch takes readers step by step through the fundamentals of general construction -- from planning and laying out a site to do-it-yourself instructions on framing, roofing, wiring, plumbing, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent resource for building barns.......2007-07-23
Although all the details are there I don't think this is a beginner's book. There are a lot of terms and language that is not familiar to someone not in the construction industry. For a beginner I think there should have been more pictures and diagrams and maybe more explanation of the terms used. It's not unclear but I had to do some digging to understand everything.
Makes everything so clear.......2006-01-01
Clear writing, accompanied by excellent illustrations for all the steps. Everything is included: planning, foundation, material, tools, foundation, windows, wiring and finishing. If you're a newbie, you're not wasting your money by buying this.
Covers all of the essentials of 'how to'.......2005-08-25
This book is written with simple jargon, clear illustrations and concise instructions. A great spring-board book for those new to construction.
great book.......2003-06-19
I never built a building before, I did help build a deck.
I bought this book to build a small music studio (16'x24')
and it was easy to read. It had everything I needed in it to build the building and the project came out great. After reading this book you will think it is easy to build small buildings.
How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings.......2000-11-18
This is a great general building reference book. I pull it out whenever I'm starting something new or if I want a refresher. This book has helpful detailed information on all phases of building design and construction. This includes: 1. Foundation design layout and pouring for slabs, piers, & footings of all sorts; 2. Framing design & construction-- whether pole or platform framing, roof trusses or rafters; 3. Siding & roofing options, design & construction details for each; 4. Wiring details from power to the service panel to switches, lighting and outlets; 5.Plumbing from the well to the septic leach field.
It also has over 20 plans for various buildings ranging from pole barns and equipment sheds to guest houses, garages and studios. I have built several sheds from plans in this book and plan to build more.
Book Description
Building small can be a sign of higher ambitions, and those who take the time to peruse these pages will undoubtedly grow to appreciate that creating a small home can be an amazingly positive and creative act, one which can enhance life in surprising ways. The Very Small Home presents stunning design advances in Japan. Eighteen recent houses, from ultramodern to Japanese rustic, are explored in depth. Particular emphasis is given to what the author call the Big Idea-the overarching concept that does the most to make the house feel more spacious than it actually is. Among the Big Ideas introduced here are ingenious sources of natural light, well-thought-out atriums, snug but functional kitchens, unobtrusive partitions, and free-flowing circulation paths. An introduction by the author puts the house designs in the context of lifestyle trends, and highlights their shared characteristics. For each project, the intentions of the designers and occupants are examined. The result is a very human sensibility that runs through the book. A glimpse of the dreams and aspirations that these unique homes represent and that belies their apparent modesty. The second half of the book is devoted to illustrating the special features in the homes, from clever storage and kitchen designs, to ingenious skylights and nooks. As with his earlier Small Spaces, Azby Brown has given home owners, designers, and architects a fascinating new collection of thought-provoking ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Small Book
< Top Review.......2007-07-15
Interesting book well written, good details and good pictures, an insperation to those who seek some good ideas in looking as space saving ideas.
you'll want one of these houses.......2007-06-15
gorgeous and inspired houses. the creativity will amaze you ^_^
you will probably be jealous of the people who actually live in the houses in the book.
1700sqft are BIG and luxurious in Hong Kong.......2007-04-18
"Small" is a matter of perspective, especially if you live in a 700sqft apartment and expect to get some ideas to use in small 300-450sqft apartments on Hong Kong Island.
It's ok but not to Canadian code.......2007-04-04
The book is full of ideas but most not really practical when it comes to code and fire safety issues in canada. I was expecting more out of this book.......... slightly dissapointing.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-14
Japanese design is different to Western design in terms of living requirements.
I now have a much deeper understanding of the creation of small living spaces that work well rather than building bigger for re-sale or convention.
Hopefully, my own home (when built) will be an east-west fusion that I will enjoy for a long time.
This book is part of my collection on 'small home' design and one which I return to when I need to remind myself about scaling down.
Book Description
Following the successful 25 Houses Under 2500 Square Feet and 25 Houses Under 1500 Square Feet, this book continues to explore the joys of living in compact, well-designed spaces. The twenty-five homes presented here, all recently constructed, offer an extraordinary range of architectural solutions for designing functional yet interesting, dramatic living spaces, ranging from a few hundred to 3,000 square feet.
Each of the projects illustrates an innovative use of materials and careful attention to space and light. The informative text highlights the design and technical aspects of each house, and accompanying photography, architectural drawings, and site plans provide even further insight.
25 Houses Under 3000 Square Feet presents homes from coast to coast that everyone can relate to -- an abundance of exciting designs that are sure to inspire and amaze.
Customer Reviews:
Almost as good as 25 houese under 2500 sq. ft........2007-08-24
There were some interesting porjects but not like 25 houses under 2,500 sq. ft. Some really good detailing but also some that do not have the level of detail as the larger houses. Might be because of budget, not the house themselves.
Sample Some Modern Homes.......2006-03-08
The 25 houses are featured with photos, architectural drawings and site plans. The homes are varied to fit the sites and to match the personality of the owner.
You've heard of Tex-Mex? One house in San Diego combines Japanese and Mexican design elements, so you see, this is not just a collection of standard home plans.
Customer Reviews:
Good Ideas, But Outdated Images.......2002-07-08
This book seems to mark another turn in residential architecture: creating small spaces that do not skimp on quality, but give the appearance of quantity. The book features several different houses; although some of the houses' interiors are dated, the floorplans provide a good starting point for those who want to build a house that's small in square in terms of square footage, but large in terms of character.
Inspiration.......2002-03-25
My wife and i were looking for a new house to accomodate us and our son. We went to a number of open houses of typical contractor built houses and only got sick. The houses were big, inefficient and ill-designed. They lacked character and imagination. Therefore, we are now considering designing and building a house. This book, with its numerous examples of small, well-designed houses, is both helping us find features and designs we like and providing us with inspiration. The houses in this book have character. The book is well-illustrated.
My only critique of this book is that it does not always provide square footage and cost per square foot as Taunton's annual house edition does.
A lot of book for the money........1999-02-22
This book is compilation of articles from the magazine. There are 37 different projects covering a wide variety of styles and locations of houses. The articles are often written by the owner / designer and are quite thorough. Many include presentation style: sections, details, and floor plans.
I found this book to be very interesting to read. There is a lot of content for the size and price of the book. The articles are all from the early 80's to early 90's. Which makes me look forward to the next edition.
Anybody interested in purchasing, renovating, or designing a small house will definitely like this book.
Customer Reviews:
Might better have been titled Craftsman-Like Houses.......2005-02-26
Ok, I'll break from the pack and say I really like this book. As previously mentioned, it's actually a collection of older articles from Fine HomeBuilding. I bought the book many years back, when I first started to develop an interest in architecture. My architectural library has now outgrown a medium-sized bookcase, and I've even designed and built several houses. Nonetheless, I still find myself coming back to the articles in this modest book.
Go forewarned - this collection does not focus purely on craftsman bungalows. Instead, the theme tying these articles together is a craftsman-like approach toward design, materials, and building. There are indeed some true Arts and Crafts treasures highlighted, like the Bolton house by Greene & Greene. Others though have a somewhat modern feel about them. Others still...well...we won't go there.
I must say that even the articles about houses that I don't care for offered up something of value. Sometimes this is just a clever detail or use of material. My favorite article is the Greene and Greene inspired home by Rodger Whipple. This showed me how heavy timber could be elegantly integrated with conventional modern stick framing. I'd never seen this done so well and this little article heavily influenced the direction I took with my own work.
Don't write this one off - I consider it a hidden gem.
Craftsman-Style Houses by Fine Homebuilding.......2002-06-22
At best, this book is mis-titled. With a few exceptions, it takes a smattering of abstract interpretations and applications of the Craftsman Style and incorporates them into new homes. Maybe it was my fault for literally interpreting the title, but this is not a reference for Craftsman/Arts & Crafts/Bungalow style architectural elements nor design. I am a Taunton Publishing fan, but this was a real disappointment and a waste of my money.
Mildly disappointing.......2000-12-28
While the houses featured are not the finest examples of the style, the diagrams of construction details are good.
Disappointing, but some articles of value.......1998-11-10
This book will be a real disappointment to readers who expect a collect of articles on the restoration or reproduction of houses in the Craftsman style. Most of the builders/architects whose work is included seem to think that "Craftsman style" means "use a lot of visible wood in the interior." Additionally, there is one real horror of a remuddling of a hapless bungalow.
However, there are a handful of articles of real value, mostly on restorations. These are almost worth the relatively inexpensive price of the book.
Customer Reviews:
What a geat tool!.......2006-08-24
This book has everything needed to ensure nothing is left out during the building process. There were ideas in here I had not thought of. An excellant tool for anyone getting ready to build, add on or refurbish a barn.
Building a barn? You NEED this book........2004-12-28
Whether you have seen many barns or only the ones in your dreams, this book will help make the barn of your dreams come true. Not only do the authors offer examples of almost every conceivable type of barn, they highlight inventive details from each that will make your day-to-day chores easier or that will spark ideas that you hadn't considered before.
With the help from this book I built a barn, on a budget, that has been admired by those much more experienced than I was at the time. I am building another and wouldn't think of building it without referring back to this book once more.
Good for beginners.......2002-02-01
This book gives an excellent overview of what it takes to build a barn, from choosing the type, to preparing the gound, to hiring sub-contractors. Althought the plans can hardly be said to be "complete," they do give a good idea of how different barn styles go together. You'll still need someone knowlegeable in buidling to help you in the actual construction. The plans include several innovative barn types and shapes. I particulary liked the circular barn with a jumping/training track on the perimeter, the stalls inside that and the "aisle" in the center.
comprehensive coverage of what to keep in mind for your barn.......1999-12-27
Great resource for providing solutions on roof pitch, stall size, layouts, light, storage, etc. Also helpful in determining storage requirements for hay, compost, & farm equipment.
Terrific barn designs in a great book.......1999-06-02
As an architect I pick up this book whenever I need inspiration. If you're planning to design or build a stable, you'll find yourself using this book again and again. It's a countrywide survey of creative designs for equestrian buildings. The buildings are presented with plans, photos and concise descriptions.
Books:
- The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
- The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty
- Tile Style: Creating Beautiful Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors with Tile
- Traditional Mexican Style Interiors (Schiffer Design Book)
- Universal Principles of Design: 100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design
- Wandering Home: A Long Walk Across America's Most Hopeful Landscape:Vermont's Champlain Valley and New York's Adirondacks (Crown Journeys)
- Window Style (Traditional Home)
- Windows and Doors (Build Like A Pro)
- A Living Lens: Photographs of Jewish Life from the Pages of the Forward
- A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay
- Blue Peninsula: Essential Words for a Life of Loss and Change
- The Craft and Business of Songwriting
- Telecom Management Crash Course : A Telecom Company Survival Guide
- The Volunteer Management Handbook
- Cabinet of Natural Curiosities: The Complete Plates in Colour, 1734-1765
- A Diver's Guide to Reef Life
- Scorebuilder for Managerial Accounting
- The Managerial Revolution: What is Happening in the World
- Evil Breeding
Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home
Inside the Not So Big House: Discovering the Details that Bring a Home to Life (Susanka)
Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Susanka)
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home
The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters
