Synopses & Reviews
Ten years ago, Sarah Susanka started a revolution in home design with a deceptively simple message: quality should always come before quantity. Now, the book that celebrated that bold declaration is back in a special anniversary edition. In this landmark home design book, America's superstar residential architect provides homeowners the guidance and language to get what they want: a house that is better not bigger and one that emphasizes comfort, beauty, and a high level of detail no matter how small it is. Featuring a new package and introduction by Susanka as well as 16 additional pages that explore three new Not So Big Houses, this 10th anniversary edition is very big news.
Review
"Think small: In an age of McMansions and exponentially expanding square footage, The Not So Big House is a welcome call for a reordering of priorities. Sarah Susanka outlines numerous strategies that help small spaces think big." Good Housekeeping
Review
"Susanka says to evaluate what makes you feel at home and let your activities define your rooms. You'll end up with cozy areas you like and use rather than oversize formal rooms you never enter. The rooms pictured in the book are both practical and lovely." San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"Insightful...[The Not So Big House] provides a much-needed alternative to all the new construction sprouting up that either wastes spaces or uses floor plans that are irrelevant to the way families live." Philadelphia Inquirer
Synopsis
Sarah Susanka contends that people are naturally drawn to intimate spaces. Large structures inspired by outdated patterns tend to result in houses that just dont work.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.
Synopsis
Why are we drawn more to smaller, more personal spaces than to larger, more expansive ones? At parties, why do we spend more time in the kitchen and family rooms than we do in the formal living and dining rooms? What makes the sunny, intimate breakfast nook more inviting than the vaulted spaciousness of a cathedral-ceiling great room?
Synopsis
Author Susan Susanska, "LIFE" magazine Architect of the Year, offers thoughtful guidelines for designing homes that more accurately reflect our lifestyles and personalities. 200 color photos.
Synopsis
The Not So Big House proposes clear guidelines for creating homes that serve spiritual needs as well as material requirements. Topics include designing for specific lifestyles, budgeting, building a home from scratch, and using energy-efficient construction. 200 color photos. Floor plans.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [195]) and index.
About the Author
Sarah Susanka is one of the leading residential architects in the United States. Her first book, "The Not So Big House," topped best-seller charts in Home and Garden categories in its first year of publication. Susanka has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Charlie Rose Show, and NPR's Diane Rehm Show. She is a former principal and founding partner of Mulfinger, Susanka, Mahady and Partners, Inc., the firm chosen by LIFE magazine to design its 1999 Dream House.
Sarah Susanka is known far and wide as the leader of a movement that has redefined the American home. She has shared her insights in many best-selling books, including The Not So Big House, the revolutionary title that started it all. Susanka has been invited to share her insights on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Charlie Rose, and HGTV; she is regularly profiled in leading shelter magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.Kira Obolensky has written for print, film, and stage. She co-authored Sarah Susanka's national bestseller, "The Not So Big House. Kira's book, "Garage, was published in 2001. She has received a number of writing awards and fellowships, including the Kesselring Prize and a Guggenheim fellowship. She lives in Minneapolis.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Bigger Isn't Better
Rethinking the House
Making Not So Big Work
Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous
Dreams, Details, and Dollars
The House of the Future
Afterword
Bibliography
Credits
Index