The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

You are here: Home / Miscellaneous Articles / Building smaller – is it the next big thing?

Building smaller – is it the next big thing?

So what happens when you combine a bunch of designers spread out across the country that have their own blogs, with Twitter? The inventible – a blog-off where great ideas are shared amongst the group and everyone knows who won… (Individually: I did of course, but everyone else’s was really good)While I really cannot hold a candle to their thoughts (or even their writing styles) on tile bathtub shoes, and other great posts this week’s blog-off struck a chord with me. The general theme is building or living smaller the next big thing?

The instigator: Paul Anater at Kitchen and Residential Design, Is Living Smaller the new Living Large?
Veronica Miller at Modenus,  A Small Life is Good, but Slow Down to enjoy it! 
Richard Holdschuh at Concrete Detail, Small is Beautiful but Relativity Rules
Rufus at DogWalkBlog, How much does it cost for you to exist one hour? Size matters.
Nick Lovelady at Cupboards Kitchen and Bath, Is Small Really Realistic?
Becky Shankle at Eco Modernism, Is Living Smaller the New Living Large?
Saxon Henry at Chair Chick, Living Small (and Getting Shagged!)
Cindy Fruen-Wuellner at UrbanVerse, Living Large and Small: Trading Hummers for PUMAs Ain’t the Whole Story

And 1 belated late entry; now while I cry unfair advantage – it is still a great piecs by Steve Mouzon at the Original Green, The Luxury of Small

I have to admit, they are really good wordsmiths & it is interesting to see their takes and reasoning’s on this subject. As a remodeler / builder, I have a slightly different take, as this issue (among other ones) seemingly pops up every few years.  But first, let us take a look at the numbers from the Census department that everyone has been talking about.

The Numbers

This spreadsheet is based off the US Census numbers starting in 1973. These numbers only include new single family dwellings built in that year; not existing houses, apartments, townhomes, condo’s or other multi-family structures. The “Inc %” is the percentage increase from the houses built a decade before, while the “Overall” is the 3-decade percentage increase. Based off these numbers, you can see that year after year the size of new houses has increased approx. 1.3% per year or 46.9% over the entire span of time.  

Apples to Apples or to Oranges:

I guess one has to wonder which numbers they are using when they compare us to the French or the British. I can take a pretty good guess that it is the one that includes all the housing stock built and possibly includes the older homes. Do I have any takers on this?

Why the increase?

Generally, no one looks at why the size of houses keeps on growing, they try to point the finger; a homeowner blames the builder and/or architect – “it’s all that they build, or what they designed”; the builder blames the architect and/or – “I build what they design or wanted”; followed up by the Architect blaming the homeowners and/or builder – “they said they wanted…” Amazingly, no one is to blame and no one answered the question –you have got to love modern America.

Part of the reason for the increases is the simple ethos that most Americans grow up with; we have the power, we can build it bigger, better, stronger…  Unfortunately, most people forget, that bigger is not always better. Another popular one is the desire to keep up with Jones’s, in terms of possessions, etc… While a small part of the population maybe fanatical in this area, the biggest problem lies with the architects and builders. Every year, if not every quarter, certain groups run a poll on what would you like to have in your next house. Needless to say, when you see 60% of the people want a great room – you will make sure it is there. My favorite one is a larger closet in the Master Bedroom – that notion in itself has turned a simple 6×8 walk in closet, into a room that requires 2 HVAC ducts and is larger than most Master Bedroom’s in older houses.

The challenges of going small:

The challenges are numerous on many fronts, and we as a society or even just individually have to make a conscientious decision to buck the trend. In some cases, there are actual legal issues that prevent one from doing this as shown in this article from GreenBiz.com & they need to be addressed.

For architects; can you accept that your next project can be smaller, but still better? Bob Borson, one of the architects I like to follow actually had a great article on the challenges involved “Low Cost Modern House Challenge.” I can honestly say, it is achievable but it does take some thinking on one’s part to make everything not only fit in a space, but to be livable & comfortable. (Double Mother in Law Cabin Articles)

For designers; can you truly make a small space feel & look large, while utilizing all the space? If any of them need some idea’s, I would point them  to check out some of the tricks that are used in modern RV’s, boats, and planes where space is at a premium.

For Homeowner’s; the challenge is really up to you – can you find a builder, designer, or architect that can make your vision a reality? Can you really fit all your belongings into a smaller place, or handle the choices you might have to make? For some other great advice on this, you might want to review this article found on MSNBC on “Cut your Square Footage in Half.”

Related posts:

Let’s Blog Off: Privacy from an Information Security Specialist View
Let’s Blog Off: If money were no object
Let’s Blog Off: Thanksgiving Leftover’s
Looking Back & Moving Forward
Of Blogging Contests (and a humble request or two)
Blogoff: My Ultimate Getaway
Remodeling & Deck Expo 2010: Day 1 & 2
Remodeling & Deck Expo 2010: Day 3 & 4

Comments

  1. Okay, I might not understand all your numbers (I'm not a designer), but I do understand the whole blog-off thing, as I declared myself the winner of the shoetub challenge! But I do think you write very well and in a very interesting manner. I enjoyed this post and even feel smarter.
    PS Don't accept ice cream from Nick @cupboards.

    • Don't worry about it, I am not a designer… The numbers above are the average square footage for houses built in that year. In 1973 it was 1660, while in 1983 it was 1725 SF, a 3.9 percentage increase. As you read down the list, it is a simple comparision from that years numbers to a house built 10 years ago. The very last column was from 73 to 03 & so forth.

      P.S. thanks for the warning about the ice cream, even though with some of those concoctions, I would say Thanks, but no thanks anyways…

    • To some extent it also reminds me of computers when the first 100 MB drive came out… “Wow, that's huge, we will never use all that space” – now some of us have 100's of gigs of storage and it's not enough – brings out the old maxim if the space is available, they will fill it

      • Strange how things change and we adapt right to it… Also enjoyed the builder perspective you brought to the table. After re-reading everyone's post it lends quite a bit of info. Enjoyed!

  4. Since I wrote the initial post on the Low Cost modern House I have received hundreds of emails on almost every imaginable consideration I should be making. Some of the responses have not been very favorable but I haven't had anybody hide behind the Anonymous tag yet.

    I won't write a huge response here, that's what my blog is for, but what I have become interested in is the reaction everyone is taking. Architects, designers, and traditional contractors are your service provider, not your moral compass. Blaming your design professional for listening to the person who has retained their services is absurd, elitist thinking.

    I have to pay my mortgage on my 2 bedroom 2 bath 2,000 square foot house so I don't have the luxury to taking a preachy holier-than-thou attitude when it comes to accepting commissions. This country suffers from a keeping up with the Jones mentality and you want to know who my clients turn towards to try and actually catch up with the Jones?

    Design-Build Contractors who specialize in providing more for less. At least the design professionals I know (including myself) strive for quality over quantity because our bottom line isn't materially affected by providing anything other than a project based on a budget provided. I don't get paid more for a 2,000 square foot house with a $500,000 budget than I do a 6,000 square foot house for $500,000.

    Who exactly is setting the bar again?

    • Like always, very nice points & accept my apology for not wording that one better. I fully agree with you, and I was only trying to use your post as an example of how hard it truly is to design a house like that.

      For the blame game part, I was trying to point out the issues with the “production” builders and archictects simply pushing, it needs to be bigger, because that's what they are doing, that's what the survey said, or instead of maximizing space, lets just add on to fit XY or Z in.

      Maybe when I get some free time later I will try to reword it better, or leave it as is & leave this comment as the “oops / correction”.

  5. Sean, I am glad to see the real numbers, that's exactly what gets these ideas rolling, good hard evidence. Sure, its the whole system from magazines and HGTV, to model homes to seeing friends homes to making more money, having more stuff. By the time the architect and builder step in with more brilliant ideas, a client wants even more. Hard to turn all those triggers around, but I bet some steeper energy costs will have some influence. Will take decades. thanks for the post, I finally got one up too. my first blog off. and sure, you can declare victory, be my guest. Suppose we all can! Cindy @urbanverse

    • Nah, I am not claiming victory – I think anyone reading through this entire group of posts & comments is the real winner, especially if it at least makes them think about some of the things stated.

  6. Nice post, Sean. I do enjoy your builder take on it and also agree with Bob as far as who are we to tell the client they cannot build a home. I cannot tell you the number of times we have gently suggested to a client that they could accomplish what they wanted with less but they were insistent that we would either build it or someone else would.

    Education is everything, but not everyone will take you up on it. Anyway, just catching this and love the blog off idea.

  7. Nice post, Sean. I do enjoy your builder take on it and also agree with Bob as far as who are we to tell the client they cannot build a home. I cannot tell you the number of times we have gently suggested to a client that they could accomplish what they wanted with less but they were insistent that we would either build it or someone else would.

    Education is everything, but not everyone will take you up on it. Anyway, just catching this and love the blog off idea.

  8. Nice post, Sean. I do enjoy your builder take on it and also agree with Bob as far as who are we to tell the client they cannot build a home. I cannot tell you the number of times we have gently suggested to a client that they could accomplish what they wanted with less but they were insistent that we would either build it or someone else would.

    Education is everything, but not everyone will take you up on it. Anyway, just catching this and love the blog off idea.

  9. Okay, I might not understand all your numbers (I&#39m not a designer), but I do understand the whole blog-off thing, as I declared myself the winner of the shoetub challenge! But I do think you write very well and in a very interesting manner. I enjoyed this post and even feel smarter. PS Don&#39t accept ice cream from Nick @cupboards.

    • Don&#39t worry about it, I am not a designer… The numbers above are the average square footage for houses built in that year. In 1973 it was 1660, while in 1983 it was 1725 SF, a 3.9 percentage increase. As you read down the list, it is a simple comparision from that years numbers to a house built 10 years ago. The very last column was from 73 to 03 & so forth. P.S. thanks for the warning about the ice cream, even though with some of those concoctions, I would say Thanks, but no thanks anyways…

    • To some extent it also reminds me of computers when the first 100 MB drive came out… “Wow, that&#39s huge, we will never use all that space” – now some of us have 100&#39s of gigs of storage and it&#39s not enough – brings out the old maxim if the space is available, they will fill it

      • Strange how things change and we adapt right to it… Also enjoyed the builder perspective you brought to the table. After re-reading everyone&#39s post it lends quite a bit of info. Enjoyed!

  11. Sean, I am glad to see the real numbers, that&#39s exactly what gets these ideas rolling, good hard evidence. Sure, its the whole system from magazines and HGTV, to model homes to seeing friends homes to making more money, having more stuff. By the time the architect and builder step in with more brilliant ideas, a client wants even more. Hard to turn all those triggers around, but I bet some steeper energy costs will have some influence. Will take decades. thanks for the post, I finally got one up too. my first blog off. and sure, you can declare victory, be my guest. Suppose we all can! Cindy @urbanverse

    • Nah, I am not claiming victory – I think anyone reading through this entire group of posts & comments is the real winner, especially if it at least makes them think about some of the things stated.

  12. Since I wrote the initial post on the Low Cost modern House I have received hundreds of emails on almost every imaginable consideration I should be making. Some of the responses have not been very favorable but I haven&#39t had anybody hide behind the Anonymous tag yet.I won&#39t write a huge response here, that&#39s what my blog is for, but what I have become interested in is the reaction everyone is taking. Architects, designers, and traditional contractors are your service provider, not your moral compass. Blaming your design professional for listening to the person who has retained their services is absurd, elitist thinking. I have to pay my mortgage on my 2 bedroom 2 bath 2,000 square foot house so I don&#39t have the luxury to taking a preachy holier-than-thou attitude when it comes to accepting commissions. This country suffers from a keeping up with the Jones mentality and you want to know who my clients turn towards to try and actually catch up with the Jones? Design-Build Contractors who specialize in providing more for less. At least the design professionals I know (including myself) strive for quality over quantity because our bottom line isn&#39t materially affected by providing anything other than a project based on a budget provided. I don&#39t get paid more for a 2,000 square foot house with a $500,000 budget than I do a 6,000 square foot house for $500,000.Who exactly is setting the bar again?

    • Like always, very nice points & accept my apology for not wording that one better. I fully agree with you, and I was only trying to use your post as an example of how hard it truly is to design a house like that. For the blame game part, I was trying to point out the issues with the “production” builders and archictects simply pushing, it needs to be bigger, because that&#39s what they are doing, that&#39s what the survey said, or instead of maximizing space, lets just add on to fit XY or Z in. Maybe when I get some free time later I will try to reword it better, or leave it as is & leave this comment as the “oops / correction”.