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GREEN BUILDING |
The Not-So-Big House©Made popular by the excellent series of books by Sarah Susanka, the idea of this type of construction is to build smaller, well appointed spaces that have mixed uses and open, yet defined areas. Frequently, this type of home will feel much more inviting, cozier, and give a better sense of home and family than a larger home that focuses on square footage. While usually not cheaper than the larger home, money spent is focused on quality over quantity. Built-in cabinets and interesting nooks give the home much more practical space that can be used in different ways as well as adding visual interest and beauty. Flex rooms allow space that is generally under-utilized to become part of the everyday flow of the house. For example, a formal dining room is rarely used, and yet requires a great investment of space and furnishings - why not make the dining room a central area of the house that can have other uses besides the occasional formal meal? High ceilings also may be impressive to the visitor, but they waste materials, energy, and do not give a sense of security or peace in a home.By focusing on making the home have the areas the owner wants without a dedicated space for each one, the designer of a smaller, more functional home can easily cut the size of the home by one third and end up with a more usable, better conceived home that will delight the occupants with great views in every direction. The money that would be spent on lumber and finish materials can go into details and fixtures that have real quality and great appeal. These types of houses are always truly unique, interesting and closer to the way homes were built before production housing. The end result is a quality home that saves energy, resources, and honors the location it stand on due to the thought and care that goes into design and construction.
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© 2007 | MEADOWLARK BUILDERS 711 Fountain Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Site Map | Michigan Marketing |
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