Reddit reviews The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live

I'm a big fan of Not so Big House by Sarah Susanka. The book doesn't really contain actionable information -- it's more about presenting and promoting her thesis that we should spend our housing budgets on well designed, well built homes with smaller footprints rather than using the same budget to build a larger house with worse design or materials.

I personally think you should use an architect if you have the budget. The knowledge they can bring to the process isn't really something a layperson can replicate well. If you do want to try designing your own, A Pattern Language would be an interesting read. It can provide some useful rules of thumb regarding specific design elements that you might not otherwise consider.

Also you should familiarize yourself with passive solar building design. If you consider the concepts when developing a design and choosing a site you'll be able to leverage them for cheaper heating/cooling at little or no additional design cost. Building a well-insulated structure (a big part of passive solar design) also makes for a more comfortable home in terms of thermal regulation, noise management, air quality management, etc.

Consider "Homework" by Jeswold -- This book is old now, but we used it when we designed and planned our home in 1997, acting as our own contractors -- it's a book about learning about what you want, where you want, subcontractors, permits and such: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0898157447/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1409285357&sr=8-1#

There are others like it too -- I'd suggest books on home building, being your own contractor and stuff like that -- books you can get through quickly and have a good structure, vs wandering around online.

We have a well-built home that is enjoyable 15 years later as it was the day we moved in - because we made 100% of the choices and money saved went into products and structure. Three kids have grown up here, and we've adapted rooms over the years, it has been very low maintenance, and I've enjoyed learning to become a handyman myself.

Another book I like is Sarah Susanka's The Not So Big House: A blueprint for the way we really live -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1600851509/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1409285822&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 -- it's about always choosing quality over size, and she basically defines the new American home.

Feel free to ask me if you have specific questions...

I was in a second hand book store and found a book called The not so big house. It changed the way I looked at houses. I had been living in a 700 square foot house for a few years with my SO, a dog and a cat and it was working fine. Now I love small space living. When I envision my future house, I imagine a small house in walking distance to the main street of my neighborhood.

Plus it's fun to think of ways to use every inch efficiently.