Not So Big Solutions for Your Home

by Sarah Susanka

Sarah Susanka's Not So Big Solutions for Your Home explores practical design ideas that can transform any house into a great house that looks, works and feels right for the owner. Sarah Susanka, whose previous best-selling books showed homeowners how to appreciate and create a house that is beautiful, visually expansive and reflective of how families really live, now offers readers practical, everyday design ideas on everything from selecting a site for a new home to designing a mail-sorting space. Photographs, along with over 150 drawings from Sarah Susanka's own sketchbook, illustrate practical home design ideas for everyday living. Not So Big Solutions for Your Home is a compilation of over 30 columns written by Sarah Susanka for Fine Homebuilding magazine.
-- Makes architecture and design accessible to people who are not trained in the field
-- Provides a wide variety of practical, accessible, everyday solutions

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Design, Reference, Home Improvement, Construction, How To

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2002

About the author

Sarah Susanka is a bestselling author, architect, and cultural visionary. Her "build better, not bigger" approach to residential architecture has been embraced across the country, and her "Not So Big" philosophy has sparked an international dialogue, evolving beyond our houses and into how we inhabit our lives. In addition to sharing her insights with Oprah Winfrey and Charlie Rose, Susanka has been named a "Fast 50" innovator by Fast Company, a "top newsmaker" by Newsweek, an "innovator in American culture" by U.S.News & World Report, and is this year's recipient of the Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award for "outstanding individual achievement, a spirit of initiative, and work that exemplifies great dedication toward making positive contributions to our world."

Sarah is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, and a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council. The author of seven books, Susanka resides in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We bought this book about a decade ago when we were considering downsizing. We thought it might widen our options if we couldn't find a close to perfect house. As I cleared off a bookshelf, I paused to read through it and refresh my memory before passing it on to a young friend.

Susanka asks good questions about a family's needs and offers some clear, practical solutions to selected issues. Her cardinal rule--more square footage does not necessarily equal more usability. A few pages are outdated, and most of her advice is still quite useful.

Publication 2002

[Sarah Kingston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so big? This book defines "not so big" as anything under 5,000 square feet. I was amazed at the grandiosity of the not so big ideas, and at the amount of money and new materials that would have to go into changing your home to be like any of the homes highlighted here.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Sarah Susanka's books! This one is especially replete with drawings and sketches and pictures, which really help me visualize the concepts she is talking about. I really liked this book for the space-saving ideas she had in it.

[Brian Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 3rd or 4th read of this volume, pulled off the shelf as we contemplate a kitchen remodel. Susanka's prose is clear and inviting, her ideas are well fleshed out and, just as importantly, humane. The idea that we should be building our houses to model how we live in and use spaces is obvious, but listening to the contractors we're talking to about the remodel still isn't fully absorbed in the trade -things that Susanka comments on such as ceiling heights influencing how we feel in a space (obvious when you think about it) are dismissed because "soffits are out of fashion".

Like all of Susanka's work, this collection of essays will make you wander around your house and wonder what furniture you can move, colors you can change and other minor adjustments to make your home more livable. (She specifically says at one point that architects need to sometimes tell clients 'you don't need an addition, you need a cleaning service' when people are trying to find more space.) At the end of the day her ideas are about taking mid 20th century size/style homes and making them more useful via minor architectural changes - overbig homes are going to be too big, and while much of this is useful for the tiny house movement it's not aimed for it.

In any event, if you have any interest in home architecture, this is well worth your time.

[Dreamybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good, basic information presented in a way that is clear and easy to understand. If you are thinking about building or remodeling, I think this would be a great place to start.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just exact repeat information from the original book. I love the original book, but this is just exactly the same thing.

[AdeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t find this book as useful as Creating The Not So Big House but I am thinking about screened in porches and sunrooms as a result of reading it. Maybe one day.

[RM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a copy on my shelf.

[Bickety Bam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing you should know about this book is that it is a compilation of articles originally published in Fine Homebuilding magazine. Most of the illustrations are taken from photos in The Not So Big House and Creating the Not So Big House. So there isn't too much in terms of new examples, if you've already read those books.

On the other hand, this book is more to the point if you're actually looking to do a project in your house. There is expansion on some of the ideas presented (i.e. Designing a window seat) in the earlier books and some new topics (locating light switches and outlets.)

[Erika RS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Susanka's Not So Big Solutions For Your Home is a collection of articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine. I am a big fan of it because it talks about practical solutions to a lot of modern real world issues (e.g., dealing with the TV and entering from the garage). Given the format, the articles do not cover a lot of issues (there are only 30 articles), but the topics that are covered are generally covered in more detail than elsewhere. I will admit that the last section, on remodeling, failed to interest me.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someday there will be theses written on how, during the 20th century, the first world home began devoting more and more space to waste. The gradual proliferation of household trash cans, followed by indoor and outdoor recycling bins, indoor and outdoor compost holders, and, in my own house, the ever-present "stuff to go to the thrift-store". Susanka and William McDonough are thinking about it, and no doubt many more will in time.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for people interested in the Not-So-Big-House idea but who aren't ready to digest the original Not-So-Big-House book which, if I remember correctly, has a lot more about WHY we should build homes this way and fewer examples of practical implementations. I would say this is a must-read for those interested in building a home that will fit their lifestyle and needs, and not one that ends up being a big, soulless, McMansion box.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read almost all of Sarah's books, so you would think that there would be nothing new in this book for me. It is "just" a compilation of articles she wrote for a magazine.
But...there was some new information, and a great review of some things I already knew. Her pictures and diagrams are perfect for showing the concepts she is trying to explain.
I am amazed by this writer/person. When you say someone "has it all together"-well, she is living proof that it is possible to be "all that".

[Shelah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a series of articles which Susanka wrote for Fine Homebuilding magazine. The articles go into greater detail about lots of the things she covered in The Not So Big House. I don't think I'll ever look at brick tape the same way again. Thank goodness most of the houses here in Texas (even the cheap ones like mine) have brick all the way around the house!

[Greg Balzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this books years ago but still use it today for practical design tips and concepts. It is particularly good for those who are looking to build or remodel a home. Sarah believes that small finely tuned homes are better than large non-specific dwellings, and in that same vein, this book packs a lot of useful information into a concise package.

[Patricia Herlevi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading architectural design books, especially books about houses. The author-architect Sarah Susanka takes novices through the process of designing smaller homes or renovating using existing space instead of adding on square footage. This book is a must-have for new home buyers, existing homeowners and anyone interested in transforming a house into a home.

[Terri's Dangerous When Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much by reading, "Not So Big Solutions for Your Home" by Susan Susanka. I found many useful tips that I incorporated into my own plans. You could say that Susan Susanka greatly influenced my life since I used many of her ideas when I built my home in 2006 and I happily live in that home to this day.

[Jodee · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are designing new or remodeling and old, this had some great ideas about lighting, electrical outlet placement, you know all the little things that you always forget. The book was fun to look through and get future ideas.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent ideas for organizing and doing minor renovations to your home to make it more liveable and more enjoyable. I'll definitely use this in planning to reorganize our home!

I plan on buying a copy to make notes in and use as reference. It's that good.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a fabulous book! Thinking of remodeling? Building a house? Get this book. It is really super. Even if you're just renovating a small space in your house, reference this book. It is really terrific....

[Daphne]

I like the "not so big house" idea. This book has lots of interesting details. However, it is limited in scope. Basically, if you're building or remodeling, this book will help you. If you already have a house, and want to know how to live in it better, this book won't.

[Juneau Public Library]

Great ideas for organizing and decoration your small home. If you like this one, check out Susanka's other "Not so Big" books from Taunton Press, the folks behind Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Recommended by Amelia

[Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

From articles Susanka wrote for a magazine, maybe Inspired Home, but I'm not sure. Great resource and one that shows you what an "outside the box" thinker Susanka is.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this. really interesting look at interior design for residential spaces.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice to see a useful book about small spaces.... as opposed to surreal dreams

[Chris]

Things to think about when designing functional areas of the home.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for serious remodeling plans.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok

[Oona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful ideas on porches, mail sorting stations, cozy nooks, etc.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My architect recommended this whole series as we remodel our house. Lots of good ideas in this one, but a lot of it was on building from scratch and doesn't apply to us.