The New Small House [Hardcover]

Smaller is big,says architect andauthor Katie Hutchison, whose bookThe New Small Houseshows those looking todownsize how they can live smartly, economically and environmentally friendly in elegantly designed homes.

With 275 gorgeous photographsand 30 detailed illustrations,The New Small Housetakes the reader on a tour of North America and spotlights small houses in rural, coastal, and in-town locations.The book presents fundamental small-house design strategies, complete with whole-house case studies for homeowners eager to simplify.

Creating a great small house is illustrated in the opening chapter with 10 approaches, including:

• borrowed view and daylight
• multipurpose spaces
• privacy pockets
• using quality materials

Twenty-five stunning small housesare profiled in the second part of the book, organized by the nature of their locations.

• 1.TREND. With smaller family sizes, smaller building lots, smaller budgets, and the desire to use fewer natural resources, there has been a resurgence of interest in building small.
• 2.SALES TRACK. Tauntons books on small houses and retreats have been perennial best-sellers: witness the success of Sarah Susankas The Not So Big House and Dale Mulfingers The Cabin.
• 3.DIVERSITY. Homes featured are from all across North America, in rural, coastal, and in-town locations.

If you are thinking of building, you must readThe New Small House, by architect Katie Hutchison (Taunton, 2015). She defines the small house as 1,700 sq. ft. or less, which is roughly the size of the New England house that she and her husband Chris call home. I think her ten small-house design strategies are especially useful --lCM