 |
|
 |
Planning
Site & Foundation
Framing
Electric & Plumbing
Well & Septic
Finishing
Energy & Resources
"Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, or more violent.
It takes a touch of genius-
and a lot of courage-
to move in the opposite direction."
Albert Einstein
|
|
Home »
SHB Newsletter Back Issues »
Issue #005
 |
Small House Building Newsletter no. 5
May 02, 2009 |
Greetings All,
Spring is finally here! Yeah!
As I sit at my second floor window looking out onto the almost-budding trees I can almost breathe a sigh of relief. After many hours at the keyboard I'm nearly ready to launch my ebook "Build Your Own House-- a Guide for Absolute Beginners". I tried my best to step back and think about the whole home building process from the perspective of someone who just doesn't have a clue where to start. Going back to "beginner's mind" can be a really tough thing to do.
There are, however, a great handful of bonuses that I still need to get ready yet. I know you're anxious to sneak a peek and see what I could possibly have brought together in the ebook, so you can take a preview look here:
www.build-your-own-house.com
Better yet, if YOU can think of anything you'd like me to research and write about for bonus material, please let me know! If you're email is ever bounced back from "anne@small-house-building.com" just go to my contact page and fill out a form:
www.small-house-building.com/blog/contact
ADDITIONALLY, I found some great tips from Mel Inglima when planning for your small house:
"Picking and designing home plans is a blast. One of the nice things about my work in building and remodeling is the chance to learn from various industry professionals. And working with architects to design homes is one of the most fun.
I'd like to share some things I've learned when designing or selecting a smaller home. Smaller house plans require a little more scrutiny and creativity so they feel larger when lived in.
WHAT IS IT YOU REALLY NEED?
If you're thinking of building a smaller home, pay attention to these factors and your home will feel and be more livable.
* One or more rooms should extend wall to exterior wall where possible.
* Keep the interior open and flowing, not cut up.
* Eat in a bigger kitchen and eliminate the formal Dining Room.
* Have French doors open to a screened in or sun room.
* Have plenty of windows in main living areas.
* Try a shared, larger bathroom with a separate toilet room.
* Reduce or eliminate hallways.
* Try a detached garage with plenty of storage in the attic.
* Use vaulted ceilings where possible with a loft.
* Instead of 8 foot ceilings, increase to 10 foot.
Home Plan Design Requires Scrutiny
Use these tips to select pre-made plans or when using an architect. Either way, you should make decisions on what is most important to you in a home. For most, small homes need to feel large and inviting.
The goal is to make the best use of the available space in every place possible. Finding spaces for storage is vital. Combined rooms is a big help. Good design will all but eliminate hallways. This gives more space to popular areas.
CONCLUSION
Small doesn't have to be cramped. If you list your priorities and put your emphasis on what's most important, you'll get what you really want despite the size. Happy homebuilding!"
You can find Mel at www.DreamHomeCreation.com
peace and prosperity,
Anne Lupton
p.s. think Spring!!!!! |
|
|
