Bigger is not necessarily better

I have pasted a piece the article below from the Wall Street Journal about cottages being in vogue.

For many years now I have been touting the charm, and ease of having a little less square footage, and a quaint design. I have been looking for a magazine that focuses on small spaces, and what to do with them, and have yet to find one. And I thought there was a magazine for everything.
My family lives in a small house, built in the late 40’s. It has been a challenge because my wife and I really like to rearrange furniture. We find the best way to thoroughly clean is to start moving stuff around. But with a small house, you are limited that only certain pieces can go on certain walls.

Big Living, small space

In Ashland, there was a condo project that was completed a number of years ago call Creekside Cottages. They took the idea of cottage living, and made some nice places. There is currently one listed for sale. It is listed as 1204 square feet for $299,000.

I would be interested in hearing some thoughts you may have about small spaces…or if anyone knows of a magazine devoted to small houses, please let me know.

Adam

Small Homes, Cottages Score Big With Buyers

However, home buyers these days increasingly are interested in smaller homes that consume less energy and encourage interaction among neighbors.

Developers in cities such as Seattle, Boston, and Milwaukee are building cottage developments to meet the rising demand.

Architect Ross Chapin and developer Jim Soules have erected nearly 50 Craftsman-style cottages during the last 10 years in the Seattle area. (Watch Video: Choosing Cottages Over McMansions)

The quirky homes sell for as much as $600,000, despite the fact that they range in size from just 800 square feet to 1,500 square feet.

Chapin uses clever design tricks, such as corner windows and skylights, to give the illusion of more space. He also makes the most of every inch by including crawlspace storage and built-in bookshelves and cubbies.

“These days, we drive to the house, open the garage door, go in,” Indianapolis developer Casey Land told the Wall Street Journal. “But it’s important to get to know your neighbors. I think people miss that.”

Source: Wall Street Journal, Sara Lin (07/18/08)