OK - so I've bought the three books, read them cover to cover, am currently looking for land,and am in the process of interviewing architects to build an 1800-2500 square foot house, with usable spaces and good design. No problem, right? There are a few architectural firms from the books right in my area. Interview#1: the architect/owner of the firm shows my husband and me a portfolio containing the redos of some of the biggest, ugliest, houses you've ever seen - one of them is the basis for the pictures in the Creating the Not So Big House Book. Not So Big compared to what? These were huge budget, huge ego projects with some expensive millwork thrown in and photographed with an extremely tight shot to give the illusion of a small space. For shame. Interview #2: Oh wait, no interview here. The architect spoke to my husband on the phone and learning that the budget was a mere 1.2 million dollars (again, for an 1800-2500 sq.ft. home) said they did not have the time to take on a project that small. So why are they featured prominently in a book series called the Not So Big House blah blah? It makes the whole enterprise smack of sham and false fronts - a Potemkin village of smalller more beautiful houses that mask huge multimillion dollar projects that incorporate some lovely design. The books are going in the trash.
Posts: 1 | Location: New Haven, CT | Registered: 15 March 2007
I'm sorry to hear you've had such negative experiences with the architects that you've interviewed. Though it's true that Not So Big does not necessarily mean small (it is rather about quality of space over quantity of space), we would still hope that there are plenty of people available to build exactly what you're looking for, and that the experiences that you had with these architects are the exception rather than the rule. Something to keep in mind also is that the projects featured in Sarah's books are representations of the concepts, but that doesn't mean that the architects of the projects always build houses like the ones she features, or that their practices, focus, and budgets are in line with what Sarah would do. In other words, nobody has "certified" anyone as Not So Big.
I would recommend that you check out the home professionals directory on this site before you give up on the books and concepts. There are plenty of wonderful residential architects out there who would be happy to work with you to build the size and quality of home you desire, and that would be a better fit for you in terms of style. There is after all something that attracted you initially to the books and concepts - don't throw the baby out with the bath water. If anything, it's good that you got a very clear message right off the bat that these are not the architects for you, rather than later on, after having put a lot of money into their services. If you do visit the directory, please see the information on selecting and working with an architect. It should be very helpful.
