I loved the Not So Big House books (Garden one is next) but have a few comments. While you can't be everything to everybody, and while you DO/DID fill an aching void as far as providing simple, articulate concepts, pictures with attention to the little things, here is what I think some of us could use:

1) I reside in Miami / Ft. Lauderdale. With the exception of Seaside, which we all hear about from time to time and which is A style of MANY, I haven't seen any true Florida flavored homes or design, also incorporating the important Latin & Mediteranean feel. Being well-traveled, I would argue that Miami has some of the most unique and diverse architeture in the world (not better necessarily, but certainly ecletic and unique).
I would like Susan to move to Miami Beach or Coral Gables for one year and soak-in the qualities absent from her books. I think the impact would be profound - something that can't be captured with a week visit to South Beach. And for the rest of us, perhaps a true South Florida small home series - a few ranches, Key-West styles, Mediteranean (with tiny enclaves and palm courtyards), art deco homes (with corner windows, jalaci (sp?) windows - sadly disappearing under hurrican vacume-sealed ones),etc. Not all of live in Portland or North Carolina, you know...

2) This goes for Gardens too. I read a review down here and they commented on the same thing I mentioned above - that while highly interesting and beautiful with important concepts covered - it ain't South Florida, home of the everglades.

3) So far, it seems, there really isn't a "go-to" place for a wide variety of true small home plans -really. I went to one that touted itself as architural and when I clicked on "small homes" was shown several beautiful 5000 square foot MANSIONS (and I'm not making this up - it was literally 5000 sq. ft.). The plan sites are either (1) lame giant plan sites which say they offer everything, but don't or (2) architects who have lame sites or only very select content or details or (3) "specialist" sites, such as Live Modern and the Pre-Fab thing. I'm interested in MANY styles, including the ones in your books, but so far, nobody has gotten a grasp, similiar to Monster or something, on creating an all-encompasing small home site. All styles (from modern to classic bungalows, to Miami one-offs, etc.). That's why the Not so Big series took off so well! It filled a void for people who were tired of information overload and just wanted nice small houses - and you got it dead on.

Now we (I, anyways) want the same targeted format to zero in on the OTHER missing element now. See? We GOT the small house thing. We all love it. We just want ALL (and I mean ALL) options available. Crazy maybe. But as for me and my endless internet & book toils, I can tell you that nobody has got a "Go-to" on all TYPES of small homes with true architetural quality. I love Palladian, Japanese, Deco, Bungalow, Modern (yup, even crazy modern), victorian, etc. So tell me......where could I go to view, peruse, and ponder home building options and ideas with the architectural quality we all want for small homes such as in home plans today?

Just some ideas is all. Love the work and hope to see more. thanks...

C.S.

Chad,

Thanks for the feedback. I'll make sure that Sarah and Marc Vassallo see this, as it's great input for the current Not So Big book in the works, Remodeling Not So Big.

In terms of your #3, Sarah recommends that you take a look at the Traditional Neighborhood Design plans on our Not So Big Plans for Sale page, as there are quite a few small house plans there. We share your frustration in not being able to find many plans out there, and we wish we had more options to offer you.

I also wanted to point out that "Not So Big" does not necessarily mean small - it means building better, not bigger, or choosing quality of space over quantity of space. Many owners of Not So Big homes will tell you that, even if the home is quite large, they use every square foot of space every day.

Thanks again for your comments.

Marie