A year ago we purchased an unfinished loft condo, formerly a shoe factory, in coastal Maine and just finished designing it and doing the finishing construction ourselves, employing Not So Big (just 1250 sq ft.) principles.

(We put together a website with videos on YouTube and photos on Flickr: www.MaineLoft.com for anyone interested.)

The building had been a blight on the town, and an environmentally conscious developer and a builder (known for restoring light houses) turned them into live/work spaces participating in a new urbanism movement – sustainability through reclaimed space.

The only catch was that it was a big blank box. We designed the finishing construction according to specific principles in the Not So Big House and Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language, specifically focusing on taming some of the huge spaces (12ft ceilings) with designated spaces via alcoves, semi walls, etc.

One of the real keys that worked for us, which tends not to get as much main stream press as the other Not So Big principles, was the selective use of repetition, tying spaces together with materials, forms and colors.

All in all the experience was unbelievable and we're now card carrying members of the Not So Big club - unfortunately jobs out of state force its sale – but we just purchased a small house, which needs a good deal of work, in our new location and have already begun planning renovations according to the principles – the experience of how this type of design can transform living space and quality of life will last and serve as motivation.

Let us know what you think – just click on a page at the top of www.MaineLofts.com for video and pictures.

Thanks Sarah!