Full of details that would make the most of a smaller space, this book has many photos that will help jog your creative juices. My favorites: Small House by Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, Healy/Kaplow Loft by Matthew Baird Design, and Anderson House by Jamie Fobert Architects.

"Small Environments focuses on the type of architectural details that make up distinctive residential spaces under 1,200 square feet [120 square meters]. It presents recent work by architects from around the globe in color photographs and architectural drawings. Rather than simply another compendium of small projects, the book is structured according to categories of architectural detail. It includes sections on components essential to the design of small spaces, such as built-in pieces, mobile systems, storage, outdoor rooms, siting strategies and daylighting details."

[posted by katie]

Our house isn't huge by today's standards, yet after reading this book I wanted to move into a home half the size. Not many people can say that, and sure, it sounds strange considering the past trend of 'bigger is better' when it comes to homes, cars, etc. Yet there's something refreshing about minimizing one's possessions and taking stock of what we truly need in order to live comfortably. Owning your home after a few years compared to paying mortgage payments for 15 or 30 years certainly sounds good, but is it possible to let go of the old mentality of success being the biggest house on the block? I sure think so.

A few quotes I liked:
"The luxury of a small house is that it leaves savings for quality, and the time to enjoy it."
'"Why, just because people have a lot of money, do they need to spend it?"' -Jirka Risavy

'LITTLE HOUSE ON A SMALL PLANET (Lyons Press, September 2006) is your guidebook and invitation to the small house movement. The author and the photographer spent over eight years collecting floor plans, photographs, advice, essays and anecdotes about North American small dwellings and the people who live in them. The result of their research is a unique, "cross-genred" self-help/home-improvement/social history book that asks and answers, “What fills a home when the excess is cut away?” and “How do we get there from here?” Discover how to build, remodel, redecorate, or profoundly rethink your needs.'

[posted by katie]

One of many books focusing on smaller spaces... [posted by katie]