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Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average
Inspiration and answers for people wanting to live more sustainably in a smaller house while respecting the environment and saving money on energy and maintenance.
Smaller, more environmentally friendly houses seem to be the wave of the future. As people chose to move out of cities, finances and lifestyle will limit the size of the houses these buyers will choose.
This book includes lots of examples of small house options around the country, including ADUs (accessory dwelling units). Whether you’re building a small house, renovating an older home, or purchasing something new, this book will provide inspiration. It compiles lots of previously difficult-to-find information in one place. The sidebars describe home systems and new materials helpful to any homeowner concerned about the environment and hoping to save money on energy and maintenance.
Smaller, more environmentally friendly houses seem to be the wave of the future. As people chose to move out of cities, finances and lifestyle will limit the size of the houses these buyers will choose.
This book includes lots of examples of small house options around the country, including ADUs (accessory dwelling units). Whether you’re building a small house, renovating an older home, or purchasing something new, this book will provide inspiration. It compiles lots of previously difficult-to-find information in one place. The sidebars describe home systems and new materials helpful to any homeowner concerned about the environment and hoping to save money on energy and maintenance.
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2025
46 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 10, 2022
I find tiny homes too tiny, but the slighter larger abodes featured in this beautiful book are bang up my alley, as well as energy efficient and environmentally friendly. A fun read!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC; opinions are mine.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC; opinions are mine.
March 31, 2023
If we ever get to build our own home, this is the book I am going to refer to again and again.
September 27, 2022
This is the best book on building small and eco that I’ve come across so far. Most are insubstantial and offer little. This one actually has a lot of insight and usable info. I would absolutely recommend.
September 9, 2022
I’m hopeful that McMansion houses will one day be a thing of the past. The houses in this book are definitely not tiny but all are under 2000 sq feet and that’s a good start.
July 31, 2022
An interesting take on how much space we each need, and new ideas on how to shape that space. I read a lot of these type of books and this is a fresh take on the subject. Some of the spaces seem a little posh for my budget, but there are a good variety of options. It’s nice to see, or I guess not to see, the usual bare, stark, overpriced inventory directed exclusively at the wealthy.
March 19, 2022
Just browsed through it with my daughter.
October 29, 2022
I very much enjoyed this book. It was a traveling companion on a weekend trip. My husband drove while I studied the plans, read the descriptions, and poured over the pictures for interior design ideas. I simultaneously congratulated myself for doing so many things right, according to this book, in the planning / building of our "smaller than average" home and lamented that our budget was much too constrained to build with as much conscientiousness in regards to green and energy efficient building materials/technology as was featured in the book.
Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that, in general, green and energy efficient homes are another privilege of the upper middle to wealthy classes in our societies. I would welcome being proven wrong.
Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that, in general, green and energy efficient homes are another privilege of the upper middle to wealthy classes in our societies. I would welcome being proven wrong.
August 26, 2025
Guys, we can just say medium. It's okay.
Once again, I am looking for inspiration for my own home. A lot of these places, though, have the comfort level of a dentist's office.
I don't hate these homes, but idk how much inspo I can really get from these. For one thing, many of them are owned by very wealthy people looking to downsize. You can tell by the gigantic windows with no curtains that let anyone with eyeballs look straight into your entire home. It feels like a safety risk to let this book print the blueprints of your home. But there's nothing worth stealing, unless you feel like carting off a $10,000 appliance. The decoration of one office was a desk with one singular lamp smack in the middle of it.
It's just....every time I look at books like this for ideas, I'm struck by the complete absence of personality. Yeah, I'm sure they cleaned like the Queen was visiting, but don't you think you'd want to set out evidence that you live there? Like, your favorite book on the nightstand, your half-finished knitting project on the desk, your old Strawberry Shortcake doll on the top of a shelf, your favorite Manet painting above the couch. I get taking down family photos for a book like this (eliminates a security risk), but like did you buy all your art at the generic Bread Co. art store? Was Gordman's having a sale?
Anytime there was a weird object (like the wooden witch by the stairs), I felt better about the place. Yes, put your weird art and strange sculptures on display. I want to look at your pillow that says "Babe Cave" and your weird breakfast of half a cantaloupe and white bread.
Barrier-free shower....it's a shower head and a drain, my guy. With no shower curtain or walls so your floor gets all wet and slippery. Barn door to the bathroom is always a bad idea. Someone built in a flood zone. Why are there no microwaves, but tons of loose fruit?
Did I get any ideas from this? Yeah, I did. Any house with plants looked at least slightly more livable. Warm houses are so much better. Rugs help break up a space a little. Patterns are cute. Color adds to a home. White, silver, and concrete look like space prisons.
Once again, I am looking for inspiration for my own home. A lot of these places, though, have the comfort level of a dentist's office.
I don't hate these homes, but idk how much inspo I can really get from these. For one thing, many of them are owned by very wealthy people looking to downsize. You can tell by the gigantic windows with no curtains that let anyone with eyeballs look straight into your entire home. It feels like a safety risk to let this book print the blueprints of your home. But there's nothing worth stealing, unless you feel like carting off a $10,000 appliance. The decoration of one office was a desk with one singular lamp smack in the middle of it.
It's just....every time I look at books like this for ideas, I'm struck by the complete absence of personality. Yeah, I'm sure they cleaned like the Queen was visiting, but don't you think you'd want to set out evidence that you live there? Like, your favorite book on the nightstand, your half-finished knitting project on the desk, your old Strawberry Shortcake doll on the top of a shelf, your favorite Manet painting above the couch. I get taking down family photos for a book like this (eliminates a security risk), but like did you buy all your art at the generic Bread Co. art store? Was Gordman's having a sale?
Anytime there was a weird object (like the wooden witch by the stairs), I felt better about the place. Yes, put your weird art and strange sculptures on display. I want to look at your pillow that says "Babe Cave" and your weird breakfast of half a cantaloupe and white bread.
Barrier-free shower....it's a shower head and a drain, my guy. With no shower curtain or walls so your floor gets all wet and slippery. Barn door to the bathroom is always a bad idea. Someone built in a flood zone. Why are there no microwaves, but tons of loose fruit?
Did I get any ideas from this? Yeah, I did. Any house with plants looked at least slightly more livable. Warm houses are so much better. Rugs help break up a space a little. Patterns are cute. Color adds to a home. White, silver, and concrete look like space prisons.
April 8, 2023
As we continue our process of building a passive solar home, we are seeking ideas, and this one is excellent -- more about sustainability and universal design and all the things we're aiming for than about tiny/small living. Excellent.
pg25 - aging in place - photo of exterior with combo of ramp and steps and stone path
pg31 - wet room with no curb and large panel of dramatic stone/marble with shower head, plain walls
pg35 - info about Corten steel
pg38 - info about green features including recycled metal roof
pg48-49 - perfect exterior + solar panels and off to the side stone patio/fire pit area
pg63 - vertical poles for stair "railing" - easier to clean than wire - probably not
pg65 - bookcase lined second floor gallery like our catwalk + info about efficiency + roof deck
pg123 - wet room info - basic subway tile
pg25 - aging in place - photo of exterior with combo of ramp and steps and stone path
pg31 - wet room with no curb and large panel of dramatic stone/marble with shower head, plain walls
pg35 - info about Corten steel
pg38 - info about green features including recycled metal roof
pg48-49 - perfect exterior + solar panels and off to the side stone patio/fire pit area
pg63 - vertical poles for stair "railing" - easier to clean than wire - probably not
pg65 - bookcase lined second floor gallery like our catwalk + info about efficiency + roof deck
pg123 - wet room info - basic subway tile
Read
January 29, 2022I had a lot of trouble downloading the ARC of this book and it feels unfair to review it in the mangled and incomplete state that I encountered it. However, my initial impressions were that the writing was solid and topical, the sidebars explaining advances in green tech to support more climate friendly living were interesting and informative, and I suspect the pictures were pretty delightful.
It’s a little frustrating to read in that these meticulously crafted and carefully thought out structures seem like they are beyond the reach of most budgets, but at least it’s nice to learn and to dream.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss.
It’s a little frustrating to read in that these meticulously crafted and carefully thought out structures seem like they are beyond the reach of most budgets, but at least it’s nice to learn and to dream.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss.
April 18, 2025
Enjoyed scoping out the unique floor plans of each house, but the interior of most of them are so stark and have an industrial feel instead of a cozy one.
Surprisingly admired the powder blue kitchen cabinets of the Butterfly Garden Cottage. As well as it's double level balconies and the daybed porch swing!
Surprisingly admired the powder blue kitchen cabinets of the Butterfly Garden Cottage. As well as it's double level balconies and the daybed porch swing!
April 22, 2025
The good: plans for every home, pictures on every page, variety of architectural styles, architect's websites listed
The bad: statements like "stained cedar is an ideal low maintenance material" and regardless of what the author says, balloon framing is not a viable option
In the end, look at this book for inspiration, but then hire a local professional for your own project
The bad: statements like "stained cedar is an ideal low maintenance material" and regardless of what the author says, balloon framing is not a viable option
In the end, look at this book for inspiration, but then hire a local professional for your own project
August 15, 2022
When the tiny house movement first appeared on television I was enchanted. I soon concluded that a tiny house would never work for me. This book has beautiful pictures and details of smaller houses that are energy efficient and thoughtful in terms of the ecology. I found it quite interesting.
January 18, 2023
I LOVED this and would love a hard copy so I can pick it up when I want some house inspo. A lot of these house designs are right up my alley — modern, sustainable, not huge but not tiny. Tasteful decor, interesting locations.
May 3, 2022
Smaller than average doesn't cut it, for me at least.
January 22, 2023
Worthy mostly for a flip through for the pictures. There are a few gems, but the amount of text and commitment to it diminishes steadily.
May 24, 2023
I love this book.
The homes are all spot on, eco-friendly and energy efficient.
These homes are also not huge but not too small, either, which is great.
The homes are all spot on, eco-friendly and energy efficient.
These homes are also not huge but not too small, either, which is great.
June 21, 2023
I liked this book. Informative and interesting. Makes me want a small, passive house, on land, with gardens, orchards and an ADU.
I wish they had included the cost of building each house.
I wish they had included the cost of building each house.
July 11, 2024
Many examples of smallish homes with lots of ideas for environmentally sustainable features. Lots of light floors and white walls.
July 12, 2023
Read in June 2023: https://hollograms.blogspot.com/2023/...
December 25, 2023
I've read a lot of design books and many are not even remotely helpful, especially for the average joe who just wants a reasonably normal nice-ish given budget constraints house. It gets even more complicated when you want to build a house in *gasp* a city, not a cornfield or river side as several books in this house featured. specifically an a teeny tiny little infill lot with a teeny budget to match! Wouldn't we all loooove high ceilings with 10 foot windows overlooking the Arizona desert while we soak in our tub room which leads into his and hers closets next to the in-suite bathroom off the master bedroom on the 3rd floor!
I wasn't sure this book would be helpful either until taking a second look through, I think we might actually base part of our home design off of one of the houses featured! I also did love one of the kitchens.
While I'm on my soap box, it is also really hard to find books that feature homes that people actually live in 365 days a year- not a vacation home, not a second home, not a planned Airbnb, but like normal people's forever homes. And of course, no one wants to see the nitty gritty of how people live but a little bit of "lived in" appeal would just go so far. Many houses in design books like this feel totally staged or maybe someone just lives in them 10 days a year & has zero personal affects clogging up their space.
I liked that the author listed "green features" and went into details about them.
just as a note: it is sad that the average American house is something like 2,400SF (!!!) so even a house at 1900SF is considered small & modest. My current house is about 975. the house we're going to be building will be about 1200SF.... I need books geared towards that is size!
I wasn't sure this book would be helpful either until taking a second look through, I think we might actually base part of our home design off of one of the houses featured! I also did love one of the kitchens.
While I'm on my soap box, it is also really hard to find books that feature homes that people actually live in 365 days a year- not a vacation home, not a second home, not a planned Airbnb, but like normal people's forever homes. And of course, no one wants to see the nitty gritty of how people live but a little bit of "lived in" appeal would just go so far. Many houses in design books like this feel totally staged or maybe someone just lives in them 10 days a year & has zero personal affects clogging up their space.
I liked that the author listed "green features" and went into details about them.
just as a note: it is sad that the average American house is something like 2,400SF (!!!) so even a house at 1900SF is considered small & modest. My current house is about 975. the house we're going to be building will be about 1200SF.... I need books geared towards that is size!
February 15, 2025
This book is marketed as "Inspiration and answers for people wanting to live more sustainably in a smaller house while respecting the environment and saving money on energy and maintenance." In reality, it serves more as a promotion for those who design stylish homes for America’s wealthy, with little regard for sustainability or the needs of everyday people.
January 27, 2023
What standards some have if a 1800sqf is on the smaller side of average.
An eclectic collection, green pointers, some houses are ridiculous but it's possible I learn more from what seems wrong to me or how I would never do things. Great photography.
An eclectic collection, green pointers, some houses are ridiculous but it's possible I learn more from what seems wrong to me or how I would never do things. Great photography.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews