What is Not So Big??

While one can argue the exact limits of what constitutes a "not so big house" there are some principles that help to define it. It is a house in which each room is actually used every day. There are no formal dinning rooms or parlors that are used only on holidays. There is a place for everything and everything is in it's place--there are not entire rooms used only to store "stuff" that we never use and have no real reason to hang on to. It is a house of beautiful details and qualities that make use want to be there. it integrates the outdoors. It offers both pivancy and openess with equal success.
We have all driven through (or lived in) neighborhoods of identical looking rows of McMansions in which the occupants could pass the salt to their next door nieghbor without ever leaving their seat at their own table. Many offer large expanses of space, much of which is unuseable because of the way it is configured. Soaring ceilings can make a space feel cavernous, which is impressive until you realize what it feels like to live in a cave --and how much it costs to heat it. After all, does a family of four really need a 6000 square foot home? Probably not unless they are operating a Bed & Breakfast Inn.
Most people find that they are most comfortable in a space that is scaled to human dimensions. Since most people are somewhere between 5 and 61/2 feet tall proportions that are generally comfortable for someone in that height range are comfortable for most people. The advent of Universal Design has added another dimension of creativity to make spaces that will remain useful and comfortable over the life course even if we should find ourselves disabled or wheelchair bound. There is little besides some thoughtful attention to detail and a little creative planning required to make these work.
I was previewing a home that was on the market with a listing price over a half million dollars. Much of the work was exquisite; the travertine tile was beautiful. the cabinets were wonderfully handcrafted and all the doors were wide enough for a wheelchair....except the ones into the bathrooms!!! Since my client was due to have an operation that was likely to leave him wheelchair bound, we kept looking.
Why do we insist these days on huge MasterSuites? We sleep less (an average of an hour and a half less per night according to recent studies). Instead of getting more done we are actually less productive--probably due in part to the fact that we are sleep deprived. If we remove the television set and the exercise equipment and the computer, we might find our bedrooms more functional and more comfortable for their intended purpose.
Not so big may not be a specific size, but it is definitely a way of being in the world. It is having a place that is comfortably intimate without being crowded. It feels open and spacious without being cold and empty.

Some Things NOT to reuse

I am a big fan or reusing most building materials whenever possible. There are, however, some things that are better used for other purposes. While the faucet that was in the 1950's house might be perfectly serviceable and have that "retro" look, it most certainly is NOT as efficient as the ones produced today. Use it to decorate if you must but do not use it on your sinks.
Toilets are much more efficient today. Older models can use 7 to 9 gallons per flush as opposed to 1.6 gallons for new models. There are even newer models that have a dual flush mode and alter the flush depending on the type of waste being disposed of. Leaks and lack of efficiency in old tolets account for huge amounts of wasted water. An efficient, new toilet can save from 9,000 to 20,000 gallons of water per household per year. If you saw or read AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH you understand just how important that can be. There are many small differences we can each make in our lives to contribute to becoming the hundreth monkey.
Refrigerators are best replaced with newer energy efficient models. Old refrigerators can be recycled properly by contacting your local utility company or waste management company. Some creative folks have been known to turn them into backyard smokers or dryers for making jerky or dried fruit. Always take proper precaustions to keep children and pets from getting into them and getting stuck inside.

WELCOME TO THE PERFECT MARKET

We are entering a period of normal market conditions. Despite the hype about a falling market, the truth is that the market for the last couple of years has been crazy. People will always need a place to live. As a result they will always buy and sell homes. Unfortunately because of the past spiral of ever increasing home prices, many have not been able to purchase. Others have purchased way above their means because of the availability of interest only mortgages and unrealistic lending practices. Many of these people will be facing foreclosure because they will not be able to refinance--if they were making interest only payments they may actually experience negative amortization in some areas--they will owe more than the current market value of the home.
Since many of these homes are newer they may need little or nothing in the way of retrofitting or remodeling to meet EnergyStar or better standards. Thermal windows, good weatherization and correctly sized HVAC systems are much more likely to be in place. A significant amount of outgassing will already have occurred. These will be great homes to recycle because they may be in foreclosure for financial reasons but are likely to be in good condition.