Gravitas Blog

I am very excited to be working with a young couple in Boise on the design of their home using the Not So Big tenants of Design. This will be an urban infill project in the North End of Boise (our original residential district just North of Downtown).

We have been touting Sarah Susanka’s books since her first one, The Not So Big House came out. Since then Sarah’s books continue to put her residential design ideas and theories in easy to understand language. We have given and loaned out many copies if the NSB books over the years and continue to do so. If you only have time for one book when you are beginning the design process of you home, NSBH should be it. I’m not a paid spokesman for Sarah, but when I recommend her books, I have clients that have a better understanding of how to express what they want in a home and how to communicate “feelings”. I have also found that the book puts into words what we have all experienced in a home that was too large, too small, or just right.

In the years since her first book, Sarah has continued to write and practice architecture. Now Susan is encompassing her ideas of home into a more holistic view of “Not so Big Life”. Her most recent lectures and online presentations are more focused in this direction than the architectural realm but her core message remains the same and the architectural lessons are timeless. Check out the Not So Big web site. There is good information there.

If you are in or near Boise, stop by and you can borrow the Not So Big House books from our design library. I’m looking forward to moving forward with the design of this Not So Big House in Boise.  I will keep you all posted and upload images of the design when we are complete. We have projects all across the country and most of our work is done remotely, so if your local designers look at you with a big question mark on their face when you say "Not so Big", or just think all you want is a small house, give us a call.

-Derek Hurd