Comments on: LIVING SMALL in the New York Times http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Sat, 25 May 2013 19:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Kim http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-79627 Kim Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:23:36 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-79627 The house is great but by looking at the chemtrails in the sky in the first picture, the location isn't. The house is great but by looking at the chemtrails in the sky in the first picture, the location isn’t.

]]> By: andrew cauthen http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-63589 andrew cauthen Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:48:28 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-63589 check out all the chemtrails above that first house. Tumbleweed houses redid their site. looks great, check it out. they have plans so that you can build your own to. That's also what's great about living smarter and healthier with a smaller footprint. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ Still they should have a volunteer program where you help somebody build theirs or maybe a few people, and they will help you so it can be free, or close to it. Do any of you know of any of those programs on the internet? Like a habitat for humanity for people that live on purpose not just because they're alcoholics. check out all the chemtrails above that first house. Tumbleweed houses redid their site. looks great, check it out. they have plans so that you can build your own to. That’s also what’s great about living smarter and healthier with a smaller footprint. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ Still they should have a volunteer program where you help somebody build theirs or maybe a few people, and they will help you so it can be free, or close to it. Do any of you know of any of those programs on the internet? Like a habitat for humanity for people that live on purpose not just because they’re alcoholics.

]]> By: maryella st.germaine http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-59034 maryella st.germaine Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:34:53 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-59034 Could you send me some infor? I am looking for a garage with apt. above. Send to M.St.germaine 12 Atlantia St., Worc., Mass.01603 Could you send me some infor? I am looking for a garage with apt. above. Send to M.St.germaine
12 Atlantia St., Worc., Mass.01603

]]> By: pem http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-47955 pem Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:49:36 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-47955 For five years, my husband and I lived in a 650 sq.ft. shack, retro fitted with a gas stove for heat. If it was designed a bit differently and in a different location (not next to RR tracks), we'd still be living there. We had loads of visitors. It was such a comfortable environment, everyone stopped in when in the neighborhood. With some creative storage ideas, it held all my husbands windsurfing gear, my big, old computer and progamming books, plus a sewing area with multiple machines. We had plenty of room for cooking -- it's all in how it's arranged. We searched for several years to find another smaller home (we wanted less than 1,000 sq.ft.) that didn't have to be completely renovated due to our age. Never could fine one and we now live in an 1,8000 sq. ft. home that we hate. For five years, my husband and I lived in a 650 sq.ft. shack, retro fitted with a gas stove for heat. If it was designed a bit differently and in a different location (not next to RR tracks), we’d still be living there. We had loads of visitors. It was such a comfortable environment, everyone stopped in when in the neighborhood. With some creative storage ideas, it held all my husbands windsurfing gear, my big, old computer and progamming books, plus a sewing area with multiple machines. We had plenty of room for cooking — it’s all in how it’s arranged.

We searched for several years to find another smaller home (we wanted less than 1,000 sq.ft.) that didn’t have to be completely renovated due to our age. Never could fine one and we now live in an 1,8000 sq. ft. home that we hate.

]]> By: Royal http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-41100 Royal Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:08:00 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-41100 I don't think it's very useful to merely live in a smaller shack. Having the space being used efficiently as in some of the RV models would be quite a nice thing, though. I don’t think it’s very useful to merely live in a smaller shack. Having the space being used efficiently as in some of the RV models would be quite a nice thing, though.

]]> By: Nick Simpson http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39692 Nick Simpson Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:52:12 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39692 Quite interesting and a great concept, but if we want to make a difference the size of our homes isn't the main problem here - it's the energy we use within them (I guess if you have a small kitchen you can't cram it full of machines that do things you ought to be doing manually anyway) and the space we leave around them. Instad of the tiny house making the big plot feel even bigger, why not a larger, more liveable house on a medium sized plot? Or even, shock horror, get rid of those useless, dark little strips of land in between so many detached houses and live in a terrace? But as I say, a very cool article and I guess even if these are being used as second homes, better a tiny second home than a big one... Quite interesting and a great concept, but if we want to make a difference the size of our homes isn’t the main problem here – it’s the energy we use within them (I guess if you have a small kitchen you can’t cram it full of machines that do things you ought to be doing manually anyway) and the space we leave around them. Instad of the tiny house making the big plot feel even bigger, why not a larger, more liveable house on a medium sized plot? Or even, shock horror, get rid of those useless, dark little strips of land in between so many detached houses and live in a terrace?

But as I say, a very cool article and I guess even if these are being used as second homes, better a tiny second home than a big one…

]]> By: Kevin Muncie http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39658 Kevin Muncie Sat, 24 Feb 2007 06:25:02 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39658 Fantastic article! Just what I needed to help my family and friends see how real this movement is! Fantastic article! Just what I needed to help my family and friends see how real this movement is!

]]> By: Buffy http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39624 Buffy Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:18:00 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39624 I am facinated by the whole small living concept. As a lifelong apartment dweller, I'd LOVE to have my own little house to call my own. The smaller the better for me. I am single, have a small (15 lb) dog, and the barest essentials for furniture and belongings. A 400-550 sq ft home would be my dream! (not to mention easy to maintain). The thing I'm having a hard time with is finding affordable land near the city! YIKES! I am facinated by the whole small living concept. As a lifelong apartment dweller, I’d LOVE to have my own little house to call my own. The smaller the better for me. I am single, have a small (15 lb) dog, and the barest essentials for furniture and belongings. A 400-550 sq ft home would be my dream! (not to mention easy to maintain). The thing I’m having a hard time with is finding affordable land near the city! YIKES!

]]> By: Celeste http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39532 Celeste Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:11:58 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39532 I love the idea for myself, but to really live this way I'd have to give up entertaining (except for perhaps 2 people at a time). Of course, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have a big house just to throw the occasional big party, but for anyone who wants to have even modest dinner parties for 8 people, such a small house won't do. Okay, now I really want to know how many square feet my house is! I love the idea for myself, but to really live this way I’d have to give up entertaining (except for perhaps 2 people at a time). Of course, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to have a big house just to throw the occasional big party, but for anyone who wants to have even modest dinner parties for 8 people, such a small house won’t do. Okay, now I really want to know how many square feet my house is!

]]> By: cj http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39513 cj Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:22:22 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39513 Im on the same page as Armitt. Sure id love to have a small house but you must also be able to afford to be small. Im on the same page as Armitt. Sure id love to have a small house but you must also be able to afford to be small.

]]> By: Eric http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39479 Eric Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:02:23 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39479 I'm not sure where this leads either. After living in the states for 30 years, I'm living in a terrifically unremarkable 900sqft home in the UK and it feels... huge. Habits, restrictions, context and availability are major factors - of course - but I don't think Americans will scale down until there is a pressing reason. (there are millions of them but...) I’m not sure where this leads either. After living in the states for 30 years, I’m living in a terrifically unremarkable 900sqft home in the UK and it feels… huge. Habits, restrictions, context and availability are major factors – of course – but I don’t think Americans will scale down until there is a pressing reason. (there are millions of them but…)

]]> By: Amritt http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39404 Amritt Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:10:35 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39404 I just feel this is all the same stuff as we had about downsizing your life a few years ago. It only works or gains kudos for those who have already upsized or are scaling back from their over scaled lifestyle. Millions of people already live in small spaces - because they have no choice. I'm not saying it isn't a positive thing just that it gets blown out of proportion into the next greatest idea to chat about in parties. How about letting 6 other families share your big house - then you don't have to even demolish or new build. I just feel this is all the same stuff as we had about downsizing your life a few years ago.

It only works or gains kudos for those who have already upsized or are scaling back from their over scaled lifestyle.

Millions of people already live in small spaces – because they have no choice.

I’m not saying it isn’t a positive thing just that it gets blown out of proportion into the next greatest idea to chat about in parties.

How about letting 6 other families share your big house – then you don’t have to even demolish or new build.

]]> By: Ron http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39382 Ron Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:47:43 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39382 I have a hunch these small homes will never catch on as permanent abodes for the general public, but think they may have a great future as disaster relief housing, or, if you've got a little extra room on your property, detached office space, meditation areas, workout rooms, studios, "granny" units, or just a place to toss the kids when you're ready to give them back (different kind of disaster relief). I have a hunch these small homes will never catch on as permanent abodes for the general public, but think they may have a great future as disaster relief housing, or, if you’ve got a little extra room on your property, detached office space, meditation areas, workout rooms, studios, “granny” units, or just a place to toss the kids when you’re ready to give them back (different kind of disaster relief).

]]> By: PaulS. http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39319 PaulS. Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:41:42 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39319 Hmm... Not enough room for all my books, Not enough room for all my photography equipment. Not enough room for all my art. Yeah, I could live in a house this small. If it has a 1,500 sq.ft. basement. (I'm such a cheater!) Hmm…
Not enough room for all my books,
Not enough room for all my photography equipment.
Not enough room for all my art.
Yeah, I could live in a house this small.
If it has a 1,500 sq.ft. basement.

(I’m such a cheater!)

]]> By: jojo http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39314 jojo Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:44:53 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39314 I applaud you micro-enthusiast comrades. Small is smart! I love my 120sqft home. I applaud you micro-enthusiast comrades. Small is smart! I love my 120sqft home.

]]> By: MP http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39286 MP Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:15:27 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39286 Yay for Jay Schafer! Yay for Jay Schafer!

]]> By: Bob Ellenberg http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39276 Bob Ellenberg Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:02:46 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39276 Space wise it's not really much different than baby boomer retirees living in their RVs. As to the 2nd home issue, I think this will be a good but miniscule market segment. What is more likely to be adopted on a broader scale are more conventional living arrangements that are smaller than the McMansions. Rethinking how we live in our houses (for example, ideas that are championed by The Not So Big House series) should result in a reduction in footprints and energy consumed that appeals to a large number of more environmentally conscious buyers. Space wise it’s not really much different than baby boomer retirees living in their RVs. As to the 2nd home issue, I think this will be a good but miniscule market segment. What is more likely to be adopted on a broader scale are more conventional living arrangements that are smaller than the McMansions. Rethinking how we live in our houses (for example, ideas that are championed by The Not So Big House series) should result in a reduction in footprints and energy consumed that appeals to a large number of more environmentally conscious buyers.

]]> By: art donovan http://inhabitat.com/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-39265 art donovan Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:01:59 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/2007/02/20/living-small-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-39265 Amen! As was quoted in another article, "Small is the new black" But aside from the cute quotes, smaller homes are more human-scaled, speak of a greater maturity, greater social & environmental responsiblity and, not the least of which, is the intentional disregard for the ego-fulfillment that the monster homes induce. McMansions be damned. I'm looking forward toward the new era of design "sobriety." Amen!

As was quoted in another article, “Small is the new black”

But aside from the cute quotes, smaller homes are more human-scaled, speak of a greater maturity, greater social & environmental responsiblity and, not the least of which, is the intentional disregard for the ego-fulfillment that the monster homes induce.

McMansions be damned. I’m looking forward toward the new era of design “sobriety.”

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