In this installment of 10 Questions for . . ., Senior Editor Daniel DiClerico speaks with Sarah Susanka, an architect and the best-selling author of The Not So Big series of books, the first of which came out in 1998. Here Susanka shares tips from her latest book and explains why remodeling will make the nation more energy efficient.
What is the Not So Big House philosophy?
It's all based on the belief that a smaller, well-designed house doesn't have to feel smaller. This can be a real conundrum for people, but good design, because of its layout, truly does give the feeling of more space. When I moved to California from England when I was 14, I noticed with some amazement that no one ever sat in the formal living and dining rooms, and that the foyer was basically reserved for door-to-door salesmen. That began my interest in design, and I ended up bringing the sensibilities I'd developed by observing the different cultures to my practice.
Have Americans embraced your ideas?
Around the time I was writing The Not So Big House, the sociologist Dr. Paul Ray came out with his study of cultural creatives, people who care deeply about things like quality and sustainability. That was very much my audience, but at the time it was the minority. Since then and especially since 9/11, more people have reevaluated what's important in their lives. In recent months, it's off the charts. All of a sudden it's mainstream to believe that a smaller, better-designed house is most desirable. (Read more about this trend in our Buzzword on rightsizing and this interview with architect Marianne Cusato.)
So what's going to happen to all the McMansions?
The best answer I have is that, as happened with many Victorian mansions built years ago, today's McMansions will be converted into duplexes and triplexes. I just don't see people living in 6,000-square-foot houses for the long-term. But if McMansions can't be adapted for multifamily use, I'd at least like to see their materials reclaimed.
Why did you decide to write Not So Big Remodeling?
I was actually asked to do a remodeling book shortly after writing The Not So Big House. It was obvious that there were a lot of people who wanted to know whether they could apply my ideas to their existing house. The challenge was getting submissions from architects, because small-scale remodels are not necessarily their most glorious work. I wanted to show the really clever, but often subtle, tricks that make a house so much more livable.
Which remodeling solutions work best?
Most houses have ceilings at the same height. I think this is why people have a universal hatred of 8-foot ceilings. They become monotonous. So one of the things I advise a lot is lowering the ceilings in hallways to 7 feet so that when you move into the kitchen and other living areas, the ceilings pop up to 8 feet making the spaces feel taller. It's a fairly simple project that has enormous impact.
What's the most common remodeling mistake people make?
Adding on a big chunk of space to their house instead of solving the actual problem. When people become frustrated with their existing house, the impulse is to bump out a wall 12 to 20 feet to fit in what they thought they wanted. But an addition should be the measure of last resort. More often than not, the house has enough space. It's just not being used effectively.
I call for an incremental strategy. First ask yourself, Can I live within the footprint of the room that's bugging me by reordering things? If no, are there spatial resources surrounding the room, for example a butler's pantry next to a kitchen that isn't being used very effectively that would be better off absorbed into the kitchen? Basically, I'm trying to train people to think like an architect to avoid adding on space indiscriminately.
Can you explain the concept of double duty?
There are spaces in most homes that can perform multiple functions at different times of the day or year. The one I talk about the most is the double-duty dining, an informal eating area that doubles as the occasional formal space. A lot of people can't imagine this because their informal space isn't very attractive. But if you create an informal eating area that's a joy to look at, you can then use lighting to shift the mood when guests come over. If you're concerned about seeing the kitchen during formal occasions, close the area off with screens or other moving partitions. That one double-duty solution can end up saving you 250 square feet of otherwise squandered living space.
What advice can you offer people embarking on a bathroom remodel?
There was a period when we got into separating the toilet from the sink from tub, which made bathrooms feel even more crammed. There are ways to open up the space, for example by reducing full walls to half walls so that you don't feel so claustrophobic. Mirrored surfaces can also be used to visually expand the space.
What about remodeling the exterior of a house?
It's important to have a house with a face you like to look at. And if you ever have to sell, the curb appeal will help get potential buyers through the door. My favorite trick is to use a different color on the trim work from the body of the house. You can go one step further and introduce a belt line, a line of trim just below the main level windows that has contrasting colors above and below it. This is what's called a differentiation of parts, and it gives an otherwise monotonous exterior some refinement. People are looking for exteriors with a tailored effect that isn't too over-the-top showy. Houses built between the 1920s and 1940s all have a simple elegance to them, and people are looking for that again.
How does sustainability factor into remodeling?
Turning a house into a dream home involves making it more efficient, for example by updating the heating and cooling, sealing the ductwork, and adding insulation. Getting an energy audit is a great place to start. I did this when I remodeled my 1977 Cape. I ended up replacing the HVAC and some ductwork in the lower level. It was much less expensive than I anticipated, and the house is vastly more efficient and comfortable.
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