Downsize and thrive
AUTHOR GATHERS CASE STUDIES OF HOMEOWNERS WHO ‘GO SMALL’ AND FEEL LIBERATED
We’ve heard the saying, “Go big or go home,” but Sheri Koones counters with “go small and stay home.”
Reducing our carbon footprint, living frugally and forging a closer bond to our housemates leads to a better lifestyle, she says.
“The trend toward living in a small space is here to stay, for both millennials and boomers,” says Koones, best-selling author of “Downsize: Living Large in a Small House.” The book, published by Newtownbased Taunton Press, features 33 case studies of small homes that average 2,000square-feet or less. Three are in Connecticut.
They’re owned by people who made a conscious decision to downsize from a larger home or who originally built a small home. Spanning the United States and Canada in both urban and rural settings, the homes highlight different design styles and locations that illustrate how small can be comfortable, low-maintenance and sustainable.
Koones, a Greenwich resident, recently shared more on how to happily thrive in a smaller space without sacrificing beauty and functionality.
Q: You use the word “right sizing.” What does that mean?
A: Right sizing is living in a house that fits your family style and lifestyle, that’s right for your current time and situation.
Q: How do people feel after they’ve moved into a smaller home?
A: Everyone I spoke with for this book expressed a feeling of liberation. They were happy to move to a different location with furnishings that better fit their current lifestyle, and don’t miss all the extra “stuff ” that kept them in their home.
Q: You downsized from a 6,000square-foot home to 1,400-square-feet of living space. How did that make you feel?
A: I was elated to get rid of all the excess things I didn’t need. I enjoy the coziness of a smaller space and don’t miss any of the many things I had to get rid of. I also moved from a more isolated location to a house in town where I can walk to the grocery store and socialize more easily.
Q: What should the mindset be before purchasing/building a small home?
A: It’s important to assess your needs in terms of space and location. The next thing is to plan for very high energy efficiency. There are many ways to build a house that requires minimal energy, but it must be planned for before construction begins. In addition, people need to make sure the plan includes lots of light, easy access, a healthy interior environment, and lots of storage.
Q: “Living Large” is the book’s subtitle. What features make a small home feel spacious?
A: An open floor plan, high ceilings, minimal hallways and light wall colors are helpful. It’s important to have lots of light coming in with well-placed windows and doors. Multifunctional rooms and furniture make the best use of space. Open staircases allow light and air to flow through, making the stairway less apparent. Barn doors and pocket doors serve their purpose without taking up as much space as doors that swing in and out. With lots of storage, there’s less clutter, giving the house a more spacious look.
Q: Tell me about the Connecticut homes in the book.
A: One of them is in Sharon. A divorced man decided he wanted a smaller house than he had been living in and he helped build an attractive one-bedroom, open concept home with a great mix of modern and rustic. In another, a couple bought a piece of land in New Canaan with a large house that needed major renovation. They decided to rebuild a small caretaker’s cottage on the property to live in during the renovation, but they found the small house so comfortable, they decided to stay there and never went ahead with their plan for the larger house. Architect David Harlan designed the house with lots of well-placed windows, spacious outdoor space, and lots of multipurpose spaces. Another house in Mansfield was built for two professors at the University of Connecticut. They wanted to walk or bicycle to work. Their 1,600square-foot house, designed by architect Jamie Wolf, has a first-floor master bedroom so it can be their forever home and a one car garage, reflecting their commitment to walking, biking and public transportation. Energy efficiency was a priority. The house was designed to create a very healthy interior with a heat recovery ventilation system and solar panels.
Q: What green features can be incorporated?
A: With a well-designed “envelope” and optimal solar orientation, the house will need minimal energy for heating and cooling. It’s also important to have natural ventilation and plenty of natural light to minimize the need for electric lights. Appliances and HVAC should be ENERGY STAR- rated, which minimizes the use of fossil fuel. Additional features are recycled materials, low-VOC paints and stains, low-flow water fixtures and natural landscaping.
Q: What’s your best piece of advice? A: People find they don’t need everything they’ve accumulated. Once you weed out things you don’t need or use, you often find things you forgot you have and find it easier to locate things you like. According to the late George Carlin, all you need in life is “a little place for your stuff.” And that little place is apt to be a new and wonderful beginning.