I'd like your advice

[RaT]

I am looking for your assitance in finding some home building plans for a 1200 SQ FT home (or smaller). I have been to the many, many eplan sites and am either missing the good ones because there are so many or perhaps I'm just to particular. I can build up to a 1200 sq ft home as either a guest home or a secondary residence. I am currently in a mobile home that sits where the prime building site is. I am now considering building a nice guest house to live in while we work on our main home plans. I hope to have a basement, definitely a usable attic that will not count towards the sq footage. I understand this is possible if the space is not conditioned. If you have or know of any plan sites etc., I would surely appreciate it. By having a nice guest house, I also hope to convince my wife that we don't need nearly as big a home as she would like. I like cottage style, craftsman, ranch style homes. Thanks in advance. RaT...

[Pat]

There are architects specializing in building GOOD smaller homes. At least one wrote a book about it but I forget the name. Try Amazon.com and do a little searching.

I wanted a smaller home than I am presently building (see south central Oklahoma farm house thread) but I also like being married to the same gal. If you don't mind being a batchelor again, you can have a really small home.

I like craftsman too. Best of luck in the coming compromises.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[jonrjen]

There is a book called "The Big Little House" while it does not have any house plans in the book, it does give great ideas as to how to build, design a smaller square footage house with more living space. Talks of designs that are open yet intimate. Areas that serve more than one purpose. The wife and I were told to read it by our builder before we had the plans for our house drawn up. It does have some great ideas. As someone else mentioned, I love my wife, and wanted to keep her, Watch for my new book "The Big House with more Room than I'll ever need or really wanted"

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> The Big Little House </font color>

Is this the exact title? Who is the author?

I did a search on Amazon and it did not find such a title.

[CowboyUp]

RaT,
I'm in the process of building an 840 sq ft house that will eventually be a weekender/guest house. For now, once it's finished, it will probably be a main dwelling until I get the larger "home" built. I searched around like I'm sure you did to find something I could use, and mostly what I found in the smaller homes was a floor plan that wasted a lot of space. Here's what I did. I picked an exterior design that I wanted and modified the interior floor plan to increase living space. My house is 840 square feet, but it is mostly all useable space. No hallway, pocket doors and bi-fold doors where applicable. My pitch is 6/12 so I easily have room in the attic to add a loft or an extra living quarter if I so choose. A spiral staircase can make it accessible without taking up much downstair floor space. I would recommend that you find the exterior look that you want and then draw your own floor plan. You might surprise yourself with what you can gain. Good luck.

[RaT]

Thanks for the responses. Interesting that we both seem to be on the same train of thought. I have a a decent idea of what the exterior might be, it's maximizing the interior space via thinner walls, no hallways or entry hall etc.

[CowboyUp]

Once I get my house completely in the dry, about 3 more weeks, I'm going to post pics and commentary. Maybe something in my experience can help you. I started like you're doing, looking at plans, looking at optimizing space so I could cut costs and still have what I wanted in the small home. My budget is under $20K turnkey. I'll explain how I've done that when I finish the exterior.

[NSbound]

RaT :

I looked all over for house plans, and finally settled on a plan that suits me and my lot from this website . I sent them an inquiry about modifying a plan a bit, and the owner (in Connecticut, I think) actually called me on the phone to clarify a few things and offer his assistance in general. (I have picked Plan # W2177DR with some changes). I found him very helpful and when I do purchase the plans in a short while, I will definitely be using this company.

[RaT]

Ian, your getting very close with that design. Thanks a million for the link! RaT...

[jamieac]

I bought a house plan from them also and have to say they are a top notch company!!