Home Design Construction Pricing About Us Portfolio FAQ Contact Us Not So Big Homes Building smaller has many advantages, both practical and philosophical. A smaller home costs less to build and operate and is easier to maintain. It is important to recognize some of the diminishing returns when it comes to the size of a home. We have all visited or lived in houses with spaces that are rarely used. These spaces still need to be maintained, heated and cooled and can actually detract from the comfort and livability of a home. Designing a house that is optimized for how you live just makes sense. Just how small and optimized depends on the specifics of the project, but it’s a good exercise to examine how much space you really need and optimize the design accordingly. Values + Goals for Green Home Living Designing, building, and living in a well-designed, not-so-big, custom home starts with a unique set of values, goals, and perspectives. It is a departure from the contemporary American status quo where bigger is better and more is best. It's important to realize that a small, energy efficient, well-designed home can be just as comfortable, beautiful, inviting, functional, and interesting as a big home, often even more so. When space is carefully considered and valued, making every square foot count is important. Deciding upon the size of your new home and how the square footage is allotted will depend on your individual needs, wants, and lifestyle. When energy efficiency, low environmental impact, and living green is valued, it's surprising how much good living you can comfortably fit in a small home plan. Small, Green Home Design Strategies What follows are some design strategies that make our small, energy efficient home plans comfortable and functional while feeling open and cozy: Natural Day Lighting Rooms with ample natural light feel more spacious and inviting and are more energy efficient, too. We design our homes to have natural daylight on least two and often three sides of every room. Orienting the home with the path of the sun makes this task easier, but we use other strategies too, for example, interior windows that transfer light into north-facing rooms and skylights or clerestories that admit natural daylight where it might not otherwise be possible. Vaulted or Higher Ceilings Dual Purpose Space Logical Flow Well-Utilized Space Open Rooms Color Smaller Furniture Considerations A Pattern Language Cheap Space Get Started 505.492.0753 Design Our Design Process Designing with the Sun Passive Solar Design A Pattern Language Not So Big Homes Cheap Space Empty Nesters, Aging In Place & Universal Design Integrated Design Design Tips Design Details Project for You Next Steps Get Started Builder's Journal Sunlight Homes | 3100 San Joaquin Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 | 505.492.0753 | All Rights Reserved | Our Search Engine Optimization Company