Once upon a time…
… many houses were the same: the same size and layout, all designed for the same kind of household. They often sat on cookie-cutter lots in cookie-cutter neighborhoods. Every day, people awoke, bathed, ate, went about their days, and slept in the same kind of house — whether young or old, single or partnered, with children or without, large households or small. People worked hard to pay mortgages, energy bills, and upkeep. They hoped their all-the-same houses, with their oh-so-much expense, would turn out to be wise investments.
One day, everything changed. Diseases emerged, markets convulsed, prices went haywire, assets plunged, and jobs vanished. People struggled to keep their homes, and sometimes lost them. Some were left with few options. Some began to question the wisdom of all-the-same houses for oh-so-different households. They wondered why homes need so much fossil fuel and upkeep. They started to ask if things could be different. Could there be new alternatives for changing needs?
So, we started designing varied homes for varied people. Compact cottages. Small homes for small households. Efficient homes for medium-sized families. Places for independent living and aging in place. Common-sense designs for new realities. We heard people’s stories, considered real needs, and worked to create designs for a range of people, needs, and budgets. Though varied, each is designed to use space efficiently and well, be comfortable and durable without much energy, trying to put decent, well-designed homes within more people’s reach.
Small Planet Homes. Which one fits you?
“I have been meaning to write you to say again how much we love the house!! It is so warm on those cold windy days. I am just so happy we went with your Small Planet design. It is perfect!!! Truly just amazing.”
"Peapod" Cottage • 336 square feet + porch
"Jewel Box" Cottage • 448 sf + porch
"Gimme Shelter" Cottage • 460 sf
"Simple Gifts" Cottage • 504 sf
"Home Port" Cottage • 576 sf
"Aloft" Cottage • 576 sf + porch
"Flight of Fancy" Cottage • 625 sf
"Snug Harbor" Cottage • 710 sf + porch
"Medelstor 1" House • 768 sf • 2 br, 1 bath
"Porch Light" Cottage • 768 sf + porch • Accessible
"Medelstor 2" House • 884 sf + porch • 2 br, 2 baths
"Square Roots" House • 918 sf + porch • 2 br, 1½ baths
"Medelstor 3" House • 966 sf + porch • 2 br, 2 baths
"Free Spirit" House • 1056 sf • Accessible • 2 br, 2 baths
"Cozy Up" House • 1100 sf • 3 br, 1½ baths
"Sweet Spot" House • 1148 sf • 3 br, 2 baths
"Now & Then" • 1164 sf + porch • Accessible • 2 br, 2 baths
"Family Plan" House • 1292 sf • 3 br, 1½ baths
"Under One Roof" House • 1310 sf • Accessible • 2 br, 2 baths
"Homage" • 1480 sf + porch • Accessible • 3 br, 2 baths
"Elbow Room" House • 1484 sf • 3 br, 2½ baths
"Square Deal" House • 1518 sf + porch • 3 br, 2 baths
"Positive Attitude" House • 1532 sf + porch • 3 br, 2½ baths
"The Narrows" House • 1564 sf + porch • 3 br, 2 baths
"Wide Open Spaces" House • 1676 sf • 3 br, 2½ baths
"On the Rise" House • 1682 sf • 3-4 br, 2½ baths
"Two's Company" • 1900 sf • 2 br, 1½ baths / 3 br, 1½ baths
"And Then Some" • 1986 sf • Accessible • 4 br, 3½ baths
These designs are copyrighted and for sale. They aren’t “one size fits all” designs so there’s no “one size fits all” way to buy them. Perhaps you’d like to buy construction drawings to build one. Perhaps there’s one you’d like us to modify to suit you. Perhaps you like the overall approach and want something fully custom. We might be able to help — just get in touch.