About the Author

Sarah Susanka, FAIA (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects), is an award-winning architect, design visionary, and cultural thought leader best known for pioneering the "Not So Big House" concept. Her philosophy advocates for building homes that prioritize quality, detail, and comfort over sheer size.

• Architectural Visionary: Susanka's "Not So Big" approach fundamentally challenges the American obsession with large, often inefficient homes. Her philosophy emphasizes better design, not bigger houses, encouraging homeowners to create spaces that truly align with their personal values and lifestyle.
• Best-Selling Author: Her first book, The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live, became a cultural phenomenon and a long-running bestseller. She has since authored several other successful books, including Home by Design, The Not So Big Life, and Creating the Not So Big House, furthering her integrated design philosophy.
• Media Recognition: She has been recognized byNewsweek as a "cultural revolutionary" and has been named one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Residential Construction" and one of the "25 Most Influential People in the Housing Industry."
• Professional Background: Born in England and educated in the United States, Susanka holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota. She practiced residential architecture for many years before dedicating her career to writing and speaking.

Through her books and public speaking, Sarah Susanka continues to inspire homeowners, architects, and builders to redefine what makes a house a true, cherished home.

Reviews

Architect Susanka believes that the large homes being built today place too much emphasis on square footage rather than on current lifestyles. Here she shows how homes can be designed to feature "adaptable spaces open to one another, designed for everyday use." She describes how to examine occupants' lifestyles, how to incorporate the kitchen as the focal point of the home, how to give the illusion of space, and how, with storage, lighting, and furniture arrangement, a smaller home can be comfortably livable. Photographs of contemporary homes as well as those by Frank Lloyd Wright and other modern architects illustrate Susanka's ideas and show the timelessness of the style she advocates. This thought-provoking book will be a good addition to architectural and interior design collections.