Small(er) Homes

I've noticed that most of the homes featured on here are over 4,000 sq ft. I'm just curious, has anyone built or remodeled something under 2,000 sq ft?

 

yes, 1600 sq ft without the new garage structure which has 800 sq ft open floor plan on second level. i have spent the last 26 years renovating this place.....what a blast!!
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Very cool! I love the mix of rustic and contemporary!

 

Always though I'd spend my money on a larger tract of land rather that just SF of house, so did that, then expanded the home over the years.

 

Bought about 6 years ago. Remodeled entire house and back yard. The only thing I didn't do with my own two hands was the pool itself. Every other board, tile, piece of trim, fixture, appliance, flower, shrub, blade of grass I put in place. I did have a little help from my brothers occasionally on the weekends if I bribed them with enough beer and meat on the grill!

http://jackson.craigslist.org/reo/1765467046.html

 

I'm in the middle of a similar renovation. It's not always a "money thing" in terms of doing it myself. Often times, the contractors just don't "get" what I want. BTW, I love the attention to detail. Why are you selling?

 

I know the feeling exactly! It is nice to save the money vs. paying a contractor, but the work is just another of my too-numerous hobbies I enjoy doing. It is very relaxing to do some hands-on manual work after spending all day at my 8-5 job, which is essentially a "thinking" job that can be mentally stressful, but has no physical component. Plus I find I am usually not happy with the level of fit and finish with most builder's/contractor's work. You know the old saying...."if you want it done right, do it yourself".

Up until about 6 months ago we had no intentions of moving anytime soon, but I ended up getting a job offer in another town that was just a little too good to turn down. Bought a house there that is only about 3 years old and is essentially move-in ready. There is not a thing I would change about it....we even like all the paint colors! I am actually looking forward to getting down there and not having all the house projects, so I can spend that time on a couple of car restorations that I have had on the back burner while working on the house here.

 

That's awesome!!!!! You've done a terrific job, sir.

-G.B.

 

Nathan,

Nice job on the house....makes me wish I lived in MS, I would buy it in a minute !!!!

 

I like a smaller house, less to clean and fill up with 'stuff', our house isn't fancy, it's a 1940 brick colonial with ~500 sq/ft a level (2 levels and a basement). Most important part is getting furniture to scale and having a nice deck and screened porch....makes you not miss the square footage at all.

 

I am about to embark on restoring this Texas Dog Run House. Lots of work, but fairly authentic, 1750 sq ft house with all wood burning stoves and cook stove with 3 fireplaces and 12' ceilings, wood wainscoating and gyp inside and great mantles. I paid nothing for it, so WTH, it will keep me out of the bars for a few months. The inside is remarkably intact, with ornate wallpaper finestrations and a brick floored breezway and kitchen! It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, outdoor shower, and a huge attic.
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This thread is 1000x more interesting than the mansions thread.

Great work Giovanni!

 

I designed and built this home myself back in the eraly 80's.....the first local passive solar house with a greenhouse on the south side and 800 sq feet below grade on 3 sides. I lived in it until 2 years ago, it worked very well, low utility bills, and had great decks to take in the view. Total sq ft was about 2200, including the crows nest 3rd floor.

I called it the No High Heels Ranch...thus, the entry gate I welded up with a good friend.
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Congrats!

You've done an absolutely incredible job that you have every right to be proud of!

Frank

 

Do you have any specific plans for it? Any theme or design direction?

 

Hi everyone – thanks for all the nice comments on my casa and all the work I have done. It sure is peaceful living in the canyon – and the roads were built to run Ferraris!! My home was originally built by Norwegian stone masons – the Erikson family – perhaps you have heard of Stein Erikson (the famous Olympic skier), that’s the family who built my home back in the early 40s. Behind the house on the other side of the hill – you can still see remnants of a 90 meter ski jump and an old bobsled run used to train for Olympic events. I got to be a pretty good stone mason myself as I have done ALL the stone work around the place (garage, wall and inside work).

 

Purely a restoration using the period materials available and or produced custom. I am aiming towards a bed and breakfast market for customers wishing to get some feel of the experience of living a few generations ago.

 

Thats an awesome place. It reminds me of the old farm houses up here in upstate NY. I love the roof on that building too!

 

Here is an update of dog run house
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nice

 

That's awesome. Quite an interesting detail to have the upper chimney *inside* of the wall.

 

Great job! Looking forward to updates.

 

I call it the party house, it is right off a large river with river views and surrounded by some of my exotic animals. I am going to set it up for vacation rentals, it is a 3400 sq ft duplex:
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Holy crap, you didn't waste any time on that dog run house, looks great

 

Giovanne and Axecent, those houses look amazing too...Axecent, any interior pics ?