Building With Style: Domestic Details

Last month I described the major planning decisions — the strategy — behind the renovation of my recently purchased old home. This column describes the detailed planning of space — the tactics — in several key rooms. Working intensely with the client (myself) on this 1700 square foot house taught me some important lessons about smallhouse planning. In a big house with lots of space, anyone’s belongings can be accommodated, and a quick generic solution can work. In a small house, the design must closely match the living habits and possessions of the occupants, and client-specific planning becomes much more important. The sad irony, of course, is that the budget for small jobs rarely holds enough design money to do this. Master Bedroom We chose